The time of reckoning has arrived. As a final genocidal Crusade threatens to enslave humanity forever, a new messiah has come of age. She is Aenea ...
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Mar 24, 2011
Dan
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After four years on Old Earth, Raul Endymion resumes the voyage on the river Tethys to find the Consul's ship. Meanwhile, Aenea leaves Old Earth behind to find her destiny. In addition to hunting for the One Who Teaches, The Pax launches a Crusade to wipe out the Ouster menace once and for all. Will Aenea fulfill her destiny and end the Pax's reign once and for all?
I have to admit, I was skeptical for the first half of this book. It wasn't urination-inducing good like the first t More...
I have to admit, I was skeptical for the first half of this book. It wasn't urination-inducing good like the first t More...
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Dec 20, 2011
Rachel
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This book could have been half the length and I would have been thrilled.
Too much philosophizing. Too much useless description, too much exposition of the "science" behind why the characters were able to do what they did. The plot "twist," if it was meant to be one, was pretty damned obvious immediately.
Again, de Soya was much more compelling than any of the major characters, and he's relegated to an even less important role in this book. SO DISAPPOINT More...
Too much philosophizing. Too much useless description, too much exposition of the "science" behind why the characters were able to do what they did. The plot "twist," if it was meant to be one, was pretty damned obvious immediately.
Again, de Soya was much more compelling than any of the major characters, and he's relegated to an even less important role in this book. SO DISAPPOINT More...
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Jan 22, 2012
Kemper
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I survived!
As I’ve reported in my previous reviews of this series there were times where it seemed as if my gray matter was going to be permanently fried by this epic sci-fi story. I finally got through to the end with most of my marbles still in the bag they came in.
It’s almost impossible to give a summary of this without spoiling the previous book so I’ll just say that Aenea and Raul Endymion continue their interstellar journey to fulfill her ultimate destiny as the po More...
As I’ve reported in my previous reviews of this series there were times where it seemed as if my gray matter was going to be permanently fried by this epic sci-fi story. I finally got through to the end with most of my marbles still in the bag they came in.
It’s almost impossible to give a summary of this without spoiling the previous book so I’ll just say that Aenea and Raul Endymion continue their interstellar journey to fulfill her ultimate destiny as the po More...
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Dec 02, 2008
Elizabeth
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I put off reading Endymion/Rise of for a long time (like several years) because a lot of people I knew seemed not to think much of them and I already wasn't quite as impressed with Fall of Hyperion as the Chaucerian original. If anything the events in this book are a huge payoff for what I remember as the sort of abstract and confusing bits of Fall of... and in a way having that huge time span in my own reading parallels nicely the elegant way in which Simmons manages this incredibly densely pl
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Sep 26, 2010
Radu
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 05, 2011
Brian
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12/8/04 - 6/10
Series: 12/8/04 - 6/10
The Hyperion Cantos started off very promising. The first book is like a sci-fi version of The Canterbury Tales, with detailed personal looks at each individual character, each with different tones. Some of the stories were better than others, but all were good - the Sol Weintraub / Rachel story in particular was very haunting. The story is a creative look at 700 years in the future with very detailed worlds and cultures, mostly touched on in passing in the More...
Series: 12/8/04 - 6/10
The Hyperion Cantos started off very promising. The first book is like a sci-fi version of The Canterbury Tales, with detailed personal looks at each individual character, each with different tones. Some of the stories were better than others, but all were good - the Sol Weintraub / Rachel story in particular was very haunting. The story is a creative look at 700 years in the future with very detailed worlds and cultures, mostly touched on in passing in the More...
Jan 10, 2009
Michael
rated it: 
If you trudged through the first three novels in the Hyperion series, Rise of Endymion offers a beautifully crafted and satisfying conclusion. Just about all of the plot threads are finally woven together, major questions answered, and characters' stories wrapped up in a hopeful, but utterly bittersweet package.
This one is quite a page turner and the action is kept tight and consistent throughout the narrative, with the great majority of chapters focused on the development of Endymion and More...
This one is quite a page turner and the action is kept tight and consistent throughout the narrative, with the great majority of chapters focused on the development of Endymion and More...
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Oct 30, 2011
Христо
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Изключителната сага “Хиперион” на Дан Симънс – величие без граници!
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/03/blog...
“Триумфът на Ендимион” решително стъпва в посока разкриване на картината. Техноцентърът малко по малко излиза наяве, докато Мирът методично започва да избива прокудените с усъвършенствани архангелски кораби, чиито безсмъртни екипаж сеят смърт с невиждан размах. Енея и Рол се разделят, след като той трябва да поеме на важна мисия да върне кораба на Консула, оставен да се More...
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/03/blog...
“Триумфът на Ендимион” решително стъпва в посока разкриване на картината. Техноцентърът малко по малко излиза наяве, докато Мирът методично започва да избива прокудените с усъвършенствани архангелски кораби, чиито безсмъртни екипаж сеят смърт с невиждан размах. Енея и Рол се разделят, след като той трябва да поеме на важна мисия да върне кораба на Консула, оставен да се More...
May 01, 2010
Whitney
rated it:
Boy does this book disappear up its own butthole halfway through. I've always said, if there's one thing I love its pages and pages worth of metaphysical explanation of imaginary science fiction macguffins that in case you were wondering, do not actually exist, and therefore lack any sort of educational value which the reader might obtain from a similarly dry lecture on a real scientific subject. Anyway.
This book starts out as a travelogue (and the places are even more otherworldly a More...
This book starts out as a travelogue (and the places are even more otherworldly a More...
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Sep 09, 2009
Daniel
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I was eager to finish the story started in Hyperion, and while I had to splurge to do it (the library did not carry it, so I actually had to pay for this one), I was somewhat disappointed with the finale.
Don't get me wrong: Dan Simmons did not fail to provide a great story. He filled in the blanks, answered the questions, and completed the circle. But unlike the previous three, which i enjoyed immensely, this one seemed to ramble. Information dumps were all over the place, and at More...
Don't get me wrong: Dan Simmons did not fail to provide a great story. He filled in the blanks, answered the questions, and completed the circle. But unlike the previous three, which i enjoyed immensely, this one seemed to ramble. Information dumps were all over the place, and at More...
Jul 11, 2009
Tim
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Concluding the Hyperion books at last -- in shifts of two books each spread over a couple years -- was ultimately quite satisfying. I struggled with my star ratings on all but third book "Endymion," rounding down on both "Hyperion" and "Fall of Hyperion" just because, oh, I don't know, I'm an ass or something. So I rounded up the 3 1/2 stars this concluding volume normally would warrant. Can't say I'm a complete bastard.
"The Rise of Endymion" a More...
"The Rise of Endymion" a More...
Jun 08, 2009
Donald
rated it:
As the finale to the series, this book winds up the foursome in a whirlwind. And it unexpectedly brought tears to my eyes with the strength of the ending. The first 3 books were very good indeed but this one was the best.
Told as recollection by a prisoner in the ultimate prison (in a Schrödinger's cat capsule in orbit around an abandoned star) the story ranges from love story to religious corruption to art retreats (and their pitfalls) to the nature (and innate power) of informat
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Aug 10, 2011
Tanvir
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No adjective is sufficient to describe the majestic sweep of this epic conclusion to the most intelligent,literary, intelligibly complex, by turns vast and intimate science fiction epic. It emulates and possibly surpasses much more well known series like Foundation, Dune and Rama. The way it stacks up layer upon layer of details about characters that the reader comes to love, along with the details of different planets, technology, ideologies, without losing the strands of comprehension; simply
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Jan 27, 2011
Brian
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The scene where Corporal Bassin Kee is undergoing torture at the hands of the Grand Inquisitor , who uses a machine that simulates "crushed testicles" and "hot wire behind right eye" in the victim's brain ... that's a good approximation of the experience I had reading this book. There's Dan Simmons sitting at his desk, finger poised over a computer keyboard. In the place of letters, each key has a different literary torture: "moldy info dump forced down throat", "
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Apr 15, 2011
Eleanor
rated it:
Well I was correct that the follow up would be better than 'Endymion' itself. It's semi-understandable why the first book had so much world building, not to mention, that's what Simmons does best.
I had a tough time deciding whether I liked this book or really liked it. Part of it is that I never really connected with Raul Endymion, but his character is a common one encountered in books - the reluctant hero, semi-bumbling, not perfect, but honest and possesses a good heart. Maybe i More...
I had a tough time deciding whether I liked this book or really liked it. Part of it is that I never really connected with Raul Endymion, but his character is a common one encountered in books - the reluctant hero, semi-bumbling, not perfect, but honest and possesses a good heart. Maybe i More...
Jan 31, 2008
Bill
rated it: 
It was inevitable. Hyperion was just too damn good not to bite the bullet and read the last installment and get full closure on what everything means. So, at the end of it all, was it all worth it?
Well, all questions are answered, but no, not really. This was just way too much reading and time invested.
But, I do wish I could erase all memories of the first Hyperion novel and read it over again. It really was spectacular.
Well, all questions are answered, but no, not really. This was just way too much reading and time invested.
But, I do wish I could erase all memories of the first Hyperion novel and read it over again. It really was spectacular.
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Oct 16, 2011
Rafal
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Druga część przygód Raula Endymiona utrzymana jest w stylu poprzedniego tomu tej epickiej opowieści. Co za tym idzie, i w tym przypadku powielone zostały mankamenty, które raziły mnie w "Endymionie", czyli zdecydowanie przygodowy charakter narracji, kosztem niesamowitego klimatu, który tak urzekał w dylogii "Hyperiona".
Owszem, bywa, że cząstka tego uroku objawia się w kilku fragmentach "Tryumfu Endymiona", ale zdecydowanie częściej zdarza się, że świetnie More...
Owszem, bywa, że cząstka tego uroku objawia się w kilku fragmentach "Tryumfu Endymiona", ale zdecydowanie częściej zdarza się, że świetnie More...
Sep 26, 2011
Taueret
rated it:
Finished this today- having listened to the unabridged audio of the 4 Hyperion books one after the other for the last few weeks. I think my 4 star rating is rally for the series, not to much for any one book in the series. I experienced them as one long story; and really none of the 4 books stand alone, in my opinion.
Out of the 4, 'Rise of Endymion' seems like the one most in need of a good edit- loads of descriptive passages that go nowhere, and lists of names that would have sent m More...
Out of the 4, 'Rise of Endymion' seems like the one most in need of a good edit- loads of descriptive passages that go nowhere, and lists of names that would have sent m More...
Jun 06, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
The Hyperion Cantos is four books in two major parts. This series certainly owes a bit to Dune They both have a tension between thinking machines and humans in their plots. Both massive space operas with a fully worked out history with lots of complexity in social structures and the worlds included. They both include the human inclination to religion and have religious belief play a part in their plots. There is even a semi-messiah figure in the second half of the Hyperion Cantos. Though t
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Jul 05, 2011
Andrew
rated it:
Stray Observations:
-The Hyperion series, as a whole, is excellent. The first book is one of the greatest works of science fiction to date. However, I think the sequels diminished its strengths. There was a TON of reinterpreting the past stories. It reminded me of the TV show Lost or the X-Files...it tried to tie up too many loose ends and it needed to modify the story to fit the ending.
-Seems like a lot of Alfred Bester inspiration here. "The Stars My Destination" w More...
-The Hyperion series, as a whole, is excellent. The first book is one of the greatest works of science fiction to date. However, I think the sequels diminished its strengths. There was a TON of reinterpreting the past stories. It reminded me of the TV show Lost or the X-Files...it tried to tie up too many loose ends and it needed to modify the story to fit the ending.
-Seems like a lot of Alfred Bester inspiration here. "The Stars My Destination" w More...
Jan 03, 2009
Rowena
rated it:
This is the last book of Simmons' Hyperion Cantos and arguably, the most moving. Raul, Aenea and A. Bettik have settled on Old Earth for the last four years but young Aenea knows it is time to leave and they must part ways. Raul is sent on a mission to retrieve the Consul's old spaceship (probably one of my favorite "characters" in the entire series) and Aenea and A. Bettik journey on so that the girl can spread her wisdom, so to speak, and to continue constructing her architectural wo
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Mar 30, 2011
Lobdozer
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This is the fourth and last part of what is usually called the "Hyperion Cantos" series (actually two duologies), and all in all the instalment I enjoyed the least. It goes on where the previous book left off; describing Paul, Bettik and Aenea's (surprisingly dull) years on Old Earth and subsequently Aenea's rise to become the "messiah" she is destined to become.
This book explains a lot about what has been going on in the last three books (Hyperion, Fall of Hyperi More...
This book explains a lot about what has been going on in the last three books (Hyperion, Fall of Hyperi More...
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Dec 22, 2011
Robin
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Emotionally resonant, huge in scope, atmospheric and evocative, but crippled in places by baffling pacing and constant retconning.
The entire sojourn on T'ien Shan lasts 200 pages, and is about 150 pages too long. There are continuity issues with characters introduced in the first book. There's a strange sense of imbalance in the order and prominence characters are features, especially in the first act. And there's a tooth-grindingly moronic misappropriation of the concept of evolution More...
The entire sojourn on T'ien Shan lasts 200 pages, and is about 150 pages too long. There are continuity issues with characters introduced in the first book. There's a strange sense of imbalance in the order and prominence characters are features, especially in the first act. And there's a tooth-grindingly moronic misappropriation of the concept of evolution More...
Aug 10, 2011
Angus
rated it:
With a high standard to live up to from previous books, I felt this was able to maintain the momentum and resolve the plot threads while maintaining the suspense. As with other sci-fi epics, it tackles meta-physical issues to combine what tends to be a disparate discourses in modern life between religion and science. The twisted take on Catholicism as the Judaism of Jesus's day, along with allusion to New Testament apostolic characters (Paul and John) seemed a further extension of this.
Who will More...
Who will More...
Apr 15, 2009
Dave
rated it:
Simmons' technical skills as a writer greatly increased in the decade plus from the publication of Hyperion to Rise of Endymion. However, this finale of the Hyperion series is the weakest of the set. Overwrought and repetitive the book was still compelling by virtue of a good yarn begun with Hyperion. We finally learn what happens to Raul Endymion and Aena from the book Endymion (and, indeed, many characters from the first book).
My greatest problem with this book (besides being overwroug More...
My greatest problem with this book (besides being overwroug More...
Feb 18, 2010
Greg
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 26, 2011
Milla
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A great conclusion to the story that began with Hyperion. The series is definitely one of the best in sci-fi and well worth finishing if you've read the first book(s). Unlike so many other series the story does not begin to repeat itself. Instead, you may even be surprised by some of the turns of events, which imho is a great achievement. For the first time in a long while I didn't have the feeling 'I've read this somewhere before...'. Even the slightly twisted references to real people or event
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Oct 29, 2009
Kira
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 22, 2010
Andrew
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It's better than the awful Endymion but not a patch on the original Hyperion books. Plot holes and retcons abound, the revelations are predictable and don't matter, and the entire conflict boils down to moustache-twirling robot baby-killers against the pure, wise, humanists of all religions with psychic powers.
Raul is as hapless as ever, stumbling his way through some admittedly grand settings while all the action that matters occurs offstage. Simmons leans hard on a rather simplistic More...
Raul is as hapless as ever, stumbling his way through some admittedly grand settings while all the action that matters occurs offstage. Simmons leans hard on a rather simplistic More...
Oct 13, 2010
Peter
rated it:
Marking the conclusion of the Hyperion Cantos (or its follow-up story), The Rise of Endymion brings about many of the confrontations set up in the previous novels. With its strongly messiah-themed approach I was afraid that there was going to be a deus ex machina ending, resolving the many story-lines in an unsatisfying manner. However I need not have worried: Dan Simmons manages to end this epic story on an interesting and realistic note, solving more riddles than in his previous books but none
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