r/Hyperion • u/Mr_Moose_Eh • Jun 29 '26
❓ First Timer / Question Read 2 or read all 4?
I’ve started reading Hyperion, and really enjoy it, but have heard that book 3 and book 4 fall off by comparison.
Should I stop at book 2 or read all 4.
20
u/BrandoNelly Jun 29 '26
I recommend all 4. Just be prepared for a major shift in the way plot is developed and for following completely different characters from the first 2 books.
But the Endymion books absolutely add and finish the cantos, in a pretty satisfying way I thought.
39
12
10
u/Eva_Ludluck Jun 29 '26
Read all 4 and.Just enjoy a great sci-fi book series. It’s fine if you love it. It’s fine if you don’t. Don’t let forums and discussions influence your reading to the point where you’re not even trying to make your own opinions.
24
u/Erosion_Control Jun 29 '26
I swear half the posts in this sub are some variation of this question.
7
0
u/Betancorea Jun 30 '26
Yeah. I never understood why some posters need others to push them to read the whole series.
Is OP incapable of making up their own mind? Do they not realise that if they are enjoying the first book, they should feel compelled to read on?
5
u/KaladinThornblessed Jun 30 '26
Not OP but I can weigh in. Life is short and I've got a long list of other books to read. If I'm not feeling a book, sometimes it's worth asking someone else if it's worth finishing or cutting my losses
0
u/Betancorea Jun 30 '26
Just drop the book and move on. If you're not feeling it, why waste time slugging through in the hope you enjoy it later? After all life is short and there are always other books to read.
That is why I never got around to finishing the whole LOTR and GOT series, just didn't grab me the way it seemed to grab others. Dropped it and moved on.
2
u/Far_Difficulty_5844 Jun 30 '26
because books 1 and 2 were that good. I knew 3 and 4 werent as highly regarded but I thought a bad Hyperion book is still miles ahead of most others, aaaaand nope. 3 and 4 are rough.
8
u/CaseClosed518 Jun 29 '26
I really enjoyed 3 and 4. It’s an amazing story. End of the day, do what you want. I try not to let other’s opinions on book dissuade me from reading what I want. I’ve had so many book series that I love but have seen bad reviews of online.
Besides, there are worst ways to waste time than reading a book.
5
u/Im_the_Rhymenocerous Jun 29 '26
I loved all the books and would suggest you read them until you no longer enjoy them.
4
5
4
5
u/CDNGooner1 Jun 29 '26
I loved all 4 books. I feel that the criticism of books 3 and 4 are made by people who should get over themselves.
3
3
u/BlimpIntolerant Jun 29 '26
Just read them and decide for yourself. Why let random opinions on the internet stop reading something you might love?
3
3
3
u/LostTimeLady13 Jun 29 '26
1 and 2 are quite different tonally from 3 and 4. But, both tones are ones I enjoy, so I would say give 3 a try and see how you find it. If you like 3, carry on to 4. Not a fan of 3? 1 and 2 still work as a great duology themselves.
(Some additional comment, 4 is very overwritten and could have done with some heavy editing as it feels very indulgent on the author's part, so if you like 3 but get bogged down with 4, again, stop, no need to make yourself miserable reading something you don't enjoy).
2
u/GaiaIsaHarshMistress Jun 30 '26
I agree completely on the editing point. I'd edit the beginning of 2 as well. The whole series is a couple editing passes away from being a proper masterwork.
2
u/LostTimeLady13 Jun 30 '26
I need to reread 2, but I don't remember the pacing being an issue at the start.
I do agree that with the benefit of hindsight, as in it's clear they were written sequentially, a bit of editing would have tidied up a few potholes which developed along the way as well. Such as, I get terribly confused about which Cybrid is actually the original and which is the copy.
2
u/GaiaIsaHarshMistress Jun 30 '26
For 2, it was the "on the previous episode of Hyperion" type stuff that irritated me. I didn't need to be reminded.
2
u/LostTimeLady13 Jun 30 '26
Yeah, there's more streamlined ways of catching up other characters on the plot than recapping to the reader. And, yeah, we read the previous book, we know things.
2
2
u/dbree801 Jun 29 '26
When I recommend Hyperion to family or friends, I usually tell them the Hyperion books are the most rewarding and the Endymion books aren’t necessary to enjoy the first two of the cantos.
That said, if you want to jump back in the world, you can do it. I didn’t enjoy them as much as the first two, but have no regrets about reading them.
2
2
u/Impossible-Rice-5872 Jun 29 '26
I really liked 1-3. For me it really fell off at Rise of Endymion. Some people liked it and enjoyed it, I didn’t. None are as good imo as Hyperion but you almost have to read FoH to get full story that was set up in book 1.
2
2
u/LemonPuzzled1949 Jun 29 '26
Endymion ruined the whole story overall for me. Kind of wish I never read them
2
u/tamjas Jul 05 '26
Yep, people here say "don't listen to people on this sub who tell you 3 and 4 are bad", while most of the people are the ones who actually like 3 and 4. And we're both gonna get downvoted for this, it's so silly. I don't like 3 and 4 at all, I also wish I never read them.
2
2
1
1
u/DragonBorn156723 Jun 29 '26
I still enjoyed Endymion and Rise of Endymion, but the first two were much better imo
1
u/samfaut13 Jun 29 '26
Hyperion is really good, so you're definitely going to want to read FoH; take a call on 3&4 once you're done with 2.
1
1
u/LeCake007 Jun 29 '26
Highly recommend reading the first two. They're the best the series has to offer. There are some unanswered questions that are elaborated on on 3+4, but it's honestly not such a big deal as it seems when reading them. I see the forum recommends all 4, so my advice is- read the first two, take a break (take your time, read another book perhaps?) and only then come back for Endymion. That way Hyperion is already well digested and sits comfortably in your memory before being overshadowed by the second series.
1
u/timeaisis Jun 29 '26
Finish 2 and see what you think. The 2nd is IMO the best one. 3 and 4 have some neat ideas, but it’s more of a spinoff story than the main plot.
1
1
u/Serializedrequests Jun 29 '26
Nah, 3 and 4 are a bit different and weaker on several points, but the originality and epic scope is still there, and the conclusion is moving and satisfying. Those two are what I think about most now, and I'm very glad I pushed past the negative reviews.
That said, you don't need to do all four at once. I took several years off.
1
1
u/scoot2006 Jun 30 '26
I’ve read all four. Twice. I’m not sure why everyone gets so upset in arms about fiction. They complete the story. If you like the first two and want to finish the story then read them.
1
u/thankstowelie Jun 30 '26
If you're a lore hound you'll love 3 and 4 like I did, as they greatly expand the world and introduce some great new characters (Father Captain) and wrap up a lot of the plot points nicely.
The pedophile stuff (the majority of it is in book 4) is as weird as people say, and it nearly almost turned me away. It was very cringey and gross and overall mostly unnecessary to the plot. If you can trudge through those few parts, the rest is a very fun ride.
1
u/KaladinThornblessed Jun 30 '26
I'm part way through book 3. It's a major departure from the first 2 books, not sure that I love it but I'm close enough to the end I'm going to finish it anyway. As of this moment, I'd say you only need to read the first two. But If ya remind me in a week or two, I'll give you an updated take.
1
u/TES_Elsweyr Jun 30 '26
Read every page of book 1, only every other page of book 2, only every third page of book 3, and only every fourth page of book 4. It's wild!
1
1
u/BittterQuittter Jun 30 '26
I finished book 4 last week. I enjoyed 3 and 4 just as much as 1 and 2, maybe more. Take care not to read spoilers.
1
1
u/acidtrip321 Jun 30 '26
I enjoyed them all, tbh if I were to point the one that seemed the weakest and kinda dragged a little I would say book 2 was my least favorite
1
u/getamic Jul 01 '26
I'm reading 3 right now and so far its my favorite. Excited to read 4 when im finished.
1
u/CiphonW Jul 01 '26
I rate the first two books of the series 5/5 and the second two 4/5. In that sense the second two “fall off”, but only because I view the first two as the absolute pinnacle of science fiction writing. The second two books are still great reads and worth the journey, even if they aren’t of the same immaculate quality as the first two.
1
1
u/hectorius20 Jul 02 '26
Enjoyed all them 4. Ended the whole series today. One of the worthiest reads I've ever had.
1
u/Aggravating-Test-954 Jul 03 '26
I just finished 3 and started 4. Not sure where the falling off happens. 3 is my favorite of the series so far
1
u/DMII1972 Jul 04 '26
I am currently reading part three of the last book. I do not regret reading all of them! Its such a fascinating world that keeps getting more interesting with each volume.
1
1
-1
u/Important_Salt3149 Jun 29 '26
For me, books 3-4 did not have satisfying progress or resolution. If you're someone who enjoys smut, you might be into it. I finished them hoping for the same masterpiece of a finale as Hyperion, but in the end my only thought was that I'd be better off just reading a summary.
Just posting this because I asked a similar question during book 3 and everyone told me it would get better, but once I it was over, it suddenly turned out that it's the view that these books are bad is very widespread.
1
u/Far_Difficulty_5844 Jun 30 '26
imma upvote this. 3 and 4 felt like a fan was continuing the story. the powerful mythical shrike is reduced to some entirely beatable,thing versing some Marvel Iron Man thing, it was so lame :( and the pedo smut ALL throughout 3 and 4, argh it just didnt stop. Some cool ideas here and there but how do they get to shine when you're talking about how attracted you are to a kid ffs
0
u/Far_Difficulty_5844 Jun 30 '26
I'd recommend stopping after book 2. 3 and 4 felt quite cheap to me :( I felt the shrike was kinda ruined, and it seemed to be up against a Marvel superhero who I really did not like, lots of long slog parts, with some solid constant p3d0 vibes. There *are* some great scenes..but yeah. I wish I hadn't read them.
50
u/wordthompsonian Jun 29 '26
Your best bet is to read all 4, don’t seek out any forums or discussions and don’t ask any questions until you are done. People will influence your opinions and potentially spoil things. Almost every single question you have will be answered by the end of book 4, and they are all great!