Author: Dan Simmons
Publisher: Doubleday
Published Date: May 26, 1989
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: ★★★★★
Awards:
· Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1990)
· Arthur C. Clarke Award Nominee (1992)
· British Science Fiction Association Award Nominee for Best Novel (1992)
· Premio Ignotus for Novel (1991)
· SF Chronicle Award Nominee for Best Novel (1990)
· Tähtivaeltaja Award (1998)
· Chesley Award Nominee for Hardback cover (2013)
· Prix Cosmos 2000 (1992)
· Seiun Award 星雲賞 for Best Foreign Novel (1995)
OTHER NOMINEES
ᐧ A Fire in the Sun by George Alec Effinger (Doubleday)
ᐧ Prentice Alvin by Orson Scott Card (Tor)
ᐧ The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson (Tor)
ᐧ Grass by Sheri S. Tepper (Doubleday)
REVIEW
As you can see, this book won more than just the 1990 Hugo award. It was very popular, even in non-English speaking countries. I, along with the vast majority of readers, absolutely loved this book. I really loved the way it was told through multiple perspectives that all connected by the end. I haven't read Canterbury Tales, but it is almost always compared to a version of that set in space. Not only does it follow different characters, but they stories themselves aren't linear.
It takes place on a ship bound for the planet Hyperion, where the Time Tomes are. They are guarded by a Shrike, which is worshiped by some groups of people. The individuals on the ship are part of 'the final pilgrimage' to the Tombs. During this journey, they each decide to tell their stories, filled with secrets. It's hard to describe the universe within Hyperion without giving something important away. It is a very complicated plot but the way Simmons wove together the strangers stories made in easy to follow.
The way this book was written made this nearly 500 page novel a quick read. I really delved into the worlds the author created very deeply. His writing was absolutely beautiful and one particular quote really struck me.
"Words bend our thinking to infinite paths of self-delusion, and the fact that we spend most of our mental lives in brain mansions built of words means that we lack the objectivity necessary to see the terrible distortion of reality which language brings."
This book wasn't just entertaining, but it made me think. That is what I like most about the genre. There is so much to explore with humanity. Ideas, beliefs, life, death, etc. This quote struck me because, as someone who is a chronic overthinker, it was so poignant to how people think about their world. We don't see perspectives from others, we can only experience our own. Sure, we can read, try to understand, and learn about how other people live, but we can never truly experience more than one life. Hyperion was very deep in this way.
This truly was an emotional journey of a book and, while I do plan on continuing the series, I want to reread this first one before I do. I highly recommend this book for lovers of sci-fi. While I was initially unsure about this book, I am so glad I decided to start my Hugo's journey from 1990, because this book is a can't miss. I absolutely loved every minute of it.
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