Book review: Hyperion

Seven pilgrims travel to the otherworldly Time Tombs. They share stories on the way.

Very late to this party I finally managed to read the book that like a storm was on everybody’s mouth back in 1989. Back then I couldn’t buy it but now, thanks to the ever amazing charity shops, it is mine.

First of all if you heard some description form the critics don’t be scared. So many literary and artistic qualities have been attached to this book that starting it is a bewildering prospect.

This is not the sci-fi equivalent of some of those elitist tomes that critics worldwide seem compelled to like. It is true that it’s been inspired by “The Canterbury Tales” and that it shares the same stories within a story structure but this is not some overambitious literary vehicles. This is six stories for the price of one, all very good stories and all interconnected, to paint a wider picture.

Dan Simmons writes very well, he remembers to make his characters relatable, at least in some ways, and writes about interesting stuff. There are a lot of interesting concepts, this book is very sci-fi in this, it pushes the envelope a lot, certainly more than the majority of his contemporaries. It reminds me of one of those books from the golden age of Sci-Fi, of Van Vogt stuff.

One last note, the book doesn’t end. Lofty artistic types will tell you that it is better this way, that endings and explanations are for wussies, but reality is that simply he couldn’t publish it all in one go so he split it up. This means that if you want to know the real ending you need to check out “The Fall of Hyperion”. I know I will.

Conclusion: The hype is for real here. This book is a masterpiece, even non sci-fi people should check it out.