I recently read Hyperion by Dan Simmons. It is an absorbing book as well as interesting and imaginative. My only criticism is that it’s ending is weak and nonexistent. That may be because the real ending is in the next book The Fall of Hyperion. That only slightly excuses the point, IMO. And I foresee the ending there (if there is one) to be unsatisfying.

But, the one thing I want to talk about in the book is the author character he has in the book talking about his career. He was a hack writer – churning out uninspired prose for steady amounts of cash for the followers of the same after his opus flops. His hack writing is ten novels long following the lives of people over time.

It always seems to me that a long series is usually like that. You read the next book in the series because it is comfortable and because you have developed a sort of bond with the characters. In a sense they become your imaginary friends and you want to know what happens next in their lives, just as you would want to catch up with your real friends whenever you meet them. Also these friends live fantastic lives – not that they are particularly interesting but fantastic things happen to them. Tall, dark, wealthy, experienced vampires find them fascinating despite their extreme ordinariness. Why? Who knows, explanations would only seem contrived.

In Harry Potter (borderline pulp IMO) we have the last scene where the next generation goes to Hogwarts. This is completely irrelevant to the story but fans (myself included) like it because we start to feel a bond with the characters and want to know what happens.

Now, there is nothing wrong with pulp if you enjoy it, but you must recognize it for what it is: imaginary friends and unimaginative fantasy. I enjoy it some, but it is like sugar for me – just a small amount please.