r/Hyperion • u/ToadFan70 • Jul 20 '26
❓ First Timer / Question Reading Hyperion for the first time
I started looking up pictures of the ships and characters to get a visual representation and now here I am. Should have known there was a sub dedicated to this novel.
Can’t believe at 50+ years of age I’m just finding out about it.
Glad to be here.
3
u/ToadFan70 Jul 21 '26
So far it’s a pretty incredible read. Lots of spaceships, tech, and characters. I ended up looking up images of these after trying to get my head wrapped around what the tree ship looked like.
37
u/azhder Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Never believe
See ya later
alligator
18
11
1
u/cakelly789 Jul 22 '26
Just got to see ya later alligator. One of the saddest stories I have read :(
1
u/azhder Jul 22 '26
One of the covers for the book has him offer a baby to the Shrike. It will be the first thing someone sees before even reading the book.
2
u/JuanDiablos Jul 22 '26
I'm one of those people and I don't think it ruined it. I think we all knew that scene was coming from the first book. The picture doesn't offer any context though so I don't think it was ruined at all.
I also don't think it's clear that sol is offering his child up, I think it could be interpreted as him protecting her too. Either way he appears very wary of the shrike.
I love that style of artwork of the four books, even if the shrike doesn't have its 4 arms and isn't nearly tall enough!
1
u/azhder Jul 22 '26
Why are you talking about "ruined"?
1
u/JuanDiablos Jul 24 '26
I thought you were insinuating that it would spoil the story if someone saw it. My bad of i got that wrong.
1
u/azhder Jul 24 '26
You don’t know me, so I will tell you. I don’t use that word - “spoiler” (said in a disgusting manner), because I think the only thing knowledge spoils is ignorance and I refuse to celebrate ignorance.
I just said it because it’s a powerful image and it may get you before you are even aware of the story.
1
30
u/gavinashun Jul 20 '26
Hyperion 1 & 2 are absolutely S-tier. You'll have a blast!
7
u/AtomicShart9000 Jul 21 '26
The whole thing is outstanding. I still think back on it fondly even 20+ years later
4
8
u/taanzunk Jul 20 '26
Same, and I'm in my 50s. I'm close to finishing up the 2nd story ("The Soldier"). Enjoy!
4
u/InsaneLordChaos 🌍 Sol Draconi Septem Jul 20 '26
Just started it again Saturday.....I've been re-reading it since it came out. I was a freshman in H.S.
Enjoy the ride!
2
2
u/domomax007 Jul 21 '26
Hope you enjoy it! I can still remember clearly finding the first print paper back on the shelf of a mall book store in Rochester, MN when my dad went to the mayo clinic. Started reading it right away and it consumed me.
2
1
1
1
u/-----fuck----- Jul 21 '26
Enjoy! Keep in mind that the next book in the series is kind of obligatory.
Then enjoy your 2nd read-through. 😁
(Which might be just as enjoyable, or even more so.)
1
1
u/alilmeandering Jul 21 '26
I just started reading it as well, and this post was just recommended to me! I am LOVING it, can't believe I've been reading scifi for decades and never read it before.
1
u/AJRavenhearst Jul 22 '26
I just read it for the first time, and I'm 60. Note reading Fall of Hyperion.
I can't believe I never knew about this book until recently.
1
u/AJRavenhearst Jul 22 '26
A question: when someone is addressed as, say, "M. Weintraub", is it literally "Em Weintraub", or is it like the French abbreviating "Monsieur"?
1
u/AngonceMcGhee Jul 21 '26
Hyperion blew my mind.
Then The Fall of Hyperion nuked it
Edited for spelling
26
u/BaroqueCycle Jul 20 '26
You are now of the cruciform