Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Hyperion is one of the cult classics of science fiction, winning the Hugo Award and Locus Award. Surprisingly, it doesn’t get talked about much outside of serious sci-fi circles. I read a small, used paperback copy (which added to the feel), and I think that with a film adaptation it could take the Dune route to mainstream attention.

Around the year 2732, the Hegemony of Man spans hundreds of planets, linked by farcaster portals and sustained through an uneasy alliance with a civilization of advanced artificial intelligences. In the black space between stars dwell the Ousters, genetically and technologically altered humans locked in an ongoing conflict with the Hegemony.

Some worlds, known as “Outback” planets, lack farcasters altogether and can only be reached through long interstellar journeys marked by extreme time dilation. One such world is Hyperion, home to the enigmatic Time Tombs — ancient structures that move backward through time and are guarded by a terrifying entity called the Shrike.

As an Ouster assault on Hyperion draws near, a group of pilgrims is chosen to make a final journey to the Time Tombs. Each agrees to tell the story of what led them to be selected, revealing personal histories that intertwine with the fate of Hyperion, and perhaps of humanity itself.

It has an inventive world that I really liked. The farcaster system is well developed, and the structure — each pilgrim from a completely different background telling their own story — allows for a wide exploration of the universe. Between the portals, artificial intelligence, and other technologies, the book feels ahead of its time.

That said, the setting is unapologetically futuristic. If you aren’t used to reading science fiction, it might feel a little unbelievable or even confusing at times, since Simmons doesn’t stop to overexplain how everything works.

The structure is especially interesting for sci-fi. It has a Canterbury Tales-like feel: the pilgrims are traveling, but each tells their story along the way, so the flashbacks take up the majority of the book. Because of this, one common criticism is that there’s relatively little plot advancement. For more action on the external plot, particularly the Shrike encounters, you’ll need to read the sequel, The Fall of Hyperion.

Because of the multiple storylines, Simmons is able to blend many subgenres — romance, horror, mystery, war — into a single sci-fi epic, which is part of why the book is so acclaimed. Since the narrative is divided among the pilgrims, you get a fair amount of development for each main character, but not enough to become fully invested in all of them. That isn’t necessarily a drawback, but it’s good to know what type of story you’re getting into before diving in.

Hyperion is one of my most memorable science fiction novels. I often find myself thinking about the world, specifically farcasters and how strange it would be to live in an Outback world with extreme time dilation. Its uniqueness is part of what makes it stand out; it’s a book that people either love or just don’t connect with. That creativity is exactly why Hyperion has become a classic of the genre and earns a spot on my list of Best Science Fiction Books of All Time.