Hyperion is my all-time favorite science fiction novel for many of the reasons you mentioned. The melding of different genres and the emotional heft are incredible. The Fall of Hyperion does a great job tying the disparate tales from the first book into a cohesive, linked story. I envy you reading them for the first time. I still remember the emotional hangover I had the first time I read Hyperion almost 30 years ago.
Hey Bridger! I can see why it is your favourite. It is so beautifuly written, Dan Simmons' skill to mesh all the genre's together was my favourite part. I am looking forward to starting the Fall of Hyperion soon, I am going to give myself a month break to come down from the emotional high that was Hyperion before diving back in. how many times have you read it since your first reading?
Did you find with every subsequent reread you discovered something new? Thats one aspect of the reread that fascinates me. Id love to reread it again several years from now to see if it hits me differently or if one of the tales speaks to me more than the first go through. To pull a line from Dr. Who- we all change... we're all different people through our lives, and thats ok.
@@TreeBeardBookReviews Absolutely. I’ve responded differently to the various pilgrims with each read. The poet is the only one I haven’t quite connected with at this point, but maybe I will on my fourth read now that I’m closer to his age. :) The Consul’s tale made the biggest impression on my first read. The scholar and priest on my second read. And Lamia and Keats on the third read (I was focused on really understanding their central roles in the Fall of Hyperion).
So interesting how that happens. I find even rereading a book at a different time of year has me in a different frame of mind. Thanks for all the insights Bridger I appreciate it!
Great review. Excellent summary, but more importantly your enthusiasm matched my own. I had no expectations going in, so I was overwhelmingly pleased. Loved Simmons' writing, his plotting and character development. Like you I was thoroughly invested after the priest's story. Can't wait to read the sequels.
Great review Dan! So happy you loved the book. You will learn so much more in Fall of Hyperion. The origin of the Shrike, the identity of the soldier’s lover, etc. Don’t stop now. 🙂
I am half way through this book and really enjoy it. The story is very interesting and the writing is excellent. I have not been bored with anything so far in this story.
I tried to read "Hyperion" several times when I was younger but I couldn't quite get into it each time. Four years ago I gave it another shot and loved it. Read the next three volumes as well. A grand experience. I plan to revisit them. The Simmons' non-Hyperion novels I read on the other hand (The Terror, Summer of Night) were just okay.
I just discovered Dan Simmons about a few months ago, and he is a tremendous writer! I took a class on writers that sort of traverse in and out of the confines of genre, and one of the works we read was Simmons' The Terror, a piece of historical fiction based on an expedition to find the Northwest Passage. I happened to pick up Illum, and Olympos, based on that professors recommendation but now I think I gotta pick this up as well.
@@TreeBeardBookReviews Essentially, yes. They're definitely inspired by the Iliad and Odyssey, that is clear as day. But they take inspiration from other places as well. Ilium is really good, at least from my view. I haven't gotten to Olympus quite yet. They're structured similarly to Hyperion, scattered stories eventually forming into one whole narrative.
I'm glad you felt the same way about the ending. I think the people that say Hyperion can be read as a standalone are crazy haha. The Fall of Hyperion completes the first story arc. It introduces something new and takes about 100 pages to get going, but after that I think it's phenomenal. I know I'm in the minority but I think it's even better than Hyperion!
Thank you Teo! I can't wait to have my books back, theyve sadly been packed while I move. You might have to treat yourself to a nice Hardback of a book you want =P
Hyperion is my all-time favorite science fiction novel for many of the reasons you mentioned. The melding of different genres and the emotional heft are incredible.
The Fall of Hyperion does a great job tying the disparate tales from the first book into a cohesive, linked story.
I envy you reading them for the first time. I still remember the emotional hangover I had the first time I read Hyperion almost 30 years ago.
Hey Bridger! I can see why it is your favourite. It is so beautifuly written, Dan Simmons' skill to mesh all the genre's together was my favourite part.
I am looking forward to starting the Fall of Hyperion soon, I am going to give myself a month break to come down from the emotional high that was Hyperion before diving back in.
how many times have you read it since your first reading?
@@TreeBeardBookReviews First read: 1992
Second read: 1997 (with the release of the Endymion duology)
Third read: ~2007
Fourth read: Long overdue
Did you find with every subsequent reread you discovered something new? Thats one aspect of the reread that fascinates me. Id love to reread it again several years from now to see if it hits me differently or if one of the tales speaks to me more than the first go through. To pull a line from Dr. Who- we all change... we're all different people through our lives, and thats ok.
@@TreeBeardBookReviews Absolutely. I’ve responded differently to the various pilgrims with each read. The poet is the only one I haven’t quite connected with at this point, but maybe I will on my fourth read now that I’m closer to his age. :)
The Consul’s tale made the biggest impression on my first read. The scholar and priest on my second read. And Lamia and Keats on the third read (I was focused on really understanding their central roles in the Fall of Hyperion).
So interesting how that happens. I find even rereading a book at a different time of year has me in a different frame of mind. Thanks for all the insights Bridger I appreciate it!
Great review. Excellent summary, but more importantly your enthusiasm matched my own. I had no expectations going in, so I was overwhelmingly pleased.
Loved Simmons' writing, his plotting and character development. Like you I was thoroughly invested after the priest's story. Can't wait to read the sequels.
Thanks for the vid! Hyperion has been a book on my "to read" list for some time!
It's so good!
Great review Dan! So happy you loved the book. You will learn so much more in Fall of Hyperion. The origin of the Shrike, the identity of the soldier’s lover, etc. Don’t stop now. 🙂
Thanks Chas! I think I'll be diving back in May
This book been on a lot on RUclips.... I might one day I will check it out. Thanks for the review video! Happy reading to you!! 😊🦋🎬
I'm gonna pick it up today. I've been convinced. I'll update on my opinion here lol.
I am half way through this book and really enjoy it. The story is very interesting and the writing is excellent. I have not been bored with anything so far in this story.
My favorite Scifi, so happy to see your excitement 🤩 great review my guy!
Thanks Baron!
I tried to read "Hyperion" several times when I was younger but I couldn't quite get into it each time. Four years ago I gave it another shot and loved it. Read the next three volumes as well. A grand experience. I plan to revisit them. The Simmons' non-Hyperion novels I read on the other hand (The Terror, Summer of Night) were just okay.
Great review. One of my favorite books. The preists tale was my favorite
Love this book- it actually really stays with you after you have read it. The shrike is awesome.
Yesssss. Move FoH up your TBR! It's worth it.
I just discovered Dan Simmons about a few months ago, and he is a tremendous writer! I took a class on writers that sort of traverse in and out of the confines of genre, and one of the works we read was Simmons' The Terror, a piece of historical fiction based on an expedition to find the Northwest Passage. I happened to pick up Illum, and Olympos, based on that professors recommendation but now I think I gotta pick this up as well.
How was Ilium and Olympos? I heard it’s a sci-fi retelling of the Iliad and the odyssey? I have hardcover copies of both that look awesome.
@@TreeBeardBookReviews Essentially, yes. They're definitely inspired by the Iliad and Odyssey, that is clear as day. But they take inspiration from other places as well. Ilium is really good, at least from my view. I haven't gotten to Olympus quite yet. They're structured similarly to Hyperion, scattered stories eventually forming into one whole narrative.
I'm glad you felt the same way about the ending. I think the people that say Hyperion can be read as a standalone are crazy haha. The Fall of Hyperion completes the first story arc. It introduces something new and takes about 100 pages to get going, but after that I think it's phenomenal. I know I'm in the minority but I think it's even better than Hyperion!
Ya I imagine it is one half of a whole. I’m looking forward to starting it.
I might check out this book next year both copies are checked out at the library right now plus there's a waiting list for it
I just found your channel. Your taste is very similar to mine and I am enjoying a lot your reviews, so, suscribed!
Thank you Mariana!
I want sure this was for me, but I think I might try it now
100% you will connect with one of the stories.
Impressive library! I have all my books nowadays on my iPad or Audible. I envy the people that have paperbacks or hardcovers..
Thank you Teo! I can't wait to have my books back, theyve sadly been packed while I move. You might have to treat yourself to a nice Hardback of a book you want =P
Simmons really knocks it out of the park with this series, too bad he seems more at home with Horror and Crime than SFF
I’m in the middle of this now, actually
Funnily enough I just dnfed it, first one of those in awhile.