Hyperion Cantos Hyperion The Planet Hyperion Major Characters

Hyperion is the name of a planet featured heavily in all four books. It is described as having one-fifth less gravity than earth standard.

Hyperion also has a number of peculiar indigenous flora and fauna, notably 'Tesla Trees' which are essentially large electrified trees. It is upon one of these trees that Father Paul Dure crucifies himself in Hyperion.

Hyperion is a labyrinthine planet, which in Simmons' world means that it is home to ancient labyrinths of unknown purpose.

It is also home to the Bikura, as well as the location of the Time Tombs, and the supposed origination of the Shrike, "a giant, four-armed killing machine whose metal carapace is covered with spikes, blades, razor-wire, and thorns." (Bill Sheehan, Nova Express)

2 Hyperion

Hyperion is named after the Keats poem and set chiefly on a planet of the same name. The book is structured as a frame story (like Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales). Hyperion won the Hugo Award in 1990.

The story weaves the interlocking tales of a diverse group of travelers sent on a pilgrimage to the Time Tombs (inexplicable structures that defy human understanding) on Hyperion. The travelers have been sent by the Shrike Church to make a request of the Shrike (see characters section below). As they journey across the planet, they tell their tales.

2.1 Major Characters

3 The Fall of Hyperion

This book concludes the story begun in Hyperion. The two were originally submitted as one manuscript, but editorial concerns about the size of the time resulted in the story being split into two.

3.1 Major Characters

All characters from Hyperion are also in this book
The Keats Cyborg is a cyborg recreation of the poet John Keats.

4 Endymion

The story commences approximately 2 1/2 centuries after the end of the previous work. Few main characters from the first two books are present in the latter two, and those that are present are present as secondary characters (such as Martin Sileneus). The book Endymion features a main character of Raul Endymion, who is an ex-soldier who became a guide for hunters. When a grossly unfair trial yields his (first) death sentence, he is rescued by Martin Sileneus and asked to perform a series of rather extraordinarily difficult tasks. The main task is to rescue and protect Aenea (who's name may derive from AeneasAeneas or Aineas was a famous Trojan hero, son of Anchises and Aphrodite, father of Ascanius with Creusa, and one of the most important figures in Greek and Roman legendary history. In Homer's stories, he is represented as the chief bulwark of the Trojans), a messiahThis article is about religious concept of Messiah. For the musical work by Handel, see Messiah (Handel). For the BBC television drama series, see Messiah (television). In Judaism, the Messiah "Anointed one", Standard Hebrew Mašia Tiberian Hebrew M& coming from the distant past via time travelTime travel is a concept that has long fascinated humanity whether it is Merlin experiencing time backwards, or religious traditions like Mohammed's trip to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, returning before a glass knocked over had spilt its contents. and the daughter of Brawne Lamia (a character from the two previous works). Raul Endymion saves her and escapes, but is pursued by the warped and changed Church's troops. The Catholic church has, in the storyline of the novel, been taken over by various power-hungry people using Lenar Hoyt (a character from the first two books) as a figurehead. The Church has become a dominant force in the human universe in this novel, and wants to protect itself from Aenea. They view Aenea (correctly) as a potential threat to their power. The group of M. Aenea, M. Endymion, and A. Bettik (an android) evades the Church's forces on several worlds, ending the story on Earth.

4.1 Major Characters

Aenea is Brawne Lamia's daughter, sent forward in time. She is a messianic figure.
Raul Endymion is an ex-soldier who accompanies Aenea.
A. Bettik is an android who accompanies Raul and Aenea.
Several of the characters from the first two books appear in this one despite the fact that it occurs ~250 years later, however, with the exception of the Shrike and Lenar Hoyt, they are minor characters.
- Hoyt is the perpetual pope of the reinvigorated Roman Catholic church. After returning with the Hyperion criciform parasite, he regenerates every time he dies.
- The Shrike appears to be a more benevolent figure in this book and the next.

5 The Rise of Endymion

This is the final novel in the series, and generally considered to be the second-best (with the first, Hyperion, being the best of the bunch). The story mainly follows Raul and Aenea. It wraps up many loose ends while leaving enough unanswered to give the reader something to ponder.

5.1 Major Characters

The major characters are the same as those in Endymion.

Series of books Science fiction novels

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1 Hyperion the Planet

2 Hyperion