I loved the Hyperion books, though I'm one of the ones who enjoyed the first two more than the end. Sounds like you'd enjoy Simmons' Ilium/Olympos series too, they're excellent.
Dune should be canon honestly. I have a friend who teaches highschool and she mentioned Dune getting on their required summer reading list... fucking ripped, I had to sit through
Madame Bovary and
Ethan fucking Frome when I was in highschool
