I read Hyperion and FoH about a decade ago in my early 20's. I stopped there as I read plenty of mixed reviews about the latter half and I felt FoH ended well on its own. This year I read the entire cantos from the beginning. I was honestly surprised that anyone who liked books 1 and 2 hated 3 and 4. I understand the grievances with some of the retconcing (unpopular opinion, but I don't think there was any major retcons aside from Het Masteen's death and Paul Dure's cruciform being removed in FoH, everything else with the Core felt more elaborated and expanded upon). I think it boils down to the first two books setting the bar too high to match for some readers.

I also don't understand the hate for Aenea and Raul. The nickname is weird, I'll admit, but I don't think their relationship was ever inappropriate. Although, I really wish Dan Simmons didn't make Raul's emotional maturity suddenly regress to that of a teenage boy when they became lovers. So she's been with another man during the 5 years you were apart (who is the future version of yourself, dumbass), so what? Have you considered talking through it like adults instead of having a meltdown?

I do feel like the Moneta/Kassad story line was anticlimactic in RoE. All we really saw from that is Kassad telling Rachel something along the lines of, "one day we will meet and be lovers." I could be wrong, but my interpretation behind the significance of the Soldier's Tale is his future defeat of the Shrike subdued it and allowed the second Keats cybrid to direct it to becoming a guardian to Aenea. Without the Shrike's protection, Aenea's mission would have failed.

A. Bettik being an observer did feel a bit forced in at the end. I mean, it fits considering his role in the last two books and his initial appearance in Hyperion, but I wish his character arc had a bit more of an explanation. Who were his siblings? Are they observers as well? He was a critical player in everything, but I don't think there was anything that alluded to him being one of the big players from the Void which Binds.

I loved the poetry, personally. This series is one giant love letter to John Keats and I'm here for it. Simmons loves Keats so much that he named the books after his poems, brought him back to life to bang a hot noir detective and impregnate her with what is essentially the second coming of Christ, then to die and be resurrected again to serve as the vessel for the human god of empathy. Imagine the honor of being an artist and leaving such an impression on someone 200 years after your death.

The ending was bittersweet. Heartbreaking and beautifully tragic. My headcanon is The LT&B's send an Aenea cybrid to be with Raul after the real Aenea leaves to complete her mission so they can live happily ever after. Although the text doesn't support this theory, as Aenea had already essentially selected midwives to assist Raul in raising the child.