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Hyperion

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Hyperion

By: Dan Simmons
Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, Jay Snyder, Victor Bevine
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About this listen

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 the fate of humanity in his hands.

©1989 Dan Simmons (P)2008 Audible, Inc.
Adventure Fantasy Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction Mythology Greek Mythology

Editorial reviews

Hyperion, one of the most celebrated Sci-Fi novels of all time and the first book in the Hyperion Cantos series, begins in the midst of an interplanetary war in the 29th century. Five pilgrims set out to the mysterious title planet in an attempt to prevent Armageddon, but while most of the planets in the Hegemony are connected by rapid transit farcaster portals, the journey is far from safe. Modified humans known as Outsters lurk in space stations between planets, threatening the very fabric of the planetary alliance.

Winner of both the Hugo Award and the Locus Award for Best Novel, Hyperion is easily one of the most important, groundbreaking books in Sci-Fi. It incorporates favourite elements of genre — including time travel, galactic war and intricate world building — making for a listen that any space odyssey fan will love. In audio, the experience is even more immersive as you’ll hear the individual stories of the five Pilgrims, each brought vividly to life by a different narrator.

Critic Reviews

Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1990
Locus Award, Best Novel, 1990
"Dan Simmons has the Midas touch: Every genre he writes - whether SF, horror, mystery, historical, or thriller - he turns to gold. Hyperion and The Fall Of Hyperion set a new standard for grand-scale science fiction." (Kevin J. Anderson, author of The Saga of Seven Suns)
"Dan Simmons was a star from the outset. It was the Hyperion books that made him a superstar. The man, quite simply, is what we in the trade call a writer's writer." (Mike Resnick, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author)
Each of [the pilgrim's] stories would make a superb novella on its own. ( The New York Times Book Review, Gerald Jonas)

What listeners say about Hyperion

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty good, not earth shattering

Good story and narration. The only sour note was the woman who voices Lamia, she sounds like a robot.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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My favourite Sci Fi Saga

Dan’s work is incredible but for me, this story is one of the most profound. Do yourself a favour and go on this journey across time & space, past & future.
Get all four books. The best saga ever written

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top tier scifi

I read this series 10 tears ago when I first started hitting scifi. Its one of the best sci-fi available just behind the culture series. My mind still visualizes scenes from the book 10 years later. I have the advantage of reading every scifi book of any worth so I have to reread while I wait for the few good ones to release like the expanse

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughly Engaging.

Slowish start getting used to the verbose style but once it got going was on board from start to finish.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating story and visuals

Eight stories in one, ahead of its time. Very good I'll be reading the Fall of Hyperion for sure

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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What a book!

I don't know if I've ever "read" a book quite like this. The author doesn't just tell you the story, he immerses you in velvet with every word and drives daggers into heart. It was beautiful and horrific and breathtaking and thrilling - all at the same time.

The actors portrayed the story well. It's a shame they didn't remain the same in the next in the series.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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captivating performance and story

the Narrators did an amazing job capturing the characters and telling their stories. I cant wait to listen to the next book in the series especially if its the same voices.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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SciFi Perfection

An incredible world built and executed to perfection. You will want the entire series, and be sad once it’s over. But, you will always come back for more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A fresh intelligent read

Absolutely absorbed and loved the structure where the characters stories brought us to the sphinx. And remarkable conclusion with the follow up book

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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One voice almost drove me away

An enjoyable book but one voice actor with a very particular cadence and tone really rubbed me the wrong way. 5 hours of her intonation was torture worse than the Shrike could inflict.

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