CRYPTONECROLOGY: Dan Simmons, R.I.P. (1948-2026)

On February 21, 2026, in Longmont, Colorado, Dan Simmons passed away. Simmons was the author of CARRION COMFORT (1989), HYPERION (1989), PRAYERS TO BROKEN STONES (1990), LOVEDEATH (1993), THE TERROR (2007), DROOD (2009), THE ABOMINABLE (2013), and the forthcoming OMEGA CANYON, among many other books. He also contributed the most memorable story ("The Final Pogrom") to Harlan Ellison's recently published anthology, THE LAST DANGEROUS VISIONS (2024). What follows is a brief excerpt from Sian Cain's 3-1-26 GUARDIAN obit entitled "Dan Simmons, Author of Hyperion and The Terror, Dies Aged 77":

The author was best known for Hyperion, his 1989 science fiction novel that won the prestigious Hugo award for best novel and a Locus award; Simmons later wrote three sequels.

Over his career he also won two World Fantasy awards, a dozen Locus awards, the Shirley Jackson award, and several Bram Stoker awards, while his 2007 novel The Terror, a fictionalised imagining of what happened on the doomed Franklin expedition, was adapted into an acclaimed television series in 2018.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1948, Simmons grew up in Illinois and Indiana. He worked as an elementary school teacher for 18 years, in Missouri, New York and Colorado, where he was once finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year.

“Every day after lunch, Dan told his students a daily installment of an epic tale that started on the first day of school,” his obituary reads. “As they listened, the students would color illustrations that he’d drawn for them. When the story finally came to an end on the last day of school, many recall being reduced to tears. This story would go on to become Dan’s Hyperion Cantos.”

To read Cain's entire article, click HERE. 

You can hear Dan Simmons being interviewed by his mentor, Harlan Ellison, during the 11-7-86 episode of MIKE HODEL'S HOUR 25 less than a week after he took home the World Fantasy Award for SONG OF KALI, the first debut novel to win the award. If you want to listen to the entire interview, click HERE.