Not without its flaws, but this, like its predecessor, stands up to time (no pun intended).

Representation of women is good for the late 80's, not great for today. Ethnicity is reasonably diverse, though you'd have to suspect the leads were all intended as white it would be quite possible to cast most of them them however you'd like to. Certainly Simmons very clearly believes an advanced human civilisation is varied across the scale, and will only get more and more varied as time goes on (this is explicitly represented in very positive terms).

The book remains an impressive combination of character drama and epic scale science fiction war. Space opera in the fantastical sense, and very explicitly and deliberately romantic (in the literary rather than relationship sense). Things certain go a bit wild, and possibly a little too magical if your tastes run to the harder stuff in speculative fiction.

The conflicts seeded in the first book blossom and expand here. All of the mysterious threats that haunt Hyperion (both the first novel and the fictional world) are given articulation and texture, though not in any hurried way. It culminates in what for me is a satisfying though not comfortable conclusion.

Has always been one of my favourites and has not disappointed on this re-read. One of the best examples of its type.