147
Hyperion author Dan Simmons dies from stroke at 77 (arstechnica.com)
submitted 8 months ago by to c/books@lemmy.world
20 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 26 points 8 months ago (11 children)

Damn. Hyperion is like peak sci-fi. In my mind, I think of it as the LOTR of sci-fi, so this is like Tolkien dying, to put it into perspective. Some damn good books.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 11 child comments
    •
  • [–] 8 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    I read it based on John Romero's declaration that it was his favourite book.

    I didn't really care much for the stories, but the worldbuilding was absolutely stunning.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] [S] 5 points 8 months ago (8 children)

    I never read his books, but Hyperion is on my list. Is it that good? I see more people talking about Dune.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 8 child comments
    •
  • [–] 9 points 8 months ago (5 children)

    It's really good, it makes the world(s) feel alive and not like an opera.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
    •
  • [–] [S] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (3 children)

    I just learned he is very racist, does Hyperion have his political views in it? I can read Lovecraft just fine, since it is it a product of its time. This on the other hand is recent. I also heard it has a Palestinian character how are they portrayed?

    https://web.archive.org/web/20060424105133/http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message.htm

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

    Yes, it was a recent TIL for me too.

    I don't think it comes across like that in Hyperion, if anything it's like diversity or something. Then again, I don't read books as if I'm the lead character, my morals don't roleplay, it's just a character with their own faults etc.

    What I've noticed (more so in other his books) is how often (but not always) poorly women are treated. But eg in Drood that is just plainly realistic af (Victorian England). And tbf, racism in space also sounds realistic af. Also religious cults, mysticism, etc.

    (I haven't read a lot of his books, so by opinion that it's fine doesn't cover all of his works. Hyperion & Terror are ok by me. And at least I didn't pay him directly buying used books. And if I ever need a copy for my ereader I'll ask friendly neighbourhood librarian Anna.)

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] [S] 2 points 8 months ago* (1 child)

    From what I heard his later books are the issue like flashback:

    !a poet who fled Israel after 6 million Jews were murdered by the Muslim "Global Caliphate" — seem to have been created for the sole purpose of explaining why the left wing has destroyed America. !<

    https://www.npr.org/2011/07/28/137621172/one-rant-too-many-politics-mar-simmons-dystopia

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago

    Yes, this is exactly why I added the thing about me not speaking for all his books.
    (This was also a recent TIL of mine. It also sounds like a poorly thought out plot tbh, it just seems that it will be riddled with logical plot holes, which I really hate bcs lazy writing. Or motivated otherwise.)

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago

    I didn't really enjoy the Hyperion books all that much myself.

    I enjoyed Dune much more, if you're talking about the first book. However, as for the series...Dune is one of those series where I really enjoyed the first book and then felt that each successive book was less-good than the previous one. YMMV.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent