Ilium (novel)
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A novel by Dan Simmons that concerns the re-creation of the Iliad (possibly on an alternate-universe Earth) by post-humans who dwell on the Olympus Mons volcano on a future Mars, and who have taken on the roles of the Greek Gods. Like his earlier series, the Hyperion Cantos, Ilium is a form of 'literary' science fiction which relies heavily on intertext: in this case with Homer and Shakespeare.
Ilium is also thematically influenced by extropianism, as it is peopled with 'post-humans' of the far future. It thus continues a further exploration of the theme pioneered by H. G. Wells in The Time Machine.
As with most of his science fiction and in particular with one his previous novels, the Hugo award-winning Hyperion, Simmons shows here that he is an artist of the tradition of soft science fiction and its masters like Bradbury and LeGuin. Ilium is based on a very solid literary approach like that of most of Ray Bradbury's work, but it goes farther in terms of describing larger segments of society and broad historical events. As in the Hainish series of Ursula K. Le Guin Simmons paints the action of Ilium on a vast and complex universe made of relatively plausible technological and scientific elements. Yet, Ilium is different from any of the works of Bradbury and LeGuin, by its exploration of the very far future of Humanity, and the extra human or post human themes associated with this. In recent times only the works of Vernor Vinge and a few others come close, looking specifically at the notion of a technological singularity where humanity veers sharply off its traditional path, through technological means.
It was first published in New York by Eos in 2003 with ISBN 0380978938.
A sequel, entitled Olympos is slated for release in July, 2005.