Science Fiction & Fantasy Award Winning Book Group discussion

This month our pick is Hyperion by Dan Simmons. It won the 1990 Hugo Best Novel Award. Other books on the shortlist that year include A Fire in the Sun, Prentice Alvin, The Boat of a Million Years and Grass.

I've heard nothing but good things about Hyperion so I'm looking forward to reading it. Grass has been on my TBR for years. I'll get to it eventually. I'd also like to read A Fire in the Sun. It's book two in a trilogy. I read the first book When Gravity Fails and thought it was pretty good.

Chapter 1

(view spoiler)[ An intriguing first, 100-page, chapter that's for sure. I really enjoyed how the narrative of the exiled priest was used to paint the alien world of Hyperion for the reader. I was glad that we got such an early insight into an encounter with the infamous Shrike character. The twist with the Consul at the end of the chapter also makes one wonder. Why did the Hoyt lie to the broader group? The truth wasn't "much" different from what was said publicly, just a bit more gruesome, in my opinion. What was the Consul hoping to learn? Anyways, looking forward to reading what the planet holds for the group. (hide spoiler)]

I am once again really behind on my reading. I've read this before and really enjoyed it. I think it's one of the few SF books where the literary elements actually enhance the book!

This is an intriguing read. Each one of the pilgrim's stories are interesting or agonizing enough to be their own novels, but together they paint a picture - you really want to see what it shows when it is finished.

I have to apologize to my husband, though, for waking up screaming at the nightmare this invoked in my dreams last night.

Each of the character's stories are so compelling. I'm still trying not to get ahead of myself and remember that they all tie together and one (or more) is not what they seem.

Finally got myself in gear and catching up on my reading.

Mike wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]"

Some great questions here, Mike, I also like the way the first story just throws you into how weird and alien Hyperion and the Shrike are. My understanding of Hoyt's reason (view spoiler)[ for hiding the truth from the other pilgrims, is that he's ashamed. Father Dure was so repulsed and horrified by the 'fake' eternal life of the cruciform that he tortured himself for 7 years to be free of it. Now Hoyt is doubly infected with the abomination. He must also be wondering if the other pilgrims will be repulsed by him when they learn of his infection? (hide spoiler)]

Almost finished with chapter 3. This one is a little blah compared to the first two which I really enjoyed. We'll see how it ends.

Mike wrote: (view spoiler)[ Why did the Hoyt lie to the broader group?

This brings up more questions. If there is a mole/traitor in the group do we assume that their story will be a lie? Furthermore if all of the pilgrims are hand selected by the church how did the mole/traitor insert themselves? Also why should we assume that any of them are being completely honest with the group? (hide spoiler)]

Nick wrote: (view spoiler)[ Father Dure was so repulsed and horrified by the 'fake' eternal life of the cruciform that he tortured himself for 7 years to be free of it.

Do you think he tortured himself on purpose? I thought him crucifying himself was more symbolic and that he thought the electrical storms would fry the cruciform in short order and it would be over quite quickly. I'm not sure which thought is worse. (hide spoiler)]

And most importantly . . .

Deb wrote: I have to apologize to my husband, though, for waking up screaming at the nightmare this invoked in my dreams last night.

Was it one story in particular or a combination of stories?

Jon wrote: (view spoiler)["Do you think he tortured himself on purpose?"

I think he must've known it was a possibility - he must've been aware that he didn't know the full extent of the healing powers of the cruciform. I thought he crucified himself so that the cruciform would be unable to walk his body out of the electrical fields while he was unconscious. So he knew he was trapped.

Edited to fix the formatting. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I also believed the priest crucified himself so that he wouldn't be able to walk through the electrical fields. (hide spoiler)]

Nick wrote:

Was it one story in particular or a combination of stories?

What gave me nightmares? It was after Chapter 3 - The Poet's Tale. (view spoiler)[Sad King Billy's fate. (hide spoiler)]And I am sure the Priest's and Colonel Kassad's description of what he saw at the Time Tombs.

I was not expecting the Consul's tale.

I was REALLY not expecting the book's ending.

just finished one and excited to read the rest of the stories!

I just finished Hyperion. I must echo Deb's reaction to the ending as I wasn't expecting that either. I couldn't help but think of Apple's Siri during the Counsel's narrative... possible origin? Ultimately, I was left with the feeling of having been taken everywhere but nowhere at the same time, yearning to read the books that follow, and glad that I purchased all 4 as part of a packaged discount at my local bookstore.

Deb wrote: I was REALLY not expecting the book's ending.

(view spoiler)[ For some reason I thought that this could be read as a standalone. Imagine my surprise when they didn't even meet the shrike! Lol. (hide spoiler)]

Really enjoyed this one. The consul's tale starts to bring everything together. Is Het Masteen still alive and will we get his story in the next book? My only complaint is that I'm confused as to the timeline of how the different stories come together.

Deb wrote: " What gave me nightmares? (view spoiler)[ It was after Chapter 3 - The Poet's Tale. [Sad King Billy's fate. (hide spoiler)]

Oh yes, that was very gruesome, wasn't it? Although, for my money, I think that (view spoiler)[poor father Dure had a worse ending than Sad Billy, (hide spoiler)] even if it wasn't quite so explicitly described.

This novel also won a horror award, and I can definitely see why, some of the scenes were very well done (Rachel in the tomb was very spooky for me) and there was plenty of gore.

Mike wrote: "I must echo Deb's reaction to the ending as I wasn't expecting that either [...] Ultimately, I was left with the feeling of having been taken everywhere but nowhere at the same time."
Yes, I agree with you and Jon in the next comment [msg 13]. The disconnected stories take you all over the universe. I definitely had a few moments in some of the tales where I felt a little impatient, as if the novel wasn't going anywhere.
Then it all came together beautifully in the final act making a really good cliff hanger.

Jon wrote: "My only complaint is that I'm confused as to the timeline of how the different stories come together"
I wonder how much of that was intentional, since the Shrike and the Time Tombs are major plot points? I certainly felt like Siri's story was bouncing around all over the place!

This book has been said to have been inspired by The Canterbury Tales, which I've never read. Can anyone speak to that comparison?

One of the reviews I read (before completing the book) stated that (view spoiler)[he had to remind himself that it is all about the journey, not the destination. And I still didn't expect them not to even get to the Time Tombs or meet the Shrike. Part of me feels that it was a brilliant ending. The other part of me is reading the next book (The Fall of Hyperion). (hide spoiler)]

The Canterbury Tales is about a group of pilgrims on a pilgramage to Canterbury Cathedral. On the journey each pilgrim tells a story. So they have that in common.
But otherwise there's no much in common, I don't think. The Canterbury Tales are mostly funny comedies. They're not spiritual, and not about Canterbury or Saint Thomas, and they don't add up to a bigger story, there's no link between all the pilgrims except that they're all going the same way.

I don't think it's much of a link, really. Just that both stories contain pilgrims telling stories.

Thank you, Nick. I was afraid I'd missed something by not having read The Canterbury Tales.

Has anyone read any of the rest of the series?