Ilium
by Dan Simmons · first published 2003
63% recommend38% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Science fiction that blends the Trojan War and Homer's gods with a far-future setting. The world-building is grand and the scope is imaginative. Going in without knowing the plot is recommended.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
From the author of the Hyperion Cantos -- one of the most acclaimed popular series in contemporary science fiction -- comes a powerful epic of high-tech gods, human heroes, total war, and the extraordinary transcendence of ordinary beings. The first book in a two-part epic. "I am in awe of Dan Simmons." -- Stephen King. From the towering heights of Olympos Mons on Mars, the mighty Zeus and his immortal family of gods, goddesses, and demigods look down upon a momentous battle, observing -- and often influencing -- the legendary exploits of Paris, Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, and the clashing arm
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Ilium by Dan Simmons was an exceptionally good read, if you're looking for another review. Often people just haven't heard of him, even well and widely read people, though he has several great series. I don't…
on “The End of an Era” ↗Lot's of my favorites already listed Some more good ones: Ilium/Olympos - Dan Simmons Centuries - A. A. Attanasio Callahan's Crosstime Saloon - Spider Robinson Signal to Noise - Eric Nylund
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗Ilium/Olympos by Dan Simmons is very good, also anything from Alastair Reynolds.
on “The Intelligent Forest” ↗Ilium and Olympos by Dan Simmons. Fantastic blend of sci-fi and (alternate) ancient history. Give it a try if you like grand world-building and a really fun imagination.
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?” ↗Better to read about Ulysses in Ilium by Dan Simmons, a scifi book. Best if read without knowing the plot.
on “Yes I Will Read Ulysses Yes” ↗You might want to read Dan Simmons' Ilium and if you can stomach some weird post-9/11 shit, Olympos. One of the overarching themes is what you describe... or similar.
on “Physicists Solve a Muon Mystery. Now, Old Results Don't Add Up” ↗…century (stretching a bit since IIRC the Arab kept using it) ? That a subject that never cease to amaze me. Civilizations rises and fall and with them knowledge. To me, Dan Simmons kind of use that in Ilium and Olympos as background. What will happen when our digital civilisation falls ?
on “We used to sleep twice each night” ↗In "Ilium/Olympos" by Dan Simmons, the post-human society is riddled with quantum magic. Achilles has had his future narrowed down to two possibilities: dying at a specific time after being shot in the heel by…
on “Universe Splitter” ↗One of the robots ("moravecs" (amazing)) in Dan Simmons' Ilium was also crustacean formed: Orphu of Io (and his friend Mahnmut. Beat Charles to that particular weird coincidence-to-be by plus or minus a year! It's not quite as memorable or as strong a theme as Accelerando…
on “Accelerando (2005)” ↗Extract from Ilium, from Dan Simmons: "If you don’t know your father, Odysseus was answering in that low, calm, but fiercely firm voice of his that always seemed to carry as far as it had to, how can you know yourself?…
on “Ask HN: Does each individual have a social duty to better themselves?” ↗