Hyperion, the 1990 Hugo Award winner, qualifies
as a Distraction because it’s definitely not older than me. It’s not so much a
Distraction, however, as a holdover from last year’s reading. I had put it
aside for some reason I can’t remember, and I finally just got around to
finishing it.
You see, here’s where I qualify as a bit of an oddball. I
love this book. It’s one of the most satisfying science fiction stories I’ve
ever read. It qualifies as literature, not just entertainment. Simmons’s
writing is superb. His story-telling style is brilliant. The future universe he
created is fascinating. The suspense is thrilling. And yet I took months to
read Hyperion this time around.
Perhaps it is because of all those good qualities that I
linger over wonderful pages such as these. I don’t really want such a story to
end. Most of this novel consists of stories told by the individual characters
embarking on a pilgrimage. They are each on their way to the backwater world of
Hyperion where the elusive and terrifying Shrike, a creature of lethal blades
and no mercy, makes its home. Each has his or her own reason for being there
and each tells his or her story on the way, Canterbury
Tales-style.
It’s the fantastic science fiction setting that makes this
novel’s invitation to escape into its pages irresistible, but it’s the
different voice of each character that makes Hyperion something to truly appreciate as literature. Since each
character is so different from his companions, each voice is pleasantly unique
and allows the author to demonstrate significant talent as a story-teller.
I can’t tell you too much about what happens and/or why
without giving away enough to spoil the fascination and suspense of this novel.
I will tell you, however, that this reading confirmed that Hyperion is one of
my favorite books of all time and of all sorts. I’ll also tell you that the end
of the novel is not by any means the end of the story, or of any of the stories.
There is a sequel, The Fall of Hyperion,
which I’ve read but don’t remember much about. I wonder how long I’m going to
be able to stick to Books that are Older than Me before I cave in to that Distraction.
A Year of Books that are Older than Me
