Publisher:
Gollancz
Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron
Publisher: |
Gollancz
|
|
Date: |
1990 | |
Size: |
535 Pages |
|
Format: |
Paperback |
|
Price: |
£7.99 |
|
ISBN: |
0-57507-638-0 |
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Reviewed by: |
Rod Cameron |
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Review Date: |
September 2007 |
The Fall of Hyperion follows straight on from Dan Simmons earlier novel Hyperion. The remaining pilgrims have arrived at the Time Tombs. But the Universe is reaching a crisis point. The mysterious Time Tombs are opening and the Shrike that has risen from them may well control the fate of all mankind. The Ousters are laying siege to the Hegemony of Man and the man-made AIs have turned against man to build the Ultimate intelligence – a god. The God of Machines.
This is the resolution of all the questions that were so neatly drawn in Hyperion. There is no need for me to go into any more detail of the plot – suffice it to say that if you enjoyed Hyperion, then you have a further 500+ pages to savour and enjoy. There is definitely no point in reading this book first, the background development in Hyperion is almost a necessity. I suppose the only “health warning” to give is that stylistically the second book is far more complex and bitty. By necessity the author had to move away from the linear nature of travellers tales whilst on a journey. You will have to work just a little harder for the understanding of what is going on.
The only suggestion I can make regarding your acquisition of the two books is that I have seen them both combined into one meaty volume at a slightly cheaper price…