The story continues from where the Hyperion ended. The pilgrims are now at the Time Tombs, waiting for the Shrike to show itself. At the same time, the Time Tombs are finally opening and the Ousters have begun their attack. But the perspective is different.At first, the narrator of the story is another cybrid of the TehcnoCore, John Severn, who is actually the second incarnation of John Keats. He sees dreams of what the pilgrims are doing and is keeping the CEO of the Hegemony of Man, Meina Gladstone, in the loop about what is going on during the final gambit that has the potential to shape the future of the whole mankind.
Severn, not fully clear of his own role in all this, tells the CEO with the weight of the future on her shoulders, tales of what the pilgrims fare on their journey. Through him, she learns of the, at times fantastical things, that take place, but we also learn a lot more of the history of the events that are now folding.
Through Severn/Keats we get to know how the puzzle pieces introduced in the first novel are sliding in their places and what the purpose of each is. He also takes an active part by starting to figure out other hidden secrets which have greater meaning to unfolding the chaos taking place.
Interestingly enough, the parts with Severn/Keats are now narrated from a first-person perspective. He is in many ways the main character of the tale, albeit every pilgrim gets their share of the tale as well. Not to mention Meina Gladstone, who is a far more important character this time around.
The war itself is shown mostly from the side of the Hegemony of Man. Hyperion didn't really handle the Ousters in another manner besides faceless enemies and they are, again, this large, looming threat upon the farcaster web-connected worlds of the Hegemony. But there still is more to them than that and of it, we now get to witness some additional bits as well.
In many ways, while there is a sort of a cliffhanger at the end, The Fall of Hyperion provides a conclusion to the tale begun in the first book. The motives of the pilgrims, as well as the motives of the war, are brought to the surface. The reasons why they were the last chosen to witness the opening of the Time Tombs are explained. So in every way, this part of the tale comes to a conclusion.
But, as I stated, there is a cliffhanger of sorts, but it all is about the future and what will happen now. The world has changed a lot by the end of the tale. Kicking and screaming humanity as dragged to a new era, where it is either sink or swim. And considering human nature, there are many who will sink, but many as well who will swim.
Hyperion was a puzzle, a mystery. It was a fantastic question with many facets, a dare to try and guess what the answer truly is. The Fall of Hyperion is the answer to that question and in all counts, I'd call it a very satisfying one at that. As it is an answer, I do feel I can't really say much of the story itself, as it would not only ruin this story, it would in many ways ruin the Hyperion as well.
If you enjoyed Hyperion, it is safe to assume you will most likely like the Fall of Hyperion as well. Answers to big questions are not always successful, but as far I can see, Simmons manages to answer his big questions here with grace.
Again, very much recommended reading, especially if you like a massive space opera set in the future far, far away.
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