Canterbury Tales in space. Seven pilgrims on a last voyage to Hyperion each tell their story – a priest’s encounter with parasitic resurrection, a soldier’s love affair across time, a poet’s Faustian bargain. The Shrike awaits. Structured as a frame narrative that ends on a devastating cliffhanger.

Review

If you don’t hate cliffhangers (though I am not sure we can call this one, since it is obvious from a mile away) this book is an absolute must-read. I have procrastinated reading anything Simmons, and especially the Hyperion Cantos for ages, but this first book is definitely the masterpiece of the series.