[Mhysa]

Has anyone read this series by Dan Simmons?
I thought it was great. It's a mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.

[Rob B]

I thought both Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion were great books. Simmons is a top notch author. However, I didn't pick up the Endymion books.

[FitzChivalry]

The whole series is great, one of the best sci fi series i ever read.
The Endymion books wrap it all together and bring in lots of plot twists, how could you stop reading the series in the middle FF?

I didn't see any fantasy elements in that series though.

[Rob B]

FC: just never got around to reading it, other books rose to the to read pile. I've also seen others say the 2 Endymion books didn't live up to the previous books in the series. I will eventually read them, though.

I **guess** (and this may be a stretch), I can see the group/journey aspect of the first book as a fantasy element.

[Hobbit]

I've got to be honest, FF, I actually read the Endymion books first and Hyperion last -it took me two goes to get into Hyperion. Endymion's ending was very emotional for me - big softy!

Fantastic books though - I then reread the Hyperion books (which are clearly meant to be one book but different in style) to spot the links. Very clever, especially if you can also see the literary links to Chaucer and Keats that Simmons so widely acknowledges.

Very much recommended - worth the effort.

Hobbit

[FitzChivalry]

I think books 3-4 were on the same level of quality with books 1-2, only different.
In any case, so many things remain unresolved in book 2, that books 3-4 are a must read.


[This message has been edited by FitzChivlary (edited September 04, 2001).]

[Keyoke]

Wow.. I personally found the Endymion books to be simply amazing, as good, if not better than the first two Hyperion books.

Of course, the Hyperion Cantos is by far the best series I have ever read. Loved it.. =)

Keyoke

[Rob B]

OK OK I'm convinced now. 3 members whose reading habits mirror mine convinced me http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif. I think I have Endymion in paperback somewhere, must go a hunting.

[Hobbit]

Yay! Go FF...let us know what you think!

Hobbit

[THT]

Dan Simmons is simply good at everything he writes. The bad thing is that he is writing mystery and thriller fiction novels (and is waning a little bit) now rather than horrow or SF, but his earlier work is superlative. If you get a chance, read:

Carrion Comfort (Bram Stoker award winner for best horror novel)
A Song for Kali (World Fantasy award winner for best novel - it's a horror book though)
LoveDeath (novella anthology including fantasy, horror, SF and "literary" novels)
Phases of Gravity (Speculative fiction)
Hollow Man (horror-SF about telepathy)
Summer of Night (Horror)
Children of Night (Horror-SF about vampires)
Fires of Eden (historical-SF w/Mark Twain as a character)

You almost can't miss with a Dan Simmons novel.