Absolutely astounding, a magnificent piece of science fiction. The characters are incredibly real (I felt more sympathy for Sol Weintraub than I have for a literary character in a very long time), the settings grandiose, and the writing detailed and superb. The world of Hyperion and the Hegemony of Man is incredibly detailed, and literary illusions abound, especially for Keats. Long story short, this is right up there with Dune as some of the greatest science fiction books of all time. NOTE: The language can get a little flowery, and can go into minute detail at times. If you're really not a fan of lengthy descriptions, just know that there are more than a few going into this book.