The Fall of Hyperion
by Dan Simmons · first published 1990
56% recommend39% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
Space opera that conveys real wonder and holds up against 80s-90s sci-fi, with big ideas about AI and human stagnation. Best read right after Hyperion; suits readers who like ambitious, hard-leaning sci-fi.
Common criticism: Some find it slower and more basic than the first book
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope--and a terrible secret. And one may hold th
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…Wars trilogy) - "Nexus" by Ramez Naam (the first book in the Nexus trilogy) - "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson - "Pandora's Star" by Peter F. Hamilton (part of the Commonwealth Saga) - "Hyperion" and "Fall of Hyperion" by Dan Simmons - "Lock In" by John Scalzi - "Blindsight" by Peter Watts
on “How Isaac Asimov shaped robotics and space exploration and predicted the Internet” ↗I've recently read some old sci-fi "classics" and can recommend them all highly: * A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge * A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge * Hyperion by Dan Simmons * The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons * Endymion by Dan Simmons * The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons * Exhalation by Ted Chiang
on “Ask HN: What Books Do You Recommend Reading for 2022?” ↗Ahhh, I've only ever read one SF series that left me with the same sense of wonder as the Lord of the Rings. You just have to try Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion, by Dan Simmons. At first I thought it was ridiculous space opera, with loads of jargon and technical impossibilities that just made it read like 3rd-rate SF. That is right up until the point where…
on “Ask HN: Do you know any amazing space epics?” ↗I had a fantastic reading year, too much to choose from: "Cosmos" - Carl Sagan "Hyperion" + "Fall of Hyperion" - Dan Simmons "Red Mars" - Kim Stanley Robinson "The Prince" - Niccolo Machiavelli
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗Dan Simmons Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion are two of the best novels I've read. I read a lot of scifi, and I think they have held up very well compared to some other works that came out in the 80s through the early 90s. They present a lot of…
on “Ask HN: What literature do you read?” ↗…probably 4 re-reads. My most re-read book is probably Hyperion, by Dan Simmons (followed by HHGG). It's not for every sci-fi lover, but the first part of the Hyperion Chantos (that would be Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion) are incredibly good books, not only for the science fiction, but also have a thick, interesting plot full of the "I wonder how this turns out" sci-fi.
on “Books to Read in a Lifetime” ↗Dan Simmons: Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion Read them (if you haven't already) before any HBO serialization or movie can forever ruin them for you. Peter Watts: Blindsight, Echopraxia Strong concept and incredibly fleshed-out world building,…
on “Ask HN: Sci-Fi Book Recommendations” ↗The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons (really good SF)
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗Dan Simmons' Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion
on “Ask HN: What books do you want to read over again?” ↗…my favorite books. Also, for sci-fi I'd recommend Hyperion by Dan Simmons. This is the first in a trilogy but can be read and be satisfied with not reading the other two (although the second one, The Fall of Hyperion, is very good). I read the first (Hyperion) one on a recommendation and I think the guy who recommended it to me was also read it based on a recommendation. It makes me wonder what the longest "recommendation…
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗…It's a very good book, but somehow a lot of people ignore it, probably due to the fact it's part of a tetralogy (and seems like the last 2 are rubbish... I stopped with the first two: Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, which is what I consider "Hyperion Cantos", though.) I'd rank Altered Carbon higher than Neuromancer. Neuromancer is great and all, but the plot of Altered Carbon was more inspired, almost a nod to classic…
on “Books to Read in a Lifetime” ↗Hyperion by Dan Simmonds. It, and the follow-up Fall of Hyperion, are by far and away my favourite sci-fi books. Given them to 5+ people over the years and every one has loved them.
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗…(Simmons): Probably one of my favourite science fiction series now, and I’ve already felt the need to go back and re-read passages from it. Also really enjoy how each part of the series (Hyperion, then Fall of Hyperion, then the Endymion books) re-invent the style and the story. - The Annotated American Gods (Gaiman, Klinger): 1000’s of footnotes is a great way to revisit the story :)
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2023 and recommend for 2024” ↗+1 for "Hyperion" + "Fall of Hyperion" – both are amazing books that I just finished. Also, "Glasshouse" by Charles Stross was pretty rad too.
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗…favorites... If you prefer hardcore sci-fi over the rest - as I do, those are definitely first choices: - Iain M. Banks Culture books ("Excession" being the best of all to me) - Simmon's "Hyperion" and "Fall of Hyperion" Some authors managed to bring some good pieces of space-opera without being too much cheesy: - Hamilton and his Void books, - and, of course, Herbert and the Dune stuff. But I must warn the casual reader…
on “Ask HN: What literature do you read?” ↗