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Hyperion is insanely good. It’s thought provoking, fast paced, mysterious and engrossing from page one. Don’t miss this ride if you are a true scifi fan. Dan Simmons‘ Hugo Award-Winning Novel is a masterful read that reminds me of Games of Thrones with its raw brutality of human conflict but with the unyielding conviction of hope and deliverance. We dissect the first third of the book in this podcast. Here’s my synopsis on the first part of this unforgettable tale:

Hyperion is a science fiction drama set in the distant future when man has conquered the stars and is the dominant sentient lifeform in the known galaxy. But our sins and fears have followed us into space. Hyperion starts off as an interstellar mystery where the ruling empire – called the Hegemony of Men – is on the edge of potentially their biggest war with space barbarians known as the Ousters. But the heart of the story is a group of seven who converge on the planet Hyperion where the coming war in space is preceded by martial law on the surface and a population on edge waiting for evacuation. And there is another danger that lurks on the planet – thousands have been killed by a mythical creature, called the Shrike, which is now venturing further from its northern hiding place, the mysterious Time Tombs. The seven characters are fascinating and flawed and they each keep secrets of why they accepted to come on this perilous journey. It’s a fascinating read so far and a compelling look at a fictional future for mankind.

The story unfolds through the characters’ experiences in this world. There is some very entertaining dialogue by group members, who are forced together and would never socialize or be in the same world or place otherwise. We’re pulled right into their environment and come to care about these characters, or at least have a strong need to know what happens to them. All of them have a connection to Hyperion and reasons for returning. As far fetched as it seems that each would invite probable death by going to the Shrike’s domain where few have returned, we see in the first part of the book, the motives for each pilgrim is powerful and will leave you reeling after they are revealed.

News headlines in episode:

‘A History Of The Quidditch World Cup’ Part One Released By JK Rowling On Pottermore

On The Books: Soon you can read Tolkien’s ‘Beowulf’

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Verdict:

If you like great action and inventive alternate realities, you get an appetizer in this book, but outside some fun battles, there is no resolution to major plot points, which are pushed off to a second book. With no payoff, it’s harder to care what happens to the characters.

Rating: 3.25/5

We conclude our World War I alternate reality Young Adult novel “Leviathan” by Scott Westerfield. The last third of the book saves the best part of the war for last, that is the actual parts of the war we see. The Clankers and the Darwinists join forces and cultures to survive their frozen prison. And the inevitable attack by the Germans puts our heroes in real life-and-death danger.

We find out what happens when giant hydrogen-filled airships don’t pay attention to fire safety 101, it seems Deryn is either crazy or just young and impulsive, and secrets that have been building up throughout the book are saved until…. the…. very…. next… book. At least we can hope.

So even without a payoff to some big questions – the eggs anyone? – it’s an action-packed finale with more talking lizards, eight-legged giant robots and a hollywood worthy finale.

Thanks for joining us on the REIGN of Books.

NEWS in this episode:

• Serial Novels: Modern Torture or the Best Way to Read Fiction?
• Twitter Fiction Fest tells stories one tweet at a time
• George Saunders becomes first winner of UK’s newest literary prize

PART 1

PART 2

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Things get tricky on the war front!

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Scott Westerfield creates a revisionist history of World War I with robots versus genetically engineered beasties. Things get crazy as our two title characters, on the opposite side of the conflict, are thrown into new roles that put them in real danger. Enjoy the spoilercast and watch out for talking geckos.

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The Ocean comes and makes a lasting impression; we get a glimpse of a marvelously different world, and a tragedy has lasting consequences.

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A family implodes when a father commits an unforgivable act, a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse unfolds in the countryside, and the unbelievable rise and fall of the arch villian is shockingly emotional and poetic. The middle part of TOATEOTL has it all – listen to the rundown on the REIGN of Books podcast, where the written word rules supreme.

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So it begins. The REIGN of Books Podcast ep. 1  explores an atypical story of a boy and girl, fighting against an ancient evil that pays a visit to the English countryside. Unlikely events bring them together and the boy discovers a new reality on the edges of our own. What lies there follows him back to our world.