Hyperion Author Dan Simmons Dies From Stroke At 77 (arstechnica.com) 17
Author Dan Simmons, best known for the epic sci-fi novel Hyperion and its sequels, has died at 77 following a stroke. Ars Technica's Eric Berger remembers Simmons, writing: Simmons, who worked in elementary education before becoming an author in the 1980s, produced a broad portfolio of writing that spanned several genres, including horror fiction, historical fiction, and science fiction. Often, his books included elements of all of these. This obituary will focus on what is generally considered his greatest work, and what I believe is possibly the greatest science fiction novel of all time, Hyperion.
Published in 1989, Hyperion is set in a far-flung future in which human settlement spans hundreds of planets. The novel feels both familiar, in that its structure follows Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and utterly unfamiliar in its strange, far-flung setting. Simmons' Hyperion appeared in an Ask Slashdot story back in 2008, when Slashdot reader willyhill asked for tips on how Slashdotters track down great sci-fi. If you're in the mood for a little nostalgia, or just want to browse the thread for book recommendations, it's well worth revisiting.
Published in 1989, Hyperion is set in a far-flung future in which human settlement spans hundreds of planets. The novel feels both familiar, in that its structure follows Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and utterly unfamiliar in its strange, far-flung setting. Simmons' Hyperion appeared in an Ask Slashdot story back in 2008, when Slashdot reader willyhill asked for tips on how Slashdotters track down great sci-fi. If you're in the mood for a little nostalgia, or just want to browse the thread for book recommendations, it's well worth revisiting.
not dead (Score:2)
Just took a step across the void that binds.
Re: not dead (Score:1)
Meanwhile... (Score:2, Interesting)
Meanwhile, he also wrote "Carrion Comfort," one of the worst-written, most racist, most antisemitic novels that I ever gave up on.
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His body's not even cold yet; can we save the Milkshake Duck for another day?
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I asked Gemini for a summary so I don't have to read it. I'm not sure he intended to be racist or anti semitic. But it is an exploration of evil and psychopathy that comes with power. Honestly the way the summary described the characters and events of the book, reminds me of what I now see when I turn in the TV or read the news. Leaders marginalizing and abusing certain categories of people (you can identify groups in every country that the leadership abuses) without remorse and without any feeling other
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most antisemitic novels
Well now I definitely need to read it. Thanks for letting me know!
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Now explain the "antisemitism" of a book where the protagonist is a Jewish Holocaust survivor who gets routinely helped by the Mossad.
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Now I can't decide if I want to read the book, but your probably rhetorical question has an easy answer: By having the Jewish characters become as bad or worse than their fascist enemies. Leon Uris comes to mind... Sometimes fighting fire with fire is not a good idea. Or perhaps "too often" is better than "Sometimes"?
I've only read three of his novels. I remember rather disliking the two about Mars and don't remember anything of the third. However on the news of his death I'm going to try to finish a fourth
Phases of Gravity (Score:2)
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I always like a bit of cross-over between sci fi and fantasy. Much like in Star Wars original trilogy, the Hyperion series was fun to read because it had the mystic element present, despite being a sci fi. It tells you that despite having technology that seems like magic to us, there can still be events and beings that are _magical_ – that however much you think you have the advantage, you might still encounter that immovable barrier, that giant sandworm, that irresistible Shrike.
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I like the way he writes, but the story itself in Hyperion is full of plot holes and 'magical' happenings. One book I really liked by him is Phases of Gravity, about an aging Apollo astronaut. It's not SF but I enjoyed it. Anyway, RIP to a good author.
Simmons was an expert at weaving the mystical and sci-fi themes. The Illium / Olympus books also wove weird mysticism and sci-fi themes in a way that left enough questions to make hard sci-fi readers think "plot hole," while fantasy folks would complain that it had too much hard sci-fi. Those of us that walked the lines between, or enjoyed both, felt a kindred spirit when reading Simmons' bigger works.
This one legitimately hurts. It may be time for me to bust out the hard copies again. Last time through I r
Just started re-reading this a couple of weeks ago (Score:1)
Good work referencing old slashdot threads. (Score:2)
Good work referencing old slashdot threads.
I've long felt that one of the long overlooked sources of value on the site is it's rich and preserved history. I often find the old threads on the sidebar to be more interesting than whatever's going on present day and have felt management would do well to get people browsing them.
Great Author Dies (Score:2)
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It's a bit surprising to me that the author of one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time dies and he gets about 15 comments on the Slashdot post. I guess if he had had more than a million book sales, then he would have been better known.
Worth noting that many (myself included) won't read /. over the weekend. Personally, I only am on /. during workdays as something to do in between real work tasks, and I imagine there's a decent number of posters that are like me in that regard.
I only read Hyperion two or three years ago. It was a very heady book, but well written and I was appreciative of the recommendation (I think I even got it from a different /. thread). RIP.