Hyperion, by Dan Simmons
You'll find Hyperion by Dan Simmons on most YouTube Top Ten lists of the Greatest Ever science fiction books. I must admit that this was the main reason for my buying this book. I agree, it's not the best of reasons; the internet is full of lists, in fact it's the medium's predominant writing form (allow me some slight exaggeration). However, amongst all the various YouTube science fiction channels there are a decent number of intelligent critics and commentators, and these persuaded me to investigate. I suppose I'm hinting at a little reluctance. This is because I was aware of the basics of the book's structure, from previously reading synopses; and because I did myself study English Literature at university. If the title, Hyperion , means anything to a reader, it might be from Greek Myth or astronomy; but for myself it straight away alluded to Hyperion , an unfinished epic poem by John Keats , the English Romantic poet (capital 'R' there, because th...