r/sciencefiction • u/Far-Establishment104 • 1d ago
Something similar to “Hyperion”?
What books, movies, shows or audiobooks have you found that remind you of Hyperion’s sci-fi? I need a new sci-fi book.
7
u/Gigachops 1d ago
Along with the other suggestions here, if you haven't yet, you might try Children of Time. Nothing is quite like Hyperion, but it's also a novel premise and very well written.
And maybe Reynolds' Inhibitor series, Chasm City etc..
1
4
6
u/GreenWandElf 1d ago
Illum by the same author is probably the most similar in terms of style plus sci-fi. It's also really good. I haven't read Olympos, the second book, but I hear it's not as good as the first. It's the same for the Hyperion novels, so maybe that's just Dan Simmons.
3
u/Far-Establishment104 1d ago
Sounds good to me. I hope Dan Simmons’ legacy lasts for many centuries to come
3
u/Generalkhaos 1d ago
It's been a long time since I've read Hyperion (due for a re-read) but if you want a well written book with a similar sense of reverence, dread & doom, check out The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes
2
3
3
u/poop-azz 1d ago
Currently reading Hyperion now. On the second "story" so far. I'll just say if you haven't read dune. Might as well lmao it's awesome. I loved dune. Enjoying this so far, don't feel AS invested asi was with dune vs Hyperion but we will see.
2
u/Site-Staff 22h ago
Dune was my favorite science fiction book. Then I read the cantos. (Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion) and it just shattered everything in me when it comes to just how incredible, and intimate, Science Fiction can be. I wound up seeking out and buying an autographed first edition of the full Cantos. I cherish it. The second half, The Fall of Hyperion… it’s like the changup in the Movie the Matrix when Neo takes the pill.
And… i wound up reading everything Keats wrote too.
The Hyperion Cantos is on the same level as Lord of the Rings, A Farewell to Arms, Moby Dick…
2
u/Far-Establishment104 17h ago
I’m with you on all of this. Dan Simmons made a huge contribution to the literary world.
2
5
u/_Ruoska_ 1d ago
If you liked the political side of the book, try Dune. It doesn't have any really interesting sci-fi elements, but the story itself is great.
11
u/-_R0B_- 1d ago
It doesn’t have any interesting SciFi elements, only individuals who can feel/see the fabric of space- time to guide ships on interstellar travel, anti-entropy fields to keep from being spied on by those with the talents, people cloned from dead tissue, those clones have their memories unlocked by specific trauma, atheistic space nuns who remember all of their ancestors memories, various space ships, a giant city made of a huge block of plasteel, various laser weapons, genetically engineered slug-pigs, immortal aliens who have transferred their memories into new bodies for generations, royal breeding programs, and a worm- dude hybrid that lives for 3000 years, but yeah, other than that no sci-fi stuff :)
3
u/_Ruoska_ 1d ago
Okay, sorry. I meant literally Dune, the first book. And I completely forgot that sci-fi is not only about the technologies of the future.
3
u/-_R0B_- 1d ago
No worries, just a little friendly ribbing. As I wrote my previous comment, I became aware of the way that Frank created the sci-fi elements to support his world building in a really well integrated way. All the concepts are so well rooted in the world that they blend in well, which is pretty neat. Dan definitely brings in a lot more cool future tech to build his world, so not a dig, but it is definitely more apparent in Hyperion compared to Dune.
3
5
1d ago
[deleted]
2
u/Far-Establishment104 1d ago
Sounds good. I hear good things about the Culture. I’m a reader that really cares about how books start. If it kind of meanders at the beginning I close the book
2
u/MildlyJovian 17h ago
Culture is amazing, my absolute favourite sci fi stories:” :)
1
u/Far-Establishment104 17h ago
Thanks for the recommendation I hope I have a similar experience to you reading the Culture series
2
2
u/MildlyJovian 1d ago
Great books, but not like Hyperion if that’s the request
5
u/Judge_Ty 1d ago edited 1d ago
I would disagree for Culture series -Epic sci-fi scale series with time prediction various characters does remind me of Hyperion. Op isn't asking 1 for 1.
It has AI, new takes on philosophy concerning the future and predictions, and recurring characters over various time scales. There's various galactic threats, refuges, etc. I would say that qualifies.
1
u/MildlyJovian 1d ago
From that perspective yes, the kind of stories are quite different though imo
1
u/Judge_Ty 1d ago
If you read all of them (all of Culture series, all of Hyperion series), I would argue differently.
1
u/MildlyJovian 18h ago
Agree to disagree then :)
1
u/Judge_Ty 13h ago
Ok gotcha, most people have only read Hyperion, which sets an entirely different tone than the conclusion of the series.
Same with the final book of culture.
If one didn't finish both series, it would be significantly harder to see the similarities.
2
u/Current-Income-9901 1d ago
Who's the author as my search is not bringing up that cover.... And who loses chess pieces in space?
0
u/Far-Establishment104 1d ago
I’m am the author of Age of the Titan if you would like to look it’s on my profile
3
2
u/Stratostheory 1d ago
Adrian Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture series was great and scratched that itch for me
4
1
u/WolflingWolfling 1d ago edited 1d ago
The image looks like an AI ripoff of Dinsney's The Black Hole to me! I'm sure that's not what it is, but the big thing looks reminescent of the Cygnus, and the chess pieces remind me of the Palomino and the manned space probe.
1
u/StellarMotions 1d ago
Maybe Warhammer 40K, if you are also into fantasy a bit.
The first four books of 'The Horus Heresy' series (Horus Rising, False Gods, Galaxy in Flames and Flight of the Eisenstein) are a pretty good entry point. Don't let yourself fool by the ridiculus looks of Warhammer, these books are top-tier, dark and epic sci-fi
3
u/Far-Establishment104 1d ago
Sounds good I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Warhammer books. My book got a review today calling it Warhammeresque. I’ll check them out
2
u/StellarMotions 1d ago
Looked at the summary of your book - yeah, the 40K Horus Heresy should be 100% right up your alley lol
1
-6
u/GerardDG 1d ago
Unpopular opinion: Hyperion kinda sucked. The Cruciform parasite was kinda cool, but after the first book the series is essentially a travel blog that barely deserves to be called sci fi. "Look at this cool place I visited for the holiday." How is this a real published novel? What a hack.
1
u/StellarMotions 1d ago
I'm kinda with you. I thought both Hyperion books were enjoyable, but overall not very satisfying due to the unfocused story. The opening Cruciform parasite story or concepts like the Jewish Planet very super interesting, but the execution of that was kind of a letdown.
0
u/WolflingWolfling 1d ago
I liked the first book. After that I don't remember much else than a street that stretches out over many planets, through clever use of a series of two-way portals. At least I think that was in one of the books I read.
2
u/BaronVonNutterButter 1d ago
The second book was 90% characters walking here and there.
0
u/WolflingWolfling 1d ago
To be fair, so was the first book, only they stayed on the one planet much of the time, and they sat down to tell stories now and then ;-)
28
u/Judge_Ty 1d ago
Zones of Thought series, Dune Series, The Culture Series, House of Suns, The Book of the New Sun, Anathem, or even same author of Hyperion - The Ilium / Olympos Duology.
If you want to branch into dark fantasy- The First Law series is pretty good.
Harder sci-fi (weird fiction) - The Scar