Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos)

Hyperion is phenomenal! The writing is so eloquent that it was actually shocking to believe that this was written in 1989, it felt like this had easily been written and released this year because nothing felt dated about the story, the characters or really anything involved with the storyline. It’s described as The Canterbury Tales in space, though I’ve never read The Canterbury Tales, I can’t exactly say that. What I can say is that this was truly something unique to me, as I’ve not really experienced a type of story telling like this where it felt like six different novellas tied into one large story. After reading this I can truly say that Simmons is a master of the science fiction genre by writing such a masterful tale that had me reading every chance that I got and frothing over his beautiful writing style. Hyperion’s setting of a 29th century world has such an intricate plot with a very rich and detailed universe where humanity has colonized numerous planets. One of my favorite things is spotting references, and Simmons has a lot of them placed within the story, at one point I would say “oh this reminds me of this” and then Simmons would point that out later letting you know that’s why it’s similar, part of that is using historical themes such as Greek and Biblical Hebrew to help tell a part of the story. Hyperion has a perfect pacing that never felt sluggish or too fast moving at any point and if you’re looking for a story that is much more character driven than plot, as the focus is on learning about the characters, this is definitely the story to read. Within each story, Simmons does a great job of weaving in action and drama with stories of political power, familial love, religion and fate. What intrigues me the most is that while the story of the characters is happening, a war is underway with the Ousters, that could destroy Hyperion. “Words bend our thinking to infinite paths of self-delusion, and the fact that we spend most of our mental lives in brain mansions built of words means that we lack the objectivity necessary to see the terrible distortion of reality which language brings.” The story follows six pilgrims and their expedition to Hyperion, my worry with how this story was told is that I could end up not liking one or more of these stories within, but that was not the case, each story is well established and thought provoking while also being dark and tragic to their own extents and always leading back to one thing, the Shrike, a terrifying creature that is sent back in time. The differences in the style of each story is what made this so unique, one story felt somewhat like Westworld or Ready Player 1, one was a bit more comedic, another one felt like a nod to Isaac Asimov’s iRobot, while another had a Benjamin Button, 50 First Dates quality about it to give multiple parallels to how different each one of these characters are. Simmons attention to focus on these characters that are deeply complex and so very flawed is what makes this stand out the most, on top of that there is the mysterious Shrike creature that is sent back in time, a creature that is described almost like Galactus the world eater, but with a more sinister xenomorph look to it. With everything that’s been revealed about the characters, there’s still quite a bit of mystery still left to figure out in the rest of the series and its sequel since the story ends on a bit of cliffhanger with the group reaching their destination as all their stories have now been told. I’m not a big fan of cliffhangers, but this series is old enough that all books are available, so there’s no reason for panic. Another thing I’m always leery about is multiple narrators, because if one is bad, it can put a damper on the story, but again, this was not an issue because all five narrators, Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, Jay Snyder & Victor Bevine were terrific. They made this story even better with superior performances that got me in my feels and had my spine tingling from theme sheer terror that they felt, this was perfect in every way imaginable. As Dwight would say, perfectenschlag.

At the outset, let me say that I have not yet read The Fall of Hyperion. I was aware before I read Hyperion that this was the first part of a two part work. Actually, I am now not sure whether the story really concludes with the Fall of Hyperion, or this story line is in fact a series. According to Wikipedia; “The Hyperion Cantos is a series of science fiction novels. The title was originally used for the collection of the first pair of books, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, and later came to refer to the overall storyline, including Endymion, The Rise of Endymion, and a number of short stories.” Given my understanding that the story line continues for some time, I am going to assume that there is not going to be some nice neat conclusion where everything that has gone on before falls into place. This is certainly not unusual in the science fiction genre. To say that there is a lot going on in Hyperion would be putting it mildly. Clearly, the main story line focuses on the 6 characters, not including Het Masteen, who are making the pilgrimage to the Shrike. The pilgrimage takes place within what appears to be the larger story of the Ousters, the Hegemony and the TechnoCore. How all of these apparent competing interests relate to one another and which one might be in the best interests of humans remains a mystery to me. Actually, there are also other things going on or that have happened in the past that are not clear to me. For example, what exactly is/was the Hegira? While most of the story is grounded in traditional science fiction, it certainly appears to me that Hyperion might also be described as a horror story within a work of science fiction. For instance, the Shrike, whatever it turns out to be, reminds me of something that might be found in a Stephen King novel. Be prepared that the author uses flashbacks to tell some of the stories being related by the pilgrims. Accordingly, when a pilgrim’s tale begins you may initially have no idea what is going on. Nevertheless, things begin to focus as the story unravels. This is especially true with the Consul’s story, as there is also an element of time displacement that underlies his story. Another thing that remains as somewhat of a mystery to me is why poets seem to have such a central role in the story. One of the pilgrims is a poet who will break out into poetic verse during exchanges with his fellow pilgrims, and whose own tale seems to involve a poetic connection to the Shrike. There is also the reincarnation of the poet John Keats in the cybrid named Johnny and Hyperion itself has a city of poets. If there is some reason that this poetry theme is essential to the story, I don’t know what it is. As somewhat of an aside, I have to give credit to the author for including self-sustaining superintelligence in the storyline. I note that Hyperion was written in 1989, and to the best of my very limited knowledge, the perils of superintelligent machines were not well known at that time. As has now been recently reported, both Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have stated that they believe AI is a threat to humanity. In my opinion, Dan Simmons is a very talented writer. Mr. Simmons has definitely conjured up a future that can only be the work of someone with an extraordinary imagination. I enjoyed reading Hyperion and did not feel let down by an ending that did not resolve the issues in the main storyline.

Dan Simmons invites you to partake of a space opera after the heart of The Canterbury Tales in the first of the Hyperion Cantos, which promises to be an epic adventure with concepts and plot twists fit for a season of Doctor Who. Known space stands on the brink of interstellar war between the human Hegemony and the barbarous Ousters, a nomadic branch of humanity that has lived for generations in a nomadic existence in the dark between the stellar oasis of the stars, and have evolved and mutated into something perhaps other than human. And all the while a third faction – the independent AIs of humanity’s making – keep to their inscrutable plans, offering computing service to all while seeking to manipulate organic life to further the AIs’ own interests. In this pivotal moment, poised at a conflict of unprecedented scale that could well mean the extermination of sentience at worst and the devastation of civilization at best, news comes from the mysterious world of Hyperion: the legendary Time Tombs are opening, and a final pilgrimage is called. Artifacts of an unknown and immeasurably advanced power, the Time Tombs are gateways to eternity, offering enlightenment and puissance to the worthy pilgrim. To the unworthy pilgrim, the reward is death most brutal and terrifying, because first, the sojourners must face the guardian of the Time Tombs: the Shrike. To quote one character: He’s Michael the Archangel and Moroni and Satan and Masked Entropy and the Frankenstein monster all rolled into one package. He hangs around the Time Tombs waiting to come out and wreak havoc when it’s mankind’s time to join the dodo… Personally, I’d add Gort the robot from The Day the Earth Stood Still to that list. The real one, not that godawful remake. Like Gort, the Shrike is terrifying and inscrutable, beyond reason and appeal, and if it’s programming concludes that you die, the Shrike will execute that program, and it’s target, and no force in the universe can stand against it. And the Shrike is on the move. The reader’s introduction to this epic comes in the vector of seven different people from very different walks of life, and even from different times, since many have spent time in stasis or have experienced years or centuries compressed into minutes or days during faster-than-light travel through space. Seven people who under normal circumstances would never have met, now travel together across the world of Hyperion to the Time Tombs, knowing that only one will survive. All the while, Hyperion is on the front lines and will be among the first targets hit by the Ouster attack. As they travel, they agree to take turns sharing their stories, what brought them to Hyperion, what they want and why they are willing to risk everything to get it. And to add an extra layer of complication, one of the pilgrims may well be an Ouster operative. The story takes the form of six novellas as the seven pilgrims take their turn. Each novella is masterful, written in a different style and a different voice, relating the character’s story while serving to explore different aspects of this vast universe and its history. A disgraced Catholic priest discovers a race of beings who may have achieved the immortality his faith has promised, or is it an obscene parody of life? A debauched poet chronicles his rise and fall and his drive to create a poem unlike any other, even if it is humanity’s funeral dirge. A private detective is hired by an AI avatar solve a murder. The victim? The AI himself. A ruthless warrior, hero and butcher, tells the story of his defense of a planet in a pitched campaign to fight off an Ouster incursion, and now seeks the true meaning of war and it’s answer. And more. The framing narrative is fraught with perils as well, since our pilgrims must worry not only about the approaching Ouster invasion, but a murder mystery among their own ranks. And in the end, somehow Simmons manages to wrap up all these threads and leave us on the springboard for the true epic promised in the following three novels of the Hyperion Cantos. All in all, a seamless masterpiece. I not only loved it, but I truly can’t understand how anyone could not be sucked in immediately. I plan to devour the next novels soon, and I only hope they live up to the start in Hyperion. I can only say that the first book is definitely worth re-reading, and the Shrike deserves iconic status. On a side note, readers will also benefit from a familiarity with some of the literary references in the book, particularly Keats’ unfinished Hyperion, from which the tale draws many influences. Also, the narrator of the audiobook, Marc Vietor, is a genius in terms of conveying different characters.

An amazingly imaginative glimpse into the (fictional) future of humankind several hundred years into the future, after their migration (Hegira) from Earth, which had been destroyed. As an apocalyptic war between competing sides of the descendants of humankind builds to its ultimate confrontation, a small band of 7 unrelated people make a dangerous pilgrimage to the contested and mysterious world of Hyperion to make a plea to something called The Shrike--they may all die horrifically, or one of them may somehow move The Shrike with their story and be granted their deepest, and magical, wish. As they travel through the different phases of their journey, and as events in the world outside their near-light-speed phase of their trip progress quickly--since real world time is proceeding at a much faster rate of time--like another group of pilgrims long ago, they become acquainted by telling their individual stories to each other, each of which is compelling as an individual Tale, and also gives glimpses into the nature of how the world now works. They come from diverse backgrounds, on disparate worlds that had been settled and changed by their distant Earthling ancestors, and they each have a heart-breakingly compelling story to tell, and a need or wish that they believe only The Shrike has the power to grant--and they also understand that, at best, only one of them will be granted their desire--but it is their last hope to undertake this perilous, and most-likely fatal expedition to have their wish granted. Also, one of them is a spy, possibly, somehow bent on betrayal/destruction of the Hegemony that controls the greater universe they all live in--will the telling of their stories reveal which of them is the traitor, and are any, or all, of them telling the complete truth? The world-building is phenomenally complex, and each story is compelling, and the descriptive passages painted pictures in my mind I had to stop to just gaze at in awe. Each story, I found myself wondering--is this one true; or is this story a lie, designed to distract from the teller's real intention to betray all of them? I was kept guessing until nearly the last page, and as with any truly great story, I find it difficult to drag myself back into the real world when the story ends--and I definitely want to know what will happen next. Since anyone reading this novel will probably realize there are 3 more installments in the series, it seems not too much of a spoiler to say that--while we do learn a lot by the end--including who is the spy--some things are not resolved, and I very much want to learn what will happen next. The question is--how long can I make this last, since I am enjoying the ride so much? Will I immediately race through all the sequels, or will I read other things, so as to prolong the immense enjoyment I get from reading (these books). I would definitely give 10 stars, if I could, and I cannot think of anything bad to say about this novel--I may read it again immediately. Besides, there was a lot to absorb, and a re-read may help click it all into greater understanding.

This book is brilliant, and I will be thinking about its mastery of words for a long time. Inspired by The Canterbury Tales, Hyperion is the story of seven pilgrims who make the dangerous journey to the Time Tombs, where a deadly being known as the Shrike lurks. Along the way, each pilgrim tells the story of who they are and why they're seeking the Shrike. This gives Hyperion a very unique structure, more like a puzzle than a typical plot progression. Each new story and piece of information is perfectly designed to recontextualize your understanding of the characters and of this far-future version of the universe. At no point was I bored or wanted to put the book down, except for a few times when I needed to process and consider what I’d read. The individual stories lean towards different genres but weave together seamlessly, with one providing clues to the next and to the main story as well. While there is some action, expect more mystery and philosophy, with a bit of horror to send chills down your spine. This book doesn’t hold your hand at any point, letting the reader put things together from context. The characters are deep and their motivations complex, and you will have complicated feelings about all of them. Every description is both beautiful and efficient, filling the reader with wonder at otherworldly vistas while every word spoken and action taken by the characters contributes to the story. Keep your eyes peeled for all the various literary references; there are quite a few, as literature and philosophy play a big role in the themes. The sci-fi aspects are incredibly interesting and will definitely make you think about the ramifications of space travel, colonization and terraforming, and AI technologies. Because I don't typically read books with heavy sexual content, I do want potential readers to be aware that this book contains a few explicit scenes and an overall very sexual tone. While it didn’t ruin the book for me, it is why I would give it 4.5 stars instead of 5, and I wouldn’t recommend Hyperion to everyone. But if the content doesn't bother you and you're a sci-fi lover who wants to experience a masterful combination of what makes science fiction great, I would highly recommend giving Hyperion a try. Content: Romance - two open door scenes with explicit descriptions; multiple fade to black scenes; nudity; crude language; mentions of pedophilia Foul Language - heavy and frequent swearing Violence - graphic and gory descriptions of war, death, and injuries; mentions of suicide

Hyperion by Dan Simmons is the first book in the Hyperion Cantos series and folks, its a good one! I've always been looking for a good sci-fi book that deals with some type of mythical creature and whatnot. So when I read the description of Hyperion and the Shrike, I was sold. It also helped that I've seen this series posted on many "must read" lists online. Like many reviews have stated, this first book in the series serves nothing more than an "introductory" of the characters. Basically, each character has their own story to tell and when one is done, a small break back to reality is given until the next story is told. Think of it as several novella's. Either way, I think it's a pretty good way to start off the series. It gives the readers a good chance to get familiar with the major characters. Whether you think each story is interesting or not, well, that's obviously a different thing altogether. The book does start off a bit slow but after reading the first story of the characters, I knew I was in for something special if all the other stories followed suit. The common ground is that each character's story has something to do with the character's pilgrimage to the world of Hyperion where they will eventually meet with the legendary Shrike creature. Father Hoyt - I absolutely loved his story. It was mysterious and haunting at the same time. It gives the readers a first glimpse of the Shrike. Kassad - His story gives the readers a taste of the powers the Shrike wields along with how dangerous they can be. Martin - One of my least favorite stories to read although it did have some funny moments here and there. As with every group, there has to be one guy that seems to piss everyone off and in Hyperion, it's Martin. Sol - I'm sure his story will be a fan favorite for many readers. It's sad to read what happened but does give us another glimpse to the mysterious ways of the Shrike's power. Brawne - Her tale involves the most action. Also, it does take some patience to read through during the later part as it requires quite a bit of imagination from the reader. The Consul - Definitely a very weird story at first but pans out nicely towards the end. I appreciate the author spending a lot of time giving details of the world around the characters. I do have to admit though that there were many times throughout the book where the author would use a "technological or sci-fi" term without explaining the details or giving a explanation. The only way of knowing what that term means is to hope that the author uses it more than once and piecing the context in which it was used to predict the definition. It's definitely not bad enough to the point where it would drive one crazy though. The world the author builds is your standard affair of stuff where Old Earth is no more but instead hundreds and thousands of planets are now inhabitable. Travelling via farcaster portals to different planets definitely gives this book the "sci-fi" feel. Some readers didn't like the cliff hanger ending but I felt it ended exactly as I thought it would. In fact, I wouldn't even consider it a cliff hanger at all. A cliff hanger to me would be if a major character in the story was shot by a mysterious person and it ended right there. With Hyperion, I believe the choice is up to the readers on whether they want to continue with the series or not based on the ending. If they chose not to continue, I think the author did enough to close out the stories of the characters so that the readers don't feel cheated with having to purchase the next book in the series to find out what happens next. If they choose to continue, which I consider myself in this category, then I'm sure the next book will continue right where this one ended. The Shrike legend will definitely continue!

I don't really know where to begin here. I have loved science fiction books since childhood, and anyone who reads the genre will know there are many styles and stories beneath that umbrella. Does the author abuse open ended approaches to science? Maybe an overuse of the fantastic in pursuit of good fiction? Is there a point to the story beyond "kill the baddies"? Anyone who loves sci-fi knows sometimes a series or an author fails to live up to they hype. Saying that this series "lives up to the hype" simply does not say enough. To me, this is a masterpiece on form with Frank Herbert's DUNE. The author weaves an incredible story through some of the most inspired world creation I have ever had the pleasure to experience, through any medium. Simply every facet of the universe that Dan creates for the reader is just right, he knows when to stop and let the minds eye fill in the gaps while providing the materials for it to do so. As i read, I wanted to highlight entire chapters for their sheer literary beauty, worlds in the work of Dan Simmons are more than altered and recycled earths. The story he weaves in this universe is shrouded in mystery through to the very end without being confusing, relevant without grinding an axe, and nuanced without being understated. There are some authors that simply stand out in their ability to emotionally involve the reader in their story, and Dans Hyperion series stands in another league in that regard. I write this review having finished "The rise of Endymion" only minuets prior, and I feel as if I have just parted with a dear friend. Goosebumps covered my arms and emotion filled my eyes throughout the series, but the true master work to me is in the conclusion, a brilliant tying together of an immensely complicated story that covers thousands of years in story time in a way that does not leave the reader wanting. To watch him do that with such measure as an author makes me never want to write again. One of my great regrets is having been born too late to meet Frank Herbert. To make an estimation of the artist that created a series that nobody waned with such finesse that it swept the literary world and demanded their attention to the genre. Frank told more than a nice story in his writing, DUNE to me is more than a diversion of my time. DUNE to myself and others was a beautiful questioning of what it means to be a human explored through a literary medium. I didn't think it possible but Dan Simmons has written his Hyperion series to the level of great authors like Frank Herbert. The amount of real world work it must have taken to tie together the incredible detail in science, religion, and relationships is staggering, and highlights his mastery of his craft. He approaches the fictional science much as we approach the realities of our modern world, giving enough detail to understand without having to resort to hand-wavium. His understanding of human religions and his postulations of their future growth and adaptation highlights a far more than cursory understanding of the topic, and his characters feel like people i would deeply like to know. Thank you Mr. Simmons for this book and this series. If humanity is meets an untimely end and our society is exhumed at some later date by some later life, I hope that they find your book. The Hyperion series is more than a sci-fi novel, its a love letter to humanity from a man who invested the years in understanding it.

Hyperion by Dan Simmons is a rare example of a book I don’t enjoy but that I respect immensely. Hyperion is a work of art. It is regularly ranked amongst the top 15 science fiction books of all time. Simmons employs an innovative narrative structure that really serves to build the tension and mystery. There’s a lot that I really like about the book. Yet, as a whole, the story just didn’t speak to me. The book starts off around 700 years in the future. Seven pilgrims – a captain, a priest, a soldier, a poet, a scholar, a detective, and a diplomat – travel to the planet Hyperion to visit the Shrike, a mysterious, murderous, quasi-religious figure. While en route, the agree to tell each other their backstories and their reasons for wanting to visit the Shrike (a la Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales). The majority of the book is then split into each pilgrim’s tale. In reviewing Tolkien’s The Book of Lost Tales, Part I, I explained how an intrusive frame narrative could detract from a story. In Hyperion, Simmons provides an excellent example of how a well-constructed frame narrative can enhance a story. The entire pilgrimage to Hyperion is essentially a plot device to tie together six short stories. However, it’s not just a plot device. The frame narrative is intimately connected to each of the stories. The stories explain the motivations of the characters and why they decided to embark upon the pilgrimage. In a sense, the frame narrative begins as an enigma and the stories eventually help the reader make sense of it. The frame narrative is brief but effectively increases the tension and informs our reading of the short stories. The way secondary characters on Hyperion fear the Shrike, the chaos of a brewing war with off-planet marauders, and the arduous nature of the pilgrimage tell us much about the seven pilgrims, even before they tell their stories. They are desperate and willing to take risks. They have already suffered much. The fact that they still fear the Shrike makes the Shrike all the more intimidating. Simmons tells each of the short stories in a unique style. Each of the six stories falls into a different genre. For example, the detective’s tale is noir, complete with the private investigator sitting in her office on a dark and rainy day. Some of the stories are told in first-person narrative, while others are in third-person, again as befits the story and the characters. Simmons even manages to explain why the stories do not contain awkward pauses or fillers (the diplomat transcribes and edits the stories). As much as I love the frame narrative, I felt the stories themselves were a mixed bag. The best stories engaged with larger philosophical and religious issues. Despite my usual inclination against horror, I actually found the priest’s tale the most memorable. The story and complies with many conventions of the horror genre (i.e., the initial mystery, the building dread, etc.), but it also manages to managed an innovative and shocking twist. It had me thinking about faith and resurrection in ways I never thought possible. The scholar's tale is an analogue to the biblical story of Abraham, but with a very different kind of sacrifice. The scholar is aware enough to question the virtues of blind obedience to a god. I found myself somewhat less interested in the tales that focused on plot or action. The detective's tale seemed like Simmons' attempt at fight scenes, but I didn't think this book really needed so much action. It almost strained credulity that the detective could take out so many combatants at once. The diplomat's tale features two lovers who age at different rates due to the effects of relatively, but I never understood why the characters were in love, especially after spending most of their lives apart. The poet's tale is basically a history lesson on the Hegemony, but it manages to be entertaining because of the poet's dripping sarcasm. In several places, Simmons’ world-building lacked a sense of verisimilitude. I get the sense that Simmons had a lot of great ideas and threw them all into this book, but without making sure that they fit together. For example, on the one hand, Simmons is careful to keep track of the relativistic effects of space travel. Characters who travel faster than light age slower than those planet-bound. In fact, Simmons uses this scientific principle to great dramatic effect, especially in the diplomat’s tale, when two lovers age at different rates (certainly the best use I’ve seen of relatively until Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar). Yet, the interstellar government, the Hegemony, also has devices called farcasters, which allow people to instantaneously teleport between planets. These devices are not only accessible, but actually mundane. Simmons describes one house as spread out over 18 different planets, connected by farcasters. Simmons explains that the Hegemony needs to install farcasters and that planets outside its jurisdiction do not have any. Still, the dramatic effect of relativity is somewhat undermined. It’s like learning about two lovers who live far apart, only to learn that if they moved a few towns over they’d be connected by a high-speed train. The characters make an unrealistically large number of references to 19th and 20th century culture. For example, I have trouble believing that people in the 28th century are going to be so obsessed with John Keats that they name a planet “Hyperion” and try to build a cyborg persona of him. These allusions kept taking me out of the story. In our own world, the average person’s knowledge of major cultural figures from 700 years ago is quite limited (aside from Chaucer). Another reason why I didn’t “enjoy” reading Hyperion is because of the excessive level of violence and sex. This book is very graphic and at times disturbing to read. Simmons seems intent on finding new ways for human beings to suffer. I admit, some of the deaths in this book were quite clever, but also quite shocking. The most violent scenes often include sex, frequently somebody being killed during the act of sex. This is certainly not a book you want to read in public. I actually had to stop reading midway through the book so I could recharge my emotional batteries. As I said above, Hyperion is a well written and engaging book. Simmons use of a frame narrative sets the standard for how to use a frame device effectively. Hyperion is a challenging read, but it will certainly make readers think and feel. You might feel depressed, but you will feel. I'm intrigued enough by the cliffhanger ending to read the sequel, The Fall of Hyperion, but I don't think I'll be coming back to this universe frequently without lots of Prozac. [also posted on the NardiViews blog]

Very enjoyable read and no issues with the print.

Dan Simmons has the ability to send vivid images to your imagination, and make them come alive. The story itself, composed of intertwining plots, unravels as each one of the protagonists offers his or her own version of events. This is the first book of the Hyperion Cantos. If you like it, be sure to check out The Fall of Hyperion, which brings the first part of Dan Simmons' Hyperion History to a close. There are two follow up novels, Endymion and The Rise of Endymion, which are a continuation of the narrative arch initiated with Hyperion. These books are all full of intertextuality and are laced with (English) literary, historical and philosophical references (apart from the one Simmons invents). If you like reflexive Sci-Fi you will fall in love with the Hyperion Cantos.

Premier volume des Cantos d'Hypérion, ce livre est pour moi un de mes grands classiques de la SF. C'est un incontournable.

Vale cada centavo, excelentes condiciones.

I enjoyed the first book in the series a lot, but my main criticism of it was that while I the pilgrim's stories were all well written there wasn't much revelation in the core mystery of the story. I'm pleased to say that that mystery is revealed in this second book. I didn't agree with some of the direction, but it was at least thought provoking and didn't cop out in the same way as similar stories have - yes I'm looking at you Nights Dawn Trilogy! :-) This is a much busier read than the first book with quite a lot to follow. Luckily each thread has its own texture so it's quite easy to slip from one to the other. It also handles the time travel aspect quite well, which is something that usually puts me off a story but is used to good effect here. While there are many individual threads the story loosely groups into two - the first being the personal stories of the pilgrims. As with the first book these are the strongest aspect to the story. There is great drama here and great sadness, so much so that at one point I renamed the book to a litany of suffering. The different characters blend together well in these threads and each cast a different focus on what it means to be human. I noticed a different quality to the writing here as well, the author deals with personal circumstance and tragedy in a fluid manner that really speaks to the emotion of the events. The father and the daughter with Merlin's disease really stands out as an example of this. Less strong is the grand overview thread, or the space opera aspect if you prefer.While this has some nice ideas, it just doesn't come across as well as the individual tales of the pilgrims. What does work is how it draws the different threads together and comes together for a cohesive conclusion. I love stories that make you think and science-fiction is a goldmine for that type of stories and here we have a wide range of different philosophies and concepts that give pause for thought. As I mentioned earlier I didn't agree with some of the direction, but that's just personal taste, in the end I enjoyed where the patterns took me. In summary this is an excellent read and a stronger more rounded book than the first and I've already bought the next in the series to see where it takes me.