Every once on a while I fall, quite accidentally, into reading a masterpiece. I pick up a piece of science fiction, and when I am finished I put down a piece of literature. This is exactly what occurred to me when I picked up Hyperion and finally put down the Rise of Endymion.
The book Hyperion won the Hugo and set up a four book series. This was the trap, laid carefully by Dan Simmons, yet he made sure we had a payoff for our efforts. Hyperion is the book that traps you into the series with its inventive prose and its various clever referrals to Keats. Fall of Hyperion, the second book in the series, continues the story. One would think the story is complete at this point, but it is not. Endymion and Rise of Endymion soon follow, to complete this particular science fiction masterpiece with continued, deep references to Keats. All four books contain well written science fiction, and an inventiveness and loyalty to the central theme that is thoroughly enjoyable.
I love a well written space opera, and Dan Simmons delivers. This is, almost certainly, one of the masterpieces of science fiction. I did not know that this series was so well regarded when I started, and I walk away in awe.
I cannot recommend this series of books enough, especially for the intelligent reader that will take their time to appreciate the prose. I will leave you there, as I need to get to my book on Keats that I purchased in response to this masterpiece of science fiction.
