Endymion was published by Bantam in 1996, set 274 years after the events of The Fall of Hyperion. The human Hegemony has fallen, replaced by the Pax — a theocratic interstellar empire controlled by the Catholic Church, which now possesses “cruciform” parasites that grant resurrection from death. The TechnoCore secretly maintains this technology as part of its ongoing manipulation of humanity.
Raul Endymion, a hunting guide on Hyperion, is condemned to death for murder but resurrected by the android A. Bettik and tasked by the dying poet Martin Silenus (a character from the original Hyperion) with protecting Aenea — the twelve-year-old daughter of Brawne Lamia (one of the original pilgrims) and the Keats cybrid. Aenea has emerged from the Time Tombs 274 years into her future and is prophesied to destroy the Pax.
The novel follows Raul, Aenea, and A. Bettik as they flee across dozens of worlds via the old farcaster river (the River Tethys), pursued by Father Captain Federico de Soya and his Pax forces. The structure is a chase narrative across exotic landscapes.
Collecting Endymion
First edition (Bantam, New York, 1996): Boards with dust jacket.
Market values:
- First edition, fine in jacket: $30–$80
- Signed first: $100–$200
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
The Theological Turn
The Endymion novels shift the Cantos from literary science fiction into theological territory. The Pax — a Catholic theocracy that controls resurrection technology — forces the reader to confront questions about faith, institutional religion, and the price of immortality. Simmons, writing in the tradition of Philip K. Dick and Gene Wolfe, uses science fiction as a vehicle for genuine theological speculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion first? It helps considerably. The Endymion novels are set 274 years later and feature new protagonists, but they resolve mysteries established in the first pair and assume familiarity with the Cantos’ universe — the farcasters, the TechnoCore, the Shrike, and the significance of John Keats.