Hyperion

If there is one SF book that I've had on my “to read” shelf the longest at this point, it's probably Hyperion. I remember the buzz from when it came out and won some awards, but for some reason, reading the cover blurb it just didn't capture my imagination of something interesting. I have had the paperback for probably 30 years (so I've moved that book with me at least half a dozen times). But lately, I've just been hearing about Hyperion it seems like all the time (is there a movie in the works or something? Netflix adaptation?) and my buddy at work started it and so I finally got it in audiobook format.

I have to say that YET AGAIN I regret not having read this earlier. Fantastic book. I generally don't like stories told from multiple characters' perspectives, but this is very well done. It's a bit confusing through much of the book with some time entropy stuff going on. The hard science parts of it are interesting concepts once you kind of get some understanding.

I think this is an area that “reading” the audiobook helped - it just forges through and you just have to “go with it.” Eventually understanding follows and things work themselves out. I think that reading this one physically would have significantly reduced my chance of getting through it, so maybe I was right to hold off all these years. At any rate, now I'm on the Hyperion train with seemingly everyone else. Will definitely pick up the next one and continue the series to find out what happens next.

Short synopsis: There's a strange world in the hegemon called Hyperion. On Hyperion, there are strange events due to the “Time Tombs” which have some crazy entropy field that prevents a lot of technology from working and therefore makes travel there and in their vicinity difficult other than literally walking. Also, there is a creature called the Shrike that some worship, some fear, and basically can kill at will. 7 travelers are chosen for a final pilgrimage to Hyperion as galactic war between two or three factions closes in on the planet. Each traveler tells his or her story (they are all strangers and none know why they were chosen to come) in order to find out why they are here and what they must do. A few are also in possession of knowledge that one of the 7 is a spy of the enemy faction, but none know who (except the spy, of course). It all comes together in the end, but does somewhat leave one on a cliff-hanger.