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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
The beginning was hard with all the characters from the Illiad. It really accelerates at 3/4 of the book and I can't stop by that time.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
One of the craziest Sci-fi books I ever read. A sci-fi book with Greek gods, The Trojan War, sentient AI, androids, extensive analysis of Shakespeare and Prust, Elder Gods, cosmic horror and I could go on... Some parts I could go without (I was really bored with the Shakespeare and Prust discussions that went on and on and maybe Simmons doesn't have to tell us about a hundred characters from the Illiad) but overall, this book flew by. Very unique story and highly recommended.
God, this author is fucking thirsty.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A book that feels uneven in pace due to its subplots and characters, but so grand in scope it truly shouldn't work. Yet, it does and it's a wild ride all the way through. Character-driven in the best way--they don't write them like this anymore.
I'm "all in" on any tale that connects quantum physics, collapsing wave functions, classic Greek Mythology and Shakespeare.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It took a long time to pick up but once it did it was very exciting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence
Kind of slow starting (its almost 700 pages, if I remember) but when it does, WHEW!
I can't help it, I'm a sucker for Greek/Roman mythology and I'll admit the finer points of the "Illiad" have eluded me (I'm more of a fan of "The Odyssey" myself) but I liked the angle it went about it. Plus robots! And Mars!
I can't help it, I'm a sucker for Greek/Roman mythology and I'll admit the finer points of the "Illiad" have eluded me (I'm more of a fan of "The Odyssey" myself) but I liked the angle it went about it. Plus robots! And Mars!
Dan Simmons' expansive, imaginative novel Ilium is not the kind of book I'd usually go for. I picked it up on a recommendation from a friend and was really drawn into the incredibly creative world Simmons built in the book, including a reinactment of the Trojan War on Mars; future humans who have forgotten their ancestors' history and way of life, and "moravec" robots from Jupiter on a deadly mission, who keep each other company by debating Proust and Shakespeare.
At times the cast of characters and events gets so huge, especially during the Trojan War scenes, that you think you're going to lose track of what's happening, but Simmons has a way of wrapping everything up in one simple sentence before that happens.
In the end, Ilium has enough depth of thought and concept to keep a history and/or literature enthusiast intrigued, but also enough action to keep any reader from getting bored.
The only thing I found lacking was an overall political or philosophical message or important statement for the reader, beyond the idea that we should value our history and always strive for knowledge and new experiences. My favourite kind of sci-fi novels are those that challenge the reader to consider their own world differently, and I don't think Ilium really does. But it's definitely a good read anyway.
At times the cast of characters and events gets so huge, especially during the Trojan War scenes, that you think you're going to lose track of what's happening, but Simmons has a way of wrapping everything up in one simple sentence before that happens.
In the end, Ilium has enough depth of thought and concept to keep a history and/or literature enthusiast intrigued, but also enough action to keep any reader from getting bored.
The only thing I found lacking was an overall political or philosophical message or important statement for the reader, beyond the idea that we should value our history and always strive for knowledge and new experiences. My favourite kind of sci-fi novels are those that challenge the reader to consider their own world differently, and I don't think Ilium really does. But it's definitely a good read anyway.