Dan Simmons

 Imaginary Interviewer: What books is next on the list?

Me: Next up is 'Hyperion' by Dan Simmons. This was a Hugo winner in 1990. 

II: Have you read it?

Me: I have. This book was in prominent places in bookstores when I was growing up. I saw the cover many times but didn't read it until 10-15 years ago. It's a great book.

II: What can you tell us about it?

Me: It has a very interesting structure. It is put together much like Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. Chaucer's work is notable because it features:

1) Stories told by people of very different positions in society. Each is labeled by the their profession.

2) Each story is different in tone and approach.

3) The stories, taken as a whole, give a broad picture of a full society.

Simmons uses them in this same exact way for 'Hyperion'. The stories are all very good and it does an exceptional job of world-building. 

II: So it's much like 'Canterbury Tales'? Would a reader need to be familiar with them before reading this? 

Me: No, not at all. (Though they are legitimately great and I want to broadly encourage people to read them.) 'Hyperion' is very different from 'Canterbury Tales' not least of all because it includes a Predator type being called the Shrike. (On the cover of the book, he is the spiky dude.) I won't say much about him, because I'll leave that to the book. But there is a blend of science fiction and horror in this book. 

II: What else do we need to know?

Me: Unfortunately, it matches 'The Canterbury Tales' in another way. It leaves the story unfinished. This is book one of a series. It sets up various mysteries but doesn't resolve them. I've read the next book, 'The Fall of Hyperion' but not the others. But it's still a great read! Well worth its spot on the list.