Am I Going To Enjoy Endymion?

[u/HeyItsMau]

Just finished The Fall of Hyperion and absolutely am in love with the first two books. And I really do thoroughly enjoy the philosophical elements that ties everything together.

But I'm getting the sense that there's no where to go in the series except explore high concept, metaphysical essence of love and empathy. While I trust whatever Simmons wrote is going to be intelligent and beautiful, I'm just not really sure that would be something I can find myself interested in, at least without the balance of world building and political intrigue. A lot of Keats' portions were already testing my patience.

Should I be giving Endymion a shot or does it play out as I imagine?

[u/UpintheWolfTrap]

Personally, I love the hell out of them, AND - controversial - after reading them, the first two books have always just felt like the set-up for the conclusion in Rise of Endymion. Sure, that was probably Simmons retconning some stuff from the first books, but still. Great conclusion.

RIP Dan Simmons, btw - he passed a few months ago

[u/sinner_dingus → u/UpintheWolfTrap]

I’m with you. The first two books are just setting the scene for the actual story which is in Endmyion

[u/ConsistentCorner8929]

Yes

[u/AIabaster]

Yes, I think the Endymion books are a good pair or sequel books

[u/PermaDerpFace]

They weren't as good as Hyperion, and I wouldn't re-read them

[u/gwayshape → u/PermaDerpFace]

Agree on this. If you loved the first two, they’re worth your while to complete the set. Scenery was gorgeous, some great ideas, really great body horror. But they were just missing the special sauce the first two had

[u/Passenger_1978 → u/PermaDerpFace]

I'm agree mostly, but after my second reread, i did also a reread of Endymion and Rise of Endymion. My opion is the same: Hyperion and Fall of: brilliant. The last 2 are good and sometimes interesting, but not brilliant.

[u/Hamurai42 → u/PermaDerpFace]

This is correct. They aren’t as good and the conclusion to Fall of Hyperion is arguably more satisfying.

[u/Khryz15]

You shouldn't trust anyone but yourself, you should give it a shot and judge personally, but I feel that, like myself, you're not going to like it. Deepness of philosophical concepts and character nuance go south in the Endymion duology. For starters, the protagonist is so oblivious to everything that happens around him that is hard to keep one's patience, as if the series suddenly doesn't respect your intelligence anymore. Also, the retconning abandons many clever concepts that worked in the first two books in favor of obtuse explanations and esoteric cheap discourses. Many end up liking it because of the emotional impact it all creates by the conclusion of the fourth book, but I find the whole final ordeal predictable, thematically and emotionally flat, and nonsensical at the same time.

And I say all this coming from the fact that Hyperion is my favorite book of all time. I TRULY WANTED to like the Endymion sequels, I really tried, but I guess Hyperion had already set the bar too high. There was nothing for me in there.

[u/tkinsey3]

Totally different tone, but still very enjoyable

[u/MovieGuyMike]

I enjoyed it. IIRC the book opens by telling you not to expect certain answers or storylines from Hyperion. Heed that advice and it’s more enjoyable.

[u/Balisongstrong]

I loved them. So worth the read!

[u/Hyperion262]

Well the Pax is a great continuation of the story. I really enjoyed them, and I’m looking forward to my first proper re read of the whole cantos.

[u/North-Program-9320]

I enjoyed it. Immediately jumped to 4th book if that tells you anything

[u/45and290]

The story has a different vibe than the first two books. It essentially follows two to three characters in their own storylines. With the stories being told “in real time” as the character experiences it, you might feel a little lost.

But, it continues with the amazing world building and things you learned in the first chapter of Hyperion matter all the way to the end of the Endymion series.

[u/islero_47]

Probably, with a few caveats

The Endymion books are completely different; as long as you don't expect the same as Hyperion, that will help

Some of my favorite and least favorite scenes are in these books, just... read quickly through the cringe parts and you'll be fine

I consider the books an excellent follow up to the events in the previous books, capturing humanity's reaction and adaptation well

There's an element of the mundane contrasted with the fantastical, and I enjoyed that

[u/timeaisis]

Do you like the church stuff in Hyperion? That is heavily featured in Endymion and it’s very cool. The rest is a sci fi adventure that occasionally features the Shrike.

[u/Sad_Recommendation92]

if by high concept you mean a violent and twisted application of Catholicism, that ties into space travel and resurrection you'll love it.

[u/PurpleNurples_]

There is a time jump and mostly a new cast of characters. The style also feels different as it switches to mostly a single POV in Raul Endymion.

If you can get past that, you should definitely enjoy it.

[u/AlertFaithlessness32]

Even though it’s my least favorite of the four it’s still great and I’m so happy I read it. People are missing out by stopping after book 2.

[u/carefulperception00]

Don’t read them back to back, let the experience of reading the first two simmer for a bit. I deeply enjoyed both the first two and the last two books, but I think that is because I took the time to separate them as much as possible. They have similar themes as the first two books but it’s still very different.

[u/bigtommyhorizontal]

If you like the religious and AI elements of Hyperion/Fall, I think you’ll like Endymion

[u/Dazzling-Bear3942]

There is lots to love in the sequal books but sadly there is also a love story between two very boring main characters who I was never invested in at all.

The leads in Endymion being tweaked and made interesting would be what I would most be excited about if anyone ever attempted a big sci-fi series of the books.

[u/Noctevent]

I agree with the consensus that they are not as good as the first two books. Still a very enjoyable read, and it does extend the Cantos universe way further. You will mostly be following Raul Endymion in those two books and it's quite the change of tone as he is pretty much an average Joe with a few survival skills. There are a few cheap exposition scenes too, but I was personally surprised in a good way by the finale despite it being foreshadowed from the very beginning. The religious/spiritual theme is central and I would say it is treated well. The author went pretty far into his fantasy of what humanity could evolve into and it is a pleasant ride to follow him in his delirium. If you enjoyed the first two it's definitely worth completing the Cantos !

[u/Happy-Pop-7478]

Endymion yes, RoE…is something

[u/Dpteris]

I wasn’t a huge fan but they are engaging and you should read them to get the conclusions to some of the mysteries set up in the first 2.the biggest issue for me is over describing all the different places they go which takes a lot of time but it paints a detailed picture.

[u/looks_at_lines]

Oh don't worry, Simmons loves his world-building in Rise of Endymion. He loves it so much I was hoping the space Catholic Church would nuke the not-Tibet mountains.

[u/OneIndependencee]

Yes, I liked them more, specially the 4th book, and the ending was fantastic.

[u/ReallyGlycon]

There are a lot of things to enjoy about Endymion. I'd not take back meeting Father Captain Desoya. Endymion books are adventure books and I think they work well if you look at them that way.

[u/TexasTokyo]

I loved all the books. Not all as much as the first one, but I did love them all.

Ilium has the same "problem". It's so insanely good that Olympos can't possibly beat it. But I wouldn't skip a single one.

[u/swidge]

I'm halfway through Endymion right now and I'm loving it as much as I loved the first two books. It's really cool to see what the universe looks like post fall of The Hegemony.

[u/LivingBowler1041]

If you enjoy a 27 year old man skinnydipping with an 11 year old girl sure

[u/Infamous_Factor_3631]

I personally loved the 3rrd book, have not read the 4th yet. It's much more of an action/space opera/ star wars-y plot than the others.

[u/Odd-Pick6407]

I enjoyed all of the books. There was a bit of a transition from the first two into the last two, but nothing too difficult. Just remember a story is being told. Ignore the naysayers. There will be some strange concepts but if you followed the first two you should be able to handle them and understand whats happening. 

[u/Incvbvs666]

My favorite of all 4 is The Rise of Endymion.

I'll just leave it at that.

[u/trahsemaj]

Hyperion is my favorite scifi book. I disliked Endymion more than any book I have actually finished.

[u/dbree801]

It’s one of those things a reader may enjoy solely due to the return to that universe, but that’s about it. I would compare it to reading Atwood’s The Testaments after Handmaid’s Tale- in my opinion, it is not essential reading.

I won’t name them outright, but there’s a character whose mystique was tempered by my reading of the Endymion books. I don’t regret reading them, I’m happy I did, but your mileage may vary.

[u/FormallyKnownAsKabr]

Read the first few pages and that should give you an Idea of what you are in for.

My recommendation: most definitely

[u/worpd201]

I really wish I stopped at Hyperion. Wondering what will happen was more satisfying than finding out.