The Rise of Endymion

The Rise of Endymion
Hyperion Cantos #4
Dan Simmons
SF
1 star
709 pages

blasphemy. Nothing else needs to be written.

Endymion

Endymion
Hyperion Cantos #3
Dan Simmons
SF
2 stars
563 pages

200+ years after the end of Fall of Hyperion. Follows Raul Endymion, entrusted by Martin Silenus to guard Aenea, the next ‘chosen one’ who also happens to be the daughter of Lamia and the cybrid Keats. The Shrike seems to be her protector also. Turns out the TechnoCore is still controlling humanity through the improved Cruciforms, allowing “eternal” life to any willing to submit to the Pax/Church.

Fall of Hyperion

Fall of Hyperion
Hyperion Cantos
Dan Simmons
sf
4 stars
528 pages

the Tombs open, Mankind destroys the Farcaster web to escape domination by the TechnoCore and the Ousters show the Hegemony the path to the future. Full of philosophical dialogue, religious overtones and weird ideas. Well done.

Hyperion

Hyperion
Hyperion Cantos #1
Dan Simmons
SF
4 stars
512 pages

The Hegemony of Man, the TechnoCore[AI’s] and the Ousters[humans who fled into space to escape the Hegemony] all collide on the world of Hyperion. A world where Time Tombs are in an entropic field which seems to be moving backwards. 7 travelers come together to seek the Shrike, mystical/mythical Lord of Pain, thinking that one of them will be granted their wish and the other 6 taken in sacrifice.

This book concentrates on their backstories and what brought them to Hyperion. Excellent writing. The only things I had against it was the profanity used, frequently, by one character and a couple of instances of semi-graphic sexuality.