Endymion (Hyperion Cantos, #3)

by Dan Simmons

Evidently I had missed Hero Basic Training; if I managed to get into one of those things, I’d probably still be chewing my thumbnail and staring at the controls when the Pax guards grabbed me. It must have been easier being a Hero back during Hegemony days—the machines were smarter then, which made up for hero stupidity. As it was—although I would hate to admit it to my traveling companions—there weren’t many vehicles that I could drive.

But even if we wanted to, entropy’s not on our side anymore with that parasite that can make people almost immortal.”

Evolution brings human beings. Human beings, through a long and painful process, bring humanity.” “Empathy,” Aenea said softly.