Hyperion

I went into Hyperion with few expectations and was pleasantly surprised by its tone and structure. It's a frame story clearly inspired by The Canterbury Tales, though I found the short stories themselves more akin to Star Trek episodes in their subject matter and varied genres. 

As far as scifi goes it's incredibly solid, with the right level of explanation and technological mystery as it examines one possible future path for humanity. I liked its take on FTL travel and the overall theme of time.

As if often the case, not all of the stories work and their quality is uneven. I enjoyed riding the wave of vibes, but in the end it felt like I missed some greater message. It ended abruptly, but I felt neither fulfilled or disappointed. My first reaction in fact was wondering if my epub was corrupted and the file terminated early.

The obsession with Keats was a courageous move that ultimately does not benefit author Dan Simmons by comparison.