Leo: This is my first ever genuine book review. First off, let me start by saying I don't tend to cry from movies or books, I mean LotR was amazing, HP was amazing, but this...this is different. Remember that for later.I started reading this series (4 books, 600-800 pages a book) earlier last month and now I'm finished. I'm not a super fast reader, but let's just say I read a lot more than most people did in the past weeks. I was recommended this book by a couple friends and I could not thank them more for encouraging it. These books will challenge anyone's view on life in the most entertaining way in the entire world; through an involved, complex, and incredible story that you immediately become immersed in. I will semi-summarize the books here without any spoilers because I want anyone who's read this blog post to read the books. The main aspects of the books include first and foremost love (yes, including the 18A kind, if you know what I mean), followed by philosophical, religious, and anti-religious aspects told in a science fiction medium in which Dan Simmonds (winner of multiple awards, including the Hugo Award in 1990) tells this incredible tale.
The books are based in the far future where there is a creature on the post-Earth world called Hyperion that awaits a pilgrimage to its existence, but not necessarily a religious one... it's almost impossible to tell what this creature truly is. It's known only as the "Lord of Pain" or "the Shrike". The first book is the tale of the backgrounds of all of the pilgrims and what has brought them to this pilgrimage; incredible stories of discovery, love (rated 18A+, don't worry), danger, and suffering told in multiple action-packed formats that act as a huge set up for the story to come while also being incredible stories on their own (people have read the first book as a stand alone book, though I think those people are genuinely stupid for not reading on). The next book, The Fall of Hyperion is when all of the action takes place after the background stories are told and we understand each of the character's motives and rationales. We learn each individual character's involvement with the story that moves across not only space but time and the incredible conclusion of the pilgrimage and possible insights into what happens in the future. If I had to pick my one favourite book....it would be that one, but I don't have to pick my one favourite book...moving on. Endymion and The Rise of Endymion are stories in the far future....the after story of the pilgrims.....but essentially the main story following the hero "Raul Endymion" and how we learn about his complex relationship with this.... "non-religious messiah"..... and the interesting philosophical commentary on life that follows. There are paradoxes brilliantly thought of that challenge our very concept and beliefs in almost anything, while also bringing to life an action-packed nail-biting suspenseful story that keeps us reading page after page after page after page after page. Near the end of the last book, I could not refrain from tearing up (keep in mind what I said at the very beginning of this review, and no I'm not a bitch, ass) due to the complex relations between characters and their limitations as well as their successes....I can't fully express it in words without spoiling it...... In the only words I have to describe it: I've never been so happy and sad about something at the same time..... As for the rest of the book: "I have a cupcake. I can't tell you the ingredients, but I can tell you that it tastes amazing" (thanks Tali :]).
There are some dry bits of explanations that include a few science terms, but they rarely have much to do with "our" science of today..... and if you get caught up in those, you're missing the point of the book.
tl;dr (too long; didn't read):
Read the damn fucking books. If you want.
P.S. apparently there is a shitty movie being made....written by Bradley Cooper? hopefully it's not that shitty.
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