Hyperion Audiobook By Dan Simmons cover art

Hyperion

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Hyperion

By: Dan Simmons
Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, Jay Snyder, Victor Bevine
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On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it.

In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope - and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.

©1989 Dan Simmons (P)2008 Audible, Inc. Adventure Fantasy Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction Mythology Scary Suspenseful Greek Mythology

Critic reviews

Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1990
Locus Award, Best Novel, 1990
"Dan Simmons has the Midas touch: Every genre he writes - whether SF, horror, mystery, historical, or thriller - he turns to gold. Hyperion and The Fall Of Hyperion set a new standard for grand-scale science fiction." (Kevin J. Anderson, author of The Saga of Seven Suns)
"Dan Simmons was a star from the outset. It was the Hyperion books that made him a superstar. The man, quite simply, is what we in the trade call a writer's writer." (Mike Resnick, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author)
Each of [the pilgrim's] stories would make a superb novella on its own. ( The New York Times Book Review, Gerald Jonas)

Featured Article: 12 of the Best Sci-Fi Series in Audio


From the furthest reaches of space to the microbiology of pandemics and gene manipulation, to the future implications of technology for societies similar to our own, science fiction is a fascinating genre that offers listeners a wide variety of ways to access its themes. In looking for the best sci-fi audiobook series, it can be difficult to know where to start due to the genre's sheer number of iterations and variations. But what these series have in common is an acute devotion to telling a good story, as well as fully building out the worlds therein. The writing is enhanced by the creative and impassioned narration.

Featured Article 12 of the Best Sci Fi Series in Audio

Editor's Pick

A sci-fi classic with a masterful full cast narration
"This epic sci-fi listen was way outside of my usual comfort zone so I did not go in expecting to get so sucked in by the stories or deeply affected by the characters as I did. Dan Simmons is a literary force to be reckoned with and Hyperion is accessible for both devoted fans and newbies like me, with its incredible word-building and character-driven storylines. The impeccable full-cast narration is just the cherry on top of this adventure through time and space."
—Catherine H., Audible Editor

Interconnected Tales • Emotional Depth • Multiple Talented Narrators • Rich Worldbuilding • Immersive Cast Production

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I read this series back in its first published hardcovers, so I look at this book with a judgmental eye - Is it a worthy listen, and its subsequent writings? Here's my take on this audiobook.

This is outstanding scifi, to the point. It reminds me of "The Mote In God's Eye," in its depth, solid character backstories and various perspectives. As in the mentioned comparison, this is complex storytelling that makes you consider as you listen. Each character has purpose and propels the story along, often in unexpected ways. This is THOUGHTFUL scifi, with tremendous respect for the reader's/listener's time, intellect, and maturity. If you want pulp scifi, go listen to Heinlein - This one's for those hungry for a story with meat on its bones, one that makes you want more. One that makes you want to listen to it again, in case you missed something important, and that's quite possible, with this fantastic scifi audiobook.

What's it all about, you ask? Again, Audible listener, I give only hints in reviews, neither plots nor spoilers here. Here's a taste of what your hear...

Knights Templar traveling across the galaxy in living trees. A undying priest carries
a nightmarish secret from an abandoned zombie-like congregation, a woman becomes younger each day, and races to beat the clock, literally. A virtual reality-trained military leader seeks the love of a woman haunting him in his computer-driven landscape. A drunken writer seeks the final and ultimate story. A spacefaring horde, soon to arrive in the known space of man, to conquer and enslave the billions that fear their arrival. And of course, they all seek the Shrike, a man-shaped judge and jury covered in blades, riding the currents of the time tombs, bringing death to most, and life to some.

And that just scratches the surface.

These various stories and their perspectives come together to create a great tale, and you'll definitely want more.

The narration team does a good job to bring this audiobook to life - If you read my other reviews, you know I'm BRUTAL on narrators. The can make or break the author's work. So, "good" is high praise coming from me.

All in all, this is an audiobook that you'll like.

So the Shrike awaits. Enter the Time Tombs, Audible listener, and be judged!

The Shrike Awaits. Enter The Time Tombs...

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I downloaded this book based on the high ranking and the number of reviews.

The story is slow moving and does not get better in the end.

After finishing the book, my only thought was it was the big waste time...




Very Slow Moving Quest...

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I was sucked into this book in 5 minutes. I couldn't put it down. It's so original and spell binding. Time well spent in "bookland" with this series.

I can inderstand why it was an award winner!

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I have waited many years for this book to finally come to audio, I have searched for it ever since I started listing to audio.
With the hope that Carrion Comfort (also by Dan Simmons ) would also be put on audio this series of books were next on the list.
When I first read this book I did not understand a lot of it and had to re-read parts of it. I had only read horror and never got into Sci-Fi & Fantasy. This book is a horror book with sci-fi, fantasy. The characters are great, there storys are great, the locations are great... This book is great.

One of the best books I have ever read

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The most creative and imaginative Si-Fi series I've ever read. Excellent!

Amazing

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As I listened to this book, i loved the way that it tied religion and human history with the sci-fi story line.. i hated the way that it ended with such a lack of closure.. BUT i guess thats why I'm onto "The fall of Hyperion". .. LOL . Well i'm off to see the wizard..

Good story line.. not so good ending

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Hyperion the most intense listening books I have heard or read to date, It truly shined in the audio format, with 5 separate characters, with intriguing stories that all tie together but in totally separate realities. One of my best read audio books or hardback to date. The end was well I don't want to ruin it but I am sure there is more to read, C Clark

, Great Read.

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I give 5 stars to Hyperion and 2 stars to Fall of Hyperion, which are really a single book published in two parts.

The stories of the individual characters in Hyperion are inventive and fascinating, and really drew me in. Hyperion is one of the most intriguing books I've read, but it doesn't end there. Unfortunately, "Fall of Hyperion," is confusing in the extreme, wandering off to dozens of different storylines. It felt like a too-grand project that wasn't possible to tie together or finish. Some of the major elements of the story (like the Shrike) were still beyond my comprehension at the end. (Does this mean I have to read yet another book before I understand what is going on?) Other elements finished up but seemed lame or pointlessly complex.

stunning beginning

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Where does Hyperion rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Amoung best. Readers are very good.

What other book might you compare Hyperion to and why?

Arthur c Clark's .......The star. Also forever war (joe halter an).

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Very nicely done. More than one (1) reader

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Defferent @ exciting. Original

Any additional comments?

Very well written. Can't put it down..

Sci-fi fans will love it

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This series (including Endymion) has helped to define my life. I have slowly read the series throughout the last 6 years of my life and it has changed me for the better. The series gives you a very interesting perspective on the future as well as an excellent adventure through this fictional universe. A space opera with no rival based on a poet with no rival (imo). This series has helped me delve deeper into poetry and literature in general. It has helped me to become more open minded. I was ecstatic when I found this book transferred to audio. I recently traveled across the united states and these books helped to keep me entertained. What I do not like is certain pronunciations of words such as "Hegemony" or "The Shrike" by some of the characters. Im used to pronouncing it like "shreek" but nevertheless its a great audiobook. Acting is a little dry but so is the series.

Defining

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