Endymion (Hyperion Cantos, #3)

Endymion (Hyperion Cantos, #3), by Dan Simmons

“Endymion” by Dan Simmons is the third book in the Hyperion Cantos series While “The Fall of Hyperion” immediately follows “Hyperion,” “Endymion” picks up more than 300 years after the second installment.  So far, all three books have been quite different.  This installment follows Raul Endymion of Hyperion, the future messiah Aenea, and the android Bettik as they go on journey over many planets.
                                                         

What’s interesting is how this book is told from the point of view of two characters, Raul Endymion, and Father Captain Federico de Soya and generally centering around Aenea. A late introduction from the character Nemes was probably introduced to help move the book to close. 

While satisfying enough to warrant the hefty length of the novel, the ending felt rushed and loosely ended, clearly setting up the stage for the final installment of the Cantos. The strength of the author’s writing is ability to build world as clearly demonstrated with his character’s lack of depth as most of his characters are more ideas and archetypes than people with personalities fleshed out; Aenea is the standard “chosen one”, Father Captain de Soya is the typical military man growing to question his morality and righteousness, and the main enigmatic antagonist Nemes is the “baddy”, though introduced late but worth the wait for the final battle with the Shrike.

Enjoyable and worth the read if you enjoyed Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion, which comprises the first duology of the Hyperion Cantos. One word of warning: the mystery posed in the opening pages of "Endymion" remains unresolved at the end.

I rate the book 4.75 out of 5 stars.