One year I read "Drood" during the fall and "The Terror" during the winter. Oh Yeah! Of course Terror got me practically obsessed with the Franklin Expedition. They actually found both ships under the ice not too long ago.
Currently 500 pages into The Terror. It is absolutely enthralling. I appreciate the depth of the character development/backstory of the characters that Simmons serves us. Also the depth of the nautical knowledge which is dove into really puts you right there on the ice with the men. And the monster horror is some of the most terrifying I have ever read.
Great video!! SO glad to see someone who has Ilium and Olympos up toward the top. I have ten 1st editions signed from Simmons and Ive given Ilium away to so many people! So glad I stumbed across your review!!
I just finished Summer of Night and IT and gotta go with Summer of Night as my favorite. It has me pumped for more Dan Simmons. Thanks so much for giving these guys attention!
You're missing Song of Kali. His first novel and it's great. What actually got me into Simmons. He was master of atmosphere building since the beginning.
Hello mate. Just found your channel. Youve inspired me to re-read through my entire Simmons collection and i pretty much have them all. Easily the Greatest living writer imo. He hasnt rekeased a novel in some years though...heard he had a head injury...hes about the same age of Stephen King too mid 70's. The Terror is my number 1. The Hyperion cantos in at 2. Drood at number 3. Love all his novels though. Dude can write classics in any genre.
I was about to lose it when you put Hyperion way up there but yes you are right about fall of Hyperion being better, I spend a lot more time thinking about it and all the wild things that happen in it. Great list my man!
I reas Carrion Comfort so many decades ago and I have re read it over and over. I still remember every scene. Amazing. That’s my number one. Thanks for this video.
You're killing me?...You missed my favorite Dan Simmons novel. "Song Of Kali"...Set in Calcutta. The nasty atmosphere of that place will not leave you. You couldn't pay me to go to Calcutta. Tremendous setting for a creepy novel...Now you have to read and review this baby! Published in 1985 and it won the 1986 World Fantasy Award...I loved it...
I read Song of Kali about 15 years ago. I shouldn't have liked it that much because much of the supernatural stuff was only hinted at (in fact, you could make an argument that there wasn't anything supernatural in it at all) and I prefer more overt stuff - but the novel still captivated me! Years later I stayed in the outskirts of Kolkata for a couple of weeks where I visited a friend. Unfortunately, I had arrived with a cold (I was on my way back home from an assignment in Myanmar and couldn't choose the time travel) so I stayed mostly in the suburbs but on one trip into the city I even went to a Kali temple! And here's the funny thing: only later did I remember that Song of Kali was set in Kolkata! Don't know why I hadn't thought of the book at the time. (Probably because a lot had been going on in real life.) Apart from my being under the weather most of the time, I really enjoyed the stay. Kolkata is a modern (Indian) city. It's not the nightmarish place that you read about in the book. So if someone should offer to pay you to go to Calcutta/Kolkata, you should definitely take up that offer! 😉 PS: I should mention that I was there in the winter (January/February).
Reading The Fall of Hyperion currently. The pilgrim stories in the 1st book blew me away. The cruciform and Remembering Siri were personal favorites. Have also read The Abominable and The Terror. Both excellent. Slight edge to The Terror as I found the North West Expansion time period to be fascinating. Also maybe too much bromancing in Abominable between JC and the main character. Borderline.
Dan Simmons is possibly my favorite author. Carrion Comfort is my No.1. And his science fiction novels are some of the best out there. You may wanna read Fires of Eden since it's tied to Summer of Night, Children of the Night and A Winter Haunting. And Song of Kali, which is very good.
I didn't like Children too much. And Song of Kali (very overhyped because of that Stephen King reference),the only thing it left me is that i will never ever go to Calcutta...
You have the widest range of Interest I have ever seen. And your vids are dope. While I seldom am on same page with your assessments your enthusiasm for books in general is inspirational.Oh, and I am so jealous of your Malazan collection. I gave up trying to find then in hardback, It is a crime that no full set is for sale.
Wow ok, I’m going to have to read the Terror. I’ve only read the Hyperion duology so far, and they are brilliant. I, too, liked Fall of Hyperion the best. I consider the two books one story though. It’s my second favorite sci-fi ever. I still need it read Endymion though. I had no idea he’d written so many books.
Just added a few more books to my wanted list, thanks Brian... But I should say thanks to you as I plan on reading Cryptonomicon (thanks to your Stephenson vid) on my flight tomorrow, when I should be sleeping. Bah jet lag! If I manage to get through that monster I have the Caves of Steal and the next Joe Pickett for the flight back.
I've read around 10 of Dan's books but must say I like " Summer of Night " the best. As you said, right up there with King and McCammon. Ever few years I like to read it again.
If Dan Simmons has indeed stopped writing, then he's left an incredible legacy behind. Though, I do hope he manages to release Omega Canyon, whenever that comes out.
Such a great writer. If he has any weakness, it would his characters - never really connect with them. But boy, the breadth and scope of the worlds and ideas Simmons creates is stellar.
What about Song of Kali? I think is a unique book. It contains an exotic terror and an interesting analysis about the clash between western and eastern civilizations.
Awesome list! I love Carrion Comfort and The Terror is on my tbr list. Keep up the great content and huge respect, as an ex teacher, for the work that you do!
Yeah you're right. As far as vampires go, Carrion Comfort might be the best of them, though I haven't read every vampire novel ever written - there's simply too many of 'em, lol. Song of Kali was good, & actually won the World fantasy Award, probably because of the metaphor he attached to the ending... Summer of Night, Children of the Night, & Hyperion were all very good as well - the guy's level is remarkably consistent, considering his output. Looking forward to reading The Terror this year, & exploring more of his works.
I’m surprised Song of Kali, his first Novel, isn’t even mentioned. Harlan Ellison called it the greatest first novel that he had ever read, and it won the World Fantasy Award. Also missing are Phases of Gravity and Fires of Eden., which, while not top drawer Simmons, are certainly worthy works of fiction., as are his several short story collections and his superb novella, “Muse of Fire”.
Totally agree!! Carrion Comfort is just plain awesome and needs to be rediscovered.. So cool.. Hyperion Cantos (the 4 together) is in my top 5 all time. If you ever want a signed first edition HC of Summer of Night, let me know.. Great job again!
How do you like tad Williams and Robert Jordan? I know Jordan but have never heard of Williams. I haven’t read either. I love Simmons so I’m wondering about these two.
I think you missed Song of Kali but no matter, that was a very average novel with only one very good scene. Hyperion and Fall of H (i see both novels as one) are my favorite scifi books of all time. Loved The Terror and Summer of Night, damn, i even ended up googling the freaking Borgia Bell jaja. Good video.
Nice list. The Terror may be the best work of fiction I have ever read. I could not finish Drood. Which irritated me because it’s the only book of his I have not liked. Carrion Comfort was my intro to Simmons. Perhaps one of the best concepts in horror ever put to paper.
The only thing I took issue with Terror about was the fact that the temperature was constantly 50 to 60 degrees below zero. Humans die in that environment
I sometimes wonder if Dan Simmons is a 'secret collective of writers ' , not just one man . His stories can be so different .Not only in quality, genre, etc . But also stylistic . He can be brilliant , good, , a bit boring or just plain horrible ! Must be a conspiracy ! 😅
Love your top books of authors! Love ur channel brian! Starting your books next month ❤ Are u going to do any peter straub content in the near future? I have almost read all of he's works and like them a lot, feels like not many talking about him a ranking of peter straub would be epic (for me atleast xD) Anyway have a great week Love from sweden
I thought Fall of Hyperion was a complete turkey of a novel - nowhere near as good as the first book. I might rank Song of Kali above The Terror or at least very close. Flashback made me angry with the author.
I don't think the Hyperion books are as good as everyone says they are ... I just don't see it personally. The pace, the character dialogue, the evolution of the characters is all very mid.
Did not like Song of Kali why because as an indian it was a blatant lie of his description about kolkata and second about goddess Kali, she is a kind goddess not some demonic malevolent being. Quite xenophobic
Those people seem to take issue with his personal political opinions but from what I understand the book is not a political statement, it’s just a story that surrounds the main narrative and the themes he’s trying to get across. I could be wrong though, maybe Simmons really is an extreme right wing nut like they say.
