Review of 'Endymion' by Dan Simmons

Endymion is the sequel to Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion. Reading these two first makes everything much clearer, but I would not say it is completely necessary. Most of the necessary information is referenced somewhere within the book, although sometimes events that occurred in Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion that aren't important to the plot of Endymion are mentioned, which might be a little confusing without having read the first two books first. However, I will try not to spoil the plot of Hyperion in the review below:


Set 250 years after the end of ‘Fall of Hyperion’, this book picks up with completely different characters, a new world order, a completely different feel to the worlds. This is space opera in its richest form; a chase across planetary systems, new space drives, new technologies. The main characters include a child, a convict that narrowly escaped a death sentence, an android and a priest. Raul Endymion is the main character and the narrator. The story starts with an act of anger, of revenge. The harsh consequences lead Raul to meet a man that asks him to go on a seemingly impossible quest. And of course, he accepts.

The story gets increasingly improbable from there on in. But it is told in beautiful style, each new world described so as to make it seem completely believable. And all of the events fit seamlessly into the framework already described in the two Hyperion books. Each new twist of the plot draws the reader further into the story. This is one of those books you just don't want to put down. Each time it seems the pursuers are gaining, you worry for the main characters, you wonder how they can possibly escape in time. Occasionally you are lulled into a false sense of security, only to be shocked completely in the next chapter.

Endymion is beautifully written, wonderfully described. The leader is led through the story by a desire to know how Raul got into the situation from which he is writing, and by the tense, exciting events that are happening in his ‘past’. Perhaps Dan Simmons overuses the cliffhanger as a dramatic device, so that you are almost forced to read through the next two chapters before you even think about putting the book down. But if he is guilty of this sin, then he is acquitted by his skill at using the device. The two connected, interweaving narratives drive the reader through the world, seeing it from two jarring perspectives, and wishing the main characters forward, away from harm.

While I would definitely recommend reading Hyperion first, I can most assuredly recommend Endymion as a very worthwhile read. Dan Simmons has created a universe both beautiful and terrifying, and I believe that all science fiction lovers will revel in it.