Dan Simmons, the author of more than three dozen books including the acclaimed Hyperion Cantos, died on February 21, 2026, from complications of a stroke.
Hyperion blew my mind, and it's strange that I don't think about it from time to time, twenty years later. I didn't know about the cancellation, and it broke my heart. Rest in peace. Now he lives on in his books.
He was indeed a giant. One of my favourite writers. He also had a little collection of short stories called Lovedeath, among other things. There was a small similarity between him and Walter Jon Williams in terms of ability and range. He definitely stands with the hreats.
What's really sad is that if Simmons were starting out today, he'd never get anywhere. Not only would he be cancelled for his politics, but Amazon's algorithm wouldn't know what to make of him or how to push his books.
Indeed. I am no Dan Simmons, but the algorithm is not kind to my books. Nazi Moon is loved by readers for it’s range and scope (it’s an omnibus of the trilogy of the overlords of Mars books) but probably not pushed because of the title. There are role playing games I built and works of non fiction ranging from Catholicism to The Planet Mars and Russian Martial arts i practiced for years. And while the readers love them, they are hard to find.
ISFDB has no stories by Simmons in 2009 and no story titled "The Time Traveller", which are noted at this phrase: "His 2009 short story “The Time Traveler” depicted a dystopian future where Islamic extremism had conquered Europe. "
Thanks. It turns out 2006, not 2009 and w/o a title, not "The Time Traveller". And yes, the piece is Islamophobic, even if formally, the narrator plays a skeptic
Hyperion blew my mind, and it's strange that I don't think about it from time to time, twenty years later. I didn't know about the cancellation, and it broke my heart. Rest in peace. Now he lives on in his books.
Man, I loved The Terror (the book, not the subpar series). RIP sir. You won't be replaced anytime soon.
He was indeed a giant. One of my favourite writers. He also had a little collection of short stories called Lovedeath, among other things. There was a small similarity between him and Walter Jon Williams in terms of ability and range. He definitely stands with the hreats.
May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
What's really sad is that if Simmons were starting out today, he'd never get anywhere. Not only would he be cancelled for his politics, but Amazon's algorithm wouldn't know what to make of him or how to push his books.
Indeed. I am no Dan Simmons, but the algorithm is not kind to my books. Nazi Moon is loved by readers for it’s range and scope (it’s an omnibus of the trilogy of the overlords of Mars books) but probably not pushed because of the title. There are role playing games I built and works of non fiction ranging from Catholicism to The Planet Mars and Russian Martial arts i practiced for years. And while the readers love them, they are hard to find.
And AI slop will probably only make it harder.
My favorite Dan Simmons book is Summer of Night, which is horror set in a 1950s small town. Great stuff.
ISFDB has no stories by Simmons in 2009 and no story titled "The Time Traveller", which are noted at this phrase: "His 2009 short story “The Time Traveler” depicted a dystopian future where Islamic extremism had conquered Europe. "
https://web.archive.org/web/20060418040155/http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message.htm From Mike Brown Twitter.
Thanks. It turns out 2006, not 2009 and w/o a title, not "The Time Traveller". And yes, the piece is Islamophobic, even if formally, the narrator plays a skeptic
Hyperion was the Canterbury Tales in Space.
I have Hyperion, I need to read it.
He's an author that I need to get to ASAP