One-line summary: The conclusion of an epic space opera ends the way most series should end.

Spectra, 1990, 517 pages
( Classic space opera, a rare sequel that's better than the first volume. )
Verdict: Recommended if you like epic space opera that's not quite "old school" but predates current trends (socially-themed sci-fi, singularities, posthumans, etc.). Is Hyperion/The Fall of Hyperion the best sci-fi story ever? No, but for something written at the dawn of the Internet era, it's still pretty good, and merits being considered a classic of the genre if not a masterpiece. While I was lukewarm about continuing with the series after book one, book two has convinced me to read the rest.

Spectra, 1990, 517 pages
In the stunning continuation of the epic adventure begun in Hyperion, Simmons returns us to a far future resplendent with drama and invention.
On the world of Hyperion, the mysterious Time Tombs are opening. And the secrets they contain mean that nothing - nothing anywhere in the universe - will ever be the same.
( Classic space opera, a rare sequel that's better than the first volume. )
Verdict: Recommended if you like epic space opera that's not quite "old school" but predates current trends (socially-themed sci-fi, singularities, posthumans, etc.). Is Hyperion/The Fall of Hyperion the best sci-fi story ever? No, but for something written at the dawn of the Internet era, it's still pretty good, and merits being considered a classic of the genre if not a masterpiece. While I was lukewarm about continuing with the series after book one, book two has convinced me to read the rest.