Last night, I finished the complete Hyperion series by Dan Simmons.  Amazing.  I'm ashamed it took me this many years to get around to it.  They are the best of far-future fiction (circa 2800-3200).  The four book series Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, and Rise of Endymion are best read in order, ala Lord of the Rings, as one giant experience.  I throughly enjoyed them and recommend them highly. 

My next fiction book is Ender's Game.