Endymion

By: Dan Simmons

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 23 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

The multiple-award-winning science-fiction master returns to the universe that is his greatest triumph - the world of Hyperion and The Fall ofHyperion - with a novel even more magnificent than its predecessors.

Dan Simmons's Hyperion was an immediate sensation on its first publication in 1989. This staggering multifaceted tale of the far future heralded the conquest of the science-fiction field by a man who had already won the World Fantasy Award for his first novel (Song of Kali) and had also published one of the most well-received horror novels in the field, Carrion Comfort. Hyperion went on to win the Hugo Award as Best Novel, and it and its companion volume, The Fall of Hyperion, took their rightful places in the science-fiction pantheon of new classics.

Here, Simmons returns to this richly imagined world of technological achievement, excitement, wonder and fear. Endymion is a story about love and memory, triumph and terror - an instant candidate for the field's highest honors.

©1995 Dan Simmons (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Awesome

Totally awesome. Love everything about it. Each book in the series is better than the last one.

Almost Perfect

The music at the end is nearly so loud that I can't hear the words. Two or three times within the middle of the story the loud intro music and words suddenly blast in for no apparent reason. Everything else is perfect.

awesome. different than the previous books

its different than hyperion since it focuses on less characters. adventure tale of 3 friends

another amazing tale from Dan Simmons

another great story from the Hyperion Universe. Brilliantly written and well read. if you enjoyed either of the first two books in this series then there is nothing but more of the same awesomeness to be found here

Great Sci-Fi Tale that Draws You In

Sadly when I picked this book, I did not know that it was part of a series, so I listened to Endymion thinking that it was a stand alone book. However, I felt that it was a very good book in its own right. I love the beginning! It just drew me in and made what to know more about Raul and his history. As other characters were introduced into the story, I liked how each had a little background history that was exploded throughout the book. It had the right amount of action in the book. There was never really a slow part for me. The narration was excellent as well, men sounding like men and little girls sounding like little girls. Each character had their own distinct voice so it was easy to tell who was speaking/thinking at the moment.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and now that I know there is a series, I will definitely be listening to the rest of the books.

You only thought you knew the story!

Would you consider the audio edition of Endymion to be better than the print version?

Most definitely. I read the books years ago and the audio books helps shed new light on the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Endymion?

When the shrike fights Rhadamanth Nemis. A battle of epic proportions.

What does Victor Bevine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has a way of keeping your attention. There are some parts of the book I would almost skip over, because of the long windedness of some of the more important parts of the story. He really narrates with such enthusiasm that demands your full attention.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Ania's connection to the father captain and how it changes his whole outlook toward the church.

Amazing story, amazing series.

I've read quite a few sci-fi and fantasy books. This series might be the best book of fiction I have read.
Time to start the last book of the series and I'm sad there's only one more.

Best of the series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is excellent space-opera on a par with the best of all time. I found this book to be the best of the Cantos series. Simmons managed a near perfect balance of action and exposition, avoiding the long lectures that sometimes mar lengthy novels.

What about Victor Bevine’s performance did you like?

Victor Bevine adds enough variety to his voice so that each character in a scene is distinct, but not so much that they become caricatures. His pacing is perfect. There are a few points where he mispronounces a word and a few others where misplaced emphasis and phrasing betrays his lack of contextual understanding.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I typically listen during my daily commutes, but this was engaging enough that I would find myself looking for reasons to put on the headphones and do yard work so I could get in another few chapters.

Any additional comments?

The book can stand alone, but to get the most from it listen to the first two volumes before cracking this one open.

A love letter to adventure through space and time.

Dan Simmons series is ever compelling and brings readers and listeners into a world that is our collective past, realized today, in an adventure set in the far future. Each book in this series is it’s own wonderful encapsulation of story concept, tied together in a fully realized world. Victor Bevine’s reading brings this world to life in an amazing was that enthralled me. I highly recommend this book in the series! Just make sure to start from the beginning of the series to fully enjoy the world.

Simmons at his best

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

a complex, fascinating story with great character development and lots of action

What other book might you compare Endymion to and why?

Hyperion

What does Victor Bevine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is a great reader, with just the right amount of drama

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no