Author Dan Simmons, best known for the epic sci-fi novel [1]Hyperion and its sequels, [2]has died at 77 following a stroke . Ars Technica's Eric Berger remembers Simmons, writing:

> Simmons, who worked in elementary education before becoming an author in the 1980s, produced a broad portfolio of writing that spanned several genres, including horror fiction, historical fiction, and science fiction. Often, his books included elements of all of these. This [3]obituary will focus on what is generally considered his greatest work, and what I believe is possibly the greatest science fiction novel of all time, Hyperion.

>

> Published in 1989, Hyperion is set in a far-flung future in which human settlement spans hundreds of planets. The novel feels both familiar, in that its structure follows Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and utterly unfamiliar in its strange, far-flung setting.

Simmons' Hyperion [4]appeared in an Ask Slashdot story back in 2008, when Slashdot reader willyhill asked for tips on how Slashdotters track down great sci-fi. If you're in the mood for a little nostalgia, or just want to browse the thread for book recommendations, it's well worth revisiting.



[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_(Simmons_novel)

[2] https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/02/hyperion-author-dan-simmons-dies-from-stroke-at-77/

[3] https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/longmont-co/daniel-simmons-12758871

[4] https://slashdot.org/story/08/05/16/0428232/decent-book-clubs-for-sci-fi-fans