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)

Great Sci Fi

Went in with high hopes and still was impressed. The multiple narrators really brings this to life.

What a remarkable, moving, prescient story.

I'm obsessed. A story full of huge ideas, moving characters, and constant wonder. Sci Fi at its best.

Astonishingly Good

Dan Simmons is a master of his craft. Do yourself a favor and give this one a listen.

started listening and couldn't stop

there are very few books that will suck you in this is one of them

Excellent short stories and connecting narrative

If you enjoy science fiction you need to hear this book. It’s got a number of great scenarios and vivid worlds and interesting characters. The reading of it is also masterful with great voice acting. First time in a long time when I was totally disappointed when the book ended. On to the next!!!

Fascinating portrayal, but inappropriate biases present in the world building

I found this story to be a fascinating futuristic take on the classic Canterbury Tales. I can see the ripples this canon’s influence in many contemporary stories; and I can also trace back to the influences of Hyperion in Simmons’ writing person.

With that said, I unfortunately was thrown off by the only mention of a Black character occurred when one of the storyteller’s ‘popped a melanin pill’ and became a misgendered version of a Black person. It is also not lost on me that the very same storyteller frequently made inappropriate use of the term ‘Oriental’ in referring different Chinese provincial cultures, and this storyteller happened to be the only female protagonist in a sea of male personas only recollecting imprints of female characters. For those that say it’s only a sign of the times, I would glad refer them to Niel Gaiman’s The Sandman, written in the same year 1989.

All setup. No payoff.

Invites the reader to ask questions and speculate, but never answers those questions. Different characters all have their own stories with inconsistent viewpoints but they all talk the same way; use the same terms. "Lapis sky" is my personal fave. Also, if you don't think poets are the greatest thinkers and the most shining examples of what it means to be human, prepare to roll your eyes on every other page.

Must read scifi

Full of great ideas, unique structure, strong world building, had me totally hooked all the way through

It's Old but it's Amazing.

Described as a "tour de force" in many a book description they do not underrate it at all. This book is a journey, a journey you'll not want to end and can't wait to end at the same time because you have to know what happens. When you start you care about none of the characters at all. In the middle you think you have favourites and by the end you can't separate who you like and don't. They're all wonderfully written, real and voiced different. The voice actors did a great job to make each voice unique and make each really fit the characters. I'd put this book of for a long time because of the age of it as some aging Sci Fi just doesn't stand up. This is not one of those. There's talk of it being made into a film and it'd be criminal to do so. As much as it'd make the book mainstream a show like GoT would suit it better. I can't think of much to relate this to personally other than another sci-fi that that's probably less famous but just as deserving: Armor by John Stakely. If you liked that I think you'll love this. If you've not listened to or read either I'd highly recommend them both but be ready for an emotional rollercoaster.

Once I was captured I couldn’t stop

Fantastic book!

Not what I was expecting. It’s a collection of stories with the main plot playing out in the background. Each story builds to satisfying convulsions and leaves you mouth agape.

The following are very minor complaints that should not keep anyone from listening but that I hope reaches the creators:
- tone done the sex scene descriptions (there aren’t many to begin with)
- re-record the female voice actor’s lines. Half were fantastic but half were also robotic

Again. Great read. Zero regrets