Hyperion was awesome. Canterbury Tales-style narrative focused on a group of pilgrims on a crazy planet steeped in legend set against a galaxy-spanning empire that is being threatened by a faceless looming external threat. As if that wasn't enough, the pilgrims are threatened from within by mystery, murder and betrayal as much as they are hounded by the immortal blade-covered daemon they know they are eventually destined to face.
Each pilgrims tale is unique and told in a different vibe - from pious and regretful to vulgar and indifferent.
The problem with Hyperion is that it was so successful, the author couldn't resist the temptation to write sequels, and those are of much lesser quality.
Opinion of course, but I couldn’t agree less. Taken as a whole, I think the whole work is beautiful, and I re read all of them occasionally. The way it all spreads out and then ties together is wonderful.
Amusingly, within just a few hours of our exchange, Hyperion popped up in another comment thread[0], where my view on the sequels was reiterated by several other people.
Each pilgrims tale is unique and told in a different vibe - from pious and regretful to vulgar and indifferent.