Hyper for Hyperion

One thing that's always frustrated me about speculative fiction - has frustrated many writers and readers of the SF and fantasy categories - is the way literary critics dismiss it contemptuously as "pulp" or "genre" dreck, unworthy of serious consideration. That, of course, is patently ridiculous. There have always been SF and fantasy classics that are beautifully, masterfully written for those who approach them with an open mind. That is one reason why I've always held Dan Simmons and his Hyperion novels in such high esteem. They are an eloquent counterpoint to any media source that denigrates SF and fantasy novels just because of the section of the bookstore they happen to occupy.

If you haven't read Hyperion or its subsequent installments, you owe it to yourself. The first novel has been compared to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, and the comparison is apt: a group of pilgrims travel to the legendary (and dreaded) Time Tombs, braving destruction at the hands of the Shrike, a time-spanning creature of unimaginable power and unfathomable motives. Each has a fascinating tale to tell. Their stories weave together as the series unfolds, reinforcing each other in unexpected ways.

The Hyperion series exemplifies brilliant storytelling. But - without question - these books also silence the condescending voices who dismiss SF and fantasy as undeserving of critical attention. They transcend genre, refuse to be bound by category. They are, purely and simply, great literature. If someone you know disdains your choice of speculative fiction as "all right for light entertainment," ask them to read Hyperion. That should shut them up, or at least give them something to think about!

#SFWApro