# The Fall of Hyperion **Dan Simmons** | Hyperion Cantos, Book 2 *Last accessed: February 4, 2026* --- ## Selected Highlights ### On Character & Presence > "no hesitation whatsoever in his voice." > "his demeanor proclaimed a relaxed confidence that all men dreamed of and precious few obtained." > "he was one of those rare individuals who commanded others' attention and obedience without effort." > "that strange, inexplicable charisma of personality which had cursed and bestowed power upon a few individuals since time immemorial." ### On Observation & Data > "Did you have any impressions?" I wondered what she meant. My guess was that the woman had an insatiable appetite for data, no matter how seemingly irrelevant. > "Gladstone was famous for aphorisms, stories, and clichés so old and forgotten that they were brand-new." ### Imagery > "The lemon sky had dissolved to a muted saffron and then quickly faded to a tropical dusk so rich that it seemed as if a thick, blue curtain had been drawn across the sky." > "Gaslamps were lighting themselves under the canopy of leaves, and the first stars were becoming visible in the gaps where sky faded from azure to amber to ebony." > "his youth a pastiche of decadence and elegance, beauty and the sweet smell of decay." ### On Creation & Return > "Only the descent of the writer to the world was more painful as he or she returned, trailing clouds of glory which quickly dissipated in the mundane flow of sensory trivia." > "tried to imagine just the moon, humankind's first step in its long stagger from the cradle." --- ## Reading Notes The sequel maintains Simmons' density but shifts focus from the pilgrims' individual stories to the larger political and philosophical stakes. The passages about charisma and leadership stood out—how certain people naturally command attention, how presence is both a gift and a burden.