By: Dan Simmons
Narrated by: Victor Bevine
Series: Hyperion, Book 3
Categories: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Contemporary Sci-Fi
4.5 out of 5 stars 4.6 (774 ratings)
Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, and others
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,156
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.
Inspired Sci-fi
By Peter on 02-12-09
Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
From the towering heights of Olympos Mons on Mars, the mighty Zeus and his immortal family of gods, goddesses, and demigods look down upon a momentous battle, observing - and often influencing - the legendary exploits of Paris, Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, and the clashing armies of Greece and Troy.
Brilliant! Amazing for Iliad fans too!
By P. Joseph on 03-11-15
Mindstar Rising
The Greg Mandel Trilogy, Book 1
By: Peter F. Hamilton
Narrated by: Toby Longworth
It's the 21st century, and global warming is here to stay, so forget the way your country used to look. And get used to the free market, too – the companies possess all the best hardware, and they're calling the shots now. In a world like this, a man open to any offers can make out just fine. A man like Greg Mandel for instance, who's psi-boosted, wired into the latest sensory equipment, carrying state-of-the-art weaponry – and late of the English Army's Mindstar Battalion.
By Catherine on 13-12-11
By: Alastair Reynolds
Narrated by: John Lee
Six million years ago, at the very dawn of the starfaring era, Abigail Gentian fractured herself into a thousand male and female clones: the shatterlings. Sent out into the galaxy, these shatterlings have stood aloof as they document the rise and fall of countless human empires. They meet every 200,000 years to exchange news and memories of their travels with their siblings.
Confusing at first, but keep with it
By Cenydd on 08-07-13
Black Ocean: Astral Prime Collection
Missions 1-12
By: J.S. Morin, M.A. Larkin
Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
Cedric the Brown is a wizard with a dark past. In an effort to make amends, he hides in plain sight among the residents of a space station he once nearly destroyed. Cut adrift by a bankrupt megacorp, the mobile mining station sets off to uncharted space in a desperate attempt to scrape by. What they stumbled onto would change the course of the galaxy. A planet. A lost alien race. A secret that will lead to all-out war. How will a station filled with scoundrels and crewed by former miners handle being the fulcrum of history?
Snow Crash
By: Neal Stephenson
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
4 out of 5 stars 1,091
Neal Stephenson is a blazing new force on the sci-fi scene. With the groundbreaking cyberpunk novel Snow Crash, he has "vaulted onto the literary stage." It weaves virtual reality, Sumerian myth, and just about everything in between with a cool, hip cybersensibility - in short, it is the gigathriller of the information age.
A Manga mini-whirlwind
By John on 19-01-10
Lucifer's Hammer
By: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
Narrated by: Marc Vietor
The gigantic comet had slammed into Earth, forging earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale, tidal waves thousands of feet high. Cities were turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam. It was the beginning of a new Ice Age and the end of civilization. But for the terrified men and women chance had saved, it was also the dawn of a new struggle for survival--a struggle more dangerous and challenging than any they had ever known....
Best-of genre
By Tara on 24-12-12
AD 2204. An alien shipwreck is discovered on a planet at the very limits of human expansion - so Security Director Feriton Kayne selects a team to investigate. The ship's sinister cargo not only raises bewildering questions but could also foreshadow humanity's extinction. It will be up to the team to bring back answers, and the consequences of this voyage will change everything. Back on Earth, we can now make deserts bloom and extend lifespans indefinitely, so humanity seems invulnerable. We therefore welcomed the Olyix to Earth when they contacted us. But were the Olyix a blessing or a curse?
Great book let down by the narration
By Peter Kuehne on 28-06-19
Rama Series, Book 1
By: Arthur C. Clarke
At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredibly, an interstellar spacecraft. Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence.
Well read with distinctive character voices.
By In car listener on 16-01-17
The Diamond Age
Narrated by: Jennifer Wiltsie
Neal Stephenson - "the hottest science fiction writer in America" - takes science fiction to dazzling new levels. The Diamond Age is a stunning tale; set in 21st-century Shanghai, it is the story of what happens what a state-of-the-art interactive device falls into the hands of a street urchin named Nell. Her life - and the entire future of humanity - is about to be decoded and reprogrammed.
Worth the time - if you can deal with the quality
By Ian on 08-07-13
At the Sign of the Crow and Moon
A Sorcery Ascendant Prequel Novella
By: Mitchell Hogan
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
In the bustling capital city of the Mahruse Empire, Felicienne Shyrise spends her days as a talented investigator, taking on stolen goods and missing person cases and the occasional murder the city guard are too incompetent - or too lazy - to resolve. During the nights she hones her skills playing Dominion, a board game almost as complicated as life itself. She dreams of making a name for herself and becoming the richest woman in the Empire.
Felicienne Revealed
By Simon on 02-09-16
By: Robert R. McCammon
Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
Facing down an unprecedented malevolent enemy, the government responds with a nuclear attack. America as it was is gone forever, and now every citizen - from the President of the United States to the homeless on the streets of New York City - will fight for survival. In a wasteland born of rage and fear, populated by monstrous creatures and marauding armies, earth's last survivors have been drawn into the final battle between good and evil, that will decide the fate of humanity.
More of an Opera than a Song!
The Collapsing Empire
The Interdependency, Book 1
By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
Our universe is ruled by physics, and faster-than-light travel is not possible - until the discovery of The Flow, an extradimensional field we can access at certain points in space-time that transports us to other worlds, around other stars. Humanity flows away from Earth, into space, and in time forgets our home world and creates a new empire, the Interdependency, whose ethos requires that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It's a hedge against interstellar war - and a system of control for the rulers of the empire.
By Sally on 14-04-17
The Definitive Edition
By: Stanislaw Lem, Bill Johnston - translator
Narrated by: Alessandro Juliani
At last, one of the world's greatest works of science fiction is available - just as author Stanislaw Lem intended it. To mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Solaris, Audible, in cooperation with the Lem Estate, has commissioned a brand-new translation, unabridged for the first time, and the first ever direct translation from the original Polish to English. Beautifully narrated by Alessandro Juliani ( Battlestar Galactica), Lem's provocative novel comes alive for a new generation.
Blown away!
Three hundred years from now, Earth has been rendered uninhabitable due to the technological catastrophe known as the Nanocaust. Archaeologist Verity Auger specializes in the exploration of its surviving landscape. Now, her expertise is required for a far greater purpose. Something astonishing has been discovered at the far end of a wormhole: mid-twentieth-century Earth, preserved like a fly in amber.
Best so far.
By Martin on 15-01-14
By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Narrated by: Mel Hudson
Adrian Tchaikovksy's critically acclaimed stand-alone novel Children of Time is the epic story of humanity's battle for survival on a terraformed planet. Who will inherit this new Earth? The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age - a world terraformed and prepared for human life. But all is not right in this new Eden.
By Damo on 31-05-17
By: B. V. Larson
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
They hunt us. They bomb our worlds for target practice. A star cluster in the constellation of Orion rotates once every thousand years. Those who rule there have an ancient tradition: When each cycle ends, they train their fleets by spilling the blood of lesser beings. The enemy fleets are coming again. In response, the Rebel Worlds gather their starships to face the terrifying threat, and this time humanity is asked to stand with them.
Just good spoiler free review
By England fan 1 on 24-12-16
Elantris
By: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Jack Garrett
Elantris was built on magic, and it thrived. But then the magic began to fade, and Elantris began to rot. Now its shattered citizens face domination by a powerful Imperium. Can a young Princess unite the people of Elantris and lead a rebellion against the imperial zealots? Brandon Sanderson's debut fantasy showed his skill as a storyteller and an imaginer of baroque magical systems to be fully developed from the start.
By BM on 19-11-14
The multiple-award-winning science-fiction master returns to the universe that is his greatest triumph - the world of Hyperion and The Fall ofHyperion - with a novel even more magnificent than its predecessors.
Dan Simmons's Hyperion was an immediate sensation on its first publication in 1989. This staggering multifaceted tale of the far future heralded the conquest of the science-fiction field by a man who had already won the World Fantasy Award for his first novel (Song of Kali) and had also published one of the most well-received horror novels in the field, Carrion Comfort. Hyperion went on to win the Hugo Award as Best Novel, and it and its companion volume, The Fall of Hyperion, took their rightful places in the science-fiction pantheon of new classics.
Here, Simmons returns to this richly imagined world of technological achievement, excitement, wonder and fear. Endymion is a story about love and memory, triumph and terror - an instant candidate for the field's highest honors.
©1995 Dan Simmons (P)2009 Audible, Inc.
The Fall of Hyperion
The Blank Slate
4.5 out of 5 stars 4.6 out of 5.0
Great Story Dreary Narration
Where does Endymion rank among all the audiobooks you've listened to so far?
It would be better with a different narrator.
What other book might you compare Endymion to, and why?
The Fall of Hyperion. The story is a great addition to the Hyperion cantos.
What three words best describe Victor Bevine's performance?
Slow, dreary paceless.
Yes. I was eager to find out what happened next at each step of the character's journeys.
I love the first 3 books of Hyperion Cantos and look forward to hearing the last book in the series. However, the narration is so slow, monotone and listless that I actually listened to most of this book on double speed which actually helped match the pace of the storyline and for the most part didn't sound like double speed because the original is so slow. If I were the author, or Audible, I would have this book (and the other books in the series) re-narrated by an narrator who can properly pace a story and who can add to the excitement as Audible has some truly gifted narrators.
Hans Nørløv
a little weirder than hyperion.
its a sort of travelling odysee where most of the magical sci-fi gadgets are torn away from the heroes and it almost might as well could have been set in 19th century africa or south america. a lot of scenes have the main character fighting desperately for his life but some of the tension are deflated by the fact that we know he will survive it all because he starts the story stating that he is in prison while writing the story.
Miss DePlume
Slightly Less Compelling Installment
This is my least favourite of the Hyperion series (it's book 3). While it still presents a fascinating world, I found as the book wore on I was less engrossed than with the other two installments. By the end I felt I needed a break and felt less interested in jumping into the 4th book. That said, it's still a great book and a very interesting series!
What was one of the most memorable moments of Endymion?
There is a possible revelation towards the end that poses an interesting question about the true origin of the Shrike!
What about Victor Bevine's performance did you like?
He does a very decent job with the reading.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I found it very upsetting every time the Priest General and his crew get liquified by - oh, well.... no spoilers!
I thought that this book was really fantastic. I thought Hyperion and fall of Hyperion were excellent novels.However from this point on in the series of books it just gets better. Its an excellent adventure, with plenty of action. I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to any reader.
Simply superb
If you are reading this review, then I assume that you have read/listened to the first two books in the series, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion - if not, best to do so as you will get much more from this book - and want to know if Endymion is as good as its predecessors.
Well the answer is a resounding yes! Endymion is indeed right up to the high standard of the earlier books. Set a couple of hundred years after the events in the Fall of Hyperion, with some intriguing links to the characters of the earlier books, it tells a gripping and spellbinding story, a kind of quest again - and it's unputdownable! Dan Simmons is just so good at weaving the personal stories of the characters into a fascinating and plausibly drawn SF universe, and keeping up the narrative momentum despite the length of the book. In my SF reading, only Frank Herbert with "Dune" comes close to being as good as Dan Simmons in telling this type of tale. And "Dune" is an all-time classic!
Sound quality and narration are again superb. This book is a real five star listen and strongly recommended. I'm looking forward to listening to the fourth book in the series!
Misspelt
An unusual chase
Although a few things are progressed from the previous books it is the case that this is most definitely a 'chase'. If this was a film it'd be an all action chase with side snippets to throw the plot on top of it.
For all that it's not bad if you've made it through the first two books. I am looking forward to a satisfactory conclusion in the next book though, this shouldn't keep going on, it's almost run its course.
D. Marsh
A good adventure, well narrated too
A quality piece of sci fi literature. Nearly equal to the first book and far better than the second (which I found muddled with no direction).
There is a bit of terminator 2 to the storyline, but that's no bad thing and I hope more loose ends will be tied up in the final forth book. Understanding the final chapter would be a plus point too.
On the book...
This continued well from the first story - recapping when necessary, but progressing well too. The new baddee is really good - and that whole idea of having the old baddee turn good (the shrike) and a new upgraded baddee appear - reminded me of the terminator 2 - which i loved (was this written first?). Catholicism as the bad guy - popularised by The Da Vince Code - is always a winner with me. The right wing, secretive and hierarchical nature of Catholicism lends its self well to being inherently evil! Saying that, the author took care to portray the notion that the evil doers in this case were not true Catholics - anyway - don't want to put any spoilers in... It's a good sequel, and it's well worth reading the last one!
On narration...
I didn't really think much of the narrator - it sounded like English wasn't his first language maybe. He pronounced every single word - like 'to' and 'a' - fully, which - when you actually hear it done - is quite strange. He occasionally made little errors in pronunciation - saying the 'chasm' with a soft 'ch' sound - which is a bit weird - or maybe he just did the whole thing in one take without bothering to fix the error. He also pronounced 'Aargh' exactly as it is written, with a clear 'r' and then a hard 'g' sound on the end. No-one really says that when they scream - that's just obvious - again - weird. The thing I disliked the most though was his inability to portray anything other than a small range of emotions. Whenever he took on a woman's voice - there was one set tone - and any emotion - such as anger - was not portrayed at all - it was always just 'the soft woman tone'. The range of accents for the different characters was good - just a bit more attention to tone and emotion was needed.
Continuing on from Hyperion
This book develops the post Hyperion world, it introduces some new characters and has a whole new story line which revolves around the Hyperion world.
A great addition to the series. If you liked the first two books this one shouldn't disappoint.
Mr Stephen Davies
Truly epic science fiction
Very good continuation of the epic story that was hyperion and the fall of;
Not quiet as exciting as those and not as intriguing and complex as the next, still good.
Dan Simmons is a great Sci fi author One of the very best.
A fine Part II of the Hyperion Cantos
Although it takes place centuries after The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion seems to pick up right after the end of the last book. This is the third book in Dan Simmons's "Hyperion Cantos." Since it's the first book of a second duology, you could start reading with this book, since the entire universe is pretty much introduced anew, but there are so many references to events that took place in the first two books, now history in this one, that you will probably feel like you're missing a lot.
At the end of The Fall of Hyperion, the Hegemony of Man was falling, due to the attack of the Ousters who weren't really Ousters but constructs of the TechnoCore. As Endymion begins, the Hegemony is history, and now human space is ruled by the Pax; a resurgent Holy Roman Catholic Church empowered by the cruciform parasites we encountered in Hyperion, which allow anyone to recover from any injury and be resurrected from nearly any fatality. The Pax has figured out how to control them so that people who receive the cruciform are not turned into mindless idiots, which means that the Church now literally offers eternal life.
The child of Brawne Lamia and the cybrid Johnny Keats emerges from the Time Tombs, and the Pax views her as a threat to all of mankind, for reasons that are not clear until the end. So they send Father-Captain de Soya to "fetch" her. Meanwhile, that irascible dirty old man Martin Silenus is still kicking around, and he recruits Raul Endymion, a native of the planet Hyperion who fell into a little trouble with the Pax, to go save her. As he tell Raul, he doesn't just want Raul to save his god-daughter from the Pax. He also wants Raul to destroy the Pax, find out what the superhuman artificial intelligences known as the TechnoCore have been up to these past few centuries, oh, and take down that enigmatic, unstoppable alien killing machine known as the Shrike. No problem.
Endymion alternates between the POV of Raul Endymion and Father-Captain de Soya, adversaries but both of them ultimately good guys if not always serving good ends. There's plenty of interplanetary space opera drama and action, but for me it didn't really get good until the final few chapters when conspiracies begin to be unveiled, and of course, we finally got the kick-ass battle with the Shrike we've been waiting for.
Like Hyperion, Endymion ends very much on a "To be continued" note. Either of the two duologies can be read independently, but definitely read the first book of each first (and if you like it you will certainly have to read the second).
I recommend reading the first two books first because frankly, they are better. Endymion isn't bad, but it's a solid 3.5 stars - great epic space opera if you like epic space operas, but whereas Simmons dropped a whole lot of finely-crafted worldbuilding with star-spanning conspiracies and multiple existential alien threats in Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, in this third book, there's not so much new as building on what he introduced before. If you are a dedicated consumer of space opera, this is above average for the genre, but falls short of greatness, and really I think the series could have ended with Fall of Hyperion. But I will go on to read the fourth and final volume.
Donald Jodon
Getting the series back on track...
If you could sum up Endymion in three words, what would they be?
Wow, three words... Whoops! Already exceeded my quota...
Adventure, Intrigue, Characterization
Really, this is a story about the characters. The events, while interesting, take a back seat to the characters and the relationships formed. I loved the adventurous nature of this novel. But the memorable moments will be the forming of relationships between Endymion and Aenea (and Bettik as well). The journey of the trio down the river on their home made raft will always stick in my mind due to the conversations and interactions that occur between the trio.
Which character – as performed by Victor Bevine – was your favorite?
Raul Endymion, although Bettik was a close second.
I'd say yes. I don't have the time that it would take to do so, but ultimately, I wanted to keep listening each and every time I turned it on. (well, there may have been a few slow parts here and there, but for the most part I always wanted to listen to more)
This is a completely different kind of book from the two earlier Hyperion books. And, the stakes never seem quite as epic as in those earlier books. But the more personal nature of this book really lent itself well to the situation. You still sense that the ultimate outcome of humanity is in the balance, but it's really a lot more personal than either Hyperion or Fall of Hyperion. (Note: Hyperion is still the better book, however)
In the end, this felt more like an adventure book than a science fiction novel. Let me clarify, it felt like an adventure story thrown into a science fiction universe. (although even that universe takes a back seat at most times to the natural worlds that the character sfind themselves in) I could see this novel lending itself well to a movie format, as the scenes are more "action" based. It reminded me in some respects to a classic Mark Twain novel, and in others like a good Indiana Jones movie... In the endi it is neither, but still a fun way to spend my commutes!
The Third Book in the Series is a Great Storyline
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
This is simply one of the best Sci Fi series I have every read. The entire storyline is well plotted out as opposed to other series that just seem to be after thoughts. I would recommend this book (and the series in general) to anyone who wants to get lost in a story that is riveting and colorful.
I like Raul. At times he is a bit of a doofus, but he has a good heart and is tenacious in his quest.
His characterization of the Android is great. Victor does a fanastic job in all the previous books and I am glad he is the narrator on the entire series. I will miss him when it is over.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
The galaxy isnt big enough for the both of them!
Like the other books devout Christians should be warned that the basic premise of this series is to dissect relgion, power, myth and influence. If you can suspend your disbelief this is a rewarding and provactive story. Regardless, Simmons takes his time and paints a landscape that will draw you in and make you feel like you are living in this galaxy. Not only is it enjoyable but it is dark enough to make you feel on edge and wondering what is going to happen next. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
More riveting that the prequels
This book was more interesting and captivating than the prequels. I was drawn in more by the characters to point of feeling involved with them.
Julius Butcher
After finishing the book I asked myself: what was the purpose of this story? What was the point of the quest? Why did they go through those worlds instead of jumping to the final location? For Aenea to develop certain traits and improve her personality? Weak reason. It seemed that it was only for the sake of going on a quest. Come on. They even haven't met the famous architect they were searching for.
This story was so much without a satisfying resolution that I felt cheated at the end. Remember what the Poet, at the beginning of the adventures, asked Endyminon to do? That was a promise from the author. Very few were achieved by the end. Oh, it will be in the next book? Then this one was only a prelude to the real events? I feel more cheated.
I liked the world-building, though. It was interesting to see the different worlds and cultures. Having listened to the Hyperion books it was kind of familiar feeling, as if I visited old places. I also liked the author's voice.
The character of Aenea was weird. She knew so much in one moment, than she was a twelve year old child in the next. At the end of the book I got a hint that she was seeing visions from the future, but her character just didn't came together properly.
Maybe the whole arc of the story will be completed in the next book, but I'm not sure I will buy it.
Darwin8u
Shrikefinn? Heart of Shrikeness? Mr Keats--He dead
"If there is a God, I thought, it's a painkiller"
- Dan Simmons, Endymion
Enjoyed it, just not as much as Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion. This is the equivalent of the Return of the Jedi for me. Still buzzing from the first two, but not as good as the first two either. There are certain parts I enjoyed and somethings that just seemed a bit overdone.
The Hyperion Cantos continue
Endymion is Another brilliant installment of Dan Simmons Hyperion Cantos. This is a book that continues 300 years after the second book in the series:The Fall of Hyperion. Being told as far down the timeline as it is this book does not continue the tale of the pilgrims of the first 2 books but instead continues the story of how the pilgrims journey effected and altered humanity. There are direct connections to the pilgrims and the poet Martin Sileanus does make an appearance, as does the shrike, the child of Braun Lamia and John Keats, the two priests, Fathers Dure and La Hoyte, and the cruciform. Endymion is the first half of a great book told in a unique fashion. Fans of Dan Simmons or epic scifi adventures will love it. Be sure to read both Hyperion and the Fall of Hyperion first and follow this up by reading The Rise of Endymion. I Also recommend Dan Simmon's Illium and Olympos.
A tale of two halves
Really, I have no idea how this book is the same author as the first two Hyperion books. It's truly hard for me to say it's worth suffering through mediocre/bad books but in this case it absolutely is. Endymion is SOOOOOOOO much better than either of the two first books it's astounding. What I hated about the first two books is that they seemed to promise great adventure and all we got was back story after back story and very little "current events". I loved the characters (save the poet but more on that...) and wanted to hear a story about their journey together and mostly what I got was flashbacks and bits and pieces of story. True, the 2nd half of the 2nd book was better in this respect but really, I was still very disappointed. In fact I'd decided not to even try the second two books but a friend told me they were better so after a different book in between to "cleanse my palate" I gave Endymion a try. I loved it from the very start. It was everything the first two books were not. It centers around just a few VERY well conceived characters, has some AMAZINGLY creative science fiction ideas I've not seen anywhere else and at the heart of it is just a very, very, very good story. So I agree with my friend; the first two books are necessary but only to establish the history/world that the second two books take place in. I can't recommend this book enough.
luizfabricio
Too Much Whining
English/Português
Endymion is a book full of good ideas which are poorly executed. The internal dialogues of the main character did not seem to match him, and are very repetitive and boring.
The book loses focus of the best characters and the best scenery in the rambling annoyances of Raul Endymion. Several times I wanted to know what A. Betick meant, what he thought, and was stuck in the endless cries of Raul . It was very annoying and I wished him to die at all the opportunities that faced him.
The Catholic core of the story is much more interesting, and the characters are better developed and consistent, and the Priest Captain De Soya himself is someone who is hard not to develop a certain empathy.
Although there is an author's effort to present the world and technology as he did in previous books, little is novelty, so again we are dampened in the endless whining of Raul Endymion.
I even have some curiosity to know how the series ends, but I cannot handle another 200 pages of this character. The story itself, the plot is good. But the boring laments the "lumberjack" Raul did not convince me and caused me nausea. I will limit myself to read the plot summary on Wikipedia on the following books and accept that it was a good series for a while.
Sem prolongar demais, Endymion é um livro cheio de boas ideias com uma execução sofrível. Os diálogos internos do personagem principal não parecem casam com ele, e são muito frequentes e muito chatos.
O livro perde o foco dos personagens melhores e dos melhores cenários divagando nas chateações de Raul Endymion. Diversas vezes eu queria saber o que A. Betttick queria dizer, o que estava pensado, e estava preso nas lamúrias intermináveis de Raul. Ele é muito chato e desejei que morresse em todas as vezes que a oportunidade surgiu durante o livro.
O núcleo católico do livro é muito mais interessante, e os personagens são melhores e mais bem desenvolvidos e coerentes, e o próprio Captain Priest De Soya é alguém por quem é difícil não desenvolver uma certa empatia.
Apesar de haver um esforço do autor no sentido de apresentar o mundo e as tecnologias como fez nos livros anteriores, pouca coisa é novidade, então não amortece as lamúrias sem fim de Raul Endymion.
Até tenho certa curiosidade de saber como termina a série, mas não dou conta de mais 200 páginas desse personagem. A história em si, o enredo, é bom. Mas as lamentações chatas do "lenhador" Raul não me convenciam e me causavam náusea. Vou me ater a ler o plot summary no Wikipedia dos livros seguintes e aceitar que foi uma boa série por um tempo.
Very entertaining. My least favorite of the Hyperion Cantos novels, but still heads and shoulders above most SF novels. I liked the young Raul character and his imperfections. The Aenea character was OK but I was expecting to see something spectacular from Aenea; when the novel ended it felt like a set up for the next novel. Father Captain de Soya and his metamorphosis was interesting, and I liked the Archangel-class starship concept. I got a little tired of the persistent Catholic motif, but I admit that it meshes well with the prior novels. Plus, the church-military relationship and the church "selling its soul" created very interesting dynamics.
Like the prior novel, the writing alternated between first person (i.e. Raul) and third person present. A good technique that worked well.
Victor Bevine delivered a superb performance as usual.