Hyperion Explained In FIVE Minutes (No Major Spoilers)

The Hyperion Cantos is a Science Fiction Series by Dan Simmons that consists of 4 books. Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, and the Rise of Endymion. The First book of the series opens up in the 29th century and follows seven humans as they make the journey to the outback world of Hyperion in order to partake in the Shrike Pilgrimage. The Technocore, the amalgamation of all sentient AI, has dubious motivations throughout much of the books. The Hegemony of Man maintains a seeming alliance with the core, and the core has also gifted several groundbreaking technologies to humanity. The Technocore advises the Hegemony through avatars of its own creation, using Cybrids, beings that are grown from human DNA, but whose true being exists inside of the Technocore itself. Technocore also manages the All-Thing in real-time. In this time humans of the Hegemony were all linked through the “All Thing” Through the All Thing they could vote on legislation, communicate with each other with ease, and instantaneously access whatever information they needed.
But this was only possible on worlds connected by Fatline technology. The world of Hyperion was one of the hundreds of inhabited worlds of the galactic Hegemony which was not connected by Farcaster, or Fatline technology. Because of this Journeys to the world of Hyperion had to be made by way of conventional space travel. At the start of Hyperion 7 pilgrims have been chosen by the Shrike Church, also known as the Church of the Final Atonement to Partake in the Shrike Pilgrimage. The Shrike is a legendary being that appeared on Hyperion at the same time as the mysterious objects known as the time tombs who were believed to have been sent backward in time from some distant future point.
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[@QuinnsIdeas]

Just a heads-up! The Pictures for the Consul and Kassad that appear at 3:23 and 3:48 are reversed. Sorry about that.

[@sergoldenhandthejust1495]

Wow I just noticed this is my boy ser quinn. I had no idea and just randomly downloaded this on KZbin red, glad I did and what's up brother long time no hear

Also, shouldn't the Consul tricorne be golden?, just asking.

[@Leastmachine]

Also Merin is The Consul's grandfather. The Consul is never named.

[@swjackson2]

Hi Quinn! I just wanna say thank you for existing. Hope you live to be 100!

[@coc_is_me]

You beat me to my comment. Thank you from saving me from being “that guy”!

[@benderthepirate]

First “Dune,” then Lovecraft, and now this?! I can only read so much, Quinn!

[@phillewis2630]

Google algorithm: Did I hear you want an Audible account?

[@Ki_Adi_Mundi]

Don't forget about Foundation!

[@fortwooh1888]

@@Ki_Adi_Mundi seriously considering an apple TV account for September when that series is released.

[@roxane1237]

Hyperion is easier to read than Dune so you might want to begin with this one.

[@MaliciousChickenAgenda]

Hyperion is freaking awesome. Check out the culture novels by Iain Banks too, very entertaining and fun universe to explore.

[@alexjaybrady]

Im proud to have my art part of your amazing videos, thankyou as always!! You helped me experience these stories so much more richly which helps me make my work!

[@AniSepherd972]

your art is amazing!!

[@jotatsu]

Robot porcupine from the future frightens Symbiote catholics and quantum hippies.

[@fuffoon]

Now that's a concise overview. It's missing some subtle plot points but...bwahahaha! Do Foundation!

[@jotatsu]

​@@doandroidsdream1748 He is half robot, half porcupine and half spoilers

[@MaliciousChickenAgenda]

It's part chicken, a particularly brutal breed of bukka pullet that pecks people relentlessly. This is what influenced the impalement tree simulator

[@dyingearth]

If you only know what Shrike really is.

[@Gleipnir31]

And smartphone !

[@nice.try.garrett8264]

The story of Father Paul in the first book still hits hard after so many reads. Absolutely beautiful

[@SpecialAgentBillMaxwell]

What I love is how each of the pilgrims' stories is in a distinct style. The first one feels like "A Canticle for Leibowitz." The next feels like WH40K (or maybe Heinlein). Another is clearly a hard-boiled reminiscent of Gibson's "Neuromancer." I think the Consul's story was probably the least interesting, but it wasn't bad. The others are filled with some of the best reveals I've ever seen in sci-fi. Very compelling.

[@Blynat]

I loved the Consuls story and I think it may resonate with pessimistic people. I mean His whole story not just the first book. I like that he is just a lonely sad man who lost everything and hates himself for becoming kind of evil to get his mission done. I like it and him as a character. I also loved Meina Gladstone as a character.

[@nuanceblacksywin4868]

Quinn, you should do audio books. I LOVE how you narrate you videos. I also have to say that you're among the relatively few on youtube who still makes quality content that's scripted, and not just rambling cut-outs from a stream. Thank you for doing this!

[@ryang.5094]

I consider this entire series, in quality, as to Dune, the Foundation Series, The Wheel of Time etc.. I remember the smell of the indoor pool at the hotel that I was staying at while I was reading this book in my 20s. That’s how it into where I was. It was almost like a spiritual experience, going along with these pilgrims on this journey. It was magical, and I hope everybody gets a chance to experience it.

[@Pe-S]

God how I wish someone like Denis Villeneuve would adapt this book series into film.. The source material is so rich and multifaceted, with so many interesting, horrific, stunningly beautiful aspects to work with. Practically _begs_ for an adaptation.

[@mcblaze1968]

Bradley Cooper has the rights and after a long wait will be making this as movies instead of a tv show.

[@Pe-S]

@@mcblaze1968 Can't wait! :) Would still have preferred Villeneuve; his attention to detail is impeccable, but beggars can't be choosers. Damn, I hope Cooper & co can pull it off..

[@InTrancedState]

It would be perfect for Villenueve

[@lilnav7602]

Villenueve will apparently direct Rendezvous With Rama

[@Pe-S]

@@lilnav7602 Interesting!

[@Becvar80]

I've just found your channel through one of your Dune videos and saw you have a whole series on the Cantos and now I've been taken back to my teenage years when I first read it. So glad to see people who appreciate great science fiction!

[@chrisw6164]

I read a lot of sci-fi as a young kid (lots of Clarke), and when I got out of high school I tried sci-fi again. The first book was Hyperion, and it spoiled me for science fiction for years.

[@johnLee-bb2do]

I know how you feel. I read Hyperion and discovered Ian M Banks the same year. I have been spoiled now going on the second decade.

[@codylakin288]

Ah man, I live for Hyperion content. I mean, try describing the plot of any of these books to a stranger, and the more into detail you go, the more insane it is. They’re my favorite books of all time. While reading, I remember being in constant disbelief that a person actually came up with all this stuff, and not only that, but told it all in such beautiful stories. I read the final 100 pages of the final book through tears.

[@cheesescoundrel8969]

I Was a❤a

[@MikeAltogether]

I just finished the audiobook a couple weeks ago then came upon these videos. I highly recommend the audiobook, the voice cast is top-notch and lends well to the format of the story.

[@geminisundone]

Incredible novels. I will be re-reading them soon as its been a few years. I wasn't a fan of SI-FI fiction...I read Simmons " The Terror " and was so blown away I bought all his novels. The Hyperion series is truly mind blowing and clearly will get better with multiple readings. Dive in :)

[@Atrocitus-k2j]

I picked up the series based on your recommendation here, and after putting them off for a few months I’m finally reading them. I’m halfway through the first book and figured I’d revisit this video. Definitely loving it so far. Thanks Quinn!

[@lucasadam65]

Keep it up God emperor or i mean quins ideas i can't keep up these days

[@synchro505]

Excellent recap. So nice to be reminded of the characters and the story line. Spent countless hours listening to the audio book. Excellent production and great voice actors.

[@chrisharten1308]

My favorite series of sci-fi books. Dan is one of the best sci-fi writers of all time

[@mileshawkins3856]

As a fan I'll say: this is a much better use of your voice and energy than making videos about the dune film or wb being generally horrible. I support your struggle against those Corp bastards all day and will boycott any content they have made claims on in solidarity, just let us audience members know when it occurs. Thanks so much for all the amazing lore videos and all your hard work.

[@LeCraweSemieville]

Great summation. Loved this series so much we named our band after it! (The Shrike)

[@chase5436]

The first series I picked up in college to just relax at a coffee shop. It affected me profoundly, and really inspired my love for reading. Nothing has ever come close. The priest's story really affected me as I was attending a Jesuit college at the time. May have had some effect on my view of religion...

[@jeepowner2675]

i read the hyperion series because of you quinn. i loved them both and id like to personally say thank you.

[@Curtis006]

Started listening to the audiobook of this based on your videos

[@bonmarche7312]

These videos mean a lot to me Quinn, thank you.

[@EternalDog]

Just got the Hyperion Cantos and the new Dune boxset. Thanks for bringing in content to get us interested in these great series!

[@richardwhite3521]

Sold. This has been in my wish list for a while now.

[@Purpleturtlehurtler]

Your channel is addictive.

[@Neurozoo]

SHRIKE, mind blown. I’ve been in the Navy 22 years now, we used to have a Shrike Missile (AGM-45A decommissioned in ‘92)) hard SF connections to real world development.

[@Ronolein]

Eine wirklich tolle Romansammlung die unbedingt gelesen werden sollte. Ich lese sie alle paar Jahre einmal durch und entdecke immer wieder neue Ideen und Anspielungen. Auf Deutsch in 2 Büchern zusammengefasst. Die Hyperion Gesänge und Endymion.

[@captainharris8980]

Thanks for the overview of this book. I've seen it on the book store shelves for a few decades now, but never cracked it. The spikey dude on the cover was a major non-selling point for me. The content doesn't sound so bad, but it doesn't interest me much now that I now about it.

[@samuraijim9243]

Hyperion explained in 5 minutes, I would have thought this impossible but you've done it. Hopefully that will get more interest in the books so we can see a TV show!

[@mikebott6940]

This was great work.

[@DriLL3iT]

GREAT video. I like having some sort of understanding when starting a new book and this was perfect. Thanks!

[@ivankellerman2955]

Thanks Quinn for the introduction

[@smead7]

Love how you goofed and said the picture of the Consul was Kassad and vice versa.

[@Nugnugnug]

Just bought the complete Cantos. Plan on giving it a read.

[@tessierashpoolmg7776]

Brace for a major let down.

[@Nugnugnug]

The Shrike doesn't find true love? Darn.

[@tessierashpoolmg7776]

@@Nugnugnug LOL...imho it's just sooo pretentious.

[@CruderQuotient1]

You had me at “living tree ship”

[@bobhawke7373]

This is one of about 6 books I've bought on kindle app int he genre I haven't started yet. I just finished the three body problem trilogy so I'm thinking I made need to read a few short novels first to create a mind barrier between the emotion and intrigue of three body problem and emotion and intrigue this Hyperion seems to evoke as well. It's actually difficult to read two great mindbending works back to back. As they both float around in your mind for awhile.

[@stews9]

Plot points aside, Simmons wrote each section in the book as a pastiche of a former SF writer's style, paralleling Hemingway's notorious Torrents of Spring. It is a bravura way of demonstrating he can do what they did, then go further. And yes, the structure is that of Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. Can you tell Simmons was a teacher?

[@thorshammer7883]

Can you do a video reviewing the Downstreamers the super godlike transcendent humans from "Manifold" by Stephen Baxter? As well as Xeelee Sequence and the Culture series?

[@charlessindo9645]

Have you read Illium yet???

[@Markk4kk]

Thanks for the video. Love your work!

[@sytrosianoverlord9026]

The living tree ship looks super cool

[@daffodilunderhill7066]

I listened to the first 2 on audible. It was very hard to keep track of everyone or even remember their names! I need to buy the books and reread/listen at the same time.

[@nomanmcshmoo8640]

Welp. Looks like another series for me to read. Thank you, Sir!

[@BlueArcStreaming]

Yikes the Shrike!

[@megawavez]

Near the top of many sci fi lists and (IMO), good enough simply to stand on their own. The first two are the best and are really, really good :-)

[@walterwillis5351]

Hello Quinn. I really enjoy your insight and commentary on this and Dune. Keep up the good work. Have you by chance read the other Dan Simmons books? Illium and Olympos - his take on the Iliad and the Odyssey? Or The Terror and Drood (which by virtue of Dickens writing a play about the Franklin Expedition ties the two together)? I really enjoy how he interweaves literary aspects within his books - in Illium and Olympos it is a discussion around Shakespeare and another classical writer (sorry, cannot recall the name).

[@michellefigueroa9868]

Read them all! Great series!

[@bryanpoirier8822]

I love your videos, I was wondering if you could do streamlined versions for your ASoIaF podcasts, condensed for just info

[@nidohime6233]

I'm the only one who thinks it can be turned in a graphic adventure game like "I don't have a mouth and I must scream"? The premise looks good enough.

[@ysucae]

i'd like you to talk about the 7 pilgrims. i've only read the first book but one day i'll get the other 3. i remember the impaled lightning striken person, but not much else...

[@bmorebob6624]

Great videos, but what is the purpose of them going there? Is it to stop the Shrike? Is it to understand the Time Tombs? Thank you

[@NiIex]

Read the whole thing over 20 years ago when I was still on verge of leaving my teens behind. As I can only digest Sci-Fi (other genres are boring) these particular set of books ruined reading for me for the most part. The story is so complex, stage so grandiose, writing so majestic, I could never bring myself to enjoy another book. Tried few other classics and Nebula/Hugo awarded books but none were good enough (including Dune lol) so it's been years since I read a SF book... God damn you Simmons, you magnificent bastard! Can anyone recommend me a good classic SF to replicate the Hyperion awe, please? I dread to investigate myself in fear of certain disappointment, observing how other cultural recluses degraded since. The more complex the story/writing the better.

[@stonecoat_art]

It's a bit of a one-off and not as complex, but for some reason struck a similar chord with me - The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

[@letmewatchmyshows]

Love this

[@PhilipCockram]

Amazing book and series . Not an easy read but well worth the effort .

[@steveweaver54]

Just a small correction: the Consul is not Merin Aspic. He is Merin and Siri's grandson. Great video, though.

[@mainstay.]

I'm looking forward to your 'five minute explanation ' of the last two books. I loved the first two but couldn't get into the two Endymion Books. So I would finally like to know how the story ended. I felt a bit like I did when I read ( forced myself to finish ) Simmon's Illium and Olympos books, I felt dumb, as they seemed all over the place - story wise.

[@Blynat]

I am enjoying the third book a shit load. I can see Christians being turned off by the 3rd book. Minor spoilers ........ By the start of the 3rd book Christianity has become a massive cult that worship a parasite LOL!!

[@Damiana_Dimock]

TBH, I didn’t know there were four books, I thought there were only two. Now I want to reread the first one.

[@hochfeldjessie85]

who else got the goosebumps, when they talked about the very old days and a cowboy called Case?

[@Turrican]

Just started this series 😊

[@LiquidSnake1988]

Can anyone tell me about each of these books? Hyperion Lord of the rings DUNE Foundation. I know most of you here are a fan of these and have read the series about several times. So what are the differences? Why would you recommend it?

[@Paganscot]

Do you have any interest in doing a Book of the New Sun breakdown?. It feels in line with your other interests.

[@marcusanark2541]

I may check it out.

[@countfloydschillerhorrorth2090]

I can't decide what to read next, to start the Hyperion or Dune series(Both for a 6th time) or maybe Red Dragon/Silence of the Lambs. Such a great problem.

[@davidjamesmclean6325]

Saul's story broke me.

[@kylehankins1177]

It seems like it would be wise to annihilate Hyperion through orbital bombardment or something

[@kookbrah640]

Are you ever going to cover warhammer 40k?

[@alidelvidal5263]

This book is the best. I literally cried thinking about saul

[@safetybeachlife]

If you like Dan Simmons read The Terror.

[@nimitzopsoi]

So when does the monster from Hyperion fight the worms on Dune. That's all I want to know.

[@taiwanjohn]

I read the first couple of books back in the early 90s. The only thing I remembered after all these years was the shrike. Even after watching this video, I still don't recall anything but the shrike. I do remember enjoying the books, I just don't remember much about the story. LOL... Wasn't there a rumor a couple of years ago about a screen adaptation? Whatever happened to that?

[@33Luger]

Don't remember the priest's story in the first book? So powerful it held my attention immediately.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

The books that dethroned Dune as the best sci fi series I've ever read!

[@user-tj3wr6dj4d]

The intro kinda reminds me of ANESTHESIA. PULLING TEETH

[@bigc7t]

What happens to the pilgrims?

[@cegan317]

Gotta wait for Fall of Hyperion its the second half!

[@vinniep01]

If anyone reads this don't read the 'academic' introduction, you'll get to the end, of the intro, and know how the book ends!

[@PS-it1dm]

After reading all six Dune books I tried this series because I had heard so much praise and comparisons to Dune. I reas the first book but I had bought the other three. Maybe I should continue to read rest of these.

[@nyanates]

You covered book 1 and briefly only mentioned book 2. What about books 3 and 4?

[@1N2themystic]

So, I first read dune in high-school, then the whole series a couple years ago. I'll either read it again or read this, maybe Heinlin. I like a lot of the short stories and stuff from the early sci-fi writers of the 50s and 60s. Is Hyperion as worthy of investing my time in as the dune series? Especially when you have realized, the hardest part is when the story has ended, after you have become immersed in the characters lives and a whole new reality. Then everything ends in an instant. You know it's coming, cause the remaining pages are dwindling, but you almost want to save the end for as long as possible. So again I ask. Is it worthy?

[@ankamadra72]

The consul is not merin aspic. He is his grandson. Never mentioned by name

[@ankamadra72]

and in general i ound two other mistakes. Cassad and the consul are presented by wrong pictures and only six pelgrims do share their stories. Not seven.

[@Andyerpointiz]

Mixed up the "Consul" and "Fedmahn" in your character description in this video.

[@titlewave489]

i'm still confused why anyone would WANT to the the shrike pilgrimage. like if they know they're 99% likely to die. why?

[@iWatchFromBehind]

insatiable desire for knowledge and experience, chance to go down in history, no reason left to live...fate....?

[@Henbot]

My mum really enjoyed altered carbon books and I am curious about this three body problem

[@rcud1]

I had no clue what Hyperion was about. After watching this I have no clue what Hyperion is about.

[@ryohazuki9626]

whys the 3d model at 0:55 packin huge meat?

[@bobbycortes2422]

I think if we see success with Dune and Foundation we'll see Hyperion get licensed within 5 years

[@prime1collector792]

Bradley Cooper and his writing partner purchased the rights back in 2013.

[@AndrewSmith-hc3ov]

Pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.

[@xk1390]

I've only read the first 2 books and liked them. I didn't read the last 2 because I read bad reviews about them.

[@rileykierath4676]

Heyyy would anyone know how to get ahold of the image from 1:29 ? would be a sick wallpaper imo

[@curtisstevenson1489]

Is it true Brad copper is staring in the movie?

[@gaylordhumperdink6702]

Dunno if this video explains much to those new to the books. I think you might have taken a couple minutes explaining stuff like farcasters and fatlines and Hawking drives.

[@Gotchadude123]

It was very hard for me to read through those, even though i loved the concept. I dont know why.

[@Djskrilla89]

Came here to the gentle book caressing.

[@Aienhel]

why this book isn't a game already?

[@makeartbuildstuff2646]

Watch out for those trees tho

[@yourmomsimpsforproxmox]

Love your channel. This video cost me many hours as I now have to re-read them all

[@jasonkellar8585]

If you like long science fiction epics ,you should check out Jonathan Hickman's Avengers Secret Wars comic book saga .It's over a hundred books long ,and has more mythology than anything you have ever seen.

[@sleeplessguardian]

How long are these books ?

[@OGDeepStroke]

This is good because I don’t wanna read this much shit rn but still wanna know.

[@OmnipotentO]

ok i'll add this to my reading list lmao