Hyperion

"You are reading this for the wrong reason."

That's one of my favorite opening lines in sci-fi. It's from Endymion, which is the third book in the Hyperion Cantos series.

The series itself is very well known among sci-fi circles, and I remember trying to read it in high school. I think the first book, Hyperion, was initially tough to get through, given that I was young and probably didn't fully understand the literary story the author, Dan Simmons, had crafted.

But as I read along, I of course became hooked and finished the entire series right as I was about to enter college.

The series is so rich and dense, it's hard for me to recall all the details of its plot. It's a space opera with a little bit of everything. And I mean everything, including time travel, religion, the fall of civilization, a mysterious creature called the Shrike, and a clone of John Keats of all things.

For me, what I remember most is feeling quite moved by it at the end. The plot eventually evolves into a love story that later results in sacrifice.

It was sad to see the series end, but I'm glad the author gave it a hopeful conclusion. I highly recommend this series.  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77566.Hyperion