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)

Dark and Eminent Wizard of Oz

This novel is like an avalanche - starts slow and little confusing, but picks up speed and force as it moves forward. Wrapped in a stunning Sci-Fi backdrop, Hyperion is a story of a pilgrimage of a soul-

-A Priest who dedicated his life to finding a proof of his faith finds a massive cathedral that should revive Catholicism but turns out to be something else completely.
-A Soldier who is shaped and maimed by his military past, but not as much as by his love.
-A Poet that lost all vocabulary but 7 words because of a head trauma.
-A Scholar that must come to terms with the fact his daughter is aging backward, one day at a time.
-A Detective who falls in love with her client, an AI reincarnation of John Keats.
-A Consul who is not sure if survival of humanity is such a necessary thing.

Each story takes the reader to another world and together they weave together a wonderfully detailed tapestry of the imaginary universe.
The Priest's tale is presented as diary entries, the Poet's tale is told through lyrical prose, the military action-adventure-style story of Colonel Cassad is full of lasers and explosions, the Detective's story is a crime noir. Throughout each tale, one thing is evident: Dan Simmons is a terrific writer. Each style is well done (especially the Poet's tale), and even though there's so much variance in style, the novel always feels like a cohesive whole. And again, such heavy topics as individualism, love, parenthood, alcoholism, religion, morality, and art are all explored without a preachy voice.


Chorus of narrators in the beginning is quite jarring, especially because of ‘he said’ and ‘she said’ inserts in a different voice, but as the novel branches out into 6 personal stories, the reason for multiple narrators becomes more understandable.
Voice artists are terrific.

Excellent group of stories merged into one

I liked the modern take on the Canterbury tales, although a more thorough resolution would have been more satisfying

Excellent Work of Science Fiction

This story has a bit of everything - intrigue, action, suspense, poetry, love, friendship, rebellion, hope, and despair. It’s very well written, well performed, and unique.

Poetic, philosophical, epic science fiction.

Maybe the best audio book of all time. Almost operatic with the multiple narrators. Can't say enough good about this one.

Stands the test of time.

I must've reread this series at least five times, in my late teens and early twenties. Along with Jordan's Wheel of Time series, this was a family favorite. Now, in my mid-forties, I often neglect to remember books I loved back then. Or, when I revisit them, they fall flat. Hyperion really took me back. This is one book which still appeals to me in middle age , as much as it did when I was just starting my journey into adulthood. An epic journey I can't wait to revisit the rest of. Awesome full-cast performance, by everyone on the team!

Amazing in every way

One of the best science fiction books I have ever had the pleasure of reading or listening to.

Seriously amazing book

I’m semi new to the fantasy genre but have read the works of Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss and Neil Gaiman in the last couple years.

This first book in the Hyperion Series has made me desperate to read the whole work and kept my complete attention from beginning to end!

Burn past the religion

This was an enjoyable book, but it leads heavily with religion, which is a huge turn off for me in future / science fiction. Characterizations of otherwise intelligent people still bleating away about god in the distant future makes me so sad. I just want an Iain M. Banks Culture Mind representative to come in and slap some sense into them.

Well I got through it, and it was worth it. Moving on to the next book in the series, hopefully the religion will fade.

The book leaves a lot unexplained. Just about everything in fact. I don't mind that, because the entire series is available. If I had to wait years to get some resolution I'd have been disappointed.

Narration was pretty good, but I do generally prefer a single narrator for a book. A good narrator can do female and male well enough, and multiple characters.

intricate, insightful, beautifully written

this book will completely enthrall you. the author treats you like an intelligent reader, and isn't afraid of complex concepts or intricate character development. it's a beautiful mind bender.

Canterbury Tales in a distant space age

Pilgrims traveling together each tell their unique and fascinating story. The 700 yr in the future world described is enthralling. Dan Simmons is a great writer.The narrator's are good but for Miss Johnson. My mane objection is I don't like series. This first volume is great. Just wish I didn't have to buy the follow up to find out what happens to these great characters.