Illium

[Metuzalem]

In the archives, there was a thread about Illium and Olympus by Dan Simmons. Now that I've read the first one and am halfway through the second, anyone want to discuss?

[leatherman]

I'd be glad to if you're still interested.

I loved this duology. Simmons is one of my favorites.

[Metuzalem]

Heheheheh, I posted this so long ago, I pretty much forgot the whole thing :D
No really, awesome couple of books, I've moved onto The Hyperion Cantos now. I'm wondering how Ilium will translate onto the screen. I can't help thinking there are too many simultaneous storylines for people to follow and I can't see how they CAN'T make Olympus too. I don't know, Simmons is writing the screenplay so I have hope.

[leatherman]

I think the two books would make great movies. They would, of course, have to cut quite a bit, but the images alone would make these movies blockbusters.

It would be what many of us had hoped from Troy...not necessarily a historically "accurate" version, but a movie with the gods wreaking havoc in person. Mix in the sci-fi future stuff and you've got all the elements needed for a good ole summer sci fi blockbuster. They would only need to not screw up the story too much (which is asking a great deal). Hopefully Mr. Simmons would have a hand in its creation.

I envy you...just starting The Cantos. Enjoy it. I wish I could go through it again for the first time.

[Metuzalem]

Thanks man, I just started book 2 of 4 last night. After reading the first book, I can't help feeling how great a movie THAT would be. :D
It's weird the way the two stories tie in fact, a lot of similarities. Like the fate of Old Earth in the Hyperion universe and how close that was to happening in Olympus.

[Droogie]

I'd never read Dan Simmons, I always see them on the library shelves but just never seem to pick one up. What is the first book in the series?

[Metuzalem]

Well,

The book that started this thread is Ilium and it has the sequel Olympus. The Hyperion Cantos is a 4 book quadrilogy made up of Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion and The Rise of Endymion. The 4 books can be picked up in two volumes The Hyperion Omnibus and The Endymion Omnibus. I haven't read anything else by Simmons so I'll have to pass the torch onto someone more knowledgable on the subject. I don't know the difference in buying British and buying American for these books, you'd just have to check both Amazon sites and see if censorship was won once again.:romy:

[leatherman]

Simmons is a pretty versatile author.

He's got the sci-fi stuff he's probably most known for. The Hyperion Cantos and the Ilium/Olympos duology are astounding.

He's also written some horror including Carrion Comfort (sometimes compared to The Stand as an opus), Song of Kali, Summer of Night, and A Winter Haunting. I've read the first two here and loved them. The 2nd two are apparently loosely related to each other, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet.

Also some crime drama in Hard Freeze, Hard as Nails, and Hardcase. These are obviously related novels, but I haven't read them yet.

There are more than blend into many genres.

I feel he's one of the more underappreciated authors out there and I think it's likely due to the fact that he's most known for his sci-fi, which always seems to bring an authors credibility down. Simmons is a great author, period.