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Hyperion
2012 Reads
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Hyp: Hyperion, 20 years later (Confession of a lapsed reader)
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I was a little bit disoriented when I read the first paragraph: I remembered that Hyperion had massive worldships, so I first thought that the swamps and animals were inside the Consul's ship. I wonder if other habitual readers of scifi have made the same assumption?Hawking drive: Cute shorthand, but improbable name when you think about it, since Stephen Hawking's work lies entirely in the field of pure science (as opposed to 'applied science').
Presentation of the pilgrims: As each pilgrim is described, I find myself trying to find a corresponding real-world personality that matches. The only one I can think of is Leonard Cohen for Martin Silenus.
"founded in the Covenant and the writings of Muir": Aha! A reference to John Muir! I only learned about him by watching the National Parks PBS series by Ken Burns. A real, modern-day, secular mystic, and a fitting reference for what the Templars are all about.
A little bit about myself: I'm a lapsed novel reader. When I was a teenager, up until I graduated university, I was a voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy. I read all the classics -- Bilbo and LOTR, Dune, Neuromancer, Foundation, Urth of the New Sun, Fritz Leiber, Robert Howard, Philip K. Dick -- but once I entered the workplace, I shifted to TV, movies, computer games and D&D rulebooks to nourish my interests.
It's now been 15 years since I last finished reading a novel, and nearly 20 since I last read a newly published novel; Hyperion is actually one of the last novels I've read, so I still consider it a "new" work in my mind. I was pleasantly surprised when Geek & Sundry/Sword & Laser announced it would be the subject of May's discussions, and it reminded me how much I used to enjoy reading long-form fiction, and so spurred me to pick up my yellowing copy on my bookshelf to become, once again, a Reader of Novels.
I've started this thread to collect my observations and thoughts as I slowly retrace my steps through the vivid world of Hyperion. Feel free to comment, fellow pilgrims!