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Hyperion Cantos #3-4
The Endymion Omnibus
ENDYMION
Two hundred and seventy-four years after the fall of the WorldWeb in Fall of Hyperion, Raoul Endymion is sent on a quest. Retrieving Aenea from the Sphinx before the Church troops reach her is only the beginning. With help from a blue-skinned android named A. Bettik, Raoul and Aenea travel the river Tethys, pursued by Father Captain Frederico DeSoya, an influential warrior-priest and his troops. The shrike continues to make enigmatic appearances, and while many questions were raised in Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion, still more are raised here. Raoul's quest will continue.
THE RISE OF ENDYMION
The time of reckoning has arrived. As a final genocidal Crusade threatens to enslave humanity forever, a new messiah has come of age. She is Aenea and she has undergone a strange apprenticeship to those known as the Others. Now her protector, Raul Endymion, one-time shepherd and convicted murderer, must help her deliver her startling message to her growing army of disciples.
But first they must embark on a final spectacular mission to discover the underlying meaning of the universe itself. They have been followed on their journey by the mysterious Shrike--monster, angel, killing machine--who is about to reveal the long-held secret of its origin and purpose. And on the planet of Hyperion, where the story first began, the final revelation will be delivered--an apocalyptic message that unlocks the secrets of existence and the fate of humankind in the galaxy.
Two hundred and seventy-four years after the fall of the WorldWeb in Fall of Hyperion, Raoul Endymion is sent on a quest. Retrieving Aenea from the Sphinx before the Church troops reach her is only the beginning. With help from a blue-skinned android named A. Bettik, Raoul and Aenea travel the river Tethys, pursued by Father Captain Frederico DeSoya, an influential warrior-priest and his troops. The shrike continues to make enigmatic appearances, and while many questions were raised in Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion, still more are raised here. Raoul's quest will continue.
THE RISE OF ENDYMION
The time of reckoning has arrived. As a final genocidal Crusade threatens to enslave humanity forever, a new messiah has come of age. She is Aenea and she has undergone a strange apprenticeship to those known as the Others. Now her protector, Raul Endymion, one-time shepherd and convicted murderer, must help her deliver her startling message to her growing army of disciples.
But first they must embark on a final spectacular mission to discover the underlying meaning of the universe itself. They have been followed on their journey by the mysterious Shrike--monster, angel, killing machine--who is about to reveal the long-held secret of its origin and purpose. And on the planet of Hyperion, where the story first began, the final revelation will be delivered--an apocalyptic message that unlocks the secrets of existence and the fate of humankind in the galaxy.
992 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Dan Simmons
316 books12.4k followersDan Simmons grew up in various cities and small towns in the Midwest, including Brimfield, Illinois, which was the source of his fictional "Elm Haven" in 1991's SUMMER OF NIGHT and 2002's A WINTER HAUNTING. Dan received a B.A. in English from Wabash College in 1970, winning a national Phi Beta Kappa Award during his senior year for excellence in fiction, journalism and art.
Dan received his Masters in Education from Washington University in St. Louis in 1971. He then worked in elementary education for 18 years—2 years in Missouri, 2 years in Buffalo, New York—one year as a specially trained BOCES "resource teacher" and another as a sixth-grade teacher—and 14 years in Colorado.
ABOUT DAN
Biographic Sketch
His last four years in teaching were spent creating, coordinating, and teaching in APEX, an extensive gifted/talented program serving 19 elementary schools and some 15,000 potential students. During his years of teaching, he won awards from the Colorado Education Association and was a finalist for the Colorado Teacher of the Year. He also worked as a national language-arts consultant, sharing his own "Writing Well" curriculum which he had created for his own classroom. Eleven and twelve-year-old students in Simmons' regular 6th-grade class averaged junior-year in high school writing ability according to annual standardized and holistic writing assessments. Whenever someone says "writing can't be taught," Dan begs to differ and has the track record to prove it. Since becoming a full-time writer, Dan likes to visit college writing classes, has taught in New Hampshire's Odyssey writing program for adults, and is considering hosting his own Windwalker Writers' Workshop.
Dan's first published story appeared on Feb. 15, 1982, the day his daughter, Jane Kathryn, was born. He's always attributed that coincidence to "helping in keeping things in perspective when it comes to the relative importance of writing and life."
Dan has been a full-time writer since 1987 and lives along the Front Range of Colorado—in the same town where he taught for 14 years—with his wife, Karen, his daughter, Jane, (when she's home from Hamilton College) and their Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Fergie. He does much of his writing at Windwalker—their mountain property and cabin at 8,400 feet of altitude at the base of the Continental Divide, just south of Rocky Mountain National Park. An 8-ft.-tall sculpture of the Shrike—a thorned and frightening character from the four Hyperion/Endymion novels—was sculpted by an ex-student and friend, Clee Richeson, and the sculpture now stands guard near the isolated cabin.
Dan received his Masters in Education from Washington University in St. Louis in 1971. He then worked in elementary education for 18 years—2 years in Missouri, 2 years in Buffalo, New York—one year as a specially trained BOCES "resource teacher" and another as a sixth-grade teacher—and 14 years in Colorado.
ABOUT DAN
Biographic Sketch
His last four years in teaching were spent creating, coordinating, and teaching in APEX, an extensive gifted/talented program serving 19 elementary schools and some 15,000 potential students. During his years of teaching, he won awards from the Colorado Education Association and was a finalist for the Colorado Teacher of the Year. He also worked as a national language-arts consultant, sharing his own "Writing Well" curriculum which he had created for his own classroom. Eleven and twelve-year-old students in Simmons' regular 6th-grade class averaged junior-year in high school writing ability according to annual standardized and holistic writing assessments. Whenever someone says "writing can't be taught," Dan begs to differ and has the track record to prove it. Since becoming a full-time writer, Dan likes to visit college writing classes, has taught in New Hampshire's Odyssey writing program for adults, and is considering hosting his own Windwalker Writers' Workshop.
Dan's first published story appeared on Feb. 15, 1982, the day his daughter, Jane Kathryn, was born. He's always attributed that coincidence to "helping in keeping things in perspective when it comes to the relative importance of writing and life."
Dan has been a full-time writer since 1987 and lives along the Front Range of Colorado—in the same town where he taught for 14 years—with his wife, Karen, his daughter, Jane, (when she's home from Hamilton College) and their Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Fergie. He does much of his writing at Windwalker—their mountain property and cabin at 8,400 feet of altitude at the base of the Continental Divide, just south of Rocky Mountain National Park. An 8-ft.-tall sculpture of the Shrike—a thorned and frightening character from the four Hyperion/Endymion novels—was sculpted by an ex-student and friend, Clee Richeson, and the sculpture now stands guard near the isolated cabin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 8, 2013
Christmas 2010: I realised that I had got stuck in a rut. I was re-reading old favourites again and again, waiting for a few trusted authors to release new works. Something had to be done.
On the spur of the moment I set myself a challenge, to read every book to have won the Locus Sci-Fi award. That’s 35 books, 6 of which I’d previously read, leaving 29 titles by 14 authors who were new to me.
While working through this reading list I got married, went on my honeymoon, switched career and became a father. As such these stories became imprinted on my memory as the soundtrack to the happiest period in my life (so far).
1998 was a year without consensus. Every significant sci-fi and fantasy award (that I follow) went to a different novel.
The Hugo went to – Halderman, Forever Peace
The Nebula went to – McIntyre, The Moon and the Sun
The Arthur C Clarke went to – Russell, The Sparrow
The B.S.F.A. went to – Priest, The Extremes
The World Fantasy went to – Ford, The Physiognomy
The Mythopoeic went to – Byatt, The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye
The Locus Fantasy went to – Powers, Earthquake Weather
The Locus Sci-Fi went to – Simmons, Rise of Endymion
It was one of those years where there just weren’t enough awards to go around, with three more superb novels (Hamilton, The Reality Dysfunction , Egan, Diaspora and Robinson, Antarctica ) all finishing empty handed.
...(It was specifically 'Rise' which won the award, but I've posted this review as the Omnibus, as that's the version I own)
Rise of Endymion is, of course, the final instalment of Simmons brain-melting space-opera epic, The Hyperion Cantos. I’m going to nail my colours to the mast right from the get-go; I’m a Dan Simmons fan and I loved this book.
...(Split and published as four books, the Cantos was written as two and I tend to refer to them as two, simply Hyperion and Endymion)
I’m happy to admit this is a very different book from Hyperion; a much simpler book. Hyperion builds a rich, complex universe and tells a strange and difficult tale from the multiple perspectives of a diverse cast. It is, without a doubt, a stunning achievement.
I have the feeling that a lot of readers follow the story to Endymion expecting a similar experience and as a result end up sorely disappointed.
Having put so much time and energy into building his Hyperion Cantos universe, Endymion is about Simmons (and us) having some fun exploring it!
The first book is road-story / chase-story where our heroes bimble along and leap through many worlds via farcaster portals, negotiating episodic dangers and gradually building their relationship. The second book takes us a little deeper, exploring our heroes’ reconfigured relationship as the time-debt of space travel brings their ages close enough for romance to blossom, the spirituality/philosophy of the maturing messiah, and the eye-water potential of the beautiful, vivid settings.
Objectively, Hyperion is the ‘better’ book – but subjectively Endymion is (for me at least) a more pleasurable experience. It’s better escapism. It doesn’t make my brain hurt. It had that blend of high-tech sci-fi that I love, that feels magical. It was more uplifting. More emotive. Hyperion felt like an exhibit, Endymion like an embrace.
I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t care!
I feel like I’m back in the playground, holding hands with the piggy-nosed girl. I think she’s pretty and the rest of you can just go away and stop calling her names!
Read Endymion .
Love Aenea.
Be happy.
After this I read: Accelerando
December 27, 2019
3 Stars
Honestly, this was kind of a let down for me. Endymion was okay, but nothing compared to the first two Hyperion books. What made me love the first two books were the characters and Endymion just can't keep up with those. The story itself was still quite good.
The Rise of Endymion was pretty boring though.
Individual Ratings:
Endymion - 3.5 Stars
The Rise of Endymion - 2.5 Stars
Honestly, this was kind of a let down for me. Endymion was okay, but nothing compared to the first two Hyperion books. What made me love the first two books were the characters and Endymion just can't keep up with those. The story itself was still quite good.
The Rise of Endymion was pretty boring though.
Individual Ratings:
Endymion - 3.5 Stars
The Rise of Endymion - 2.5 Stars
October 16, 2022
Questa seconda parte della saga è molto diversa dalla prima.
È diversa a livello temporale, svolgendosi parecchio dopo il pellegrinaggio su Hyperion, quando gli eventi di allora sono quasi diventati mito, quando l'Egemonia è ormai caduta e il suo posto è stato preso dalla Pax, guidata implacabilmente dalla Chiesa e dai Crucimorfi con la loro promessa di immortalità: chi può resistere alla garanzia dell'immortalità, alla promessa della vita eterna in questo mondo, in cambio solo dell'adesione alla chiesa e di un po' di fede? Beh, qualcuno apparentemente può, per fortuna.
È diversa a livello di protagonisti: laddove prima avevamo un cast variegato con voci diverse che si alternavano e molteplici storie convergenti nell'incontro con lo Shrike, qui seguiamo la storia di Endymion. Che è la vecchia capitale di Hyperion, ma anche il nome di un suo esule, una sorta di nomade di Hyperion cresciuto a miti e tradizioni, capace di fare un po' tutto senza eccellere in nulla. Destinato a essere al centro delle cose suo malgrado
C'è anche Aenea, ma lei appare sempre esterna, estranea, qualcosa di invitabile e ineluttabile, un centro di gravità attorno al quale Endymion e la storia ruotano.
Abbiamo anche un nutrito cast di comprimari, vecchi e nuovi, ma nessuno di loro ha una voce reale.
È diversa come forma.
I primi due libri sono la storia del pellegrinaggio narrata da Sileno, la sua grande opera redatta nell'attesa della morte.
Questi sono il racconto di ciò che seguì, della vita di Endymion e quindi di Aenea, e di tutto ciò che c'è intorno, narrati da Endymion stesso in attesa della propria morte.
Anche se poi in realtà tutto si ricongiunge nei canti di Hyperion, certo, ma il formato quello è.
Ma è diversa anche in altro.
In Hyperion abbiamo diversità, stupore per quel che poco a poco scopriamo, un affresco che dopo ogni racconto si arricchisce e diventa più completo fino a darci il quadro generale, alla fine.
Qui abbiamo le peripezie di Endymion: alla ricerca di Aenea, in fuga con Aenea, in fuga da solo, alla ricerca di nuovo di Aenea, in fuga di nuovo con Aenea.
Il grosso difetto di questo libro (che pure è pieno di ottime cose, di inventiva e di genialità, di nuovi mondi e nuove creature e nuovo intrighi) è Aenea. O meglio, con ciò che significa.
Perché avere una protagonista messianica capace di "ricordare" il futuro toglie mordente alla lettura (tutto andrà come deve andare, non ci saranno mai reali rischi almeno per i due protagonisti, no?) ma anche allo stesso Endymion, che a parte in poche eccezionali occasioni appare sempre come passivo, travolto dalla propria "protetta" (che proteggerà giusto una volta) e dagli eventi, perso nel flusso dell'inevitabile destino già scritto, già noto a quasi tutti (tranne che a noi e a Endymion stesso).
Un motore per la storia lecito, eh, ma che io francamente trovo sempre estremamente faticoso da digerire.
Il che mi è risultato in ampi periodi di noia durante la lettura, purtroppo.
Buono ma duro da leggere, e irritante con la sua predestinazione onnipresente.
È diversa a livello temporale, svolgendosi parecchio dopo il pellegrinaggio su Hyperion, quando gli eventi di allora sono quasi diventati mito, quando l'Egemonia è ormai caduta e il suo posto è stato preso dalla Pax, guidata implacabilmente dalla Chiesa e dai Crucimorfi con la loro promessa di immortalità: chi può resistere alla garanzia dell'immortalità, alla promessa della vita eterna in questo mondo, in cambio solo dell'adesione alla chiesa e di un po' di fede? Beh, qualcuno apparentemente può, per fortuna.
È diversa a livello di protagonisti: laddove prima avevamo un cast variegato con voci diverse che si alternavano e molteplici storie convergenti nell'incontro con lo Shrike, qui seguiamo la storia di Endymion. Che è la vecchia capitale di Hyperion, ma anche il nome di un suo esule, una sorta di nomade di Hyperion cresciuto a miti e tradizioni, capace di fare un po' tutto senza eccellere in nulla. Destinato a essere al centro delle cose suo malgrado
C'è anche Aenea, ma lei appare sempre esterna, estranea, qualcosa di invitabile e ineluttabile, un centro di gravità attorno al quale Endymion e la storia ruotano.
Abbiamo anche un nutrito cast di comprimari, vecchi e nuovi, ma nessuno di loro ha una voce reale.
È diversa come forma.
I primi due libri sono la storia del pellegrinaggio narrata da Sileno, la sua grande opera redatta nell'attesa della morte.
Questi sono il racconto di ciò che seguì, della vita di Endymion e quindi di Aenea, e di tutto ciò che c'è intorno, narrati da Endymion stesso in attesa della propria morte.
Anche se poi in realtà tutto si ricongiunge nei canti di Hyperion, certo, ma il formato quello è.
Ma è diversa anche in altro.
In Hyperion abbiamo diversità, stupore per quel che poco a poco scopriamo, un affresco che dopo ogni racconto si arricchisce e diventa più completo fino a darci il quadro generale, alla fine.
Qui abbiamo le peripezie di Endymion: alla ricerca di Aenea, in fuga con Aenea, in fuga da solo, alla ricerca di nuovo di Aenea, in fuga di nuovo con Aenea.
Il grosso difetto di questo libro (che pure è pieno di ottime cose, di inventiva e di genialità, di nuovi mondi e nuove creature e nuovo intrighi) è Aenea. O meglio, con ciò che significa.
Perché avere una protagonista messianica capace di "ricordare" il futuro toglie mordente alla lettura (tutto andrà come deve andare, non ci saranno mai reali rischi almeno per i due protagonisti, no?) ma anche allo stesso Endymion, che a parte in poche eccezionali occasioni appare sempre come passivo, travolto dalla propria "protetta" (che proteggerà giusto una volta) e dagli eventi, perso nel flusso dell'inevitabile destino già scritto, già noto a quasi tutti (tranne che a noi e a Endymion stesso).
Un motore per la storia lecito, eh, ma che io francamente trovo sempre estremamente faticoso da digerire.
Il che mi è risultato in ampi periodi di noia durante la lettura, purtroppo.
Buono ma duro da leggere, e irritante con la sua predestinazione onnipresente.
February 21, 2019
After six years since the completion of the Hyperion duology that marked it as one of the greatest literary achievements of science fiction, gaining quickly the admiration of readers and critics alike, and becoming a masterpiece of its own right, Dan Simmons returns in The Endymion Omnibus, the second volume of Hyperion Cantos collecting the next two novels: Endymion and The Rise of Endymion, back to the universe of his award-winning series, traveling us in a two-legged story of Jesuits and messiahs, troopers and inhuman warriors, and killing machines and alien entities, but also in a two-part adventure of faith and rebirth, immortality and corruption, and love and sacrifice, in a final, concluding second duology.
Endymion (7.5/10)
In the thirty-second century the universe has been born again. For almost three hundred years since the Fall, and the return of the human race in a dark age, the Pax – controlled by the new order of the Roman Catholic Church and its pope – has become the new rising power of the galaxy, civilizing and converting billions of souls across the former Web and Outback worlds, and creating through its ever-expanding influence a theocratic and military government system that has left its will undisputed – but Raul Endymion, imprisoned inside a Schrödinger cat box, suspended in a cell between life and death until the end of his days, has been recounting his many lives – and death sentences.
Born and raised among a caravan shepherd family on the planet Hyperion – from where the banned poem, the Cantos, was inspired – finding his own paths through the hard world and its ways for the better part of his youth, Raul will recall the time at his twenty-seventh years-of-age when he thought that he knew everything from life, and convinced that nothing important would ever happen again.
Yet, with his last job at that time to had taken a sudden turn, bringing him up against an extremely unpleasant and inevitable outcome, when he awoke as if in a second life full of new possibilities, and was offered the opportunity to become a hero and to rescue an innocent child, Raul found himself along with an unlikely company on a quest across the galaxy, guarding and protecting the unwritten destiny of all humankind.
At the same time, some thousand light-years in a faraway star system, Father Captain Federico de Soya, having received the cruciform as many other faithful of the Sacrament of Resurrection, serving the new doctrine of the Church as a priest and a Pax fleet officer alike wherever deemed necessary, had been carrying out along with the three torchships under his command the mission of destroying an Ouster orbital forest, and putting an end to another center of supply of their enemies.
But, with the sudden arrival of an archangel-class courier – one of the fastest, but also greatest secret starships of the fleet – to had brought an unexpected message to him, ordering him to return to the planet Pacem immediately, when he was assigned from both the Pax Command and the Church to capture a seemingly insignificant young girl coming from the past, and to stop her from becoming a threat against their faith, de Soya soon found himself in a cycle of death and rebirth, pursuing an unusual child that shook everything he knew.
However, with their adventures to had taken them through the River Tethys, coming across world after world – once full of wonders and life – now much changed, when the Church – motivated by a higher power – sought to keep its schemes hidden from the rest of the galaxy, and an agent of unparalleled abilities was sent onto their tracks, Raul and his companions, and Father Captain de Soya and his men found themselves against their very beliefs, faced with a deep conspiracy that, if they made the wrong choice, could bring humankind to its eternal damnation.
Following on the footsteps of his award-winning first duology, drawing once again his inspiration from John Keats’s works as well as from the Greek mythology, Dan Simmons returns to the Hyperion Cantos universe, transferring us in Endymion into the thirty-second century where the human space has fallen into a two-sided regime: the Church which, having found and perfected the secret methods for the ultimate rebirth through the cruciform, converting the populations of the former Web and Outback worlds to the Sacrament of Resurrection – and to the Body of Christ – has created a vast theocratic system across the galaxy, imposing its beliefs upon humankind as it deems fit; and the Pax which, rising to power alongside the Church, building anew technologies of interstellar compatibility, has taken upon it to patrol and defend their controlled worlds from their – inner or outer – enemies, making it the next, and most powerful human military force after the Fall.
But also to the River Tethys, where once – similarly with the Grand Concourse, an infinite mall – it was connected through multiple worlds at the same time, flowing into hundreds of canals and tributaries that made it one of the greatest tourist attractions, as well as Hegemony’s most valuable technological achievement, leaving now its grandeur only in the memories and imagination of a long forgotten era.
A first installment in which, written in a recounting form, using a mix of past- and present-tense to develop the plot, but with a much more linear structure than the first duology, Simmons brings us into a new era of humanity’s, taking us in a fast-paced, action-packed story of Jesuits, troopers, androids, inhuman warriors, and haunting monsters, that combines faith with despotism, rebirth with absolution, and heroism with destiny – however, although he succeeds in making a well enough adventure, it falls short in comparison with the two Hyperion novels, failing to catch the sheer brilliance and the profound complexity of storytelling that made them so masterfully great, and leaving a feeling – a need for something more.
The Rise of Endymion (6/10)
Four years had passed since the events on the planet God’s Grove, and the challenges they faced; and then, with His Holiness, Pope Julius XIV, to had reached the end of his ninth life, bringing a gathering of the highest dignitaries within the hierarchy of the Church for the election of the next Supreme Pontiff, and the definition of its position towards the future of humankind, the time of the reckoning was arriving all the more in the galaxy, promising a final Crusade that would mark the end of everything they knew – but Raul Endymion, sentenced in his orbital exile around the barren planet Armaghast, awaiting for the isotope emission that would release him from this life, has been continuing his telling.
Recording his past adventures in recycled microvellum pages, leaving his lost memories stored in the memory of the ’scriber, Raul will remember the time at Aenea’s sixteenth birthday when her apprenticeship on the kidnapped Old Earth came to an end, and the day he embarked on his own odyssey across the galaxy.
Yet, with his journey to had taken him from planet after planet, bringing him once again before the different wonders and lives of these worlds, when he fell ill in the most unlikely place, leaving him enfeebled and weakened, and the continual inquiries of the Pax’s agents for his capture of his and Aenea’s came closer to his traces more than ever, Raul found himself struggling to bring around his body – and his mind – trying to reach to his destination before his time ran out.
Meanwhile, in the desert world of MadredeDios, in the small town of Nuevo Atlan, Father Federico de Soya, having been removed from service and stripped from his rank, sent to the most unfavorable system of the galaxy after his failings for the rest of his days, had been rediscovering his original vocation, and propagating to the few believers the word of God.
But, with the Church at the time to had begun entering a new phase of change, wanting to put a definitive end to the abnormally tailored species known as Ousters, when he was recalled back to active service, and assigned to a task force of archangel-class cruisers, de Soya found himself amidst an incursion and an unforgivable act that tested the faith of his and his crew, faced with a decision that would mark their lives forever.
At the same time, Kenzo Isozaki, having been one of the CEOs of Pax Mercantilus, and of the biggest rivals of the Church’s organizations, had been attempting to discover the agreement of their alliance with their inconspicuous partners, bringing him before only deeper secrets that would change his views forever; Cardinal Mustafa, Grand Inquisitor of the few centuries reinstated Holy Office, had been seeking to bring to light the Church’s schemes, founding himself soon on a journey towards the long-forgotten of humanity red planet, Mars, and in a peculiar mission that would bring him to a great revelation; while Rhadamanth Nemes, buried deep within the ground of a once verdant world, desiring more than anything else to take her revenge from Aenea and her protectors, was confronted along with her three siblings with an enemy she hadn’t counted on.
However, with the Church’s Crusade to had taken its punishment across the galaxy, waging a war for the salvation of humankind without precedent, when the – seemingly unintended – acts of others brought their schemes closer to their realization, and a final a blow was set in motion against the so-called One Who Teaches and all her followers, Raul and Aenea, de Soya and his crew, and their friends and loved ones were faced with their greatest challenge, coming between a deeply rooted regime and the absolute sacrifice – a challenge which, if they failed to do the right thing, could doom not only the galaxy itself but also the entire universe.
Continuing the narrative arc that began in the first installment, picking up the story not long after from where it left off, Dan Simmons returns for the last time to the universe of Hyperion Cantos, traveling us in The Rise of Endymion to the planet Pacem, and the Vatican headquarters, whereby the Church and its offices derive their power, working in cooperation – through schemes and plots – with the Fleet’s forces and the Mercantilus’ trade to preserve and expand their faith, and making it the most powerful – and dangerous – place within Pax space; but also to T’ien Shan, the Mountains of Heaven, where colonists of long-forgotten Asian peoples have returned back to their monastic and shamanistic ways, establishing the Buddhist traditions in their new homeland, and building a peaceful, non-technologically developed society that has found at its core the true meaning of life.
As well as to the Ouster space, where for centuries the gene-tailored human species – hated and feared by the Church and the Pax – has reached farther out in the galaxy than anyone else, seeking and discovering other civilizations and life-forms, learning, sharing and evolving continuously through new biological technologies, and creating a big and diverse society beyond all imagination.
A second installment in which, written in the same style as the first one, but with much more points of view this time, Simmons creates an epic final story of love and sacrifice, deepening through the main protagonist’s introspections to the meaning of the universe and life itself, and taking us in an adventure of clergymen, messiahs, clone construcs, killing machines, and alien entities, that combines theology with philosophy, immortality with fanaticism, and corruption with power – a second installment which, even though it is divided into three overly long and extensively parts, giving the impression a lot of times to be dragging endlessly, manages to tie all loose ends – thus completing the cycle of Hyperion Cantos – and to deliver a very beautiful finale that should be enough.
Once more however, the amount of retconning – not only revising past events to accomodate the current plot, but also criticizing his own works – leaves in the end a less than satisfactory aftertaste.
All in all, The Endymion Omnibus is a mediocre second duology, with Dan Simmons – taking a very different direction from the first one – transporting us into a new era, traveling us in an epic story of Jesuits, messiahs, and inhuman warriors, but also in an adventure of immortality, corruption, and love and sacrifice – but although it promises, if not a great, at least pleasant adventure in the beginning, all these are bogged down later by the amount of retconning and overstretched plot, losing what made the Hyperion duology so greatly unique.
Ελληνική κριτική 1/2:
Endymion (7.5/10)
In the thirty-second century the universe has been born again. For almost three hundred years since the Fall, and the return of the human race in a dark age, the Pax – controlled by the new order of the Roman Catholic Church and its pope – has become the new rising power of the galaxy, civilizing and converting billions of souls across the former Web and Outback worlds, and creating through its ever-expanding influence a theocratic and military government system that has left its will undisputed – but Raul Endymion, imprisoned inside a Schrödinger cat box, suspended in a cell between life and death until the end of his days, has been recounting his many lives – and death sentences.
Born and raised among a caravan shepherd family on the planet Hyperion – from where the banned poem, the Cantos, was inspired – finding his own paths through the hard world and its ways for the better part of his youth, Raul will recall the time at his twenty-seventh years-of-age when he thought that he knew everything from life, and convinced that nothing important would ever happen again.
Yet, with his last job at that time to had taken a sudden turn, bringing him up against an extremely unpleasant and inevitable outcome, when he awoke as if in a second life full of new possibilities, and was offered the opportunity to become a hero and to rescue an innocent child, Raul found himself along with an unlikely company on a quest across the galaxy, guarding and protecting the unwritten destiny of all humankind.
At the same time, some thousand light-years in a faraway star system, Father Captain Federico de Soya, having received the cruciform as many other faithful of the Sacrament of Resurrection, serving the new doctrine of the Church as a priest and a Pax fleet officer alike wherever deemed necessary, had been carrying out along with the three torchships under his command the mission of destroying an Ouster orbital forest, and putting an end to another center of supply of their enemies.
But, with the sudden arrival of an archangel-class courier – one of the fastest, but also greatest secret starships of the fleet – to had brought an unexpected message to him, ordering him to return to the planet Pacem immediately, when he was assigned from both the Pax Command and the Church to capture a seemingly insignificant young girl coming from the past, and to stop her from becoming a threat against their faith, de Soya soon found himself in a cycle of death and rebirth, pursuing an unusual child that shook everything he knew.
However, with their adventures to had taken them through the River Tethys, coming across world after world – once full of wonders and life – now much changed, when the Church – motivated by a higher power – sought to keep its schemes hidden from the rest of the galaxy, and an agent of unparalleled abilities was sent onto their tracks, Raul and his companions, and Father Captain de Soya and his men found themselves against their very beliefs, faced with a deep conspiracy that, if they made the wrong choice, could bring humankind to its eternal damnation.
Following on the footsteps of his award-winning first duology, drawing once again his inspiration from John Keats’s works as well as from the Greek mythology, Dan Simmons returns to the Hyperion Cantos universe, transferring us in Endymion into the thirty-second century where the human space has fallen into a two-sided regime: the Church which, having found and perfected the secret methods for the ultimate rebirth through the cruciform, converting the populations of the former Web and Outback worlds to the Sacrament of Resurrection – and to the Body of Christ – has created a vast theocratic system across the galaxy, imposing its beliefs upon humankind as it deems fit; and the Pax which, rising to power alongside the Church, building anew technologies of interstellar compatibility, has taken upon it to patrol and defend their controlled worlds from their – inner or outer – enemies, making it the next, and most powerful human military force after the Fall.
But also to the River Tethys, where once – similarly with the Grand Concourse, an infinite mall – it was connected through multiple worlds at the same time, flowing into hundreds of canals and tributaries that made it one of the greatest tourist attractions, as well as Hegemony’s most valuable technological achievement, leaving now its grandeur only in the memories and imagination of a long forgotten era.
A first installment in which, written in a recounting form, using a mix of past- and present-tense to develop the plot, but with a much more linear structure than the first duology, Simmons brings us into a new era of humanity’s, taking us in a fast-paced, action-packed story of Jesuits, troopers, androids, inhuman warriors, and haunting monsters, that combines faith with despotism, rebirth with absolution, and heroism with destiny – however, although he succeeds in making a well enough adventure, it falls short in comparison with the two Hyperion novels, failing to catch the sheer brilliance and the profound complexity of storytelling that made them so masterfully great, and leaving a feeling – a need for something more.
The Rise of Endymion (6/10)
Four years had passed since the events on the planet God’s Grove, and the challenges they faced; and then, with His Holiness, Pope Julius XIV, to had reached the end of his ninth life, bringing a gathering of the highest dignitaries within the hierarchy of the Church for the election of the next Supreme Pontiff, and the definition of its position towards the future of humankind, the time of the reckoning was arriving all the more in the galaxy, promising a final Crusade that would mark the end of everything they knew – but Raul Endymion, sentenced in his orbital exile around the barren planet Armaghast, awaiting for the isotope emission that would release him from this life, has been continuing his telling.
Recording his past adventures in recycled microvellum pages, leaving his lost memories stored in the memory of the ’scriber, Raul will remember the time at Aenea’s sixteenth birthday when her apprenticeship on the kidnapped Old Earth came to an end, and the day he embarked on his own odyssey across the galaxy.
Yet, with his journey to had taken him from planet after planet, bringing him once again before the different wonders and lives of these worlds, when he fell ill in the most unlikely place, leaving him enfeebled and weakened, and the continual inquiries of the Pax’s agents for his capture of his and Aenea’s came closer to his traces more than ever, Raul found himself struggling to bring around his body – and his mind – trying to reach to his destination before his time ran out.
Meanwhile, in the desert world of MadredeDios, in the small town of Nuevo Atlan, Father Federico de Soya, having been removed from service and stripped from his rank, sent to the most unfavorable system of the galaxy after his failings for the rest of his days, had been rediscovering his original vocation, and propagating to the few believers the word of God.
But, with the Church at the time to had begun entering a new phase of change, wanting to put a definitive end to the abnormally tailored species known as Ousters, when he was recalled back to active service, and assigned to a task force of archangel-class cruisers, de Soya found himself amidst an incursion and an unforgivable act that tested the faith of his and his crew, faced with a decision that would mark their lives forever.
At the same time, Kenzo Isozaki, having been one of the CEOs of Pax Mercantilus, and of the biggest rivals of the Church’s organizations, had been attempting to discover the agreement of their alliance with their inconspicuous partners, bringing him before only deeper secrets that would change his views forever; Cardinal Mustafa, Grand Inquisitor of the few centuries reinstated Holy Office, had been seeking to bring to light the Church’s schemes, founding himself soon on a journey towards the long-forgotten of humanity red planet, Mars, and in a peculiar mission that would bring him to a great revelation; while Rhadamanth Nemes, buried deep within the ground of a once verdant world, desiring more than anything else to take her revenge from Aenea and her protectors, was confronted along with her three siblings with an enemy she hadn’t counted on.
However, with the Church’s Crusade to had taken its punishment across the galaxy, waging a war for the salvation of humankind without precedent, when the – seemingly unintended – acts of others brought their schemes closer to their realization, and a final a blow was set in motion against the so-called One Who Teaches and all her followers, Raul and Aenea, de Soya and his crew, and their friends and loved ones were faced with their greatest challenge, coming between a deeply rooted regime and the absolute sacrifice – a challenge which, if they failed to do the right thing, could doom not only the galaxy itself but also the entire universe.
Continuing the narrative arc that began in the first installment, picking up the story not long after from where it left off, Dan Simmons returns for the last time to the universe of Hyperion Cantos, traveling us in The Rise of Endymion to the planet Pacem, and the Vatican headquarters, whereby the Church and its offices derive their power, working in cooperation – through schemes and plots – with the Fleet’s forces and the Mercantilus’ trade to preserve and expand their faith, and making it the most powerful – and dangerous – place within Pax space; but also to T’ien Shan, the Mountains of Heaven, where colonists of long-forgotten Asian peoples have returned back to their monastic and shamanistic ways, establishing the Buddhist traditions in their new homeland, and building a peaceful, non-technologically developed society that has found at its core the true meaning of life.
As well as to the Ouster space, where for centuries the gene-tailored human species – hated and feared by the Church and the Pax – has reached farther out in the galaxy than anyone else, seeking and discovering other civilizations and life-forms, learning, sharing and evolving continuously through new biological technologies, and creating a big and diverse society beyond all imagination.
A second installment in which, written in the same style as the first one, but with much more points of view this time, Simmons creates an epic final story of love and sacrifice, deepening through the main protagonist’s introspections to the meaning of the universe and life itself, and taking us in an adventure of clergymen, messiahs, clone construcs, killing machines, and alien entities, that combines theology with philosophy, immortality with fanaticism, and corruption with power – a second installment which, even though it is divided into three overly long and extensively parts, giving the impression a lot of times to be dragging endlessly, manages to tie all loose ends – thus completing the cycle of Hyperion Cantos – and to deliver a very beautiful finale that should be enough.
Once more however, the amount of retconning – not only revising past events to accomodate the current plot, but also criticizing his own works – leaves in the end a less than satisfactory aftertaste.
All in all, The Endymion Omnibus is a mediocre second duology, with Dan Simmons – taking a very different direction from the first one – transporting us into a new era, traveling us in an epic story of Jesuits, messiahs, and inhuman warriors, but also in an adventure of immortality, corruption, and love and sacrifice – but although it promises, if not a great, at least pleasant adventure in the beginning, all these are bogged down later by the amount of retconning and overstretched plot, losing what made the Hyperion duology so greatly unique.
Ελληνική κριτική 1/2:
July 19, 2018
¿Quiere saber más de estos dos libros, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
November 11, 2019
Продължаваме представянето на един от най-големите научнофантастични епоси в съвременната литература – „Хиперион” на Дан Симънс. Вече изказах възхищението си от първите два романа, събрани в един том, част от поредицана „Велики майстори на фентъзи и фантастика” на изд. „Бард”. Ред е на продължението „Ендимион”, съдържащо третия и четвъртия роман от цикъла. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
December 30, 2021
4,5⭐️
Was für einen Wahnsinn hat sich Dan Simmons hier ausgedacht?!
Die ganze Art wie die Story erzählt wird hat nichts mit den ersten beiden Teilen der Hyperion Gesänge zu tun.
Großteile dieses 3. und 4. Teils sind eine Abenteuer-Odyssee durch verschiedene Welten. Diese werden mal mehr, mal weniger ausladend erzählt. In den zu detaillierten, ausladenden Szenen hat Simmons meine Aufmerksamkeit immer wieder verloren. Das Buch hat mich daher sehr viel Zeit gekostet.
Die Gestaltung der Welten und Orbitalkonstrukte mit ihren Gesellschaftsformen, der Pflanzenwelt und Spezies ist meisterhaft. Hier liegt seine absolute Stärke. Großes Highlight war die Welt, auf der eine weiterentwickelte Form des Zen Buddhismus praktiziert wird.
Bis zu 70% des Buches war ich schon geneigt nur 3 Sterne zu vergeben. Ich habe an vielen Stellen die Sinnhaftigkeit nicht gesehen.
Die letzten 30% haben dann den Aha-Moment gebracht. Alles wird aufgeklärt und wird in den großen Gesamtkontext gesetzt- ebenfalls die Elemente die aus Band 1 und 2 noch nicht befriedigend beantwortet wurden.
Das Gesamte Werk der Hyperiongesänge/Endymion beschäftigt sich mit Religion (vordergründig die katholische Kirche)-dies wird genial mit KI, Zeitsprüngen und dem Thema Evolution kombiniert.
Leider kann ich hier nur sehr kryptisch bleiben, da alles andere spoilern würde.
Das Ende war Pathos pur-nun ja...
Jedenfalls werde ich die Hyperiongesänge noch einmal lesen müssen, da ich nun weiß worauf in Band 1+2 die Aufmerksamkeit gelegt werden muss, um so einiges besser begreifen und kontextualisieren zu können.
Was für einen Wahnsinn hat sich Dan Simmons hier ausgedacht?!
Die ganze Art wie die Story erzählt wird hat nichts mit den ersten beiden Teilen der Hyperion Gesänge zu tun.
Großteile dieses 3. und 4. Teils sind eine Abenteuer-Odyssee durch verschiedene Welten. Diese werden mal mehr, mal weniger ausladend erzählt. In den zu detaillierten, ausladenden Szenen hat Simmons meine Aufmerksamkeit immer wieder verloren. Das Buch hat mich daher sehr viel Zeit gekostet.
Die Gestaltung der Welten und Orbitalkonstrukte mit ihren Gesellschaftsformen, der Pflanzenwelt und Spezies ist meisterhaft. Hier liegt seine absolute Stärke. Großes Highlight war die Welt, auf der eine weiterentwickelte Form des Zen Buddhismus praktiziert wird.
Bis zu 70% des Buches war ich schon geneigt nur 3 Sterne zu vergeben. Ich habe an vielen Stellen die Sinnhaftigkeit nicht gesehen.
Die letzten 30% haben dann den Aha-Moment gebracht. Alles wird aufgeklärt und wird in den großen Gesamtkontext gesetzt- ebenfalls die Elemente die aus Band 1 und 2 noch nicht befriedigend beantwortet wurden.
Das Gesamte Werk der Hyperiongesänge/Endymion beschäftigt sich mit Religion (vordergründig die katholische Kirche)-dies wird genial mit KI, Zeitsprüngen und dem Thema Evolution kombiniert.
Leider kann ich hier nur sehr kryptisch bleiben, da alles andere spoilern würde.
Das Ende war Pathos pur-nun ja...
Jedenfalls werde ich die Hyperiongesänge noch einmal lesen müssen, da ich nun weiß worauf in Band 1+2 die Aufmerksamkeit gelegt werden muss, um so einiges besser begreifen und kontextualisieren zu können.
February 18, 2020
«Alla pazzia» disse. «Alla divina follia. Alle insane mete e ai messia che gridano nel deserto. Alla morte dei tiranni. Alla confusione dei nostri nemici.»
Ebbene, se la prima parte dei Canti di Hyperion mi aveva lasciata stranita da tanta grandezza e assolutamente ammaliata dalla cultura immensa di Simmons, dalle sue citazioni e dai suoi rimandi storici, sociologici, religiosi, politici e letterari, questa seconda parte mi ha avvinto in un modo ancor più pervicace, tanto che alcune pagine di queste 915 me le sono rilette più volte.
Si riparte trecento anni dopo la caduta della rete dei telereporter, che ha portato enormi distruzioni, l'isolamento tra i pianeti centrali della galassia e quelli più lontani, la proliferazione di società diverse e non più uniformate come sotto l'Egemonia. La chiesa cattolica, tuttavia, è riuscita a consolidare di nuovo un grande potere politico-commerciale e sta gradualmente riconquistando tutti i sistemi, con metodi molto "reazionari" potremmo dire.
Grazie all'aiuto del Tecnonucleo, la Pax riesce a donare l'immortalità ai propri cristiani rinati, possiede una tecnologia all'avanguardia, dispensa nuovi sacramenti di confessione, morte e resurrezione. Tuttavia non c'è spazio per l'altro: chi non si converte e i seguaci di altre religioni (ebrei, buddisti o mussulmani, ma anche empatici o semplici atei) viene drasticamente eliminato o riconvertito con la forza e il ricatto.
E' una sorta di medioevo fantascientifico, con templari alla guida di navi, nuove crociate lanciate dai legionari del Papa, un ritorno di torture ed inquisizione, e una commistione tra teocrazia e gilde commerciali, benché ciò rimanga sotto un velo ipocrita e subdolo: infatti "la Pax non governa ma consiglia".
L'unica che può fermare l'alleanza Pax-Tecnonucleo è Aenea (la figlia di Brawne e del cibrido di John Keats), ancora una bambina all'inizio del suo viaggio. Suoi compagni d'avventura saranno Raul Endymion (anche qui un omaggio al poema di John Keats del 1817) e l'androide A.Bettik, chiamati ad assisterla nella sua crescita e maturazione per poter divenire una sorta di nuova Messia.
Di nuovo un viaggio, quindi, o se vogliamo un nuovo pellegrinaggio tra avventure, lutti e e scoperte, in giro per mondi in cui la fantasia di Simmons si scatena (anche se tutti, da Mare Infinitum a Sol Draconis Septem, sono descritti con una rigorosa accuratezza per quanto riguarda la natura, la tecnologia, gli usi del pianeta) con un incontro di culture, razze e sbalzi temporali.
Anche lo Shrike ritorna con la sua potenza omicida, ma stavolta per difendere l'umanità contro Nemes, (mandata invece dalle Intelligenze Artificiali dalle IA del TecnoNucleo che tramano contro (questo mi ha ricordato molto la lotta contro tra i cyborg IA e Schwarzenegger-cyborg buono in Terminator 2).
Ho adorato tutto, provando grandissime emozioni.
Persino i dialoghi meno importanti contengono riflessioni interessanti, persino i personaggi minori hanno un ruolo in questa trama ultra-complessa.
Ma soprattutto (e finalmente) qui c'è una gran bella storia d'amore tra due anime che si inseguono nelle dimensioni e in una missione che li sovrasta, in cui credono sino alla fine, e che è una delle ragioni per cui ho concluso il libro con parecchia commozione.
Curiosità: vi è un ulteriore romanzo breve (che ha pure vinto il premio Locus) e che si svolge circa quattrocento anni dopo la fine di questa quadrilogia. Penso che andrò a cercarmelo in biblioteca.
Quelle erano le parole che ti diedi, con un bacio mentre ancora dormivi, l’ultima ora dell’ultimo giorno del nostro primo viaggio, mio amato Raul.
Quelle sono le parole che ti lascio stanotte, con un bacio mentre sei sveglio.
Quelle sono le parole che pretenderò da te quando tornerò la prossima volta, quando il racconto sarà completato e inizierà il nostro viaggio finale.
Ebbene, se la prima parte dei Canti di Hyperion mi aveva lasciata stranita da tanta grandezza e assolutamente ammaliata dalla cultura immensa di Simmons, dalle sue citazioni e dai suoi rimandi storici, sociologici, religiosi, politici e letterari, questa seconda parte mi ha avvinto in un modo ancor più pervicace, tanto che alcune pagine di queste 915 me le sono rilette più volte.
Si riparte trecento anni dopo la caduta della rete dei telereporter, che ha portato enormi distruzioni, l'isolamento tra i pianeti centrali della galassia e quelli più lontani, la proliferazione di società diverse e non più uniformate come sotto l'Egemonia. La chiesa cattolica, tuttavia, è riuscita a consolidare di nuovo un grande potere politico-commerciale e sta gradualmente riconquistando tutti i sistemi, con metodi molto "reazionari" potremmo dire.
Grazie all'aiuto del Tecnonucleo, la Pax riesce a donare l'immortalità ai propri cristiani rinati, possiede una tecnologia all'avanguardia, dispensa nuovi sacramenti di confessione, morte e resurrezione. Tuttavia non c'è spazio per l'altro: chi non si converte e i seguaci di altre religioni (ebrei, buddisti o mussulmani, ma anche empatici o semplici atei) viene drasticamente eliminato o riconvertito con la forza e il ricatto.
E' una sorta di medioevo fantascientifico, con templari alla guida di navi, nuove crociate lanciate dai legionari del Papa, un ritorno di torture ed inquisizione, e una commistione tra teocrazia e gilde commerciali, benché ciò rimanga sotto un velo ipocrita e subdolo: infatti "la Pax non governa ma consiglia".
L'unica che può fermare l'alleanza Pax-Tecnonucleo è Aenea (la figlia di Brawne e del cibrido di John Keats), ancora una bambina all'inizio del suo viaggio. Suoi compagni d'avventura saranno Raul Endymion (anche qui un omaggio al poema di John Keats del 1817) e l'androide A.Bettik, chiamati ad assisterla nella sua crescita e maturazione per poter divenire una sorta di nuova Messia.
Di nuovo un viaggio, quindi, o se vogliamo un nuovo pellegrinaggio tra avventure, lutti e e scoperte, in giro per mondi in cui la fantasia di Simmons si scatena (anche se tutti, da Mare Infinitum a Sol Draconis Septem, sono descritti con una rigorosa accuratezza per quanto riguarda la natura, la tecnologia, gli usi del pianeta) con un incontro di culture, razze e sbalzi temporali.
Anche lo Shrike ritorna con la sua potenza omicida, ma stavolta per difendere l'umanità contro Nemes, (mandata invece dalle Intelligenze Artificiali dalle IA del TecnoNucleo che tramano contro (questo mi ha ricordato molto la lotta contro tra i cyborg IA e Schwarzenegger-cyborg buono in Terminator 2).
Ho adorato tutto, provando grandissime emozioni.
Persino i dialoghi meno importanti contengono riflessioni interessanti, persino i personaggi minori hanno un ruolo in questa trama ultra-complessa.
Ma soprattutto (e finalmente) qui c'è una gran bella storia d'amore tra due anime che si inseguono nelle dimensioni e in una missione che li sovrasta, in cui credono sino alla fine, e che è una delle ragioni per cui ho concluso il libro con parecchia commozione.
Curiosità: vi è un ulteriore romanzo breve (che ha pure vinto il premio Locus) e che si svolge circa quattrocento anni dopo la fine di questa quadrilogia. Penso che andrò a cercarmelo in biblioteca.
Quelle erano le parole che ti diedi, con un bacio mentre ancora dormivi, l’ultima ora dell’ultimo giorno del nostro primo viaggio, mio amato Raul.
Quelle sono le parole che ti lascio stanotte, con un bacio mentre sei sveglio.
Quelle sono le parole che pretenderò da te quando tornerò la prossima volta, quando il racconto sarà completato e inizierà il nostro viaggio finale.
April 5, 2015
A pesar de que las últimas centenas de páginas me han obligado a devorarlas, y también a pesar de que al terminar el libro he sentido un escalofrío por todo el cuerpo como solo las buenas historias son capaces de provocarte, esta segunda parte de la saga se me ha hecho un poco más cuesta arriba que la anterior. Aunque la historia sigue gozando de un montón de elementos históricos y socioculturales que me son muy agradables, considero que la épica de la primera parte, con su Valle de las Tumbas del Tiempo y los grandes misterios alrededor de los protagonistas, no se alcanza en estos dos libros a pesar de un trasfondo de una categoría superior. También puede ser que lo poco agrada y lo mucho cansa y, aunque no he sentido cansancio alguno leyendo estos libros, sí que he notado reducido el asombro a medida que avanzaba la narración, especialmente porque me he dado cuenta de algunos puntos clave de la historia con antelación a lo intentado por el narrador. Es que soy muy listo (nótese la ironía).
Otra cosa que también le he notado a estos dos libros y que no tenían los anteriores (ni falta que les hacía) es un intento por definir con excesiva concreción algunas localizaciones, supongo que queriendo otorgarle profundidad y cohesión al trasfondo; sin embargo, encuentro esto innecesario porque, dudando de ese aporte, sí que ofrece algunos de los pasajes más áridos de la narración. Las enumeraciones graciosas son cosa más propia de las modernas publicaciones periodísticas y de los manuales de los juegos de rol, pero aquí me han resultado excesivas.
Aún así, esta saga me ha parecido maravillosa, de las mejores que he leído nunca en el género, comparable e incluso superior a otras quizá más establecidas como la de Dune o la Historia del Futuro de Jerry Pournelle.
Otra cosa que también le he notado a estos dos libros y que no tenían los anteriores (ni falta que les hacía) es un intento por definir con excesiva concreción algunas localizaciones, supongo que queriendo otorgarle profundidad y cohesión al trasfondo; sin embargo, encuentro esto innecesario porque, dudando de ese aporte, sí que ofrece algunos de los pasajes más áridos de la narración. Las enumeraciones graciosas son cosa más propia de las modernas publicaciones periodísticas y de los manuales de los juegos de rol, pero aquí me han resultado excesivas.
Aún así, esta saga me ha parecido maravillosa, de las mejores que he leído nunca en el género, comparable e incluso superior a otras quizá más establecidas como la de Dune o la Historia del Futuro de Jerry Pournelle.
March 11, 2011
The triumphant concluding novels to the Hyperion Quartet, together in one volume for the first time. ENDYMION Two hundred and seventy-four years after the fall of the WorldWeb in Fall of Hyperion, Raoul Endymion is sent on a quest. Retrieving Aenea from the Sphinx before the Church troops reach her is only the beginning. With help from a blue-skinned android named A. Bettik, Raoul and Aenea travel the river Tethys, pursued by Father Captain Frederico DeSoya, an influential warrior-priest and his troops. The shrike continues to make enigmatic appearances, and while many questions were raised in Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion, still more are raised here. Raoul's quest will continue. THE RISE OF ENDYMION The time of reckoning has arrived. As a final genocidal Crusade threatens to enslave humanity forever, a new messiah has come of age. She is Aenea and she has undergone a strange apprenticeship to those known as the Others. Now her protector, Raul Endymion, one-time shepherd and convicted murderer, must help her deliver her startling message to her growing army of disciples. But first they must embark on a final spectacular mission to discover the underlying meaning of the universe itself. They have been followed on their journey by the mysterious Shrike--monster, angel, killing machine--who is about to reveal the long-held secret of its origin and purpose. And on the planet of Hyperion, where the story first began, the final revelation will be delivered--an apocalyptic message that unlocks the secrets of existence and the fate of humankind in the galaxy. Blurb curtesy of amazon for a taster.
Wow so so good. I took my time with this series and didnt want to rush through it. And i have to say its brilliant! Love the story and characters and the brilliant finale.I dont want to give away any spoilers so will keep this brief. Simply great sci-fi and the best sci-fi series ive read to date. Love the multitutude of ideas,time travel, the worlds and races and the mix/and battle of technology and religion. Its got everything!
len
Wow so so good. I took my time with this series and didnt want to rush through it. And i have to say its brilliant! Love the story and characters and the brilliant finale.I dont want to give away any spoilers so will keep this brief. Simply great sci-fi and the best sci-fi series ive read to date. Love the multitutude of ideas,time travel, the worlds and races and the mix/and battle of technology and religion. Its got everything!
len
February 5, 2023
Was für ein Fest der Imagination und Gedankenexperimente!
Ähnlich wie sein Vorgänger Hyperion, ist Endymion zu Anfang eher eine Abenteuergeschichte, deren ganze Relevanz sich erst im letzten Drittel des Buches entfaltet. Einige langatmige Stellen hat die Geschichte auch, aber man wir dafür entlohnt, durchzuhalten. Auch wenn die Handlung knapp 300 Jahre nach Hyperion spielt, sind die Stränge der beiden Geschichten eng miteinander verwoben und vieles aus der ersten Geschichte wird erklärt oder in ein vollständig neues Licht gerückt.
Dan Simmons inhaltliches Hauptaugenmerk liegt dabei auf dem Thema der Religion. Er übt Kritik an der katholischen Kirche, aber auch am Konzept Religion an sich, bietet jedoch auch eine komplette Neuinterpretation an. Gleichzeitig ist das Buch auch ein Plädoyer für Vielfalt, für Individualität und für eine gesellschaftlich sinnvolle und nachhaltige Nutzung von Technologie. Und damit ist das Buch unglaublich zukunftsorientiert und versucht, große Fragen der Menschheit zu thematisieren.
Diese Ernsthaftigkeit wird durch den erzählenden Protagonisten aufgelockert, der weniger ein Kopfmensch ist. Das Ganze ist recht bodenständig und manchmal auch humorvoll erzählt, wobei hin und wieder auch mal ganz schlichte und menschliche Probleme durchkommen (Nierensteine, Wie pinkel ich auf einem Boot in der Luft? und Periodenkrämpfe, wenn man gerade versucht, mit dem Paraglider nicht gegen die Felswand zu donnern).
Auch nach über zwanzig Jahren hat das Buch kein Stück Aktualität verloren und hat meines Erachtens nach Potenzial zum Klassiker der Sci-Fi (wenn es das nicht schon ist). Es ist nicht perfekt, aber unglaublich einzigartig, relevant, intelligent und interessant. Ein Buch, dass Hoffnung für die Menschheit vermittelt und Lesende über das Menschsein, Gesellschaft und die Zukunft nachdenken lässt. Sehr empfehlenswert!
Ähnlich wie sein Vorgänger Hyperion, ist Endymion zu Anfang eher eine Abenteuergeschichte, deren ganze Relevanz sich erst im letzten Drittel des Buches entfaltet. Einige langatmige Stellen hat die Geschichte auch, aber man wir dafür entlohnt, durchzuhalten. Auch wenn die Handlung knapp 300 Jahre nach Hyperion spielt, sind die Stränge der beiden Geschichten eng miteinander verwoben und vieles aus der ersten Geschichte wird erklärt oder in ein vollständig neues Licht gerückt.
Dan Simmons inhaltliches Hauptaugenmerk liegt dabei auf dem Thema der Religion. Er übt Kritik an der katholischen Kirche, aber auch am Konzept Religion an sich, bietet jedoch auch eine komplette Neuinterpretation an. Gleichzeitig ist das Buch auch ein Plädoyer für Vielfalt, für Individualität und für eine gesellschaftlich sinnvolle und nachhaltige Nutzung von Technologie. Und damit ist das Buch unglaublich zukunftsorientiert und versucht, große Fragen der Menschheit zu thematisieren.
Diese Ernsthaftigkeit wird durch den erzählenden Protagonisten aufgelockert, der weniger ein Kopfmensch ist. Das Ganze ist recht bodenständig und manchmal auch humorvoll erzählt, wobei hin und wieder auch mal ganz schlichte und menschliche Probleme durchkommen (Nierensteine, Wie pinkel ich auf einem Boot in der Luft? und Periodenkrämpfe, wenn man gerade versucht, mit dem Paraglider nicht gegen die Felswand zu donnern).
Auch nach über zwanzig Jahren hat das Buch kein Stück Aktualität verloren und hat meines Erachtens nach Potenzial zum Klassiker der Sci-Fi (wenn es das nicht schon ist). Es ist nicht perfekt, aber unglaublich einzigartig, relevant, intelligent und interessant. Ein Buch, dass Hoffnung für die Menschheit vermittelt und Lesende über das Menschsein, Gesellschaft und die Zukunft nachdenken lässt. Sehr empfehlenswert!
January 28, 2019
Once again Dan Simmons manages to create the perfect reading experience for me.. mixing religion with science fiction. And he does so in a way that is actually believable.
Although not quite as strong as Hyperion and the Fall of Hyperion (I think I will be waiting a long time for a book to wow me as much as these two did), Endymion and the Rise of Endymion provides a satisfying conclusion to this magnificent sci-fi adventure.
Although not quite as strong as Hyperion and the Fall of Hyperion (I think I will be waiting a long time for a book to wow me as much as these two did), Endymion and the Rise of Endymion provides a satisfying conclusion to this magnificent sci-fi adventure.
October 22, 2018
6 stars
February 25, 2013
Well, where to begin.....
As usual with Simmons' novels, the first part of a pair of novels is usually the better novel. Hyperion was superior to The Fall of Hyperion and now Endymion is better than The Rise of Endymion. The first novels are fast-paced and Simmons is best at introducing and fleshing out new characters and places and plots. However, where this Omnibus falls short is its main character: Raul Endymion. No, Aenea the Messiah figure isn't the main character although she should be. She's supposed to be the Christ figure here, one who has an important message to tell the universe. In this Gospel-like fable, Raul plays John the beloved disciple who, much like Peter, doesn't quite get that the person they've chosen to follow IS supposed to be the Messiah. He's too close to the action apparently, because he is the last person to understand what has taken place. In fact, Raul is kind of dumb, but I suspect Simmons does this on purpose to give Aenea and other characters the chance to explain to the reader what is going on with the plot.
And what is going on with the plot? We have a church based on Roman Catholicism that carries the secret to actual physical resurrection and enslaves millions of worlds and its people through endless machinations and deceptions. We are given endless details about characters that don't amount to much in the end and not enough details about one character who turns out to be more than we realize? Why? Did Simmons himself lose sight of the plot? I was completely underwhelmed by Aenea's big secret about the universe. In fact, I'm not sure what the secret was there either or why she needed to be the Messiah, except to save people from the Pax church.
So color me confused. While I enjoyed parts of the book, it took forever to end it. Once all the characters reached their objective (which was?) I just didn't care any more and wanted it to end. However, for sheer scope and size, it's well worth getting lost in for days and hours.
As usual with Simmons' novels, the first part of a pair of novels is usually the better novel. Hyperion was superior to The Fall of Hyperion and now Endymion is better than The Rise of Endymion. The first novels are fast-paced and Simmons is best at introducing and fleshing out new characters and places and plots. However, where this Omnibus falls short is its main character: Raul Endymion. No, Aenea the Messiah figure isn't the main character although she should be. She's supposed to be the Christ figure here, one who has an important message to tell the universe. In this Gospel-like fable, Raul plays John the beloved disciple who, much like Peter, doesn't quite get that the person they've chosen to follow IS supposed to be the Messiah. He's too close to the action apparently, because he is the last person to understand what has taken place. In fact, Raul is kind of dumb, but I suspect Simmons does this on purpose to give Aenea and other characters the chance to explain to the reader what is going on with the plot.
And what is going on with the plot? We have a church based on Roman Catholicism that carries the secret to actual physical resurrection and enslaves millions of worlds and its people through endless machinations and deceptions. We are given endless details about characters that don't amount to much in the end and not enough details about one character who turns out to be more than we realize? Why? Did Simmons himself lose sight of the plot? I was completely underwhelmed by Aenea's big secret about the universe. In fact, I'm not sure what the secret was there either or why she needed to be the Messiah, except to save people from the Pax church.
So color me confused. While I enjoyed parts of the book, it took forever to end it. Once all the characters reached their objective (which was?) I just didn't care any more and wanted it to end. However, for sheer scope and size, it's well worth getting lost in for days and hours.
August 4, 2015
The worst thing that can happen to a story is that it stops being a story and turns into preaching. This is what happens in this novel right there in the last 200-300 pages. It is a death blow to all the wonderful things that have set the stage for a great ending.
Even if we were to accept this concept of the Void Which Binds and love being the energy behind all forces of the universe, the actual ending just isn't satisfactory. The advertised potential of this Void is virtually limitless, yet characters restrain themselves from using it for some undefined reason. Perhaps the author himself failed to see how it could be used to make a better ending, although I do admit that using it that way would result in deus ex machina. The story would have to be structured differently to avoid it.
On the other hand, the confrontation between protagonist's love and the Pope in St. Peter's basilica was one of the dumbest things I've ever read. It would have been much better if everyone was simply captured in the attack on the startree (a utopian concept also introduced at the end of the book).
And then there's the relationship between Raul and Aenea. Oh, dear. Not only does their love feel like dry sand in my mouth, it's verging on pedophilia. I'm normally all about love, no matter the ages of persons involved, but this particular relationship is such a stretch and it's so forced and unconvincing that the lovemaking scenes are completely out of place. I actually think I've read in this book the biggest turn-off ever, embodied in the sentence "At Taliesin West, one of the cooks had owned a tabby cat" placed right there in between Aenea's inner thighs...
There are really good things about this book, but it is mostly just rehashing of what we've already seen in Hyperion books. The ending is predictable. There is too much preaching and what's being preached is naive. The love affair is forced and unconvincing (and verging on pedophilia). Most of the story is there just to be there and has no bearing on the ending whatsoever. One star is too much for this book.
Even if we were to accept this concept of the Void Which Binds and love being the energy behind all forces of the universe, the actual ending just isn't satisfactory. The advertised potential of this Void is virtually limitless, yet characters restrain themselves from using it for some undefined reason. Perhaps the author himself failed to see how it could be used to make a better ending, although I do admit that using it that way would result in deus ex machina. The story would have to be structured differently to avoid it.
On the other hand, the confrontation between protagonist's love and the Pope in St. Peter's basilica was one of the dumbest things I've ever read. It would have been much better if everyone was simply captured in the attack on the startree (a utopian concept also introduced at the end of the book).
And then there's the relationship between Raul and Aenea. Oh, dear. Not only does their love feel like dry sand in my mouth, it's verging on pedophilia. I'm normally all about love, no matter the ages of persons involved, but this particular relationship is such a stretch and it's so forced and unconvincing that the lovemaking scenes are completely out of place. I actually think I've read in this book the biggest turn-off ever, embodied in the sentence "At Taliesin West, one of the cooks had owned a tabby cat" placed right there in between Aenea's inner thighs...
There are really good things about this book, but it is mostly just rehashing of what we've already seen in Hyperion books. The ending is predictable. There is too much preaching and what's being preached is naive. The love affair is forced and unconvincing (and verging on pedophilia). Most of the story is there just to be there and has no bearing on the ending whatsoever. One star is too much for this book.
July 14, 2019
Один из главных героев второй дилогии цикла "Песни Гипериона" Рауль Эндимион ближе к финалу в сердцах заявляет: "Ненавижу мучеников. Ненавижу предопределения. Ненавижу истории любви с печальным концом". Как говорят англичане, my feelings exactly, или на сетевом сленге - ППКС! Ну, разве что градус моего негативного отношения не настолько высок, как у данного персонажа, но все три перечисленные темы никогда не относились к моим любимым, особенно если они являютcя единственной целью автора и не уравновешиваются другими, более и��тересными для меня, темами и захватывающим сюжетом. К счастью, в "Песнях" набор затронутых тем далеко не ограничивается мессиями, страданиями и трагической любовью.
Симмонс традиционно щедр на детали, поэтому проблем с пониманием происходящего (и происходившего в первых двух романах цикла) у читателя не возникает, пусть и на скорости рассказчика, всё того же Рауля, то есть не сразу и не с первой попытки. К сожалению, иногда автора заносит: например, на мой вкус, слишком много внимания уделяется строению храма на Тань-Шане - тут весь мой интерес, умело подогретый описаниями всех предшествующих событий, начал резко падать.
Не обошлось и без почти фирменной тяги Симмонса к кровавым деталям, но, хвала читательским богам, на этот раз без передоза (его "Темная игра смерти" до сих пор лежит у меня прочитанная только до середины).
Интересны иного рода переклички с другими произведениями автора: например, тот "выход", к которому принуждали Энею ее мучители в стенах (или тут будете вернее сказать "в застенках") Ватикана, и от которого она отказалась, использовали герои романа "Полый человек", написанного Симмонсом как раз между первой и второй дилогиями цикла.
Но самое интересное, на мой вкус, это размышления автора (вложенные в головы и речи его героев) об эволюции и о выборе. Не берусь судить о его гипотезе возможного пути развития искусственного интеллекта, но сценарий занятный.
Ну, и отдельное спасибо Дэну Симмонсу за его героев. :)
Симмонс традиционно щедр на детали, поэтому проблем с пониманием происходящего (и происходившего в первых двух романах цикла) у читателя не возникает, пусть и на скорости рассказчика, всё того же Рауля, то есть не сразу и не с первой попытки. К сожалению, иногда автора заносит: например, на мой вкус, слишком много внимания уделяется строению храма на Тань-Шане - тут весь мой интерес, умело подогретый описаниями всех предшествующих событий, начал резко падать.
Не обошлось и без почти фирменной тяги Симмонса к кровавым деталям, но, хвала читательским богам, на этот раз без передоза (его "Темная игра смерти" до сих пор лежит у меня прочитанная только до середины).
Интересны иного рода переклички с другими произведениями автора: например, тот "выход", к которому принуждали Энею ее мучители в стенах (или тут будете вернее сказать "в застенках") Ватикана, и от которого она отказалась, использовали герои романа "Полый человек", написанного Симмонсом как раз между первой и второй дилогиями цикла.
Но самое интересное, на мой вкус, это размышления автора (вложенные в головы и речи его героев) об эволюции и о выборе. Не берусь судить о его гипотезе возможного пути развития искусственного интеллекта, но сценарий занятный.
Ну, и отдельное спасибо Дэну Симмонсу за его героев. :)
October 22, 2015
As sequels to the first two Hyperion novels, Endymion and The Rise of Endymion manage to be entertaining but ultimately inessential. There's plenty of fun to be had here, with a nice cast of boo-hiss villains, some neat tech, and a couple of great, viscerally-exciting fights towards the end of each book. However, there are several ways in which these books show a step down from Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion; perhaps hard to avoid when writing sequels of this kind. Less formally daring than their predecessors (Endymion is basically one long chase from planet to planet, which is not always as exciting as it should be), Simmons has to turn here to a few not-entirely-satisfying tricks to try to keep things fresh. One is a narrative frame in which the story starts at 11:55, immediately takes us back to 00:00 and progresses through the hours leading up to this point, and then gives us 11:55 to 12:00 in the final few pages. The ending is by no means a let-down, but the journey proves overlong. The second might be dubbed "Big Bad Inflation": when you've introduced an unbeatable monster in your early books, you pretty much have to give it an even more powerful opponent in the later ones. Finally, there's the device of having a "Universe of Multiple Revelations": the novels spend a lot of time painting world picture A (and painting it pretty well), and then almost as much time in revealing that the reality was actually B. So far, so good - but the third and fourth books in the Hyperion series are devoted to telling us that it was C after all. A little like The Matrix, in fact, with the last two books being "Reloaded" and "Revolutions", unfortunately.
November 24, 2013
The follow up to the Hyperion Omnibus. It is almost a shame to separate the two sets of books. They really are one big story, just with two different names for the first two, and two different names for the last two. However, they are all part of the same story that is one of the all time great epic tales in syfy history.
Please don't take my word for it. Hate the review and recommendation, but do so ONLY after you have read the four books that make up the Hyperion/Endymion 4 book set.
Please don't take my word for it. Hate the review and recommendation, but do so ONLY after you have read the four books that make up the Hyperion/Endymion 4 book set.
January 22, 2014
That was a slog. Dan Simmons what are you doing to me? I knew this was going to be a good story and it was, but it was so hard getting there ( like Raul and Aenea's journey I guess).
My problems with the book is that it's far too long, and a lot of it isn't interesting.
But, parts of it are wonderful.
I'm glad I've read it, to bring the Hyperion Cantos to a close, but I'll never be re-reading it.
My problems with the book is that it's far too long, and a lot of it isn't interesting.
But, parts of it are wonderful.
I'm glad I've read it, to bring the Hyperion Cantos to a close, but I'll never be re-reading it.
March 26, 2021
While I enjoyed this book, I felt the Hyperion omnibus (books 1 and 2) were better. The character of the hero Endymion felt weak (which he admits in the narrative). The story had the right mix of science fiction and philosophy, but felt a little too long. Could have combined both into one book and make if more impactful.
August 19, 2014
Not as good as the Hyperion books. It gets pretty longwinded, with lots of (mostly irrelevant) summations. The whole thing could easily be cut down to half its current size without losing anything, and making it a lot more pleasant to read.
June 6, 2012
A sequel that pretty much stands up for itself. The best thing about these books is the intricate, detailed, and bizarre universe they discribes. I particularly like the spaceships where in order to go faster than light people have to die and be resurrected. Truly strange.
January 19, 2021
As a reader who has been enthralled by Hyperion for over twenty years, my dissapointment in Endymion was thoroughly gutting. What happened Mr. Simmons? The pacing, the endless worldbuilding that did nothing to further the story line, the detailed descriptions of people and places that ultimately have little bearing on the story arc, turned the extension of the story into an unbearable slog. I only finished because after 1000 Hyperion pages + 500 of Endymion, I wasn't going to abandon; I only made it to the end by skimming across dozens of pages describing the intricacies of papal selection, (it hasn't changed) tedious narration decribing settings of scenes that had minor plot signifiance and exhausting reflections on religous philosophy.
This all may have been bearable if the protagonist wasn't entirely void of agency! Raul was everything I should have loved in a protagonist, good natured, kind, and from the begnning it was made clear he was a strapping stud that should have been a lot of fun in the sack.
BUT
He never challenges Aenea, never askes the right questions, never attempts to act of his own accord. It was a brutal read. He ends up being some sort of milquetoast lump I found exhausting to root for. Simmons' decision to hide the plot development through Raul's innocence and Aenea's inscrutability results in a very dull, very long read.
THEN
We have to cringe through some of the most awkward sex scenes I have ever slogged through! This just cannot be the same Simmons who wrote Moneta and Kassad's relationship. How is it possible that we get treated to an image of a tabby cat at Taliesin during foreplay?
I suspect that Simmons couldn't figure out how to bring the readers through Aenea's abrupt transition from girlhood to woman, (It never gets fully resolved in Raul's mind) and results in a really uncomortable relationship to witness. Sex+"Kiddo"+"My dear freind" ends in a pretty creepy dynamic...and Taliesen.
As an architect, I had to shave off half a star for the existence of Frank Lloyd Wright in a space opera occuring one thousand years in the future. In the same literary space as Popes and the Dalai Lama and John Keats, the presence of an archtiect whose legacy is already more anecdotal than important should have been left behind with the intrusively out-of-place idioms from North American speech of the '90's that have already been long abandoned.
I am glad I finished the book, the conclusion is worthy of the four novel saga, but both volumes should have been edited down by twenty five percent...at least!
This all may have been bearable if the protagonist wasn't entirely void of agency! Raul was everything I should have loved in a protagonist, good natured, kind, and from the begnning it was made clear he was a strapping stud that should have been a lot of fun in the sack.
BUT
He never challenges Aenea, never askes the right questions, never attempts to act of his own accord. It was a brutal read. He ends up being some sort of milquetoast lump I found exhausting to root for. Simmons' decision to hide the plot development through Raul's innocence and Aenea's inscrutability results in a very dull, very long read.
THEN
We have to cringe through some of the most awkward sex scenes I have ever slogged through! This just cannot be the same Simmons who wrote Moneta and Kassad's relationship. How is it possible that we get treated to an image of a tabby cat at Taliesin during foreplay?
I suspect that Simmons couldn't figure out how to bring the readers through Aenea's abrupt transition from girlhood to woman, (It never gets fully resolved in Raul's mind) and results in a really uncomortable relationship to witness. Sex+"Kiddo"+"My dear freind" ends in a pretty creepy dynamic...and Taliesen.
As an architect, I had to shave off half a star for the existence of Frank Lloyd Wright in a space opera occuring one thousand years in the future. In the same literary space as Popes and the Dalai Lama and John Keats, the presence of an archtiect whose legacy is already more anecdotal than important should have been left behind with the intrusively out-of-place idioms from North American speech of the '90's that have already been long abandoned.
I am glad I finished the book, the conclusion is worthy of the four novel saga, but both volumes should have been edited down by twenty five percent...at least!
March 24, 2024
If you’ve made the not insignificant time and commitment to read the Hyperion Omnibus then you should definitely follow smartly up with the even longer Endymion Omnibus. The second time I have read this weighty book, I have done just that and it really adds to the astounding journey. Of the tale, I almost forget that this is in fact two books publish together, it is a more meaningful read with the original epic tale still fresh in my mind. Happening several hundred years after the first but so interwoven with the characters and timeline of that first tale, the second is an even bigger ride, both physically at nearly a thousand pages, and in imagination as we follow Raul Endymion’s quest to save Aenea from the Pax and all who wish to harm the her. These two books, four stories are what is truly meant by the word “epic” and indicative of what I’ve come to expect from Dan Simmons. His story telling is on such a galactic scale that I don’t know how he has managed to keep track of all the characters and worlds that he has created. Many of these planets we revisit despite the fact that all the Farcasters, great name that spells out exactly what it does, have been destroyed. These books work on a hard, techno science fiction level as well as a fantasy side, not forgetting that we also have a love story, a stinging rebuke on the worst possible future for what the catholic church could turn into and a prescient view of the dangers of AI. There is such depth to the story and characters, on so many levels that I can’t begin to understand how the author came up with the whole thing. I believe these two great omnibuses are probably amongst the top five best ever in this genre even though Hyperion was first published some thirty-five years ago. If you are at all attracted by the book jacket synopsis and you are realistic about the commitment necessary to read the lot, then they should, without a doubt, be on your wish list.
November 19, 2022
These last two installments in the Hyperion Cantos pick up 247 years after the Fall of the universe. The Catholic Church is now the dominant religion, and has incorporated the cruciform parasite into its practice and doctrines. Dan Simmons manages to be critical of the Catholic Church without demonizing those in it, which places this series above your typical slavering denunciation in which every character involved is a ridiculous caricature of evil zealotry and/or hypocrisy personified. Keep in mind, this version of the Church is fictional, but does highlight some of its tendencies toward power and corruption.
The story follows the child of Brawne Lamia and the first Keats cybrid - hailed by some as the messiah and reviled by the Pax as an enemy of the Church. Along the way, we get introduced to lots of new and interesting characters and may even have a reunion or two.
Endymion flows from its predecessors nicely, but be prepared, in The Rise of Endymion things slow down a bit - this one is what God Emperor of Dune is to the Dune series, namely a sort of philosophical treatise. Though not quite as good as the first two, all in all these books are an amazing work of art that, not only answer all of your questions, but wrap up the entire series in a very satisfying way.
My favorite quote:
“To see and feel one's beloved naked for the first time is one of life's pure, irreducible epiphanies. If there is a true religion in the universe, it must include that truth of contact or be forever hollow. To make love to the one true person who deserves that love is one of the few absolute rewards of being a human being, balancing all of the pain, loss, awkwardness, loneliness, idiocy, compromise, and clumsiness that go with the human condition. To make love to the right person makes up for a lot of mistakes.”
The story follows the child of Brawne Lamia and the first Keats cybrid - hailed by some as the messiah and reviled by the Pax as an enemy of the Church. Along the way, we get introduced to lots of new and interesting characters and may even have a reunion or two.
Endymion flows from its predecessors nicely, but be prepared, in The Rise of Endymion things slow down a bit - this one is what God Emperor of Dune is to the Dune series, namely a sort of philosophical treatise. Though not quite as good as the first two, all in all these books are an amazing work of art that, not only answer all of your questions, but wrap up the entire series in a very satisfying way.
My favorite quote:
“To see and feel one's beloved naked for the first time is one of life's pure, irreducible epiphanies. If there is a true religion in the universe, it must include that truth of contact or be forever hollow. To make love to the one true person who deserves that love is one of the few absolute rewards of being a human being, balancing all of the pain, loss, awkwardness, loneliness, idiocy, compromise, and clumsiness that go with the human condition. To make love to the right person makes up for a lot of mistakes.”
January 26, 2022
Si torna in pista. Endymion parte circa trecento anni dopo la fine del precedente volume, con una nuova avventura.
Se prima il tutto era incentrato sul viaggio di un gruppo di pellegrini e sull’idea di schivare un’invasione aliena e una guerra intergalattica, adesso abbiamo un nuovo pellegrinaggio per la salvezza dell’uomo.
Non è più un mistero il fatto che questi quattro libri parlino molto della spiritualità delle persone, con degli accenni non troppo velati di politica.
---Continua su Red Kedi---
https://redkedi.it/2020/02/endymion-m...
Se prima il tutto era incentrato sul viaggio di un gruppo di pellegrini e sull’idea di schivare un’invasione aliena e una guerra intergalattica, adesso abbiamo un nuovo pellegrinaggio per la salvezza dell’uomo.
Non è più un mistero il fatto che questi quattro libri parlino molto della spiritualità delle persone, con degli accenni non troppo velati di politica.
---Continua su Red Kedi---
https://redkedi.it/2020/02/endymion-m...
April 12, 2019
If there was to be a sequel I am glad this is it. I loved the pilgrimage and in the end I loved Aenea's story as well. The philosophy and religious thoughts made me read this much slower then I would have liked as I made sure to absorb as much reflection as my impatience allowed me. Truly a classic.
March 20, 2018
I'm speechless.
It's magnificent.
It's magnificent.
December 31, 2018
Mind-blowing as parts 1-2, maybe a little slower and convoluted but a 4.5 nonetheless.
February 27, 2021
Endymion ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Il risveglio di Endymion ⭐️
Il risveglio di Endymion ⭐️
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