«Hyperion» is a highly praised book. You can read many good reviews and praises everywhere. I first learned about this work thanks to a thesis I found a while ago, which included epigraphs from this novel in each chapter. I believe the author of the thesis also mentions something about the book in the introduction or preface, regarding how it was significant in their life.

So, a while ago, I became interested in the book. But should I read it in English or look for a good translation? I decided to read it in the original language, as I had found several poor translations in other works a while back.

I must say that it is undoubtedly a good work. Despite the length of the EPUB version (which, due to the font I use on my Kobo reader, appears as 1278 pages), it keeps you hooked, and it’s hard not to continue. Also, unlike other works, it’s not overly detailed in the narrative (like, for example, «Pandora’s Star«).

The main plot is quite simple, from my perspective. When I started reading it, I thought the plot would be pretty loose and not what I initially expected. Still, the way the story is narrated and composed, through six other stories, each one of a main character of the plot, all these stories pave the way for the main plot, which makes sense at the end, just to realise that there is something bigger and «Hyperion» is just the beginning, where the first book ends.

Each one of the stories narrated by each of the main characters is a book (or story) in its own right. This is something you don’t find every day… or in every book. Of all these stories, the first one might be a bit depressing, but it’s pretty good. My favourite is one of the last ones, which deals with AI and a singularity or «data verse.» I’ve read other books which try to describe how a digital existence or experience of existence can be, all valid, I think, but this one in particular… I mean, reading this story in an age where LLMs, autonomous agents, and AI are a big topic gives you a different perspective (especially when you’ve travelled a long way from the early days of BBS and how the Internet began).

I’d like to give a more detailed description of the plot, but it might be inappropriate for readers who haven’t read the novel yet.