The first book, “Hyperion,” won the Hugo Award for best novel in 1990, while the second, “The Fall of Hyperion,” was nominated for a Nebula Award for best novel.
“Hyperion” deals with a space war, with most of the action taking place on a planet named Hyperion, known not only for its electricity-spewing trees but also for the Time Tombs, large artifacts that can move through time. The tombs are guarded by a monster called the Shrike, which impales people on metal trees.