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Posted By: Nemes Dec 18, 2001 - 11:54 am

Greetings people.
Just thought i would drop a line or two into the forum about my favourite author Dan Simmons.
Without a doubt the greatest of his works is the four book series, The Hyperion Cantos, starting with Hyperion, then, The Fall of Hyperion, followed by, Endymion, and ending with, The Rise of Endymion.
An all together magical space opera, were the technical aspects of the technologys of the time, are breath taking in their complexity.
Anyone else read these books and other works by the author?, if so i would love to here from you.
Regards::

Posted By: AspZelazny Dec 18, 2001 - 01:26 pm

Hello Nemes ...
I've recently read through the 4 books of Hyperion/Endymion and was extremely impressed. His concepts of religion were fascinating, and his development of the cruciform as a 'gift of The Church' was particularly intriguing (with, of course, its associated 'hook'). The wheels within wheels that were revealed over the course of the several books took time to understand, though thankfully it was not one of those series where you've gotta keep a chart.

The mystery of the Shrike started out as a major issue, it was interesting how it faded in importance, and then rose again; though I never really did figure out whether or not the Tree was metaphorical or real.

There were so many brilliant ideas spun off in the 4 book series that were used briefly and tossed aside -- that universe could be the source for development to a depth greater than what's been done for the more shallow StarWars mythos. I'd like to see more.

Another book, unfortunately out of print, that has a collection of Simmons short stories is entitled "Prayers to Broken Stones" ... none of these stories really develops the Hyperion world, but they are sharp, deeply involving stories just the same. Highly recommended author for the thinking reader!

Posted By: Nemes Dec 18, 2001 - 09:00 pm

AspZelazny HI.
My friend you couldnt be more right.
Just the shear scope of the universe in which he played out the cantos tale blew me away.
Like you say, from the shrike at fist being a major issue, then getting left behind, only to be brought back into full swing protecting the little girl while Endymion tries to aswell, while they cruse on their make shift raft from planet to planet. Theirs also a good love story in their aswell.
The cruciform was a real stunner to, i never expected it to be the AI's that had made them.
The series just blew me away, i especially liked the poet character Martin Silenus and the Ousters, Martin Silnes making me laff constantly hehe.
Even minor characters like A. Betick had real interesting storys to follow.
Well anyways glad you liked them as much as i did.
What i wouldn't give to be able to write like that.
::
:::A little quote:::::
Though a quarel in the streets is a thing to be hated, the energys displayed within it are fine.
John Keats in a lettter to a friend.

Regards

Posted By: meow Aug 27, 2002 - 02:07 am

I agree with your comments and in addition would like to add that as far as I know, this is the first book/series where space travel over long distances is associated with "time debt" - i.e. time passes slower for the guy who travels near the speed of light, and what passes as a few months for him could be fifty years for the place he is trying to go to.

I also loved the sub-plots and discussions in Hyperion - for example, Sol's philosophical discussions with the God who demands the sacrifice of his only daughter.