This book was mysteriously gifted to me by an old friend—having not spoken to him for decades—the arrival took on the aspect of a visitation. Like the central event of the book, something amazing and unknowable was about to open up before my reading eyes. Lured in by the Canterbury Tales format, I’m a sucker for tales of tale tellers telling tales, layer upon layer of story builds a universe & more. Religions are woven into science fiction into action adventure into myth building into mystery-thriller into cultural origin stories into noir detective novel and into straight up eye popping horror. A little slow to begin as the first story lays down a necessary religious foundation (with some ghastly horror elements)—and as with most things religious I tended to have my doubts—but soon the book takes off. I love books that blend elements—this was everything I could want including one of the most marvelous bad guys/monsters/deities I’ve come across in the Shrike. The only down side is that this is ultimately all just a set up for book two in the series, THE FALL OF HYPERION that I think is even better. Just astonishing.