Any Dan Simmons fans here?

[YankeyMCC]

I have only just read Hyperion the first book in his Hyperion Cantos series and I very much enjoyed it.

And so now (or after I finish the rest of the Hyperion stories) I'm considering getting his Ilium/Olympos books. I read the Iliad and Odyssey every couple of years of so, when I first heard of Simmon's Ilium/Olympos books I thought it best to avoid them because not knowing Simmons I suspected the use of these stories which I love would be just a flashy prop, but after reading Hyperion I suspect that isn't the case and that the stories are used in a very interesting and smart manner.

The reviews I've read so far seem to bear that out with the bad reviews appearing to be from people who are not Dan Simmons fans and the biggest complaint being that the books are too 'complex' or difficult to follow - I suspect because those readers are not familiar with or like the tone and style of the ancient classics - in other words the bad reviews are from people who just have different tastes than I do.

So I was just curious to hear feedback from those here who might be familiar with the Hyperion books and have read the Ilium/Olympos books. How do they compare?

[phantom power]

1. I read Hyperion.

I recall enjoying it, although it didn't leave me wanting to rush out and buy more of his books. A friend of mine has had good things to say about Ilium and Olympos. Maybe I'll give them a try.

[Greyskye]

2. I've read both

Although it's been at least a decade since I read the Hyperion books.

I think I enjoyed the Ilium/Olympos books more. As you say, the books are 'complex' in that you don't get spoon-fed everything. Events unfold, and you get to puzzle out who/what the characters are as you are introduced to them. There are multiple story threads occurring simultaneously, which eventually all come careening together in a pretty amazing job of literary juggling.

And although I have never read Homer myself, the books gave me (I think) a pretty decent overview of the main characters, and of the story as a whole.

Recommended. I'd love to know how someone familiar with the Iliad and Odyssey feels about these books.

[YankeyMCC]

5. It may be a while

I've got to get through the Hyperion books first, but I'll post something when I get into the Ilium/Olympos books.

And thanks to all who've responded.

[mzteris]

3. I liked Hyperion much better

The other was "eh" okay. A little silly IMO. Not nearly to his standard of writing as the Hyperion series.

[Swede]

4. I loved Hyperion,but Endymion was tough.

It seemed to drift,I lost interest as I read it,but I did finish it.

[mike_c]

6. long time Simmons fan here....

I wish he was more prolific! I re-read the Hyperion series every three years or so, just because it is so huge in scope that I never seem to get tired of it. The last book, The Rise of Endymion is one of my all time favorite novels.

I liked the Ilium/Olympos books too, although not quite as much as the Hyperion/Endymion books-- this is more a reflection upon how GOOD the latter are rather than a negative comment about the former.

His latest published novel, The Terror, is also excellent, although not SF. It also has a killer ending.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Yes, absolutely

Although not so much for his sci-fi.

"The Terror" was a masterpiece.

And he wrote a series of very good horror novels. I missed them the first time around, but there's a new printing out.

[Frank Cannon]

8. The first two Hyperion books were among the best SF I've read

Unfortunately, the two Endymion books were among the worst.

[YankeyMCC]

9. That's surprising and

disappointing because if I'm going to go through the two Hyperion books I'm going to feel obligated to read the Endymion books. ;)

Did you try the Ilium/Olympos books or did the Enymion books turn you off too much?

[Frank Cannon]

10. The I/O books intrigue me

I've heard good things about them, and I know that Simmons at his best has the ability to produce a hell of a good read.

As far as the Endymion books are concerned, I think Simmons was flying without an editor at the time, and he seriously needed one. The two Hyperion books stand perfectly well on their own, and I wish he'd left them that way.