Quote:
Originally Posted by Badandy
Just finished Hyperion. I enjoyed it, but what I didn't enjoy was the fact that it stopped at a cliff-hanger. Not just any cliffhanger; a cliffhanger that delays, until the next book, what I assumed the entire book was about (the meeting of the pilgrims and the Shrike).
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When I first read that book, that wasn't a cliffhanger, that
was it...no sequels expected by or suggested to me. Think about that.
I've seen
Hyperion referred to as influenced by
The Canterbury Tales wherein it's the stories of the "pilgrims" that matter, and how they relate and interact, rather than the purpose and events of the pilgrimage itself. I fully understand how the "cliffhanger" is frustrating, but also suggest reflecting on the book as if there were no sequels in the
Cantos. This might not improve things (I'm not suggesting it'll change your mind), but I think it's an amusing exercise...you'll either scream in frustration imagining how you'd feel it ending there with no "sequel", or laugh maniacally with awe and want to reread it, or...?
But read the rest. Honestly, it's one of my favourite series.
[EDIT: I don't think I've been clear in my words above, but I mean to say I loved it so very much when I thought it was just a standalone book, not just with, but partly
because of that cliffhanger. I felt similarly about Zindell's
Neverness, though I believe it
is officially considered standalone]
Cheers,
Marc