RIP Dan Simmons

[fabrisse]

I didn't like the Hyperion series, but I am happy that I've read it. His civilization, and its pilgrims, were alien in the best sense. The Shrike will feature in my nightmares for years to come.

While it may not have been to my taste, I recognize that we have lost another original voice in science fiction and that's sad for the communities of fans and writers.

Comments

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I didn't care for Hyperion either, but you're right about it being original.

*sigh* Nowadays the most original stuff I see is, ironically, in fanfic. Most publishers have gotten skittish and turn out repetitive content. Kickstarter has some good stuff too, though.

[siderea]

That's a good way to put it.

I do want to call out the fact that one of the Hyperion sequels has the one and only case I know of in SFF of depicting, realistically, having a kidney stone. Dude wrote about the Shrike and eternally electrocuting crucifixions and a religion-parasite hybrid, but when he really wanted to lay a protagonist low: kidney stone.