Counter opinion: Hyperion books are recommended every time some of my favorite authors are mentioned (like Gene Wolfe and Peter Watts), but I found them very mediocre. Not as bad as Vernor Vinge books that are also always mentioned in similar contexts, but still quite meh.

Agreed, they do not hold a candle to Wolfe's prose. Though, many genre readers seem completely oblivious to prose quality and read purely for story. In the case of Hyperion everything is b-movie quality.

> Though, many genre readers seem completely oblivious to prose quality and read purely for story.

I find that I would read different books differently - some books I would read for the writing style or prose, and others purely for the story. I will literally skip 'prose-y?' sections to not waste time and get back to the story.

Though I gotta say, I found both the writing style and story great in Hyperion. One of the few books I actually went back and re-read sections of, while going through the first time.

Article about a specific sci-fi author: Every HN user just mentioning their favorite sci-fi book or author does not add any value. Especially when they say nothing interesting about named book and have not read the author in question.

Helpful comment, possibly adding value: In a comment I mentioned another author and why he is interesting. I have a reference for comparison because I have read Wolfe.

Same goes for any other topic.

Wow Thanks Mister!

How do you measure "prose quality"?

I read books for the story (well, aren't books stories?) if it is written poorly - I don't enjoy it. And for me Gene Wolfe is written poorly the world is interesting but the story there was not entertaining at all for me and I read just the first book.

(BTW. I'm probably the only one but I just couldn't bear the constant mentions that some females face was shaped like heart).

Hyperion has interesting story and keeps you on your toes (just the first book).

There’s more than one way to tell the same story. Word choice can colour the reader’s perception subtly. Rhythm and pacing matter. Use of poetic devices and subtext make some tellings of stories much richer than others.

Some writing simply makes you go “Wow, what an amazing sentence” even if the plot is gibberish.

It is not measurable, unless you count adverbs and adjectives or things of that nature, but it can be critiqued.

George Orwell on prose: https://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_poli....

Also, see Elements of Style.

A good story can be "written poorly," that's where prose quality comes into play. When you say written poorly it seems you are referring to narrative and structure--as you deemed it not entertaining--not prose.

Haven't read Wolfe, but this thread makes me very curious. Another out-of-context reference: How does Malazan Book of the Fallen (though in high fantasy, by Steven Erikson) compare in terms of prose, complexity, being like literature, originality, etc.?

Yeah, I've seen Malazan Book of the Fallen mentioned several times in similar discussions but I generally don't commit to reading 5+ books fantasy series unless they quality is attested by multiple people with tastes similar to mine (and after GoT and The Kingkiller Chronicle fiascos I would only start reading them _after_ series is concluded and author managed to come up with coherent ending). So, can anyone who enjoys reading "boring" stuff like The Book of the New Sun (or, as another example, The Silmarillion) express their opinion on Erikson's books?

I'm no expert on prose/literature, but I really enjoyed Malazan Book of the Fallen for the story/adventure side of it. It has an enormous universe, many story lines, lots of good characters, etc.

Strange that you feel the need to recommend a book by an author totally unrelated to this thread when you have not even read Wolfe. You have no reference as to what someone who likes Wolfe might enjoy.

How is a well-known science fiction author unrelated to a thread about science fiction where multiple other authors are mentioned? What's strange is your need to critique other people's commenting style.

For the record, I was looking for comparisons between the two from people who have read both. Hopefully that makes it a little less strange for you.

Sci-fi thread drinking game: take a shot every time someone recommends Hyperion regardless of context.

I use Arch Linux.

Coincidentally, so do I. Btw.

Somehow this book elicits both claims of "greatest hall of famer ever written" from people like me, or "meh it was good but I couldn't get through all 4 books" from others.

I think the series sort of dragged on after the first one. But I read it a long time ago, maybe I should try again.

I love that series. It's fantastic.