Hyperion

By: Dan Simmons

Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, Jay Snyder, Victor Bevine

Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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)

Incredible Master Work of Science Fiction

Any additional comments?

Hyperion stands as one of the greatest SF novels of the second half of the 20th century. Part allegory, part mystery, drawing inspiration from every spectrum of fiction from The Canterbury Tales to the poetry of John Keats, this novel elevates Science Fiction to a literary form. Like the aforementioned Canterbury Tales the novel follows a quasi-religious quest to the fabled and mysterious planet of Hyperion where mankind’s first true encounter with an alien race takes place. Each member of the pilgrimage has a story to tell, each a piece to a larger, far more intricate puzzle whose final solution may hold the key to the survival of mankind. Simmon’s future is wholly familiar yet startlingly alien in many ways. His characters are developed through their tales and the mysteries they unfold make this an undeniable page turner. If you enjoy Science Fiction that goes beyond robots and ray guns and endeavors to explore the big and essential questions of life and death and what it means to be human this novel is not be missed. The various narrators really bring this story to live in audio form.

Canterbury Tales...In...Spaaaaaaaaaaaace!!!

Hyperion is the tale of pilgrims on a voyage to the planet Hyperion with the intention of encountering The Shrike, a being of almost godlike power who is said to grant one pilgrim in a group their heart's desire. But as with the Canterbury Tales, this is just the framework upon which to hang six tangentially related short stories - the tale of the Priest, the Soldier, the Poet, the Scholar, the Detective and The Consul.

Each of the individual stories is told by the protagonist in their own voice. The Poet's tale is full of pompous farce, the Detective's Tale reads like a 31st-century Sam Spade mystery, and so on. Hanging over all the stories is the spectre of The Shrike and his mysterious homeworld, which have touched each of the travelers in some way.

Some of the stories are more captivating than the others, but together they weave a mesmerizing whole. And like the Canterbury Tales, the point of the book is not the resolution awaiting the travelers at their destination, but the stories they tell as they make their way. Uniquely structured, captivating, and well worth a listen.

Trial by fire, Long but interesting.

An interesting book structured like the Pilgrim's Tale with many literary references. Common themes are sacrifice, pain and trials by fire. Torture and horror are common. As the structure necessitates this novel is very personal, yet the diverse travellers allow for many different perspectives of the Human civilization in the story.

I found it went on at times but was interesting.

A pleasure to listen to!

Excellent book, excellent audio production, what more could one ask?

It's like listening to a radio drama

Would you listen to Hyperion again? Why?

I have always loved the Hyperion Cantos and was excited to find an audio version of the two books. The first book, "Hyperion" has a great cast of voice talent which makes it seem like a radio drama (without sound effects). With so many characters, having multiple voices helps keep them straight and makes the story seem more real.

Unfortunately, if you get the second book in this series, "Fall of Hyperion," there is only one narrator doing all of the voices. It's jarring after the wonderful job they did on "Hyperion."

Once you start, don't stop. Thoroughly satisfying!

What made the experience of listening to Hyperion the most enjoyable?

The mystery and the satisfying revelations.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hyperion?

Kassad's battle with the Shrike.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Martin Silenus, of course. He turns out to be the most interesting character in the whole series.

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

Very extreme. I laughed, cried, felt anger, sadness, elation, satisfaction and intellectual stimulation.

Any additional comments?

This is the first of a series of 4. The first two are an omnibus, meant to be read as one story. If you felt this first one is incomplete, that's because it is without the second book. Even the second book feels incomplete. The third and fourth are some of the most compelling, thought provoking and satisfying tales I have ever experienced. The first two books feel more like the back-story to the thrilling two part conclusion. The series is over 90 hours total. If you liked the first two, the next two (Endymion and The Rise of Endymion) will absolutely blow you away. Simmons leaves no loose ends, no unanswered questions, and no revelations unrevealed.

Good start...but gotta read the next one

This book is a great warmup to the Hyperion series, but really leaves you wanting to read the next book. Great introduction to the characters.

weird sex

the story is interesting but ultimately didn't go anywhere.
just leaves it hanging.
the back story has a lot of sex in it.
some of it I was like "WTF is this even here for"
most of the back stories don't really add to the main concept.
I mean they are important but like... who would ever tell a bunch of strangers these stories in this detail that stray so far from the mission at hand.

"hey stranger, we got a lot of time why don't you tell me why you are here?" ok! here's my life story with all the thrusting and whatnot from my sexual escapades and let me tell you about glistening body parts too.

woa! hang on. I don't need to know that you fat bastard. jeebus. forget I asked.

but it's not a bad book.
lots of ideas of tech and government and weird religion and hinted paradox.

just could be a lot shorter and nothing would be missed.

Good SciFi, worth your time

The story holds together and progresses well. I notice a couple of people were 'upset' by the sex scenes, these are pretty tame and pertinent to the particular characters story.

Old Science Fiction but Somehow More Relevant Today

Wow, just holy mother of Shrike wow! I was recommended this book by a friend who is a science fiction fan boi! I lean a bit more towards the fantasy side of escapism in my books so I was warned beforehand about this books “hard science fiction” elements. I was sold on this book being another pre 20th century sci-fi novel dashed with somewhat progressive themes/takes. This book is a world(s) in itself and tells the tales of several people making their pilgrimage to a giant, blade covered, metal god of pain. I’m not good at writing reviews and I hardly ever do it but by the nine this one deserves one. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to spend a week just enraptured in a universe like nothing you’ve ever seen before.