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Hyperion

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Hyperion

By: Dan Simmons
Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, Jay Snyder, Victor Bevine
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About this listen

 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. Adventure Fantasy Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction Mythology Funny Scary Greek Mythology Classics

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Editor reviews

Hyperion, one of the most celebrated Sci-Fi novels of all time and the first book in the Hyperion Cantos series, begins in the midst of an interplanetary war in the 29th century. Five pilgrims set out to the mysterious title planet in an attempt to prevent Armageddon, but while most of the planets in the Hegemony are connected by rapid transit farcaster portals, the journey is far from safe. Modified humans known as Outsters lurk in space stations between planets, threatening the very fabric of the planetary alliance.

Winner of both the Hugo Award and the Locus Award for Best Novel, Hyperion is easily one of the most important, groundbreaking books in Sci-Fi. It incorporates favourite elements of genre — including time travel, galactic war and intricate world building — making for a listen that any space odyssey fan will love. In audio, the experience is even more immersive as you’ll hear the individual stories of the five Pilgrims, each brought vividly to life by a different narrator.

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)
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this book. It is beautifully written with brilliant characterisation and a really good storyline. The format means that there are six interesting stories narrated by each of the main characters and these in themselves are well-constructed sci-fi. The over-arching story kept me interested throughout and made me immediately order the sequel "Fall of Hyperion", which I also read and loved. Very highly recommended to people who like the genre - it is one of the best of it's kind. Well read.

Inspired Sci-fi

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. This pilgrims progress style collection of linked short stories is painful. Multiple styles are applied, under a common context, but the characters were unsympathetic and the stories generally uninteresting. It is possible that it may just be dated but I think I am being generous. As if it wasn't a struggle to get through the dreary storylines the book had no proper conclusion and ended abruptly expecting the reader to move on to the next in the series. That's not going to happen.

Would you recommend Hyperion to your friends? Why or why not?

No. It is awful.

Would you listen to another book narrated by the narrators?

The one saving grace was the multiple narrators but it was mildly confusing and not enough to raise the product above lamentable.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Definitely not

Any additional comments?

I don't really understand why everyone has raved about this book. It is dry, stilted and just plain dull. I have asked myself if I am just not a Sci-fi fan but this type of thing is just so much better from Issac Asimov or Iain M Banks

Dull!

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What a con written with the sole intent of making you buy the second book. Teach them a lesson don't buy the first. Yes, it's not a bad story but it has a beginning, middle and........... 'send us your money'! There is nothing wrong with a follow up book or 10 but only after there is an end to a.............

Words words words

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I have been listening to Audiobooks for many years now. In all that time this is undoubtedly the best book I have "discovered" - absolute must for Science Fiction fans. If you just stumble across this review and like the genre then take a chance on this book (and the three following), I am sure you will not be disappointed.

My new favourite book.

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Just read it!! Great characters with their personal great stories and a fascinating plot! If you like epic fantasy read this epic sci fi fantasy novel! You won't regret it

Grand scale epic tale

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