Ilium review

Dan Simmons, the accomplished American author, is a versatile writer whose talents span the diverse realms of science fiction and horror. He has made an indelible mark in the literary world with notable works like the Hyperion Cantos and the Ilium/Olympos cycles, showcasing his ability to seamlessly blend science fiction, horror, and fantasy within a single narrative. His novel "Song of Kali," published in 1985, received the prestigious World Fantasy Award, a testament to his genre-bending prowess.

Born on April 4, 1948, in Peoria, Illinois, Dan Simmons embarked on a literary journey that began with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Wabash College in 1970. His passion for education led him to pursue a Master's in Education from Washington University in St. Louis in 1971, setting the stage for his future endeavors.

Simmons initially delved into the world of short stories, honing his craft as a writer. However, it wasn't until 1982 that his career gained significant traction. With the invaluable assistance of Harlan Ellison, his short story "The River Styx Runs Upstream" earned first prize in a Twilight Zone Magazine story competition. Subsequently, he found representation through Ellison's agent, Richard Curtis.

In 1985, Dan Simmons released his debut novel, "Song of Kali," marking the beginning of a prolific writing career. While building his literary portfolio, he continued to work in elementary education until 1989, demonstrating his commitment to both teaching and storytelling.

In January 2004, Simmons's talents extended to the realm of filmmaking when it was announced that his screenplays for the novels "Ilium" and "Olympos" would be adapted into a film by Digital Domain and Barnet Bain Films. Simmons assumed the role of executive producer for this ambitious project, with "Ilium" promising an epic narrative spanning 5,000 years across the solar system, drawing inspiration from Homer's "The Iliad" and Shakespeare's "The Tempest."

Further cementing his presence in the world of cinema, in 2008, Guillermo del Toro was slated to direct a film adaptation of Simmons's work "Drood" for Universal Pictures. Although the project remains listed as "in development" as of December 2017, it underscores the enduring appeal of Simmons's storytelling.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dan Simmons has received numerous nominations and awards across various categories in recognition of his contributions to fiction. These accolades include the Arthur C. Clarke Award, Bram Stoker Award, British Fantasy Society Award, Hugo Award, Nebula Award, and World Fantasy Award. His ability to captivate readers across multiple genres is a testament to his enduring literary legacy.

Ilium review by Dan Simmons

Ilium by Dan Simmons is a grand tale that unfolds from the majestic heights of Olympos Mons on Mars. From this vantage point, Zeus and his divine family, along with various gods, goddesses, and demigods, oversee and often intervene in the legendary conflicts of Greece and Troy, where heroes like Paris, Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus clash. Thomas Hockenberry, a scholar of the Iliad from the twenty-first century, also observes these events. His unique duty is to witness and report on the progress of the Trojan War to the deities who resurrected him. However, his muse, Aphrodite, assigns him a new mission: to infiltrate Olympus, spy on its divine residents, and ultimately eliminate her sister and rival, Pallas Athena.

On an Earth vastly changed since the departure of the Post-Humans, the violent battles in Ilium serve as entertainment in a world devoid of courage, struggle, labor, and purpose. Yet, one man, Harman, an "adventurer" in his final year of life, seeks to explore beyond his world's boundaries in search of a lost past and a way to escape his inevitable "final fax."

Meanwhile, from the radiation-exposed realms of Jovian space, four sentient machines race to investigate and potentially halt the mysterious quantum-flux emissions originating from a mountain on Mars' terraformed surface.

This novel is the first part of an extraordinary two-part epic, to be concluded in Olympos. Ilium is a breathtaking adventure that spans time and space, interweaving three seemingly unrelated stories in fresh and unexpected ways. It stands as a masterful work of speculative fiction and one of Dan Simmons's most remarkable achievements in his illustrious literary career.