From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1)

Dan Simmons

Start date: May 1, 2012

Finish date: May 31, 2012

Discussion leader: aldenoneil

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What Members Thought

Oct 29, 2010 Michelle rated it really liked it

This was a re-read, and I think the last time I read it I had not actually read anything of The Canterbury Tales - I didn't pick up on that theme before, but it was a very clear influence this time! I do wish that Simmons had been able to publish this along with The Fall of Hyperion as a single volume or as a set at one time... though if it had to be split up, the ending that is also a beginning is a good place to do it... ...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Adrienne rated it liked it

Shelves: owned, science-fiction

This was an enjoyable sci-fi story told in the style of the Canterbury Tales, where seven people are chosen to travel to Hyperion on a pilgrimage to see the Shrike, a monster that's struck fear into pretty much everyone in this galaxy.

I was hooked pretty early on by the Consul's thoughts about the Shrike, but most of the book was the individual characters telling the stories of how their pasts are connected to the world of Hyperion.

I liked most (but not all) of the individual characters' backsto ...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Jamie rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, sci-fi, time-travel, horror, space, first-contact

I just finished this book last night, and I am reminded of my wife's anger with me that the first "Lord of the Rings" movie was only 1/3rd of the story. She thought it was a complete story, in and of itself, and was mad that there were still two more movies - of significant length and time between releases. Now, imagine if "Fellowship of the Ring" ended with Sam and Frodo skipping along and singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road". That's how I felt after reading this book (and the epilogue).

First ...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Keri marked it as lemmed

Shelves: never-again, sci-fi

I tried. I tried really really hard. But I lemmed this book a few times over the course of trying to read it. I get that it's a sci-fi classic. I get the parallels with the Cantebury tales. I just couldn't. Maybe I'm just at a point in my life where I just want to go with easy to read trashy novels.

Anywho. It got lemmed. ...more

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