Hyperion
Author: Dan Simmons
Genre: Science Fiction
Year: 1989
Rating: 8 of 10
For some reason it took me a long time to get around to reading this book event though I have heard nothing but good things about it, and praise. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood for the scope of space opera. When I finally picked up the book I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it moved and the breadth of the story. It is told as a series of different tales told by the main characters, backpedaling into their histories to give context to the events unfolding between narratives. Simmons brilliantly executes this technique and kept me engaged throughout this rather long book. However, a pleased as I was, and as entertaining as the story was, I have to say that I found the ending to be a total dud. Perhaps this is because the sequels were planned all along, but I couldn’t help but feel that the event that the entire story was leading up to just didn’t happen and left me disappointed at the end of an otherwise very enjoyable read. I hadn’t planned on reading the sequel, but now it looks like I’m going to have to, to find out what actually happens. I enjoy series books but I also feel that each book should have a complete arc and wrap up the story in a satisfying way.
Purchase: Buy!