Dan Simmons Anyone?

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no bounce no play

no bounce no play

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Mar 12, 2010
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I'm reading Hyperion and I like it :) It's very difficult for a sci-fi author to write something new and different but Simmons has done it! I loved Father Holt's tale :) I'm having a bit of a problem getting into Colonel Kassad's tale but I expect I'll get into it :)
 
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kingricefan

kingricefan

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Jul 11, 2006
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no bounce no play said:
I'm reading Hyperion and I like it :) It's very difficult for a sci-fi author to write something new and different but Simmons has done it! I loved Father Holt's tale :) I'm having a bit of a problem getting into Colonel Kassad's tale but I expect I'll get into it :)
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I am not a 'sci-fi' fan, so my take on the Hyperion saga may be off, but here goes. With the publication of Hyperion, I think that Simmons sent a shockwave thru the sci-fi community. He raised the bar of what good writing was about and showed that there could be a vast, believable tale written that pushed the bounderies of what had come before. He won numerous awards for this book and also on the ones that followed. I think the sci-fi community was knocked off of their feet with stunned amazement, thinking 'Who IS this guy? Why, he's nothing but a horror writer! How could he even conceive of something like this?' This shows the power and skill that Simmons possesses in his writing. The man doesn't know the meaning of the word bounderies.
 
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skootie

skootie

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Aug 4, 2010
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I've liked all the Simmons' books I've read so far, (4, I believe). A year ago I bought 2 paperbacks in a used bookstore, "Hyperion" and "Endymion". I am beginning today on the former, so will post again when I'm finished. After reading some of the comments here, I'm anxious to get into it.
 
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kingricefan

kingricefan

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skootie said:
I've liked all the Simmons' books I've read so far, (4, I believe). A year ago I bought 2 paperbacks in a used bookstore, "Hyperion" and "Endymion". I am beginning today on the former, so will post again when I'm finished. After reading some of the comments here, I'm anxious to get into it.
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After you've read Hyperion, and if you like it, you'll need to get The Fall Of Hyperion before you delve into Endymion.
 
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Tooly

Tooly

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Endymion and Rise of Endymion, though good, weren't a patch on Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion, imo. There wasn't anywhere near the same wtf moments, or wondrous world/character building I thought. But they were still better than most of the dross written by others!
Ilium and Olympos I found he was back to his best, even though it was confusing at times. Never read Homer or anything related to the Trojan war, but it was enough different to most other sci-fi to be enjoyable!
 
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skootie

skootie

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Haven't given up...am nearly to the midway point in "Hyperion". Kind of weird for me. I think I can honestly say I've never read any SF, so this is new territory. I fall in and out of the story, mainly because I'm working hard to slog through the jargon. But, I'm so in awe of the imagination and creativity that it's making it worth it. This author is just good reading, no matter what the genre!
 
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skootie

skootie

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Aug 4, 2010
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I finished "Hyperion" last night, and definitely plan to continue, but have to locate a copy of "The Fall of Hyperion" first. It's just not possible to read a Dan Simmons book and not love it, I don't believe! He does it all so good...the story, the big ideas, the characters, the language. I went to a local used paperback store looking for the other 2 books in the series I don't have, and didn't have any luck, but did find "Carrion Comfort", which I've just begun, along with "Fires of Eden", Worlds Enough and Time", and "Hard As Nails". Guess I've got enough to tide me over until I locate the others!
 
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kingricefan

kingricefan

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Jul 11, 2006
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skootie said:
I finished "Hyperion" last night, and definitely plan to continue, but have to locate a copy of "The Fall of Hyperion" first. It's just not possible to read a Dan Simmons book and not love it, I don't believe! He does it all so good...the story, the big ideas, the characters, the language. I went to a local used paperback store looking for the other 2 books in the series I don't have, and didn't have any luck, but did find "Carrion Comfort", which I've just begun, along with "Fires of Eden", Worlds Enough and Time", and "Hard As Nails". Guess I've got enough to tide me over until I locate the others!
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Let me know what you think of Carrion Comfort?
 
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skootie

skootie

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I liked "Carrion Comfort" very much. Although it was long, it was a fairly quick read for me. The theme of mind control was intriguing, and the story moved right along. Rob was out of it too soon, though, for me. I liked his character the best, and wished he would have stayed around longer. I'm very glad I read this, but I can't say it's my favorite Simmons book. I think "Black Hills" gets that nod, so far. I have "Phases of Gravity" on my Kindle, and may tackle that next.
 
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Kurben

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
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I do not think he sent any shockwaves through the SF-world at all. Sure it won awards but the SF-world is rather used to new guys coming up all the time. I thought Hyperion was OK but it tapered off in the second book which imo wasn't as good. And i read many SF-books that i think was better than Hyperion. Still thinks he has done his best writing in the horror genre. But the genres are so interwoven these days that SF-Fantasy-Horror and others are not surprised when new persona appear on the stage.
 
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Walter Oobleck

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
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Looks like I know where to spend my points next go-round...that hyperion series sounds like a winner...reading Carrion Comfort now, will be for some time--work--I get to work today Sunday yippe ki aye. Customer is taking off Wednesday morning, Green Bay and then Honduras...only have that fabled couple hours left. How many times has that happened? Yeah, knock that out in a couple three hours...and eight hours later your eyes are bugging out, you've begun to engage in unwholesome thoughts about woods and vinyls, the general nature of man, and purpose. This Carrion Comfort is a great story and is something that I've suspected for some time now and it is nice to have it confirmed for me. I don't have the power...and...could be an excuse...the Users made me do it. Wow...just...wow! There's a story listed in the back, or advertised in the back of this paperback...The Unseen, by Joseph Citro...sorry for the side trip here...it's the politician in me...vote for me!...ummm, McCammon plugs it...anyone read it? Points are things a supplier rewards me with for buying their product...and I spend them on books.
 
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MissTallica

MissTallica

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Oct 8, 2007
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Lisboa, Portugal
I'm currently reading Song of Kali. I've always wanted to go to India.. I'm not so sure I'll still want to after reading this book..
Also, I'm noticing some inconsistencies with the representation of Goddess Kali, but I haven't finished the book yet, so I'll just have to read on and see how it turns out. :rapture:
 
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jchanic

jchanic

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Jul 11, 2006
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Personally. I don't care as much for Simmons' SF books as I do for his more historical fiction, such as Drood, The Terror, etc. I didn't care that much for his Black Hills either, mainly because of his portrayal of Custer. It may have been (and probably was) accurate, but I just didn't like it.

I read his Song of Kali when it first came out and loved it.

John
 
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MissTallica

MissTallica

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2007
116
200
Lisboa, Portugal
MissTallica said:
I'm currently reading Song of Kali. I've always wanted to go to India.. I'm not so sure I'll still want to after reading this book..
Also, I'm noticing some inconsistencies with the representation of Goddess Kali, but I haven't finished the book yet, so I'll just have to read on and see how it turns out. :rapture:
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Ok.. It's getting weeeeeeeeird :suspect:
 
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