For years people have been telling me “Oh, you love Space Opera, you’ll love Hyperion”. I finally read it.

The story is pretty okay, a little unexciting, but generally sort okay. I have 3 main problems, which stopped it being really edifying for me.

Firstly, it’s essentially a bunch of people sitting round telling stories. Like seriously, couldn’t you think of a better bridge between story arcs.

I also don’t feel the universe was described match the social effects of technology with the technology in it. For example there are fully sentient AIs, but however it’s never explored as to what it’s like to be a sentient AI or the differences in experience for them of us. There’s instantaneous travel, which apparently is expensive, but is also ubiquitous (not sure that makes sense). It all feels a little untidy.

Finally this story could practically be set now, with on major changes in the plot. I feel that Space Opera should express some change in society over time, be it regressive or progressive. This is staunchly set in 1990, just 1990 with a roughly painted background of the future.

3/5.