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Hyperion author Dan Simmons dies from stroke at 77
(arstechnica.com)
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this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2026
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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.
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.
Lol, same, I feel the stories are absolutely fine, but the worldbuilding is what makes it one of the best books imho.
I never read his books, but Hyperion is on my list. Is it that good? I see more people talking about Dune.
It's really good, it makes the world(s) feel alive and not like an opera.
I think it feels alive AND like an Opera. So good.
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
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.)
From what I heard his later books are the issue like flashback:
https://www.npr.org/2011/07/28/137621172/one-rant-too-many-politics-mar-simmons-dystopia
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.)
I tried Dune and I just found it sooooo boring. It's more political and squarely in the space opera genre, which hyperion is not.
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.