I know there are many of these posts, but I just finished the Dan Simmons sci-fi series, Hyperion and felt the need to write this. Wow. Utterly stunned is my best description of how I feel. In awe, really, that someone could craft such a thoughtful, thought-provoking, and magnificent tale. Over 30 years ago no less!
The characters, the scope, the detail, the emotion, the ideas, OH! the ideas! How does someone come up with so many futuristic ideas, realities, visions, prophecies?
Dan Simmons, if you are out there, I’d love to interview you. I’m overwhelmed with the genius you possess, but it struck me, at the end of Rise of Endymion, that you’re describing the place where you tapped into to create this beauty - The Void Which Binds. Bravo.
Thank you for writing this series. My worldview is forever changed.
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I discovered Dan Simmons through “Illium” and “Olympos” before moving on to “Hyperion”. I found the two books based on the Iliad to be awesome - anyone else read/enjoyed them?
Reminder that, however you imagined him, the Consul character was wearing a dorky tricorn hat the entire time. Like a civil war reenactor
I’ve only read “The Terror” by him, loved it. Does “Hyperion” rank above it in terms of his works, you’d say?
See you later, alligator
<3
To this day, its one of my favourite random used bookstore finds. Randomly see it, read back and go that looks good. My oh my was I in for a good time!
Incredible!
The first book is amazing, one of the best scifi novels ever. The second book is ok, but is underwhelming.
Books 3 and 4 are not only awful, they revolve around the author’s self insert mary sue character starting to “fall in love” with his adoptive daughter character who he raised from childhood, who at the time is 13(?!).
That 4th book is truly heinous pedophilic apologia, a groomer fantasy.
I remember starting this series years ago and I was loving it. A few books in and the story was just dragging along which caused me to lose interest. Maybe I should go back and try again.
I just finished the series I loved how the first two books dealt with religion and philosophy, particularly how the AIs even had their own religions and factions.
I felt like Endymion/Rise of Endymion went off the rails a bit trying to explain things that didn’t need explaining while not doing as well explaining key concepts and themes (the Tree of Pain, adding just bits and pieces about the Shrike).
Also, I’ve read enough on flying carpets. The yee kindly.
I really love his Olympos duology. Way ahead of its time.
Dan Simmons, if you are out there, I’d love to interview you
unfortunately he spiraled into far right nutjobbery a while ago… just take a look at the synopsis of flashback quoted here:
https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/dan-simmons-goes-off-the-deeper-end.196191/Great book for sure, but I don’t enjoy that style of story construction. To me its just annoying :-)
Over 30 years ago no less!
This made me smile. The implication that a) It’s a long time ago, and b) Some writers of yore could write well.
It’s just funny. Thanks for the recommendation!
added to my wish list
I LOVED the first two books. They are still likely my favorite books ever. I’ve heard very mixed things about the second half of the series, so haven’t gotten around to reading them yet
Hyperion is pretty good but I liked his illium/Olympus series better.
You probably don’t want to talk to him or even read his later books, he went totally bat shirt fox news /Alex Jones / Trump rally grandpa.
Good to know!