Welcome to the weekly post about books and reading. When I retired from working as a librarian, due to my health issues, I decided to track my reading on Goodreads. Every Wednesday I write on this blog about the books I have read. Since I had a stroke five years ago, I have to read ebooks because I can adjust the print to suit my damaged eyesight. In addition, I have memory issues which are extremely annoying when I try to read long complex books!

This week’s book choice was a science fiction classic. I had vaguely heard about it already, but hadn’t read it in the years since it was published in the 1980s.

The book was Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Here is the blurb…

“It is the 29th century and the universe of the Human Hegemony is under threat. Invasion by the warlike Ousters looms, and the mysterious schemes of the secessionist AI TechnoCore bring chaos ever closer.

On the eve of disaster, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set fourth on a final voyage to the legendary Time Tombs on Hyperion, home to the Shrike, a lethal creature, part god and part killing machine, whose powers transcend the limits of time and space. The pilgrims have resolved to die before discovering anything less than the secrets of the universe itself.

Winner of the Hugo Award for best novel, 1990”

It has taken me quite a while to reach the end of the book, but it was definitely worth my time and effort. This is my response on Goodreads…

Hyperion by Dan Simmons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have give this incredible book four stars rather than the full five because I really struggled to read it. It is incredibly complex and the structure was difficult for me. Although I once lived in Canterbury, I have never read the Tales. In Hyperion, Simmons uses the structure of Chaucer’s famous work, by having each main character tell a story, which eventually weave together.

The language and writing of the book is extraordinary. I can understand why it has become such a science fiction classic. I knew that it was written some years ago, but was surprised when I saw that it was first published in 1989. Simmons description of AI, future technology, political systems and the amazing complexity of life on the teaming worlds is just amazing.

There are several more books in the series, but I don’t know if my intellect is up to reading them. Perhaps I should have immersed myself in them a few years ago before I had the stroke!

View all my reviews

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I will give serious thought to the question of whether I might tackle some of the other three books in the series, but I think I will try to find something lighter for my next read!

Happy Reading to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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