 Hyperion by Dan Simmons. I read this many years ago. I remember I couldn't put it down. The complexity, the scope of it was amazing. This group of characters on an interstellar spacecraft who find themselves traveling together to the planet Hyperion. This creature known as the Shrike, it was horrifying. Any time the Shrike showed up, you were afraid. And then the sequel, it was completely different. It was so bad, it made me never want to read Dan Simmons again, and I haven't. And because of this, I don't recommend Hyperion.