Hyperion

Hyperion, by Dan Simmons, was published in 1989.  This book is like taking seven of your favorite sci-fi books and mashing them together and making them relate somehow to each other and to an elusive foe called the Shrike.  Sure, one story seems based on the "Eloi" of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine, one is kinda William Gibson-ish cyberpunk, one is kinda golden age Van Vogt space opera, one purports the poetry of Keats ("Hyperion") to be sci-fi, the time-tomb concept may come from Bulmer, etc., etc.  Sure, he knows how to synthesize past sci-fi, but this only makes his sci-fi boulliabaise richer.  The Shrike is a great, terrifying "villian," (instead of a cross, he's got a miles high tree made out of metal razors that "seats" hundreds of thousands...) He's the horrorshow they must confront...

This masterpiece has a killer cliffhanger, too!