Need Advice - Is Hyperion Really That Good? - Page 2

montsnmags · 05-28-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

The reason I am reconsidering them is because I loved Simmons' Ilium and Olympos so much. So when the suggestion surfaced again, it sort of sparked my interest.
...

If you liked Ilium and Olympos, I would estimate that you will enjoy Hyperion, and possibly the other three books too. I think you can get The Hyperion Omnibus (the first two books) and The Endymion Omnibus (the last two books) now as well, in pbook form. I actually preferred the entire series (known as The Hyperion Cantos) to Ilium and Olympos, though Mahnmut and Orphu from the latter are two of my favourite book characters.

My personal opinion is that the Hyperion Cantos is better, but, as you can see from Penforhire's comments, opinions differ.

I've never read A Fire Upon The Deep, though I just noticed it the other day in my TBR pile, even though I have no recollection of ever buying it.

Cheers,
Marc

PKFFW · 05-29-2009, 07:35 AM

I have read the entire series and enjoyed it very much.

Haven't read A fire Upon The Deep so can't comment on it's similarity or otherwise.

Cheers,
PKFFW

bertold · 05-29-2009, 08:09 AM

"Hyperion" is one of the finest books I've ever read. I found myself thinking "How does he come up with this stuff?[*]" every couple of pages. One caveat - you really have to read the book very carefully and attentively, or you will not only miss a lot of wonderful little details, but you'll find yourself increasingly confused as you near the finale.

[*] My theory is - drugs. Lots and lots of drugs.

tompe · 05-29-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertold

"Hyperion" is one of the finest books I've ever read. I found myself thinking "How does he come up with this stuff?[*]" every couple of pages.

If you have read a lot of science fiction the answer is unfortunately that he took most of it from other authors. But that is perfectly OK but it can give a negative feeling when you read the books.

I read Ilium but was not impressed at all. I though the book was just to thick for what it gave me.

DixieGal · 05-29-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertold

[*] My theory is - drugs. Lots and lots of drugs.

Yes, the late 80's/early 90's was a different sort of happy time.

THANKS to All of You! I appreciate the candid opinions. Since it doesn't seem to be available anywhere, I guess it can wait until later. Meanwhile, I got ahold of Ventus, and borrowed my weekly allowance of books from that which shall remain nameless. It should hopefully be enough to keep me busy while I'm in the mountainous wilds of northern Georgia next week. Without TV. Probably without internet. In a camper.

I'm going to need a vacation after that "vacation."

BenG · 05-29-2009, 09:21 AM

Have fun. I'll be in Georgia next week also, to visit friends in north Georgia and my mother east of Atlanta.

bertold · 05-29-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

If you have read a lot of science fiction the answer is unfortunately that he took most of it from other authors.

You'd have to go back a loooong way to find an author of whom you can't say the same.

poohbear_nc · 05-29-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Yes, the late 80's/early 90's was a different sort of happy time.

THANKS to All of You! I appreciate the candid opinions. Since it doesn't seem to be available anywhere, I guess it can wait until later. Meanwhile, I got ahold of Ventus, and borrowed my weekly allowance of books from that which shall remain nameless. It should hopefully be enough to keep me busy while I'm in the mountainous wilds of northern Georgia next week. Without TV. Probably without internet. In a camper.

I'm going to need a vacation after that "vacation."

May you never over-react and use your ereader to swat a mosquito!

DixieGal · 05-29-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

May you never over-react and use your ereader to swat a mosquito!

I'm afraid that where I'm going, they will be big enough to then proceed to snatch it out of my hands and beat me with it!

tompe · 05-29-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertold

You'd have to go back a loooong way to find an author of whom you can't say the same.

Well, yes. But the trick is to fool the readers so they do not notice and a lot of friends commented that they had noticed it in a bad way for Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion. And I think Illium suffers from it also.

What I mena with noticing it is that you gate the feeling that the book is constructed and you see the seams.

BlackVoid · 05-29-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Any specific titles you would recommend?

Neverness by David Zindell
It is continued in the Requiem for Homo Sapiens trilogy (starts with The Broken God).

The Shadow of the Torturer is the starting book of Gene Wolfe's New Sun cycle (5 books).

Other contemporary sci-fi I recommend is anything by Alastair Reynolds. Very realistic good space-opera.
For fantasy: Brandon Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie are my favorites.

DixieGal · 05-29-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackVoid

Neverness by David Zindell
It is continued in the Requiem for Homo Sapiens trilogy (starts with The Broken God).

The Shadow of the Torturer is the starting book of Gene Wolfe's New Sun cycle (5 books).

Other contemporary sci-fi I recommend is anything by Alastair Reynolds. Very realistic good space-opera.
For fantasy: Brandon Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie are my favorites.

Thanks! I bookmarked this post. I liked Sanderson's Mistborn, but have tried twice to make it through Firstborn. Was Mistborn a one-hit wonder for him? I'm familiar with some of Sanderson's short stories, but not any other novels.

Would Neverness stand alone? I'm such a slow reader that trilogies end up being forever. Or at least a couple of months.

Cabe · 05-29-2009, 12:38 PM

I really liked A Fire Upon the Deep.

Two writers I also love are Neal Asher - Spatterjay is an awesome series and Peter F Hamilton - Nights Dawn series is utterly epic in scope.

Links
http://freespace.virgin.net/n.asher/books.htm
http://www.peterfhamilton.co.uk/inde...=confederation

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin...ogy-eBook.html Best Price for the whole Nights Dawn set so far.

DixieGal · 05-29-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabe

I really liked A Fire Upon the Deep.

Two writers I also love are Neal Asher - Spatterjay is an awesome series and Peter F Hamilton - Nights Dawn series is utterly epic in scope.

Links
http://freespace.virgin.net/n.asher/books.htm
http://www.peterfhamilton.co.uk/inde...=confederation

I'll have a dig for some ebook links, but they arent forthcoming

Intriguing. I read the blurb for Cowl, and it looks like a good one. Will browse them more later. Right now, gotta go, gotta finish up work before leaving for a week. I'll log on from the camper, IF there is internet service.

griffonwing · 05-29-2009, 02:15 PM

I've read a bit of Sci-Fi (but mostly Fantasy - aka dragons, knights, etc), but a few SciFi books that I greatly enjoyed.

The Demu Trilogy by F.M. Busby
The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison

There are some more, but I'd need to go to the house to see what the titles/authors are.

05-29-2009, 12:38 PM	#28
Cabe Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 403 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Device: Sony PRS-505, iPhone	I really liked A Fire Upon the Deep. Two writers I also love are Neal Asher - Spatterjay is an awesome series and Peter F Hamilton - Nights Dawn series is utterly epic in scope. Links http://freespace.virgin.net/n.asher/books.htm http://www.peterfhamilton.co.uk/inde...=confederation http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin...ogy-eBook.html Best Price for the whole Nights Dawn set so far. Last edited by Cabe; 05-29-2009 at 07:16 PM.

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05-29-2009, 07:35 AM	#17
PKFFW Wizard Posts: 3,781 Karma: 33064842 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: BeBook, Sony PRS-T1, Kobo H2O	I have read the entire series and enjoyed it very much. Haven't read A fire Upon The Deep so can't comment on it's similarity or otherwise. Cheers, PKFFW

05-29-2009, 08:09 AM	#18
bertold Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 2135 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: iRex iLiad v2, Onyx Boox Note 3	"Hyperion" is one of the finest books I've ever read. I found myself thinking "How does he come up with this stuff?[]" every couple of pages. One caveat - you really have to read the book very* carefully and attentively, or you will not only miss a lot of wonderful little details, but you'll find yourself increasingly confused as you near the finale. [*] My theory is - drugs. Lots and lots of drugs.

05-29-2009, 09:21 AM	#21
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	Have fun. I'll be in Georgia next week also, to visit friends in north Georgia and my mother east of Atlanta.

05-29-2009, 02:15 PM	#30
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	I've read a bit of Sci-Fi (but mostly Fantasy - aka dragons, knights, etc), but a few SciFi books that I greatly enjoyed. The Demu Trilogy by F.M. Busby The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison There are some more, but I'd need to go to the house to see what the titles/authors are.