Olympos by Dan Simmons Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Olympos
Book Review: Good book, Bad vendor
Summary: 3 Stars
So far this book is a good read. It is the second in the series of 2, the first being 'Illium' by the same author.
However the book that I received was in terrible condition. I will not buy from that vendor again.
Book Review: Good, intelligent, fun.
Summary: 5 Stars
I admit, right off the bat, that I didn't understand all the science, but, that doesn't mean I couldn't follow the path that that science takes the reader. I am quite familiar with the mythologies, and also familiar with the 'hard' SF aspects of the book, but got lost a time or two with a lot of the extreme detail. I also am very familiar with Shakespeare, but no scholer of his work. And I have never even read Proust, to my knowledge. That being said, I thought the whole two-volume epic was terrific. What a great concept, and Olympos was every bit as much a page turner for me as was Ilium. Even more, in a way, as in Olympos, all the 'friends' and plot details are brought together for me in the great and grand finale. As did many of your reviewers, I felt that the two moravecs were frequently the most interesting as that whole concept of robotic/biologic creatures being DNA-impressed to be interested in humankind strikes be as great fun. But, all the characters grabbed me one way or the other. I bought Ilium in paperback, but decided to get Olypmos from the library. As soon as it comes out in paperback, I'll add it to my collection. No, these books weren't, for me, a fast read, but they were a mentally exercising, engrossing, stimulating reading and escapist experience. (And if someone doesn't understand the poetry, the science, or the history, then don't ignore the books...use them as a learning experience.) And if all questions weren't answered, well, isn't that the real lesson of life?Book Review: Great series, good book
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a conclusion to one of the best SF series ever written. That being said, the second book is the weaker of the two. It somehow wraps up one of the most complex plot lines ever imagined and its magnificence is that it leaves very few sub plots roaming free.
The Harmon plot line meanders somewhat and I found myself bored and rushing through his chapters.
Ada was great, Mahnmut was good, Hockkenberry was magnificent and Achilles was superb. I was somewhat confused by Sycorax and Odyssius. I feel that fortcoming books will explain this better. Hopefully in those novels The Quiet will reveal Himself as well as Caliban and Setebos finally getting what the deserve.
All in all this was a 4 star book (only flaw is it was too long at times) but taken as a whole the series is 5 stars (because the first book was 6 stars in my opinion).
Book Review: Great start sagging end
Summary: 3 Stars
The first book was very ambitious with great potential and plot threads set against the the proverbial foundations of western lit., Homer and shakespear no less. Unfortunately the character developement stagnates in the second book (Olympos) and the mythic scale becomes a towering fasad rather than a rich background to human drama. Kind of like a star trek two parter were the answeres are usually not near as interesting as you imagine between episodes. Come on Dan, didn't you learn anything from "visiting" Burning Man. Safe is boring.Book Review: He does it again, big let down int the finale.
Summary: 2 Stars
I was a big Simmons fan from reading the Hyperion set of books and like Hyperion, the first book is the best. Illium starts slow then rampages on the premise that people are re-fighting the trojan war only "post human" beings are the Greek Gods. Nano-technology, quantum mechanics and a fairly good retelling of the Illid make this book are rip roaring good read.
When I read it, I could not wait for the sequal Olympos and it became the first book I ever pre-ordered on Amazon.
Well as good as Illium is, Olympos is pondering, covers old ground and is only interesting for people who have a high personal satisfaction from completion (me included) who have to read both books.
What is really disappointing about Olympos is that Simmons rehashs much of his prior work like Carrion Comfort and the Hyperion series. Simmons did this with Hyperion -- great first book, one of the top ten in Sci Fi -- but the story wanders, looses focus and drifts.
If you are a Simmons fan and have read the Hyperion series then you know much of the ending and much of the context of Olympos.
So read Illium if you are looking for a good tale and be prepared to be left hanging. Read the two of them if you have not read any of Simmons work before or you want an average experience -- great at the start then ending with a "haven't I read this before" feeling.