markhirsch91's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
antonism's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 / 5
The Fall of Hyperion, by Dan Simmons, is the continuation of the epic SF saga that started on the first book [b:Hyperion|77566|Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1)|Dan Simmons|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1332885131s/77566.jpg|1383900]. This second book, while being a bit different in some aspects, is eventually as good as the first one. Due to a circumstantial lack of time and energy from my part, this review will be much shorter than usual. Still, a lot is common with my original review of Hyperion, so instead of rewriting the same again, I would advise you to read it here.
What are the big differences then? Well for one, the structure of the book! In the first book we had several stories, each narrated individually and separately in turn by their narrators. In the second book, the structure is more straight-forward. We have a plot that moves forward (most of the time!) and many many different points of view. The character count is increased as, in addition to the original pilgrims, we now have Joseph Severn and Meina Gladstone as main characters along with several other secondary ones. Simmons' characterization of course remains top-notch!
World-building is expanded even more in this one and Simmons proves that he's a SF author of the greatest caliber as he's able to create and present this amazing universe superbly! The pace is definitely much faster than the first book, as events are urgent and hectic and propel the plot forward, often in a neck-breaking pace!
There were a couple of things that I didn't particularly like. Sometimes towards the end, there were moments when I felt that the narrative became a bit too philosophical. It felt as if Simmons realized he was going out of pages and he desperately needed to prove that he's deeper than we thought. There were also many more poems at the second half which was something that didn't add absolutely anything in my view. And finally, a few of the explanations didn't make much sense but I don't want to say more to avoid spoilers.
But regardless of those few minor gripes, this is still an truly epic SF book and an amazing conclusion to the incredible story that started in Hyperion. Needless to say that I recommend this one to every fan of SF and especially to those who have read the first book. Good stuff!!!
4.5 / 5
The Fall of Hyperion, by Dan Simmons, is the continuation of the epic SF saga that started on the first book [b:Hyperion|77566|Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1)|Dan Simmons|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1332885131s/77566.jpg|1383900]. This second book, while being a bit different in some aspects, is eventually as good as the first one. Due to a circumstantial lack of time and energy from my part, this review will be much shorter than usual. Still, a lot is common with my original review of Hyperion, so instead of rewriting the same again, I would advise you to read it here.
What are the big differences then? Well for one, the structure of the book! In the first book we had several stories, each narrated individually and separately in turn by their narrators. In the second book, the structure is more straight-forward. We have a plot that moves forward (most of the time!) and many many different points of view. The character count is increased as, in addition to the original pilgrims, we now have Joseph Severn and Meina Gladstone as main characters along with several other secondary ones. Simmons' characterization of course remains top-notch!
World-building is expanded even more in this one and Simmons proves that he's a SF author of the greatest caliber as he's able to create and present this amazing universe superbly! The pace is definitely much faster than the first book, as events are urgent and hectic and propel the plot forward, often in a neck-breaking pace!
There were a couple of things that I didn't particularly like. Sometimes towards the end, there were moments when I felt that the narrative became a bit too philosophical. It felt as if Simmons realized he was going out of pages and he desperately needed to prove that he's deeper than we thought. There were also many more poems at the second half which was something that didn't add absolutely anything in my view. And finally, a few of the explanations didn't make much sense but I don't want to say more to avoid spoilers.
But regardless of those few minor gripes, this is still an truly epic SF book and an amazing conclusion to the incredible story that started in Hyperion. Needless to say that I recommend this one to every fan of SF and especially to those who have read the first book. Good stuff!!!
4.5 / 5
fauaad's review against another edition
2.0
And so continues my love/hate relationship with classic sci-fi
elusivity's review against another edition
2.0
The first book Hyperion was beautiful and rich and evocative, verging on prose poetry. I highly recommend that book -- it deserved every award and accolade.
This book, however, is a space opera that attempts to wed humanist philosophical musing with science-fiction, with limited success. The hints of unimaginable horror resolves into rosy anticlimax of whew, well that wasn't so bad after all. Parts verged on the saccharine. I found it difficult to care about any particular character, and the billions of human were so much faceless background such that their death and misery were only of marginal concern, and I yawned through description of their destruction.
Here's a pet peeve: If everything is set 800 years into the future, why is everyone going around quoting and referencing things that are familiar to us in the early 21st Century? Given the technological advances in all that time, you'd think that cultural advances should have given rise to a dozen neo-John Keats and even one or two Shakespeares at least. It's the equivalent of us today going around quoting Middle English literature and casually discussing the happenings of the 1200s in daily conversation. Not damn likely...
This book, however, is a space opera that attempts to wed humanist philosophical musing with science-fiction, with limited success. The hints of unimaginable horror resolves into rosy anticlimax of whew, well that wasn't so bad after all. Parts verged on the saccharine. I found it difficult to care about any particular character, and the billions of human were so much faceless background such that their death and misery were only of marginal concern, and I yawned through description of their destruction.
Here's a pet peeve: If everything is set 800 years into the future, why is everyone going around quoting and referencing things that are familiar to us in the early 21st Century? Given the technological advances in all that time, you'd think that cultural advances should have given rise to a dozen neo-John Keats and even one or two Shakespeares at least. It's the equivalent of us today going around quoting Middle English literature and casually discussing the happenings of the 1200s in daily conversation. Not damn likely...
mquinlan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
nate_meyers's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Hyperion and had high hopes for Fall of Hyperion--but was ultimately disappointed. Fall of Hyperion continues to do a good job of world building, as it's more of a war novel. It introduces numerous new characters as it chronicles the war-to-end-all-wars between humanity, the Ousters, and the Core. This story was interesting at times. But the last thing this series needs is more characters. As Dan builds more worlds and introduces new characters, I started to worry about how he could tie all narrative threads together in a satisfying conclusion.
Truth is, he doesn't. The ending is either rushed or oversimplified (one three-page action basically ends the entire plot). It doesn't make a lot of sense, nor do justice to any of the main characters. I'm not sure what happened to the Shrike or why the Shrike was all that important. Few of the actions of the 7 pilgrims actually seem necessary to the book's resolution--which is crazy considering it was their quest that was supposed to determine the war's outcome. Finally, Het Masteen was an entirely pointless character. At the end of Hyperion, I was hoping the sequel would reveal Het's backstory (since this pilgrim avoids sharing his tale in the first book). The reveal is very underdeveloped and disappointing.
Simmons does play with some interesting themes like the point of pain & suffering and the parasitic relationship between humanity & AI. So if that floats your boat, this book may be your jam.
Truth is, he doesn't. The ending is either rushed or oversimplified (one three-page action basically ends the entire plot). It doesn't make a lot of sense, nor do justice to any of the main characters. I'm not sure what happened to the Shrike or why the Shrike was all that important. Few of the actions of the 7 pilgrims actually seem necessary to the book's resolution--which is crazy considering it was their quest that was supposed to determine the war's outcome. Finally, Het Masteen was an entirely pointless character. At the end of Hyperion, I was hoping the sequel would reveal Het's backstory (since this pilgrim avoids sharing his tale in the first book). The reveal is very underdeveloped and disappointing.
Simmons does play with some interesting themes like the point of pain & suffering and the parasitic relationship between humanity & AI. So if that floats your boat, this book may be your jam.
leovonahn's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
barsie's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
bookkat's review against another edition
2.0
A potentially interesting story bogged down in endless, meandering details, frequently of a violent nature. A long slog that I only finished because I wanted to see the resolution of certain characters.
colingooding's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is the sequel to what might be one of my favourite books, so maybe I had too high of expectations, but ultimately I was let down by it.
I loved the way the first book told distinct and varied stories, while I thought this one kind of gets bogged down in a more traditional political machinations science fiction story.
There's still some good stuff in here, especially stuff dealing with the character called The Shrike, which is this sort of mythical horror T-1000 type creature that looms over the first book and is brought to the forefront in this one. The way it is written with basically no rules to how it behaves is really interesting and memorable.
I loved the way the first book told distinct and varied stories, while I thought this one kind of gets bogged down in a more traditional political machinations science fiction story.
There's still some good stuff in here, especially stuff dealing with the character called The Shrike, which is this sort of mythical horror T-1000 type creature that looms over the first book and is brought to the forefront in this one. The way it is written with basically no rules to how it behaves is really interesting and memorable.