/lit/ - Literature

ok, so I've finished the first Endymion book. And yeah, it's not as good as Hyperion.

I've already talked about the weird semi-pedo angle. But the problem that stood out to me near the end was that Raul, the main character, is just fucking boring. Like, his only purpose is just to be the main character. The avatar for the reader, as this strong man in his late 20s who goes on a journey. But nothing about this journey is particularly relevant to him, and he doesn't grow as a character. In fact, her regresses.

In the beginning of the book, Raul is set up as this pretty outstanding guy. He comes from a strong bloodline, which in terms of Hyperion would make him something of a Prince or a Lord. But he lives this humble life of a hunter. He's thoughtful and compassionate, but also strong and quick to act. He wasn't very worldly, but he still had a sharp mind. He was able to read people, and anticipate their follies. By all accounts, he was supposed to be this hero who goes from inexperience and rough around the edges, to something more wise and refined after experiencing the wider world.

However, Raul ends up being this fucking dope for the rest of the journey who only cares about his gun. Every time there's the slightest danger, he's thinking about how to shoot it. And of course there is always a contrivance as to why he can't shoot it. In some cases, it's actively a bad idea to shoot it, but he's still going "muh gun, muh gun". Which is completely counter to what was established in the beginning of the book. Where Raul is actually the victim of a careless, prideful, gun toting idiot. Then by the end of the book, he is that careless, prideful, gun toting idiot.

I've already begun the new book. And only a few chapters in, Raul is still that idiot who speaks before he thinks. And once again, I'm failing to see his importance in anything. He's just the dumb PoV for the reader.