Spoilers warning
Picked it up from the Goodreads science fiction top list. The description did not make much sense to me but I decided to give it a try based on the popularity.
It was a bit hard for me to get into but after a while the narrative made sense. It felt cosy to imagine all these travelers gather around and tell stories to each other. I liked the variety of styles and themes that each character contributes. But I still felt it was not fully stitched together. Yes, there is this shared universe but the transition from one tale to another still was jarring. And the ending was underwhelming. I was hoping for some closure, and the last tale kind of provided it, but then there was a heap of unanswered questions.
What were your thoughts? If you read the sequels, were they worth it?
Read all four books. I have read the series now. Perhaps 3x in the last 25 or so years since I discovered it.
The Fall of Hyperion is 100% a recommendation. The Endymion books are somewhat controversial. But I love them.
It’s been about 10 years for me now.
I audiobooked them.
I wouldn’t have been able to do the first book except it was the only thing to entertain me for 7 hours in a drive.
Got into it obviously.
The whole ‘when humans die they release creativity’ or something. It was a big deal in my mind. I still think of it.
The whole ‘human save states’ was cool. But I legit don’t remember any of the characters from that side of the story. I think they all got fucked up by invasion or something? Greek heros or some thing? Honestly that whole side plot never tickled me right.
Weird seeds that infected people and turned them into immortal bound beings? Fuck yes. Bring it on.
Something about time travel ruins?
A woman who comes back in time to set things up only to be out of time to make up for lost time.
Teleportation murder machines.
Everything else is fuzzy at best.
How’d I do?