Dan Simmons – Hyperion

Dan Simmons seems to switch between fantasy and SF, and “Hyperion” reminded me (from the background setting of where humanity is) of Ian M. Banks’ Culture. The book is told via seven personal stories which are all excellently written (when was the last time you cried while reading a book? The “Wandering Jew”‘s story did just that to me), and end with a rather bad cliffhanger.
I had made a point of ordering only the first book to see whether I like Simmons (which I now know I do), but that came back and put in a near-rage as I was turning the last page with very limited options of finding the sequel in time. Recommended — one can see his fantasy influence but that is not a bad thing.