Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion

A couple of weeks ago, I finished reading a collection of two novels referred to as The Hyperion Cantos by author Dan Simmons. This collection is comprised of Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion. I mentioned this book last year in one of my early posts. At the time, I said the following:

This is truly one of the greatest "hard" science fiction stories ever. It borrows from Chaucer in that a group of pilgrims (in space) tell each other their life stories. It includes elements of action, noir mystery, political intrigue, religious mysticism, and psychohistory. It is a mind blowing portrait of humanity's imagined future.

I actually started reading this book in October 2009. It took me the better part of 18 months to finish the nearly 1,000 page story. I kept putting it down, not because it was boring, but rather, because I found it overwhelming at times. The comment above about Chaucer really only applies to the first book. The second book explodes with interstellar war between humans, a cold war between mankind and machines, and heartbreaking political decisions that no leaders would wish to face. There is even reference to a confrontation between god-like entities in the far future. The genius of the writer is that he never loses touch with the characters amidst all these heady concepts and far flung plot developments. I really cared about each of these characters and I wanted to follow their stories until the end. The book's finale is very satisfying and will not disappoint. If you are a fan of Dune, 2001: A Space Odyssey, or the Ender books, I recommend Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion.

Tea in the Sahara

Ok, now I know what that Police song is about. The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles is a wonderful post-war novel set in French North Africa. The protagonists are a small band of American travelers. It can be argued that the characters are searching for meaning or inner peace. Some may see this as an existential or even nihilistic novel, devoid of any quest or sense of purpose. What I love about this novel is that it is all of these things: Romantic love story, travelogue, action/adventure, political drama, comedy of manners. The best novels are never about one thing. The writer has a lot to say about Europeans colonials in the wake of WWII. The relationships among the Americans, the Europeans and the "natives" in this book are well observed. I don't want reveal much (or anything) about the plot because one of the true pleasures of this book is not knowing too much. The only other thing I will say is that it starts off a bit slowly, but there is a payoff if you stick with it. And yes, the title of the Police song is explained in the novel.