Hyp: Which format of Hyperion would you recommend?

[Fox]

I was ready to get a head start on May's book, but discovered that my local library doesn't have a physical copy of the book. Overdrive also doesn't have an ebook copy of it, but does have the audiobook available (though currently checked out). If you were in my place, would you: place an inter-library loan for the physical copy, place a hold on the audiobook, purchase the paperback, purchase the Kindle edition, or choose the requisite 'other' option?

[Agatha]

I actually bought the hardcover, but I'd been meaning to get Hyperion for ages so the fact that it was picked for May was just an excuse.

As always, I'd go for the physical book, but that's just me. I'd actually heard good things about the audio book version (my friend loved the narration), so that might be worth at least checking out. I don't listen to books because I just can't concentrate, so I can't offer a first hand opinion on it.

[Veronica, Supreme Sword]

I'm listening to Hyperion myself right now, and I do like the narration... however, the one female narrator is WAAAAY over-acting so far, but hopefully she tones it down.

[Chickenstitch]

I think I'm going to go for the kindle version, mainly because I'm reading a few books at the moment and it's better for my back lol

[[deleted user]]

Get the ebook copy. And while you're at it, grab The Fall of Hyperion as well.

They're supposed to be a single book and the overall story comes across better when read back-to-back.

[Agatha]

Ala wrote: "Get the ebook copy. And while you're at it, grab The Fall of Hyperion as well."

My hardcover has both. It's very bulky, but it made more sense (this is my idea of saving money) to buy both in one book since it was marginally less expensive than separately.

[Aloha]

I agree with Ala on that. Whatever you get, the first book might disappoint you if you don't pair it up with the 2nd book in the series.

Ala wrote: "Get the ebook copy. And while you're at it, grab The Fall of Hyperion as well.

They're supposed to be a single book and the overall story comes across better when read back-to-back."

[Charlotte]

I'm listening to the audiobook, it's the first audiobook I've listened to that has multiple narrators so that's kind of cool.

[terpkristin]

Aloha wrote: "I agree with Ala on that. Whatever you get, the first book might disappoint you if you don't pair it up with the 2nd book in the series. "

I'd go so far as to say it will disappoint you if you don't read the 2nd. I read Hyperion ages ago and loved it right to the end...I was completely let down with it and annoyed with the recommendation. It was about 5 years later that I discussed it with someone and they said I needed to read the second book....until then, I hadn't realized there WAS a second book...changed my opinion significantly.

[Rik]

The first two books are really one long book that was split in two so you do need both as the first ends on a cliffhanger.

For those that don't know there are also a 3rd and 4th book - Endymion and the The Rise of Endymion. They take place a few hundred years after the events of the first two but are also very good and you'll want to read them if you like the first two.

[Fox]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I've gone ahead and put a hold on the audiobook and I'm going work on getting a written copy, as well. Thanks also for the head's up on the second book really being more like a second half. I'm going to reserve that as well so I can read or listen to both back-to-back.

[Rik]

In some ways I'm jealous of those of you getting to experience this book for the first time. I've read it five or six times now but I may just re-read it again just to be with the group.

[Sam]

terpkristin wrote: "Aloha wrote: "I agree with Ala on that. Whatever you get, the first book might disappoint you if you don't pair it up with the 2nd book in the series. "

I'd go so far as to say it will disappoint ..."

I listened to this last fall, and I can't say I was disappointed with the ending of the first, perhaps because I knew there was a second. However, I've been told that the second doesn't finish the story very well. I've been hesitant to start it.

Regarding the OP, I thought the audio with multiple voice actors was pretty good, though I will agree that the female did not hold up in comparison.

[Bree]

I really loved both books and listened to them on audiobook. I thought the narration was good overall, but I loathed the way the female voices were performed. So breathy and dumb! Better to just use your regular voice, dude, and avoid insulting my gender.

[terpkristin]

Bree wrote: "I really loved both books and listened to them on audiobook. I thought the narration was good overall, but I loathed the way the female voices were performed. So breathy and dumb! Better to just use your regular voice, dude, and avoid insulting my gender."

I actually find I can't listen to most female narrators for this exact reason. But since I've read Hyperion before, I'm going to listen to the audio this time around. I'm excited to start, but I need to finish my current audiobook first.

[Rik]

Sam wrote: "terpkristin wrote: "Aloha wrote: "I agree with Ala on that. Whatever you get, the first book might disappoint you if you don't pair it up with the 2nd book in the series. "

I'd go so far as to say..."

The 2nd book does wrap a lot of things up but also leaves a lot unexplained. Nearly everything does get wrapped up in the 3rd and 4th book though.

To truly understand everything you do have to read all four books but they are very satisfying IMO and it has a great ending to the series.

[Zac Campbell]

Veronica wrote: "I'm listening to Hyperion myself right now, and I do like the narration... however, the one female narrator is WAAAAY over-acting so far, but hopefully she tones it down."

I am listening to the audiobook as well, and I agree she is way over acting and my least favorite person to listen tell the story. I listen to the book on my way to and from work and I have found that I am getting hooked on some parts and don't want to get out of my car to go to work. I haven't gotten to the woman's story but hope that it is just as entertaining as the priests!

[Amelia]

Listening as well, and I'm also not enjoying the female narrator. I haven't gotten to her section yet, though.

Makes for a much more interesting trip to pick up the kids from school!

[Cameron]

Thanks for the heads up on the fact that the two books are really just one long book. You have prevented my sudden disappointment.

[Ian]

If you are in the UK there is an omnibus edition in big paperback that has both the first 2 books together. Cool cover as well.....

The Hyperion Omnibus

[running_target]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who had issues with the female narrator. Her voice is TOO professional and completely without character. Once Bronn's (sp? I listened) story gets going my problems with the performance increased. . . it takes a lot of the punch out of a cool noir tale.

She's still not as bad as the guy who read Mistborn though.

[Nevan]

running_target wrote: "Once Bronn's (sp? I listened) story gets going my problems wit..."

It's spelled Brawne Lamia if that's of any comfort to you! The others are Fedmahn Kassad, Sol Weintraub, Martin Silenus, Het Masteen, Lenar Hoyt, and the Consul.

[Nicole]

I have the audio book that is multicast and over all it is really good. It really helped me to get in to the first little bit. My issue is that the tracks are all like less than a minute long and sometimes they start in weird places like 2 sentences before a new chapter.

[Fox]

I scored a used copy! :) And it was essentially 'free' thanks to rewards points. I'm still waiting on the audiobook. I'd love to be able to read along and compare the two.

[Vladimir]

I got this about a year ago in one of the free Audible giveaways that they have from time to time, but have never finished it, so I'm listening to it right now.

[Nicolai]

I am listening to the (german) audiobook, which has quite a good narrator, but it is just one for the whole book. Interestingly, it is the german voice of commander riker from star trek, giving the audiobook version an extra scifi-feeling

[[deleted user]]

Nevan wrote: "running_target wrote: "Once Bronn's (sp? I listened) story gets going my problems wit..."

It's spelled Brawne Lamia if that's of any comfort to you! The others are Fedmahn Kassad, Sol Weintraub, M..."

Thanks for supplying the names. I have been guessing at the spellings of some of them since I am also listening to my first audio book while driving back and forth to work.

I agree, too, with the others' low opinions of the female reader: she is trying too hard to sound like her idea of a tough, female Sam Spade character, I think. I have not yet finished hearing her story, however. I think that I will overlook the delivery and concentrate on the parts of the Hyperion puzzle she is providing.

As far as recommending a version: the audio version was a good one to hook me into getting more audio books to listen to while driving--and occaisionally when house-cleaning--but my favorite is a print version on paper. At night and on weekends I am reading the 5th Song of Ice and Fire installment from GRR Martin in hardback.

[Justin]

Pleasantly surprised to see so many other audiobook listeners in here.

This is actually the first audiobook I've ever tried. I definitely enjoy the form and find it fairly engaging, but as far as voice-acting goes, it's decent but nothing really earth-shattering.

How does this book stack up to others you folks have listened to? In particular, how have you felt about single narrators and their portrayal of characters (including opposite sex)?

[Rik]

Justin wrote: "Pleasantly surprised to see so many other audiobook listeners in here.

This is actually the first audiobook I've ever tried. I definitely enjoy the form and find it fairly engaging, but as far as ..."

Its actually pretty rare to find audiobooks with multiple narrators. I've listened to hundreds of them over the years and I've found most narrators do opposite sex voices just fine.

[Michael]

I grabbed this from Audible, enjoying it immensely.

[Sky]

I like how, in the kindle version, the author's name is misspelled in the "About the author" section. I mean, there were a few other typos throughout, but that one was especially amusing.

[Koh]

I was eyeing the book in a book store (!) today, but decided to go in a different direction (Ursula's The Left Hand of Darkness). Now this probably means a cheaper, more durable Kindle version for me.

[terpkristin]

Has anybody noticed in the audio version (at least the US version I have from Audible) that the narrator seems to take pauses in odd places? I've noticed quite a few times that there is either a comma or a breath...and if it's a comma, it's in a really odd place.

[Justin]

terpkristin wrote: "Has anybody noticed in the audio version (at least the US version I have from Audible) that the narrator seems to take pauses in odd places? I've noticed quite a few times that there is either a co..."

Yeah, I think I've caught that a few times. I'm guessing the editing wasn't super perfect on it. I've also noticed a few times where the volume jumps slightly between sentences/paragraphs.

[Justin]

Listening to the audio book on this one. I'm about halfway through the first tale currently and enjoying it. Haven't really had much of a chance to get annoyed at the female narrator yet as she has only had a few lines of dialogue so far.

[Michael]

The woman does get better when it comes time for her story, and she has more than one line per chapter.

[Craig]

I listened to the Audiobook. Just finished.

I thought the first part was perhaps a touch melodramatic. It changes nicely for the first story.
I found the second story nice.
The Poet's story was well read but it was the actual story itself that I found issue with.
The Scholar's story was my favorite and very well read.
The Detective's story...I found the female reader's tone to be a bit tedious.
And the reading was good from there on but the story (IMO) was downhill.

[Peter]

I just finished the book -- a mass market paperback from the library. It was terrible quality. Pages were glued together near the spine, words running to the very edge of the page.

I wouldn't mind picking up a nice set. Not sure if it is in print still other than paperback...