Author of The Road to the Dark Tower, Stephen King: A Complete Exploration of His Work, Life, and Influences and The Dark Tower Companion. Co-editor with Stephen King of the anthology Flight or Fright.
He's posted about Omega Canyon sporadically on his forum. I think a fall while hiking and health issues have slowed him down.
Just finished The Fifth Heart and loved it.
Yes, it's a bit slow in parts and yes, you do question the relevance of some of the detail he gets into, but if you accept that this is just the way the guy writes his stories, you can really enjoy the read.
Onwards to Carrion Comfort.
Well, this is... something. Was looking forward to finally getting The Terror, my first Dam Simmons book, when this happened:
http://forum.dansimmons.com/ubbthrea...436#Post168436
Dan S. comments:
In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, Thursday's two testimonies and appearances before the Committee seem years and years away. How many more pathetic women, like Ford and Ms. Rodriguez, will come forward in the next two days with tales of sexual abuse that lack even the simplest corroborating evidence in service to the #Resistance, where ends always justify the means. Means such as perjury and intentionally smearing someone in the deliberate effort to destroy a man's life, profession and reputation through lies rather than allow another conservative justice to sit on the Supreme Court.
Joe McCarthy and his fascist tribunal of the House Un-American Activities Committee in the early 1950's never descended as far into infamy as Dianne Feinstein and the other Democrats have in their desperate and profoundly immoral 11th-hour attempt to derail Judge Cavanaugh. This political party owes not only Cavanaugh but every American a groveling apology.
Edited by Dan Simmons (Yesterday at 03:44 AM)
WELL - if your gonna write an alt right diatribe at least spell the asshole's name right - Kavanaugh.
Looking for FAB8 CD Number 439
You only have to read the novel Flashback (which i just finished) to know that Simmons has a very right-way political leaning.
I don't agree with the man's politics, but I'm enjoying reading his books.
A long time ago, I made the decision to separate the art from the artist. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy: Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Motörhead, Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, Led Zeppelin, Cat Stevens, etc etc, so on and so forth..
For the most part, I agree with that. I can't ever watch another episode of The Cosby Show though. Also, I do think there is a line that is drawn sometimes. When an author or an artist crosses the line into being an actual political activist such as Orson Scott Card. He joined committees that actively tried to pass legislation that would hurt me and the people I love. He became a political activist and once that line is crossed, to me, that person's art is no longer for everyone. You are blatantly attacking and adversely affecting the lives of people that might have otherwise enjoyed your work.
I will support Simmons if he is against socialism. I think he may be.
I don't give a flying F about Simmons' political views. This is about Simmons normalizing rape by discounting the word of a possible rape survivor vs some man's word. That's a pretty shitty default go-to for old male Republicans: a man's word is of more value than a woman's. A single image cartoon from a newspaper illustrated this best: an older guy's reading his papers and says, "Boys will be boys." His daughter replies, "What if it was me."
Simmons' response is precisely the reason more women don't come out. Shame on him because as an intelligent man that he is, he should know better.
I don't believe I ever told you not to talk about anything. I was curious about how my reply to peripheral's post produced your reply. You've talked at great length about your displeasure with the ACA, it is quite well known at this point. I did not vote for Obama either time. Why ask me about it?
Gang of three looking to bully down someone. Got it.
I have a big problem with Simmons' views, and part of me is dismayed that an author whose work I love so much holds them.
But so long as his books don't become manifestos for those views, and they continue to be books I enjoy reading, I'll continue to buy them. After I give my money to Simmons in exchange for the book he's provided, what he does with it is up to him.
There's a limit to that though; if Simmons was personally guilty of something reprehensible, I'd have to reconsider my position.
HBJ
“If you don't know what you want," the doorman said, "you end up with a lot you don't.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
Looking for SubPress Lettered::
Angel's Game and Prisoner of Heaven (Zafon)
Ilium (Simmons)
My suggestion is to buy (if you wish to put money in his pocket) and read/enjoy Simmon's books. His earliest works didn't get too deep in contemporary politics, but some of his latest works are right wing, xenophobic.
It’s easy. If you don’t support the author on a personal level (i.e. don’t want to put money in his/her pocket that will only further his/her personal causes), buy his/her books used. Or download them illegally.
On another note, this is why discussing politics is never a good idea in settings that aren’t dedicated to such discussions. It’s just too easy to interpret comments as being personal and too slippery a slope to getting nasty. Not saying anyone got personal or nasty here but we still lost a good member over this.
Looking for Mister Slaughter S/L #78
I buy the paperbacks at the local library book sale for 25¢.
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I agree that politics is best discussed in the proper place. We do have a thread for that.
However, we didn't lose him over this IMHO.
I've had many discussions with Tim regarding politics in the appropriate thread. We always argue for a while and then agree that we mostly agree. He always leans more toward the individual and I always lean more toward the collective. I doubt that one discussion that became political would send him packing.
I think he's dealing with multiple stressors. I hope he's able to deal with them and comes to a place of peace.
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."