Why Dan Simmons Is Essential Reading, Part 1 of 3: Overview

Рет қаралды 16,461

Жыл бұрын

Dan Simmons is perhaps best known for his science fiction Hyperion Cantos, horror novels Summer of Night and Carrion Comfort, and historical fiction The Terror. But what about the other 18 novels and three short fiction collections he's published in various genres over the past four decades? How do they stack up against his better-known works?
This is the first of three videos I'm making about Simmons. In this one, I provide an overview of his works, his influences, some of the recurring themes that appear in his books, why I think he's essential reading for fans of almost any genre, and why at times he can be frustrating to read.
The other two videos in which I review and tier rank his works:
Part 2: Tier ranking his horror and science fiction - • Tier Ranking Every Dan...
Part 3: Tier ranking his literary fiction, crime thrillers, historical fiction & short fiction - • Tier Ranking Every Dan...
1:42 Diverse literary output and awards
2:30 Writing influences and hallmarks
5:59 Themes
7:30 Why I think he's essential reading
10:29 Occasional frustrations
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#scifi #horror #literature #thriller #suspense #booktube #sciencefiction #booktubesff
Artwork credits:
Cyberpunk 2077
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Пікірлер: 198

@fconstraints Жыл бұрын

Always great to see Simmons get some much deserved love and appreciation

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! His best-known works such as Hyperion, Summer of Night and The Terror seem to get a fair amount of attention on BookTube, but the rest of his books get far less attention (if any at all). So I decided to shine a small spotlight on those lesser-known ones. (It was an easy decision, since he's been a must-read author for me for 30+ years).

@razzamatas Жыл бұрын

Over rated.

@creaturesbookreviews3074 Жыл бұрын

Frankly, Dan Simmons’s grocery list is probably more interesting than most people’s novels. I love him.

@aflyingllama7547 Жыл бұрын

Please keep on creating amazing content like that ! You are definitely going to get me bankrupt with all you amazing suggestions and unique worlds you are introducing!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad you've found my videos interesting and helpful, but please don't go bankrupt! In the US, UK and Canada, most of his books are probably available at the public library. (I think libraries are wonderful places!) :)

@brianpineda3505 Жыл бұрын

I clicked this video so fast. I've just finished hyperion and man did I loved that book. It was awesome. looking forward to more recommendations!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Hyperion! It's one of my favorites. Not all of his books are as good as that one, but he's written quite a few very memorable ones. Thanks for watching!

@michaelfeeney6108 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I’ve read a few Simmons but want to get into more. Hoping for a Hyperion adaptation someday. You’ve quickly become one of my rare ‘booktube’ channels where I will watch every video. I’ve mostly burned out on booktube, but a rare channel pops up that I add to my ‘must watch’ list. Your thoughtfulness and overall attitude toward your commentary is infectious!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very kind feedback! I make videos about books and authors that I believe are deserving of more attention on BookTube and that haven't already been discussed ad infinitum by other channels, so I'm very happy to hear that you find my videos interesting and infectious (and not in a parasitic virus burrowing into your brain kind of way). :D

@michaelfeeney6108 Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder That’s it! Unless I’m drawn to the person’s personality, hearing people discuss the same books over and over got old over the years. I’m not even sure what I’d have to say myself if I made a channel.

@billyalarie929 Жыл бұрын

i love not only your insights and potential openings for how to get into difficult authors/works, but also the range of humor you throw in, it's not overwhelming in the least, but BOY HOWDY is it effective.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm glad my sense of humor is appreciated. I think my teenage kids find it a little strange. :D

@donaldrobers5028 Жыл бұрын

I have enjoyed Dan Simmons works since I read his prize-winner in Twilight Zone Magazine way too many years ago. I also remember reading a story of his in DAW's Years Best Horror Stories that he later expanded into the novel Carrion Comfort. Sadly, I have been remiss in reading his science fiction, but I hope to get to Hyperion soon. You mention his sometime excesses or missteps and I do agree. Yet this may be one of his strengths, what Ellison would say makes him a writer rather than an author. Many authors labor away in the same field their entire career. They may be excellent craftsmen and fine storytellers, but they never strive to grasp and wrestle to paper an idea that is slightly beyond reach. Dan Simmons does not seem shy about seeking the fruit from the highest branches.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Very well put! In addition to him being very versatile, I think he's an incredibly ambitious writer in the vision he has and the choices he makes for his stories. He pushes boundaries and avoids formulaic writing. Sometimes those choices yield masterpieces, while other times they can result in an impressive mess. In all cases, though, I've appreciated his artistry as a writer. Thanks for sharing!

@citizensguard3433 Жыл бұрын

It's about time for a Simmons video!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

I agree! Someone needed to do it, so I figured why not me? I hope you enjoy this one and the next one in which I briefly review and tier-rank his books.

@citizensguard3433 Жыл бұрын

David Eddings next maybe?

@watevapoo 11 ай бұрын

I recently read Hyperion, and after the first story I just knew I’d be spending a lot more time Dan Simmons! I’m currently reading Song of Kali, and I’ve loved it. Might try Summer of Night or The Terror next. Thank you for your videos sir!

@thelibraryladder 11 ай бұрын

Wonderful! The two books you mentioned as possible next reads are great choices. Thanks!

@fourcornersofthepage8374 Жыл бұрын

Looking forward to the sequel video - hope it's out soon! This has quickly become one of my favourite booktube channels. I remember reading Hyperion in a hostel in Japan in 2018. The room was so cheap it had one of those motion-activated sensors to turn on the lights. I had to wave my hand every thirty seconds to keep reading but I honestly couldn't stop. Since then I've gone through about 15 or so Simmons novels.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm working on the video now, and I hope to have it up in a couple of days. I've had to divide it to keep it a manageable length, so the next one will cover only his horror and science fiction novels, and then I'll have another one covering all the rest of his works. I had a similar experience the first time I read Hyperion (but without all the hand waving).

@fourcornersofthepage8374 Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder to be honest, the division sounds like a better idea - hard to put Joe Kurtz next to Ilium next to The Fifth Heart and keep any degree of focus! Bought my first Guy Gavriel Kay based on your recommendation a few years ago. Looking forward to it!

@samhoward8573 Жыл бұрын

Tremendous video!! Always excited to see Dan Simmons works get some real attention. Love this channel!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Much appreciated! Thanks!

@secretsauceofstorycraft Жыл бұрын

As always, this video is so enjoyable and calming. I am so excited for part 2! I have been waiting SOO long for this one! Also love the graphs and other little editing touches. Thank you!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Whitney! Simmons is one of my favorite authors, despite my having mixed feelings about a lot of his books. He's the kind of author that makes me feel glad that I read his book even when I didn't particularly enjoy it.

@PeculiarNotions Жыл бұрын

A really good overview. I'm looking forward to your next video on Simmons.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Coming soon!

@funbahai Жыл бұрын

I look forward to the second video. Hyperion is one of my favorite books of all times, so knowing where else to go for more Dan Simmons will be very helpful!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I hope the second video will be helpful as a roadmap to his very diverse works.

@MyMy-tv7fd Жыл бұрын

I have been marking time re-reading Tolkien, waiting for a new author to broach - it looks like I have found him

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

With 25 novels under his belt, there's a lot of Simmons to broach. I hope my next video, in which I'll briefly review and tier-rank his books, will help you decide on starting points. Thanks for watching!

@personmcpersonperson2893 Жыл бұрын

Looking forward to part 2!

@warrenjohn Жыл бұрын

Mr. Simmons has been my favorite contemporary writer of fiction for the past 25 years or thereabouts. Thank you very much for this trio of videos! Your channel is wonderful!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! He's been one of my favorite authors since I first read Hyperion back in 1991.

@marianaazeredo6575 Жыл бұрын

This channel is great! Love the insights, it has been great for my sci-fi dive! And I loved the audiobook readings, the voice is so suitable and clear; hope to hear more!! Congrats and keep the good work!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the wonderful feedback! I'm exploring more audiobook possibilities in the future. I might need to set up a separate channel for them because they seem to have confused the KZfaq algorithm's understanding of my channel.

@danbourlotos5188 Жыл бұрын

I just discovered Simmons and am currently knee-deep in "The Fall of Hyperion". So far, I am enjoying every single second so far, and will be exploring the rest of his works in the future. I can easily see, even two books in, why you and others consider his works essential reading. Once again, I have to commend your commentary when describing authors and their works. You do very well to forward people into these author's worlds, critiquing without ranting, and lauding without it feeling like lip-service - all the while, still delivering the obvious passion you have for them.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very kind feedback! I simply try to be fair and measured in my commentary and ensure that any opinions I express are informed ones. Authors put a lot of effort into writing their books, and I try to be respectful of that effort even when I don't enjoy the end product. I hope you enjoy the rest of Simmons' works as much as I do (or more).

@BookishChas Жыл бұрын

Excellent video, my friend. The Hyperion duology is all I’ve read so far, but it’s currently one of my top sci-fi novels of all time. I plan to finish the cantos this year. I’m excited to see your video surveying all of his books.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Chas! Simmons' other books don't all reach the same highs that Hyperion does, but there are many very memorable ones among them. More details to follow in the next video. :)

@amalathisdreaming Жыл бұрын

This is a great introduction to an author. Cannot wait to see your book recommendations.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Simmons tier-ranking coming soon.

@Nerdamania Жыл бұрын

What a wonderful concept for a video! I have already watched the book by book videos you made over Simmons’s works and they really are a the best videos on KZfaq in terms of reading recommendations❤

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your very kind comment!

@oberstul1941 Жыл бұрын

Dan SImmons has written some of my favorite books: Terror, Hyperion, Illium, Song of Kali... Love your videos and it's good to see this author getting recognition again. Cheers!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! He's written some of my favorites as well. I've also found that the ambitious vision in some of his books can get the better of him when his stylistic or high-concept gambits don't quite work the way he might have hoped they would. That's why I decided to make a reader roadmap for his many works in my next video. Cheers!

@Metateller Жыл бұрын

Hyperion and The fall of Hyperion are perhaps my favorite Sci-fi books to date (although that is by no means a long list; might use your videos in order to help fix that), so these videos are of particular interest to me by helping me know more about Simmons and his other works. Keep up the good work, Bridger!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! The Hyperion Cantos is one of my favorite science fiction reads as well, and it's what prompted me to read the rest of his works after I first encountered Hyperion more than 30 years ago.

@murph_archer1129 Жыл бұрын

Amazing video as always. I've not read any Simmons but now my wallet is definitely going to get a little lighter. Your collection never ceases to impress me Seeing the comparisons to Stephen King, his mix of genres and unlikeable main characters all have me interested. Looking forward to part 2

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Murph! Hyperion (literary space opera), Summer of Night (comparable to Stephen King's 'It,' only better in some respects), and The Terror (historical/adventure/horror/SF hybrid) are good starting points for reading Simmons. However, because his writing style varies so much from book to book, I think it takes several books to gauge whether to like/dislike his writing. The three books I just listed are a good cross-section of some of his different writing styles. (That's a long-winded way of saying you should read all three before deciding whether you like his writing.) :)

@codycummins4 Жыл бұрын

I’m currently reading Carrion Comfort and am loving it so far. Great video with an overview of his works! I don’t think he gets enough credit.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing! I hope it continues to live up to your expectations and that you end up enjoying it at least as much as I do.

@misanthropos6211 Жыл бұрын

Made me really excited to read Simmons now. I own Hyperion and Ilium/Olympos but haven't read them yet - going to have to bump them up higher in my TBR list. Every time you put out a new video my TBR gets longer.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Great! I'm sorry to hear about your TBR list. Maybe you should read faster or plan to live a lot longer. :D (In my case, I'm opting for the second approach.)

@RedFuryBooks Жыл бұрын

Another great video! I've read 4 by Simmons so far (The Terror, Drood, Ilium and Olympos) but plan on doubling that total this year by reading all the Hyperion books. Looking forward to part two of this video!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Josh! Have you reviewed Drood on your channel? If so, I must have missed it. Given your enjoyment of Dickens and Collins, I'd be interested in your take on Simmons' interpretation of them. I have very mixed feelings about the novel -- some aspects were outstanding while others were frustrating (and I enjoyed the book more the second time I read it). More details to follow in my next video! I envy you getting to read Hyperion for the first time. When I first read it 30+ years ago, I almost immediately started to re-read it again, because I'd never read anything quite like it before (and few things like it since).

@RedFuryBooks Жыл бұрын

I read Drood when it came out, so much earlier than when I had a channel. I was lukewarm on it - I loved it conceptually and enjoyed a lot of it, but didn't feel it came together in the end. But maybe a reread is in order? I'm really looking forward to Hyperion; I have a suspicion it may be something I really love.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

@@RedFuryBooks I had a similar reaction to Drood. I don't know if a re-read will do much for you -- in my case, it was prompted by the fact that I DNFed the book halfway through when I first read it shortly after it was published. I fully intended to give it another shot, but I also knew that I'd need to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy it. It took me several years before I tackled it again.

@BooksForever Жыл бұрын

At a crowded upscale restaurant in Denver 15 years ago I found myself sharing space for dinner with Dan Simmons right there at the cozy lounge bar. Thanks to your video, I can now go to my grave with the happy knowledge that I’ve thus experienced one degree of separation from the incomparable Harlan Ellison! Oh, and Dan Simmons is lovely, too. Strange coincidence with this video, but just last week I bought five new novels by Dan to get me through the remaining Midwest winter - 12 inches of snow forecast for today, so my timing was fortunate for sure. Cheers!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing that! I only know Simmons from his writing (including the illuminating forewords he's written in each of his short fiction anthologies), and he seems like he would be a fascinating dinner guest. His appetite for learning is incredible. Happy blizzard reading (as long as it's not The Terror or The Abominable)! :D

@evanmcclellan7267 Жыл бұрын

Dan Simmons is a literary force of nature. I vividly remember picking up Hyperion several years ago. The first section of that book rocked me to my core, more than anything I've read before or since. I've only read 3 of his books outside of the Hyperion Cantos, and am looking forward to your recommendations of which of his books to explore next.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Simmons provides an incredible variety to choose from. His books are often audacious in their ambition, if not always successful in their execution, in my opinion. I plan to tier-rank his works in my next video, and I hope you find it helpful.

@Alchimystic Жыл бұрын

Another great video! Each of the elements of Science Fiction Alliance is unique in the approach and content. I find this channel as good as it can get in the way it explores the authors. Regarding Simmons, i read Hyperion a couple of months ago, and this week will start the Fall of Hyperion. Later on i will definitely finish the Hyperion Cantos series, try the Ilium series and also The Terror. Other from that... i have no idead, but i guess your next video will help on that

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your very kind comment! I love the mix of channels in the SF Alliance because we each have different objectives, styles and audiences we're targeting. Our hope is that the combination of our varied approaches adds value to the viewer experience. I hope my next video on Simmons provides a useful roadmap for you.

@KarloVukosic Жыл бұрын

Such a great video as always

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@murph_archer1129 Жыл бұрын

Amazing video as always. I've not read any Simmons but now my wallet is definitely going to get a little lighter. Your collection never ceases to impress me

@onurcaksu3145 Жыл бұрын

I've read the Cantos and love everything about it. First a book about Greek mythos, and after that Ilium and Olympos, are probably few books down my TBR. Maybe some of his horror next. I did have the feeling that he can become one of those authors, whose catalogues I'll go into further and further, like with Le Guin, with Gene Wolfe... always trusting them, always impressed. Great video ^.^

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! The sheer variety of Simmons' output makes him a fun author to explore. I haven't enjoyed everything he's written, but I'm glad I've read them, as I appreciate his artistry as a writer.

@epicgamer2727 Жыл бұрын

I've been slowly starting to work my way through his work and have been so impressed so far. Hyperion is a masterpiece (fall of hyperion perhaps not quite as good) and I'm excited to read The Terror, Illium and Olympos this year.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

You have some very good reading ahead of you with that list! In my next video on Simmons, I plan to highlight his lesser-known books too. Few of them are as brilliant as Hyperion is, but there are some neglected gems among them. Thanks for watching!

@yelisieimurai Жыл бұрын

Dan Simmons is a great author, and I need to read more of him. I have read yet Hyperion+fall of Hyperion, and Terror. The only thing what I don’t like, endings were so frustrating, especially in the Terror. The fall of Hyperion also have not answered the all questions from the first book. Thank you for another great video about great author!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! In my opinion, Simmons sometimes suffers from the same difficulty his friend Stephen King does -- writing satisfying endings to their novels. They're typically not bad endings, but they can leave me wanting something more. With Simmons and King, my primary enjoyment is often derived from the journey they provide through their books and not the destination at the end.

@MichaelRSchultheiss Жыл бұрын

I've devoured some of Dan Simmons's works, particularly The Terror, Drood, and Hyperion. Thank you for inspiring me to pick up some more of his novels!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do (or more).

@MichaelRSchultheiss Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder so I picked up The Song of Kali as a result of this video, and so far I am absolutely loving it! Thank you again.

@arekchecinski8826 Жыл бұрын

Excellent quality videos! It's very enjoyable to listen. You should think about producing audiobooks:)) All the best from Poland!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Dziękuję! I'm very glad you enjoy them. I'm thinking about recording some classic stories as audiobooks later this year. I had fun doing a couple of short stories in October that I uploaded on my channel. Cheers!

@Shamino1 Жыл бұрын

The whiplash I felt going from Fall of Hyperion over to 'The Terror' was immense. I may not always like the voices Simmons' channels in his works, but I hold an immense respect for his versatility. However, to this day, I still have no idea what the purpose of the two Endymion novels were. An excellent author to highlight- thank you.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Whiplash is good descriptor for that! In general, I don't recommend binge reading Simmons unless the books are part of a series, such as the Hyperion Cantos or the Ilium duology. The differences in style and subject matter between his novels invites readers to make snap comparisons based on faulty expectations based on the Simmons book(s) they've recently read. I try to space my reading of his novels to give my brain time to process them and to reset my expectations for future books. One time when I didn't do that (reading Drood shortly after finishing The Terror) led me to DNF Drood because I was so frustrated by it. A few years later, I returned to Drood and found a lot more to enjoy in it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

@Scottlp2 Жыл бұрын

I believe Simmons considers all 4 works to be one larger work. I assume people are not fond of the romance in books3 and 4, but without the 3rd and 4th book, and (spoilers) “the moment” that ends the female protagonist , her story and Simmons point are not completed.

@stephenmorton8017 Жыл бұрын

since everything has been done, all that's left is to be a stylist. the trick is to emulate many styles yet still be recognized for one's style.

@andrewrodgers2180 Жыл бұрын

First I must say that Simmons is one of my top favorite wirers. He is truly versatile, something for almost anybody. Like you said, I really like his hybrid fiction. Hard to choose but my favorite work of his, has to be The Terror. It combines 2 of my most loved genres, being horror and historical fiction. His writing was so vivid I had to put extra covers on, because I could feel the cold, brrrr. Also being a Canadian , I was really attracted to the story, because is is based on Canadian/British history . Plus I agree you will certainly get some excellent technical and historical info in a lot of his novels. I found this to be especially true in Abdominal, being about alpine mountain climbing. I do mot have a head for the heights, but if I did, this would be a good book to start with. I like to say excellent video very informative, gives me an idea of what books of his I have yet to read. As an aside I must say you have a great voice for videos and radio. looking forward to more of your presentation. Cheers

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing! Simmons is one of my favorites as well. Although I haven't completely enjoyed some of his books, I've never felt regret about reading any of them.

@thepapertraveler1122 Жыл бұрын

Sounds like this is an author I need to proceed with caution and looking forward to the next video to help guide me on what would be of interest to me personally. I tend to struggle with unlikable main characters but too much detail, if done right, I don’t mind. I read and enjoyed Summer of Night last year and hope to read The Terror and Hyperion this year but beyond that I’m not sure. Thanks for the wonderful informative video and it’s always a joy to see your book collection!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Kim! You suggested to me several months ago that I do a Dan Simmons retrospective, and I've finally followed through on it. Simmons is one of my favorite authors, but "proceed with caution" is a good approach to take. I think he's a brilliant writer, but I can't say that I've loved everything he's written. For me, his high points are very high, while his low points can be difficult to truly enjoy. I don't think I'm spoiling much from my upcoming tier-ranking of his books by saying that you're on pretty safe ground with The Terror and Hyperion. :)

@danielhuszar2248 Жыл бұрын

My absolute favorite author

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

He's one of my favorites as well. Thanks for watching!

@alexgonzalez8954 4 ай бұрын

Listening to The Song of Kali right now. Love Simmons

@GRAstroskopiaTV Жыл бұрын

Great video !!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Dziękuję!

@personmcpersonperson2893 Жыл бұрын

What a nice coincidence, I started reading Hyperion for the first time yesterday. I am more than impressed by Simmons' style, knowledge and dramaturgical mastery. Now I'm curios about his other books, so this video is just the right thing for me

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Perfect timing! In my next video, I'm planning to briefly review and tier-rank all his books, so I hope it helps you prioritize your reading list.

@personmcpersonperson2893 Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder The ranking of Neal Stephensons books has been very helpful to me, so I'm sure I will enjoy that next one as well

@silinusvers Жыл бұрын

Hyperion, fall of hyperion are the most prolific books I ever read. He takes you on the pilgrimage with them. Martin silinus is always with me.

@TheDarkchum1 Жыл бұрын

I have been sleeping on Simmons. But now I am very excited to read several of his books as soon as I can!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Consider this a wake-up call, morning reveille, and alarm clock all rolled up into one. :D I hope you enjoy his works as much as I do. Thanks for watching!

@Tetsujin-28 Жыл бұрын

I definitely will be reading Hyperion this year and I'm sure it'll be a treat.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Great! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

@carlosbranca8080 Жыл бұрын

Hyperion / Fall of Hyperion is my favorite scifi novel. Summer of Night did what S. King did with IT but in half the pages, i actually liked it more. The Terror is a great book in so many ways. I didn't like Song of Kali and Children of the Night but i will be reading more Dan Simmons soon.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

You have excellent taste! I hope my next video will help you prioritize your Simmons reading list. :)

@carlosbranca8080 Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder Looking forward to it!

@wileyschmitt Жыл бұрын

Great timing because I recently wrote down a list of all the authors/books that I want to read this year, and Simmons' Hyperion was very high on the list, and I haven't read anything by him yet.

@alejandrorubio305 Жыл бұрын

Great video

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

@michele.monteleone Жыл бұрын

Great video, I love Simmons!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! He's one of my favorites, even though I don't love everything he's written (which I'll discuss in my next video). :)

@neilfeedthegoat9013 Жыл бұрын

Great breakdown of Simmons. I heard Hyperion was being adapted by Warner Brothers. Hope it's true. Modern cinematics give it serious potential on the big screen. Excited for part 2!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm hopeful for a solid adaptation of Hyperion, but it's been stuck "in development" for so long -- decades (almost as long as the planned adaptation of Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama) -- that I'm not optimistic about seeing it anytime soon. According to Simmons, the biggest hurdle all along has been getting a workable script that can convey the appropriate scope and scale of the story (multiple pilgrim backstories, multiple settings, enormous CGI requirements) within the time and budget constraints imposed by film (or television streaming in recent years).

@counterstrifekid Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder the only way that Hyperion can be properly adapted to screen is by a TV show. An HBO type show with 2 seasons could accurately depict Hyperion. The first season could be a journey through each Pilgrim's story, then second season would go through the rest of the journey in good detail. I cant imagine a single movie depicting Hyperion correctly. Sol's story alone would already take nearly an hour (any less and I would not be happy).

@AnotherBrownAjah Жыл бұрын

I can't wait for it to not be pre-dawn so I can give this a listen. Reading the Hyperion Cantos was a formative experience for me

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Great! Hyperion was an eye-opening experience for me when I first read it 30+ years ago. I haven't encountered many books since then that combine the eloquence, emotional depth and story scope found in it. Some of his other books also rank high among my favorites.

@lisacole6037 Жыл бұрын

I think Simmons is wonderful. I'm no expert. I've only read 4 of his works. But I was impressed, especially by Hyperion and The Terror. I have Carrion Comfort on my shelf, so that will be my next Simmons experience. Thanks for a thoughtful and informative video.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope you enjoy Carrion Comfort (and the rest of his books) as much as I do (or more).

@GypsyRoSesx Жыл бұрын

I love when you concentrate on an author like this

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I enjoy making these kinds of videos. In fact, I have a long list of authors I'm planning similar comprehensive retrospectives about. It's going to take me a while to get to them all, though.

@wburris2007 Жыл бұрын

I hope to reread the Hyperion Cantos books this year. I read the 4 Hyperion Cantos books about 20 years ago, but haven't read any of his other works yet.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

I hope my next video will be helpful in deciding what else to read by him. He provides a lot to choose from of widely varying styles, genres and, to a lesser degree, enjoyment levels. Thanks for watching!

@kissaninja9700 Жыл бұрын

Thanks to you I read his other books after Tigana.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! (Although I think your comment was intended for one of my GGK videos.) Thanks for letting me know. :D

@susansprague7304 Жыл бұрын

As wonderful as Dan Simmons is, he has nothing to do with my remembrance of Harlan Ellison! I read all of Ellison's work (except Gentleman Junkie) during my formative years and will fondly remember him for that ... and for titillating SF fandom of the '80s and '90s with his bratty behaviour. Thanks for another valuable video, LL!

@funkyboy_22 Жыл бұрын

Woooooah. This is the first time I’ve seen a booktuber mention Jack Vance in a video! Can you make a video talking about his works in the future?

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion! You're in luck. I'm planning a comprehensive look at Jack Vance's works this fall.

@funkyboy_22 Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder YESSSSS! I’ll be looking forward to this! I’ve been such a huge fan of his books lately, especially Dying Earth and Lyonesse.

@paulwilliams6913 Жыл бұрын

Hyperion was one of my top reads in 2022. I’m still undecided about continuing the Cantos, since there seems to be a lot of fervent opinion about how they do/do not improve upon the grandeur of that experience (case in point, Jonathan at WordsInTime praises the series above all others, while Jo Walton says that “the answers we do get are never as interesting as the questions asked”; perhaps your forthcoming video will help nudge me?). He’s definitely a first-rate author, and I plan to read more by him. I’m curious if you’ll ever do one of these author spotlight videos for Wolfe or Powers (I seem to recall you mentioned them both in an earlier video). Wolfe has definitely been getting more traction on BookTube over the last year or so (at least partly thanks to Christopher Ruocchio, as far as I can discern) and I’ll be joining Philip Chase to discuss Book of the New Sun next month. I’ve only recently stumbled upon Powers, who seems to be largely ignored. I think you did a fine job highlighting GGK last year, and your recent work on Vinge and now Simmons suggests an interest in illuminating long-standing but often overlooked pillars. As always, an enjoyable video. Someday, if I ever actually launch a channel, I hope we can discuss things more deeply :)

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm trying to finish up the next Simmons video even as I type this. I hope to have it completed tomorrow. I happen to agree broadly with both Jonathan and Jo -- the full Cantos is well worth reading, although I think Hyperion is the high point of the series. Also, you seem to have been reading my mind. I'm planning retrospectives of the complete works of both Gene Wolfe and Tim Powers later this year (along with overviews of Jack Vance, Connie Willis and several more if I have time). "...an interest in illuminating long-standing but often overlooked pillars" pretty much summarizes my reason for starting this channel. My primary focus is on overlooked classics (older as well as modern) across a variety of genres to help ensure they aren't forgotten. Books that already receive a lot of attention on BookTube are a lower priority for me (as will be evident in my next video).

@Verlopil Жыл бұрын

Dan Simmons is definitely up there at the top of versatile sff novelists, and I've liked most books I've read of his. I agree with your assessment of his strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes I don't need 20 pages of details about mountain climbing equipment. As far as versatile and acclaimed, Ursula LeGuin is another I'd put up there, though she was versatile in different directions. Harlan Ellison is probably the most versatile writer I've read, but for short stories, and he won awards for science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, horror, literary fiction, screen writing/television scripts, essays/articles, and comics. Joyce Carol Oates is critically acclaimed and wrote pretty much everything except science fiction (I don't think she wrote it -- she may have slipped some in there somewhere).

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

More great versatile authors! In making my list, I was thinking primarily of novelists for more of an apples-to-apples comparison, which is why I didn't highlight Ellison's versatility. I've only read a few short stories by Oates, and she's on my list of authors I want to read more of. Thanks for sharing!

@Verlopil Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder I thought that was the case since you mentioned Ellison in the video. I just found that Joyce Carol Oates actually did write a science fiction novel called Hazards of Time Travel. I've not read it. But I think that means she's written everything except Westerns and Romance.

@BL-mf3jp 3 ай бұрын

Hyperion is genuinely my favorite book ever written

@thelibraryladder 3 ай бұрын

It's very high on my list as well.

@alexgonzalez8954 4 ай бұрын

He’s seriously awesome

@buddhabillybob Жыл бұрын

As always, a fantastic video. I have a very strong love/hate relationship with Simmons. _Hyperion_ and _Fall of Hyperion_ are masterpieces, but I thought _Endymion_ and _Rise of Endymion_ were boring and frustrating. I also DNF'd _Ilium_ out of sheer frustration. I am, however, willing to be convinced that I am wrong.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Due to his wide variety of writing styles, genres, and subject matters, I think Simmons requires a larger sample size than most authors to decide if he's a good fit for one's tastes. He's one of my favorite authors, but some of his books have been more chore than pleasure. If I'd read them before some of his others, I probably wouldn't have continued on to read his better books. Personally, I enjoy Ilium, but I agree that it can be frustrating. I hope my next video will be helpful to you in sorting out his varied works.

@buddhabillybob Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder I'm hoping your next video gives me some more Simmons options. I don't want to dismiss an author who is capable of such brilliance!

@themonkeytrainer 8 ай бұрын

A lot of readers never notice that Summer of Night (my favorite) actually introduces a group of child characters, most of whom grow up to become protagonists in his other horror novels - usually stories written in other styles of the genre.

@CalvinHobbies 7 ай бұрын

Characters cross through multiple books and timelines. It's pretty fun.

@MagusMarquillin Жыл бұрын

Hyperion Cantos has been a looming must read for a while now, but for me it's easy to waffle on him and push back on the list thinking "maybe I'd get more out of it if I read Canterbury Tales and Dante's Devine Comedy and Illiad/Oddysy (before Illuim/Olympos) first. And I am genuinely interested in those works, they're even more daunting to fully appreciate (particularly the former which seems to always be offered in old English). I know I might take that to extremes and never read Hyperion, but that's how my mind works. BTW, I hope you do a video, or a series, on classical epics some day! :)

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

For me, it sometimes goes the other direction. I have more interest now in reading some of the classics he references than I did before I read his books. The Iliad is a case in point. I read The Iliad in college, but it didn't really grab me at the time (probably because the Lattimore translation I read was a little stodgy). Now, with the dramatic context Simmons provides in his novel Ilium, I'd like to re-read The Iliad to compare them (but preferably a more modern translation than Lattimore's). With respect to Hyperion, I don't think there's much value in reading The Canterbury Tales first. Simmons borrows Chaucer's structure and there are some _very_ loose parallels to some of the pilgrims, but the plot has little direct connection. There might be more of a connection to Keats' epic poem of the same name than to Chaucer, but primarily in the themes rather than the plot. I'm planning a series of videos this year on early classic epics in the fantasy genre -- from the Song of Roland to Arthurian tales, Spenser's Faerie Queen, the Volsung Cycle, the Mabinogion, and the novels of George MacDonald, William Morris, E.R. Eddison, James Branch Cabell, etc. It's part of my effort to explore the historical roots of a variety of genres. Thanks for the suggestion!

@MagusMarquillin Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder Maybe I should go backwards, but my brain also idolizes chronological order. Not sure how you are with audio books, but the channel "Super Bunnyhop" is four books into a biweekly, in-depth, audio drama reading of the Illiad, along with commentary, I think with his own translation, inspired by other translations, which focuses on dramatic presentation. Looks pretty...epic :). Ooh, Keats Hyperion is just a fragment - and presumably relatively modern English, I'm down with that over Chaucer - thanks! I love that plan, so so much! Particularly the Macdonald, Eddison, Spenser and any/all of that thick, Aurthurian soup. And it'd be wunderbar if you had anything to say about Gilgamesh, any of the Greek myth soup, the Tain, Beowulf or the Devine Comedy, but it's cool if you don't to. I've collected quite the shelf this sort while thrifting, waiting for the perfect occasion (whatever that is). So far, I've only dared listen to Paradise Lost, which was very nice with Emperor Ian Mcdiarmid playing Satan.

@raimobin45 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I found your content enjoyable and educational, primarily due to your demeanor which impressed me! You mentioned Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's whose complete Sherlock Holmes was brilliant read for me and you pointed out his versatility, do you have any recommendations of other good works of his? Also, you mentioned enjoying historical fiction, what are your thoughts on Bernard Cornwell's books and if you enjoy them, any recommendations for a beginner, as Iam trying to get into that genre. All the best for your channel, looking forward to future content!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! You're anticipating some of my future videos. While I enjoy Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, I actually prefer some of his other fiction, such as his Professor Challenger novels (science fiction), his historical adventure fiction (The White Company, Uncle Bernac, etc.) and his Brigadier Gerard stories (humorous historical fiction). Cornwell is my favorite historical fiction author, and I've read almost everything he's written. His Sharpe books are excellent, although they can present a bit of a challenge because it's a long series and he didn't write the books in chronological order. They're relatively short novels, though, and each book is its own self-contained story, so you can start and stop the series at your leisure. I suggest reading them in publication order. Also, I don't recommend starting with his standalone novels. Most of them aren't nearly as good as his series books. Another good entry point is Cornwell's Grail Quest series. Originally, it was just a trilogy, but he wrote a fourth book about ten years later that adds to the story.

@raimobin45 Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder Thanks for the recommendations and your prompt reply. Your content is very informative and I picked up Simmons' The Terror, outstanding concept! Will look forward to your future deep dives!

@yondus Жыл бұрын

Great video, thank you for highlighting Simmons and his excellent work 👍 Could you please tell me what music is being used m the background for this video too?

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! The music is called 'Down to the Wire' and I obtained it from Storyblocks.

@yondus Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder thank you!

@titojdavis8374 Жыл бұрын

I'd argue I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream is what Ellison's most known for, but now since reading The Hyperion Cantos I have even more to thank him for

@milennikolov8041 11 ай бұрын

''The Terror'' blew my mind ... but then i discovered ''Hyperion'' and my brain exploded :)

@guillermogarcialopez256 Жыл бұрын

awesome voice!!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@RafBlutaxt Жыл бұрын

While I agree that Simmons has considerable talent for stringing together words I find him repetitive after a while, especially when his politics intrude more into his fiction like in Ilium / Olympos or the atrocious Flashback. His constant reliance on references to literary classics do sometimes feel too self-congratulatory as well. After my recent series of going through his sf novels again I would say that only Hyperion / Fall Of Hyperion is coming close to essential genre fiction and the rest can be safely ignored.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing! I'm sorry Simmons hasn't been your cup of tea so far. He's written a lot in other genres you might find more appealing, particularly since his writing style varies widely across books and genres.

@jeroenadmiraal8714 Жыл бұрын

Today I learned a new word: lagniappe. Great video, thank you!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Lagniappe has a French/Spanish/Incan origin, but is commonly heard in and around New Orleans and other parts of the southern US gulf coast.

@elizabethmcfadden466 Жыл бұрын

Just finished Summer of Night and The Terror. I couldn’t believe it was the same author. I’m trying to decided which of his library to read next.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Another commenter here aptly described the dramatic stylistic shifts between Simmons' novels as whiplash-inducing when read in rapid succession. His science fiction novels Hyperion and Ilium offer even more ambitious variety. My next video on Simmons (coming soon) will compare all of his books and provide suggestions for reading priority. Thanks for watching and commenting!

@CallumRickard Жыл бұрын

Came for the summary, stayed for the accidental ASMR.

@Calypso694 Жыл бұрын

I have Hyperion but have yet to start it. The series seems incredibly complex.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Hyperion is complex, as it combines several distinct, but linked, storylines that are more fully explained in the second book, The Fall of Hyperion. Books 3 & 4 of the Cantos add to the richness of the overall story, but aren't essential to the narrative contained in the first two books. The four-book series can be a challenging read, but in my opinion, it's well worth the effort. I highly recommend you read Hyperion and then decide if you want to continue. Thanks for watching!

@xl4712 8 ай бұрын

Man you have an amazing voice, have you ever done audiobook work?

@thelibraryladder 8 ай бұрын

Thanks! For fun, I've recorded a few short stories as audiobooks and uploaded them here on my channel. I might do more in the future.

@dudeboydudeboy-zj8kd Жыл бұрын

here's some author suggestions : poul anderson, ursula k le guin, jack vance, and lloyd alexander, isaac asimov, arthur c clark, robert a heilein, william morris, and lord dunsany

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Those are great authors, and I'm planning to make videos about all of them -- Vance, Alexander, Morris and Dunsany this year, and the rest to come later. Thanks!

@dudeboydudeboy-zj8kd Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder nice

@Unicorn_club Жыл бұрын

The one book above all. Hyperion!

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

It's a tremendous book! Thanks for watching!

@matslarsson6919 Жыл бұрын

I absolutely loved the Hyperion books but found Ilium and Olympos to be very unsatisfying. Sadly, they put me off from reading more of Simmons. I hope this video, and the next, can guide me back to this author...writer I mean.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Simmons' books are so varied in style, scope, genre, theme, etc., that it would be a very remarkable person who truly enjoyed all of them. While I appreciate the artistry of what he's done in each of his books, I haven't enjoyed some of them nearly as much as I hoped I would. Perhaps some of his other works will be more to your taste. Thanks for keeping an open mind about him!

@General_reader Жыл бұрын

After watching your first video about the Hyperion, I’ve been trying to find a copy for myself. But unable to locate anything other than trade paper backs. Does anyone have a suggestion of where I can find a more decorative copy?

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

In my opinion, there are very few editions of Hyperion with attractive cover art. Most of the covers are either boring or ugly (or both). There's a scary (in a good way) cover for a recent Polish edition, but you'd need to be able to read Polish. If you want a hardcover copy of Hyperion, US editions are quite scarce and pricey (_considerably_ higher than when I bought my copies many years ago). The first hardcover edition in 1989 had a short print run and the Subterranean Press special edition from 2012 was a limited print run. There's a more affordable SF book club edition from 2006, but the cover art for it is laughably bad. You might have better luck finding a UK hardcover edition, but I'm not a fan of the cover art of either the 1990 or 2004 UK editions. I prefer the colorful Gary Ruddell cover of the US first edition. Full-sized trade paperbacks with that cover can be found in good condition on eBay and in Amazon's used book market for prices that aren't unreasonable ($15-$25), which might be your best option if that cover art appeals to you. I hope that's helpful.

@General_reader Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder thanks for the advice. Your knowledge astounds me.

@KalleVilenius Жыл бұрын

The Terror is my favorite Dan Simmons novel and if only the supernatural elements had been removed from it, it would be a perfect piece of historical fiction that would still be horrifying due to the situation the characters find themselves in. Still love it though.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

I didn't mind the speculative/supernatural aspects. They were a small part of the story, and I agree with you that they weren't essential to make the historical fiction gripping and horrifying. Even though the book is often categorized as horror fiction, I think of it more as historical fiction with horror elements. Thanks for sharing!

@davidnance9462 9 ай бұрын

Sold

@TeamCarbos Жыл бұрын

Do Steven Erikson or Gene Wolfe next. I'd love one about Gene Wolfe

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the suggestions! Wolfe is high on my list of video topics. Later this year (or early next year) I plan to do a comprehensive overview of his works. I have a long shelf devoted to his books that I look forward to discussing. Erikson isn't as high a priority for me at the moment. I enjoy his Malazan books, but since they already receive plenty of attention on BookTube, I'm not sure what more I can add to the conversation. I might change my mind in a couple of years when the echo chamber has died down some. Due to the slowness of my video production process, I'm only able to make around 25-30 videos a year, and I want to use them to break new ground in areas that other channels aren't already covering heavily. Wolfe's a good example, because most of BookTube's coverage of him tends to focus only on his BOTNS and overlooks his many other novels and short story collections (which I plan to cover). Thanks again.

@TeamCarbos Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder Can't wait, I love Gene Wolfe. I havent found anything like it yet. Edit: question about Tad, but i found it. And I guess youre right about Erikson. I just love his Kharkanas books, but feel theyre not talked about enough😅

@Jimvanhise Жыл бұрын

Wasn't it Hyperion where the hardcover only had numbers on every other page which resulted in a page skipped which had to be sent out as an insert?

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

The first hardcover editions of both Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion had numbers only on odd-numbered pages. But it was The Fall of Hyperion that had the publisher's error. The first printing of TFoH skipped page 305 and instead printed page 306 on both sides of the page. The correct page 305 was later inserted as a loose sheet. My copy of TFoH has the error and the inserted page.

@vasari9198 Жыл бұрын

Subscribed during this video and I feel like an idiot for not subscribing before. 🤷‍♂️

@Jamesalexhughes 8 ай бұрын

You sound like Patrick Batemen if he hosted late night radio and its awesome

@thelibraryladder 8 ай бұрын

Sorry for my late response to your comment. I had to return some video tapes.

@paulthomassen5007 Жыл бұрын

Summer of night gave me nightmares

@ryerye3147 11 ай бұрын

I loved "The Terror" but after skimming through "Flashback" I couldn't take him seriously anymore.. I know people will give me shtick for this, but yeah.

@thelibraryladder 11 ай бұрын

Flashback is one of his weakest novels, in my opinion (as are most of his recent output), so you might try some of his early works. They're far better.

@ryerye3147 11 ай бұрын

@@thelibraryladder I'll most likely give Hyperion a try, I'm currently starting Crytonomicon all thanks to your Neil Stephenson video, thanks for what you do.

@kublatard Жыл бұрын

I`ve read Drood, The Terror, Hyperion and did`nt like any of them - i actually loathed Drood - he has some great ideas but found them overly long and boring and funnily enough i find Stephenson the same - i have no intention of reading any more of either author - taste is such an odd thing

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Perfectly understandable. Simmons can be a very descriptive writer, but if the subject matter isn't of interest to the reader, it can get dull. Not all of his books are like that, though. For example, he's written several crime thrillers in the fast-paced style of conventional thrillers. (I can empathize about Drood, too -- it took me two tries to finish it because of how much I disliked the main characters.)

@LCD72 Жыл бұрын

Shame about the Shrike, the Time Tombs and the Tree of Pain. Otherwise Hyperion was

@AnthonyEmmel Жыл бұрын

Ardath Mahar.

@thelibraryladder Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion! I haven't read much by Mayhar other than a few short stories.

@AnthonyEmmel Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder it's the "Ardath Mayhar has Passed Away" article.

@AnthonyEmmel Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryladder part of my post is missing. Lol For a good story about how Harlan respected Ardath, google said article.

@rangda_prime Жыл бұрын

No. He's really not.

@aristedes9449 11 ай бұрын

hahahaha, no Hyperion Cantos is the most overrated body of fiction I've ever encountered, completely shits the bed past the first book and event hat first one isn't that exceptional