Dan Simmons’s Hyperion is a landmark of modern science fiction, structured like The Canterbury Tales in space. Seven pilgrims journey to a distant world and a deadly enigma called the Shrike, and along the way their stories reveal a vast, haunting future.
Get the Hyperion Audiobook on AmazonListen on Audible · also in Kindle & printWhat Hyperion is about
Hyperion follows a group of seven pilgrims traveling across the galaxy to the mysterious world of Hyperion, home to the lethal, enigmatic creature known as the Shrike and the strange Time Tombs. As they journey toward an uncertain fate, several of the pilgrims take turns recounting how they came to be part of this pilgrimage.
Each tale is told in a different style and reveals another piece of a sprawling, richly imagined future of interstellar empires, artificial intelligences, and looming war. Ambitious and atmospheric, it weaves these stories into a single epic mystery, the first book in Simmons’s acclaimed Hyperion Cantos.
| Author | Dan Simmons |
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Why Hyperion is great on audio
The shifting styles of each pilgrim’s tale make the Hyperion audiobook an immersive, varied listen, almost like a collection of linked novellas. It rewards attentive listening as the larger picture comes into focus.
Who should listen
For fans of ambitious, literary science fiction, far-future worldbuilding, and mystery woven through interlocking stories. If you want fast, straightforward action, its layered, episodic structure may feel slow at first.
If you like Hyperion, listen to these next
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
- A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
- The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
How to listen to Hyperion
Hyperion is available on Audible and Amazon. If you’re new to Audible you can listen with a free trial, or buy the audiobook (also in Kindle and print) on Amazon.
Get the Hyperion Audiobook on AmazonListen on Audible · also in Kindle & printFrequently asked questions
How is Hyperion structured?
It’s framed like The Canterbury Tales: a group of pilgrims travels together, and along the way several of them tell the story of how they came to Hyperion.
How can I listen to the Hyperion audiobook?
It’s available on Audible and Amazon. New Audible members can start with a free trial, or buy it on Amazon.
Is it part of a series?
Yes – it’s the first book in Dan Simmons’s Hyperion Cantos.
Does it end on a cliffhanger?
It tells a complete set of stories but leaves the larger journey unresolved, continuing in the sequel, The Fall of Hyperion.