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Hyperion

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Hyperion

By: Dan Simmons
Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, Jay Snyder, Victor Bevine
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About this listen

 On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope - and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.©1989 Dan Simmons (P)2008 Audible, Inc. Adventure Fantasy Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction Space Funny Scary Greek Mythology Classics

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Editor reviews

Hyperion, one of the most celebrated Sci-Fi novels of all time and the first book in the Hyperion Cantos series, begins in the midst of an interplanetary war in the 29th century. Five pilgrims set out to the mysterious title planet in an attempt to prevent Armageddon, but while most of the planets in the Hegemony are connected by rapid transit farcaster portals, the journey is far from safe. Modified humans known as Outsters lurk in space stations between planets, threatening the very fabric of the planetary alliance.

Winner of both the Hugo Award and the Locus Award for Best Novel, Hyperion is easily one of the most important, groundbreaking books in Sci-Fi. It incorporates favourite elements of genre — including time travel, galactic war and intricate world building — making for a listen that any space odyssey fan will love. In audio, the experience is even more immersive as you’ll hear the individual stories of the five Pilgrims, each brought vividly to life by a different narrator.

Critic reviews

Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1990
Locus Award, Best Novel, 1990
"Dan Simmons has the Midas touch: Every genre he writes - whether SF, horror, mystery, historical, or thriller - he turns to gold. Hyperion and The Fall Of Hyperion set a new standard for grand-scale science fiction." (Kevin J. Anderson, author of The Saga of Seven Suns)
"Dan Simmons was a star from the outset. It was the Hyperion books that made him a superstar. The man, quite simply, is what we in the trade call a writer's writer." (Mike Resnick, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author)
Each of [the pilgrim's] stories would make a superb novella on its own. ( The New York Times Book Review, Gerald Jonas)
All stars
Most relevant  
An exceptional book, a very good recording and an enjoyable and engrossing experience from beginning to end.

If you can find the time please try to read the book, but if that isn't possible then this is the next best thing, a story of stupefying complexity and subtlety.

The best thing is that the second book is as good if not better than the first, so enjoy.

Exceptional

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I've little to add to what previous reviewers have said except that this is a truly superb audiobook. I was gripped from the word go, and was engrossed right the way through despite the book's length. Probably in the top two or three audibooks I've listened to this year. Narration is excellent. Strongly recommended.

Brilliant and gripping story

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One of the best stories I've ever "read". I really don't understand why Hyperion doesn't have more of a following, or a film, or a series, or a series of films.

Absolutely loved it.

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The story is an excellent slow-burn space/fantasy mystery with likeable characters and fascinating world building.

Aside from the story, this is very a intelligent piece of writing.

Simmons' prescience is incredible - he makes a lot of accurate predictions about the way technology evolves in the future and the way it shapes our society. I had to pause and check what year this was written in because I couldn't believe how accurately he described certain modern technologies that didn't even exist at the time.

He provides fascinating commentary from a lot of different perspectives, delving deeply in to politics, religion and culture.

The ending is a bit flat but will have to see how that plays off in the sequel.

Intruiging space mystery

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The story follows multiple characters, each with a different theme and meaning. I might have to listen to it twice to properly understand it.

Way more complex than the average sci-fi

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Nothing comes close and I’m worried I’ll never enjoy a series as much as I have Hyperion ❤️

Quite simply phenomenal.

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Incredible narration throughout, with only minor editing issues (bad cutting together volume jumps for instance) the only real 'downside' to this tale, but don't let them put you off. One of the best narrations and stories I've heard, thoroughly enjoyed this tale from the moment it started right through to its conclusion, only disappointment was when it finished.

Top marks

Exquisite

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It is very well put together, it's good but the second book is better, but you still have to read this.

found it tough going for the first half.

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An endorsing and captivating story, interesting, complex characters presented in the novel, intriguing description of the future and possible ways in which direction humanity can develop. Dan Simmons is a master of the word, he has an incredible imagination.

Outstanding story with great actors performance

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This novel was an extraordinary listen, the performances brought to life each tale, the actors did a marvelous job when it was their story. It can be difficult to follow at first, mainly because it is so packed with lore and information, some of it was lost on me when I listened to it on my drive to work. Overall, definitely worth listening to.

Intriguing story packed with lore

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