Ilium
I just finished one of the best science fiction books I’ve read in a long time, reminding me what an incredible author Dan Simmons is. Ilium is one of those books you can’t put down yet hate turning each page because it takes you closer to the end (but, luckily, there is a sequel — Olympus). It’s an intelligently written book set in the future and the past with characters from Homer’s Iliad and Shakespeare’s The Tempest. If you’re familiar with either of those works, you’ll probably enjoy the book more than I did (being semi-literate, I haven’t read Homer or much Shakespeare 
). Simmons also keeps three parallel threads going through the novel — a technique that I particularly like.
I first read Dan Simmons’ Phases of Gravity about an ex-astronaut struggling for meaning in his life ever since walking on the moon. I barely remember it, but now I want to read it again.
September 19th, 2006 at 5:13 am
It is very good that you are reading such books. I am fond of Russian literature and French one. if you permit me,I would recommend you some books,that wotrh reading. Universal classics: Dostoevsky- “IDIOT”, “Holdover (or player), in Russian “IGROK”, Emile Zola – “Germinale”, “Ladies’ Happiness”, and American Washington Irving “The Adventure of Columbus”. These are some books that are hardly found, but if you do, you’ll read it with great pleasure. Good luck!
November 18th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
I think we talked about Illium which I also enjoyed. I read a Dan Simmons I didn’t like but don’t remember the title. However, the internet is a great resource for those of us with lousy memories, from Amazon’s listing of his books I realize that it was Hyperion. I’ll give Phases of Gravity a try once I’m back in an English speaking country.
I don’t think I’ve read Olympus yet either and will have forgotten most of Illiad by then. Maybe I should try reading Tempest in between since Shakespeare is definitely available here in Shanghai. But I didn’t find knowing the Illiad contributed that much to my enjoyment of the Illium.
November 18th, 2006 at 11:51 pm
I just read Hyperion, having forgotten most of it since my first reading. I really enjoyed it again — especially the story about Rachel, the poor woman who ages backwards, forgetting memories each day. I’m definitely in a better spot this time around to sympathize with the anguish of her father. Simmons is masterful with that sub-plot.
I don’t think knowledge of the Shakespeare really helps with those books. However, if that’s all you can find in China, I’m sure it’s good for you to read the classics again.