Wil’s review of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) > Likes and Comments
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I read this a couple of months ago (I cobbled together a "Top 100 Science Fiction Novels" list based on Hugo/Nebula/Review lists/etc and am working my way up to #1), and I highly recommend it. I do remember it starting slowly but then, bang! There's one tale in there that I found particularly moving. Hope you enjoy the rest of it!
I have to agree. I started reading this book on the recommendation of a friend. It took me ages to get into it, but once I did, I found it extremely compelling. It began as a tough read that I plodded through because of a girl, but turned into (with its sequels) what I believe is/are my favourite book(s).
Kevin wrote: "I read this a couple of months ago (I cobbled together a "Top 100 Science Fiction Novels" list based on Hugo/Nebula/Review lists/etc and am working my way up to #1), and I highly recommend it. I d..."
Have you shared this list somewhere yet? I would be interested in seeing it. I have thought about putting together a list like that myself, but have never gotten to it.
I haven't, but that's a nifty idea. Wonder if I can figure out all my sources again, but I guess that's not so important. I'll see what I can do, maybe put it on Goodreads somewhere?
Sounds like Wil and I had pretty much the same reaction to the Weintraub tale (though my daughter is still a month away from being born!).
Hyperion is really just laying the foundation for the rest of the book series, much in the same way as fellowship does for LOTR.
Though there is a dramatic change in how the author relates the story from book to book, a fun and at times annoying aspect.
It took me a while to get to the next in the series but when I did, it didn't stop until there was nothing more to read.
I think I had to digest all that information first, the wide range of ideas took some digesting.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's now that the good stuff happens ;)
I try to avoid series in general. When I do read the first book in a series, I often wait several months before reading the next because there are too many books and too little time to read. Hyperion is one of the few books that made me run out the day I finished it to get the next installment. (I did wait about 6 months before reading the Endymion books though.)
As far as your recommendation that it's for "Fathers who are also SciFi fans", I think you should change that to "parents". I really think Sol's story was the most gripping in the book. In fact, when I got the sequel, I skipped through it just to find out what happened with Rachel. I just wanted to cry about their situation.
OK, here's my roughly assembled, VERY-non-scientific "Top 201 SF novels" list. I used Hugo Best Novel Awards, Nebula Best Novel Awards, a Locus poll, and two other website rankings lists which I cannot recall at the moment, sorry. For the lists that had numerical rankings, I gave the #1 ranked book a score of 50 or 100, depending, #2 got 49 or 99, etc. For Hugo and Nebula, I gave them each 75 pts (which feels a bit high now that I look back at it but whatever). Added them all up, got my totals, ranked 'em. Plus I've re-ranked them based on my personal opinions after reading. And I only started reading around #60 because #60 was around #50 before I revised the list with another rankings list. So #50 dropped to #60 so I started from there. Missed several books since my local libraries didn't carry them. Now I'm about to start #8. Getting there!
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?ke...
I've included my current "official" list, my personal rankings, and the working list I used to run the numbers.
That's a great list, Kevin. (Why 201?) I see a lot of my favorites and some I've never heard of.
Kudos on the list, Kevin.
I've read a fair number (or at least think I remember reading them). But, of course, it only reminds one of the other 201 titles that could probably go on here :-)
Sandi wrote: "That's a great list, Kevin. (Why 201?) I see a lot of my favorites and some I've never heard of."
Thanks guys! It's 201 because that's what I ended up with from putting the separate rankings together.
Gotta throw myself in and say "Thanks!" to Kevin for the list, nice work and thanks for sharing =)
I just finished reading this book. Better late then never. I agree on most parts but what is surprising to me is that you gave it a good rating and still never got to reading The Fall of Hyperion. Why is that?
I believe he wrote one book and the publisher made him split it into 2 parts, so this book ends right in the middle of the story. I highly recommend reading the second half.
I did feel as though the Consul had been stringing them out, and sympathize with Will's regret that Too Much Information was involved. But after getting over the shock (I read it on a Kindle, which makes finding the end even more of a shock)I had to bow to the cleverness of the ending, an old song from childhood ironically appropriate to sing to a child under those circumstances, and described only by key words and phrases, as they march bravely to their Fate. Perhaps putting in a little step behind dance move...
I enjoyed the cliff-hanger ending; it felt right, somehow. Of course, I was on Kindle and immediately moved on to book #2. I wasn't able to do that the first time through, many moons ago.
Gotta read the whole series. It's truly great.
I owe it to myself. But first I will read "The terror"
I really loved Hyperion, but the sequels didnt equal the fantastic setup of this first book.
best book ever just like wil wheaton
Just finished it and I kind of had the same feeling but it was still good
You summed up my feelings exactly! I was hoping it would resolve and i wouldn't have to read the rest. I fear the Hyperion series is going to be like the Dune series, a great opener and then progressively worse as the series continues. We shall see I guess. I was a little disappointed you used a star wars reference instead of a star trek reference but other than that great review.
Recommend this book to Sheldon. He will do everything to find mistakes. Hahaha
Sincerely glad y'all liked it. To each their own. I thought it was one of the trashiest pulp novels I'd ever read, with a story that was simple S&M porn (not that there's anything wrong with that) and another essentially a statutory rape fantasy (uh, yeah, there's something wrong with that). It's been described as Canterbury Tales in Space, which befits the lack of originality. I would call it the worst, except that Mary Doria Russel's "The Sparrow" still holds that distinction.
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Kevin
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Jun 15, 2009 08:04AM
I read this a couple of months ago (I cobbled together a "Top 100 Science Fiction Novels" list based on Hugo/Nebula/Review lists/etc and am working my way up to #1), and I highly recommend it. I do remember it starting slowly but then, bang! There's one tale in there that I found particularly moving. Hope you enjoy the rest of it!
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I have to agree. I started reading this book on the recommendation of a friend. It took me ages to get into it, but once I did, I found it extremely compelling. It began as a tough read that I plodded through because of a girl, but turned into (with its sequels) what I believe is/are my favourite book(s).
Kevin wrote: "I read this a couple of months ago (I cobbled together a "Top 100 Science Fiction Novels" list based on Hugo/Nebula/Review lists/etc and am working my way up to #1), and I highly recommend it. I d..."Have you shared this list somewhere yet? I would be interested in seeing it. I have thought about putting together a list like that myself, but have never gotten to it.
I haven't, but that's a nifty idea. Wonder if I can figure out all my sources again, but I guess that's not so important. I'll see what I can do, maybe put it on Goodreads somewhere?Sounds like Wil and I had pretty much the same reaction to the Weintraub tale (though my daughter is still a month away from being born!).
Hyperion is really just laying the foundation for the rest of the book series, much in the same way as fellowship does for LOTR.Though there is a dramatic change in how the author relates the story from book to book, a fun and at times annoying aspect.
It took me a while to get to the next in the series but when I did, it didn't stop until there was nothing more to read.
I think I had to digest all that information first, the wide range of ideas took some digesting.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's now that the good stuff happens ;)
I try to avoid series in general. When I do read the first book in a series, I often wait several months before reading the next because there are too many books and too little time to read. Hyperion is one of the few books that made me run out the day I finished it to get the next installment. (I did wait about 6 months before reading the Endymion books though.)As far as your recommendation that it's for "Fathers who are also SciFi fans", I think you should change that to "parents". I really think Sol's story was the most gripping in the book. In fact, when I got the sequel, I skipped through it just to find out what happened with Rachel. I just wanted to cry about their situation.
OK, here's my roughly assembled, VERY-non-scientific "Top 201 SF novels" list. I used Hugo Best Novel Awards, Nebula Best Novel Awards, a Locus poll, and two other website rankings lists which I cannot recall at the moment, sorry. For the lists that had numerical rankings, I gave the #1 ranked book a score of 50 or 100, depending, #2 got 49 or 99, etc. For Hugo and Nebula, I gave them each 75 pts (which feels a bit high now that I look back at it but whatever). Added them all up, got my totals, ranked 'em. Plus I've re-ranked them based on my personal opinions after reading. And I only started reading around #60 because #60 was around #50 before I revised the list with another rankings list. So #50 dropped to #60 so I started from there. Missed several books since my local libraries didn't carry them. Now I'm about to start #8. Getting there!http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?ke...
I've included my current "official" list, my personal rankings, and the working list I used to run the numbers.
That's a great list, Kevin. (Why 201?) I see a lot of my favorites and some I've never heard of.
Kudos on the list, Kevin.I've read a fair number (or at least think I remember reading them). But, of course, it only reminds one of the other 201 titles that could probably go on here :-)
Sandi wrote: "That's a great list, Kevin. (Why 201?) I see a lot of my favorites and some I've never heard of."Thanks guys! It's 201 because that's what I ended up with from putting the separate rankings together.
Gotta throw myself in and say "Thanks!" to Kevin for the list, nice work and thanks for sharing =)
I just finished reading this book. Better late then never. I agree on most parts but what is surprising to me is that you gave it a good rating and still never got to reading The Fall of Hyperion. Why is that?
I believe he wrote one book and the publisher made him split it into 2 parts, so this book ends right in the middle of the story. I highly recommend reading the second half.
I did feel as though the Consul had been stringing them out, and sympathize with Will's regret that Too Much Information was involved. But after getting over the shock (I read it on a Kindle, which makes finding the end even more of a shock)I had to bow to the cleverness of the ending, an old song from childhood ironically appropriate to sing to a child under those circumstances, and described only by key words and phrases, as they march bravely to their Fate. Perhaps putting in a little step behind dance move...
👀👀Are you THE Wil Wheaton!!???😦
I enjoyed the cliff-hanger ending; it felt right, somehow. Of course, I was on Kindle and immediately moved on to book #2. I wasn't able to do that the first time through, many moons ago.
Gotta read the whole series. It's truly great.
I owe it to myself. But first I will read "The terror"
I really loved Hyperion, but the sequels didnt equal the fantastic setup of this first book.
best book ever just like wil wheaton
Just finished it and I kind of had the same feeling but it was still good
You summed up my feelings exactly! I was hoping it would resolve and i wouldn't have to read the rest. I fear the Hyperion series is going to be like the Dune series, a great opener and then progressively worse as the series continues. We shall see I guess. I was a little disappointed you used a star wars reference instead of a star trek reference but other than that great review.
Recommend this book to Sheldon. He will do everything to find mistakes. Hahaha
Sincerely glad y'all liked it. To each their own. I thought it was one of the trashiest pulp novels I'd ever read, with a story that was simple S&M porn (not that there's anything wrong with that) and another essentially a statutory rape fantasy (uh, yeah, there's something wrong with that). It's been described as Canterbury Tales in Space, which befits the lack of originality. I would call it the worst, except that Mary Doria Russel's "The Sparrow" still holds that distinction.
