I meant to write about this yesterday (and earlier today too) but for whatever reason have been delayed till now.
I finished Dan Simmons’ novel Ilium on Sunday and yesterday took out the sequal Olympus. I am already about a hundred pages into the new book, that is how much I am enjoying it.
I don’t really want to say much about Ilium so as not to give anything away to somebody who may want to read it. What I will say is that I liked it very much, it was one of the best science fiction books I’ve read in the past year or so.
There is something about both Ilium and Olympus that reminds me a lot of Tad Williams’ novels like the Otherland Series. Nothing really about the story or plot (except maybe the literary references and the idea of modern people involved in historical/fictitious events) in Ilium and Olympus is that similar to the Otherland Series but more it is the vastness and epic qualities of these books that make draw a sense of similarity. Ilium (and so far Olympus)has a lot of characters and subplots going on throughout the story. many of the characters are not even aware of each other even though choices they make may effect one another in some way. The book is long and a whole hell of a lot of stuff goes on throughout which at times might seem a bit confusing but personally it is what I find enjoyable about it because eventually you begin to see how things are pulling together. I had to take out Olympus right away just so I can find out how the whole story will conclude.
Good good times. I highly recommend these books to anybody who likes science fiction, great literary references, and overall good reads.
