The Fall of Hyperion
Winner of the Locus Award (1991).
On the world called Hyperion the mysterious Time Tombs are opening and seven pilgrims risk their lives to petition the entity called the Shrike – a creature that may well control the fate of all mankind.
The Hegemony of Man – a thousand thousand worlds linked by a network of farcaster portals and high-tech gateways – is under siege by Ousters, strange, half-human tribes mutated almost beyond recognition.
The AIs – Artificial Intelligences whose synthetic wisdom created and now maintains the nets that bind the Hegemony – have become a threat. There are hints that they have turned against the Hegemony and all mankind. There is evidence that they have begun a strange and frightening project: a scheme to create the Ultimate Intelligence – to build, in short, God. God of Machines: the ultimate deus ex machina. His genesis may well mean man's annihilation.
Something is drawing the Hegemony, the AIs, the Ousters, and indeed the entire universe towards the Shrike and the Time Tombs from which it has arisen. In a moment the paths of man, machine and god will intersect. And nothing will ever be the same.
THE FALL OF HYPERION is a stunning, powerful world-building science fiction novel and a superb sequel to the internationally acclaimed HYPERION, winner of the Hugo Award and the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.
Dan Simmons
Dan Simmons is a writer who thrives on weaving together elements of science fiction, horror, and historical fiction into intricate narratives that explore the depths of the human experience. Known for his mastery of atmospheric tension and philosophical depth, Simmons has built a career centered on the hauntingly imaginative and intellectually stimulating. His works blur the lines between genres, blending speculative fiction with thought-provoking explorations of fear, ambition, and existential questions.
Hyperion Cantos
Hyperion Cantos consists of four books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Related series Hyperion Cantos (omnibus editions)
Book Reviews
If Hyperion was amazing, The Fall of Hyperion somehow takes everything to an even higher level. It’s a completely different kind of book—where the first was a journey filled with personal stories and mysteries, this one delivers the full-scale, epic conclusion that ties everything together. I was completely hooked from start to finish.
The story shifts from a personal pilgrimage to a massive, galaxy-spanning conflict. The stakes are higher than ever, and Simmons expertly weaves together politics, war, philosophy, and mind-bending science fiction. The AI-driven future of humanity, the mysteries of the Shrike, and the fate of the Hegemony all collide in a way that is both unpredictable and completely gripping.