Hi all ! Here's a proposed new entry for THE LIST : "The Rise of Endymion", Dan Simmons' 4th episode of his Hyperion saga.
I loved "Hyperion" and "The Fall of Hyperion" - at the time I thought it
was the greatest "monumental SF" since Asimov's "Foundation" or Herbert's
"Dune" cycles. I was disappointed by the 3rd one, "Endymion" - basically a
lengthy (if occasionnally brilliant) chase-and-run story across the galaxy.
But "The Rise of Endymion" more than makes up for that, and provides a
magnificent, dramatic, colorful, deeply moving and highly spiritual
conclusion (probably provisory...) to the whole saga.
Now, unless I'm mistaken, there was no mention of nanotechnology in the 3 previous books. In this last one, nanotech does not actually fill many pages, but the role it plays is quite fundamental. Some of the key components of the whole story receive new meanings and explanations because of it.
Warning. If you're familiar with the first episodes and are planning to read this 4th book soon, don't read the rest of my post, as it will spoil some of the fun. If you have never read Simmons' prose and plan to embark in the Hyperion ride (lucky you !), no problem - by the time you've ingested all 3000 pages of it , you will probably have forgotten everything I'm about to write...
OK, so, first, we have the Ousters. This mysterious breed of mutant
ex-humans, adapted to deep space living, inhabiting the farthest outbacks of
the universe, and generally designated as humanity's main enemy and
scape-goat, turn out to be the ultimate descendants of the 21st century's
"advanced nanotech/genetically designed creatures", just before they were
banned by the Hegemony - the human galactic civilization, covertly
manipulated by the all-powerful "AI Core" (artificial intelligences who turn
out to be the descendants of the humble "artificial life" programs presently
living on the Internet and in some of your computers...). So Ousters are
nanotech-humans, and of course they are not such bad guys and gals...
Then, the Cruciform. This bizarre cross-like parasite that sticks to human torsos, accomplishes resurrection of the dead and gives the old Catholic church a new dreadful total power and control of humanity, is revealed to be nanotech creation of the real baddies - the AI core, in order to better enslave and exploit human beings !
But wait, Aenea, the girl messiah, introduced in the 3rd book, arch-enemy of the Pope and Core, has in her blood an antidote to the Cruciform - and it's a nanotech virus !
And even our old friend the Shrike, scary steel monster, deus ex machina and master of time travel, is now described as a nanotech-enhanced construction made by... Well, by whom ? It's not revealed in this book, so you can bet there will be a 5th episode !
I suggest a 3 rating for nanotech content.
And a "whoopeeeee !" rating for enjoyment content !
Bye for now. Cheers to all !