Hyperion Hyperion Cantos

Hyperion is possibly the best Sci-Fi novel I've read so far- and probably will read for a long time. It is set in a multi-faceted universe with some very interesting concepts and characters. The novel is character-driven and might as well be considered to be literary fiction. The story follows a cast of very different characters who embark on a pilgrimage towards the time tombs, the mysterious Labyrinth that the infamous Shrike is said to inhabit. On the Journey, the pilgrims each tell their respective story that link them to the Shrike and the ultimate fate of the universe. The stories are very different from another an explore different backgrounds and themes. I especially enjoyed the first story, as well as the scholar's tale. One thing that should be noted, is that it is not a standalone: the "Fall of Hyperion" is the (arguably even better) direct continuation of Hyperion, and is essential in understanding the entire plot and characters. It should've really been one novel in my opinion. I'd therefore suggest to read the two back to back to get the most out of the story. The sequels "Endymion" and "the Rise of Endymion" are set in the same universe but are not a continuation of the story and characters we follow in the Hyperion Cantos. They are great stories in themselves but can be read seperately from the first books.

Dieses Buch ist das bisherige Highlight meiner neu gefunden Liebe zu Science Fiction Bücher. Abwechslungsreich, fesselnd, weird und stellweise einfach großartig zu lesen. Ich schreibe diese Rezession ca. ein Jahr nachdem ich das Buch gelesen habe, weil mir einige der Geschichten immer noch so präsent im Kopf sind. Eine ganz klare Leseempfehlung für alle mit nur der kleinsten Affinität zu Sci-Fi.

Hyperion was one of the first sci-fi novels I read and contributed immensely to my falling in love with the genre. This novel reads a bit like an anthology, presenting the backstories of the main characters one after another with short breaks switching back to "present time" in-between. These backstories feel sort of like novellas, each with a unique vibe, introducing the reader to the universe of the Hyperion Cantos in a wonderfully grounded way.

Mit Englisch als Zweitsprache finde ich das Buch persönlich etwas schwer zu lesen, doch die Story an sich ist derart fesselnd, das sich das Buch sehr schnell zu einem meiner Lieblings Sci-Fi Büchern entwickelt hat. Der Autor hat einfach wilde Ideen die aus dem Buch einfach ein Abenteuer machen und das Format ist für mich auch perfekt, da es klein und kompakt ist, und bei 482 Seiten jediglich eine Dicke von 2,8cm ausweist. Somit passt das Buch in jede Tasche und ist ein echtes Muss für Sci-Fi Fans!!!

Slightly weird, but a perfect sci fi novel that manages to disturb and fascinate the reader in an epic way.