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The Hyperion Cantos
Mar. 4th, 2010 11:47 pmSo I've been reading the Hyperion novels by Dan Simmons these last few weeks (I'm currently working my way through the third book - Endymion) and I've been really enjoying them. I've got the books as two omnibuses and a bit of reading on Wikipedia makes it clear that the first two and last two books were really one novel each previously divided for publishing purposes. Having read the first two I'd say that was fairly clear, the first book doesn't end with much of a conclusion.
The first novel tells the story of the fall of the Hegemony; a civilisation of 200 worlds linked by 'farcasters' (wormhole like devices) and a collection of protectorate unconnected worlds born following the accidental destruction of the Earth. Most of Hegemony technology is gifted to humanity the Technocore; AI's long susceeded from their role as humanity's servants, but still responsible for running most things critical for the continued existence of the Hegemony. The story is told through the eyes of various characters, the first book consisting largely of stories recanted by seven characters on a pilgrimage to the Shrike. The Shrike a 3 metre tall, 4 armed metal robot capable of transcending time and space and covered in spikes and blades is named after the bird, and shares it's preference for impaling its victims upon thorns. Pilgrims travel to it believing that the Shrike will kill all but one and grant the survivor's wish, and the seven are sent on the final pilgrimage to ostensibly prevent the predicted destruction of the Hegemony. Each has a different reason for going, and each of their individuals tales are written in a distinct style which really separates them from the others.
The novels are well written Dan Simmons seems to be good at both capturing the voices of his characters as well as depicting the various worlds that are visited vividly without becoming bogged down in detail (because it's described through the characters eyes as they describe the events that unfold). The first book is ultimately about the relationship between creator and creation and what happens when the latter surpasses the former. It's not hard sci-fi while the concepts are well presented and thought out - e.g. the time debts accrued by the necessary trips at faster than light speed (where the travellers experience less time than the rest of the universe) and the affects it has on the relationships, etc - they aren't the focus of the story and there's no effort made to explain how things work (though largely because the AI's know and don't tell).
Unfortunately the first book doesn't pass the Bechdel test I don't think. While there are many strong female characters (one of the pilgrims, the leader of the Hegemony to name a couple), the one conversation between them that comes to mind is about a male AI, and a deceased father as much as anything else.
If you've not read them and don't mind slightly softer sci-fi I'd recommend them. I'll probably write something more once I finish the second book which is set some 300 odd years after the end of the first.
The first novel tells the story of the fall of the Hegemony; a civilisation of 200 worlds linked by 'farcasters' (wormhole like devices) and a collection of protectorate unconnected worlds born following the accidental destruction of the Earth. Most of Hegemony technology is gifted to humanity the Technocore; AI's long susceeded from their role as humanity's servants, but still responsible for running most things critical for the continued existence of the Hegemony. The story is told through the eyes of various characters, the first book consisting largely of stories recanted by seven characters on a pilgrimage to the Shrike. The Shrike a 3 metre tall, 4 armed metal robot capable of transcending time and space and covered in spikes and blades is named after the bird, and shares it's preference for impaling its victims upon thorns. Pilgrims travel to it believing that the Shrike will kill all but one and grant the survivor's wish, and the seven are sent on the final pilgrimage to ostensibly prevent the predicted destruction of the Hegemony. Each has a different reason for going, and each of their individuals tales are written in a distinct style which really separates them from the others.
The novels are well written Dan Simmons seems to be good at both capturing the voices of his characters as well as depicting the various worlds that are visited vividly without becoming bogged down in detail (because it's described through the characters eyes as they describe the events that unfold). The first book is ultimately about the relationship between creator and creation and what happens when the latter surpasses the former. It's not hard sci-fi while the concepts are well presented and thought out - e.g. the time debts accrued by the necessary trips at faster than light speed (where the travellers experience less time than the rest of the universe) and the affects it has on the relationships, etc - they aren't the focus of the story and there's no effort made to explain how things work (though largely because the AI's know and don't tell).
Unfortunately the first book doesn't pass the Bechdel test I don't think. While there are many strong female characters (one of the pilgrims, the leader of the Hegemony to name a couple), the one conversation between them that comes to mind is about a male AI, and a deceased father as much as anything else.
If you've not read them and don't mind slightly softer sci-fi I'd recommend them. I'll probably write something more once I finish the second book which is set some 300 odd years after the end of the first.
