Hyperion

I'm almost through with Dan Simmon's Hyperion, and its already left a very bad taste in my mouth. It doesn't help that I had last read almost as much of the book nearly 4 years back, and stopped.

This is SF trying very hard. SF should try hard in other ways, not like this. Not by reeking of literary pretentiousness by quoting Yeats and Keats and Lord knows how many other canonical poets.

Okay, I admit that parts of the book are striking. And it makes me want to revisit Keats and Yeats and Chaucer. But the rest doesn't hold up. Even if the conclusion manages to thrill me, it'll be a while before I start on the sequel.

Strange. The way the novel began had me wishing it would be a lot better than this.

I've never trusted the Hugo. Come to think of it, if you want to read quality SF, go check out Gibson's list here http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/66294/index2.html or M Harrison's somewhat eccentric list here http://ambientehotel.wordpress.com/2009/05/02/some-interesting-science-fiction/. Read widely and avoid restricting yourself to books which have won awards. Check out the likes of Van Vogt and some early Philip K Dick. More often than not, SF is at its best and most literary when its not trying to be 'literary'.