# Ilium by Dan Simmons

8 Hacker News commenters recommended Ilium by Dan Simmons and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as a gripping, hard-to-put-down science fiction novel, and fans of Simmons' Hyperion books say they enjoyed it too.

## Why people recommend it

- Gripping, hard-to-put-down read (2 comments): "Ilium by Dan Simmons was an exceptionally good read, if you're looking for another review." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49130081)) "Ilium was my first Simmons & I was glued to it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47198349))
- Appeals to Hyperion fans (2 comments): "then it is highly likely one would also enjoy the Ilium books." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47184770)) "I loved Hyperion cantos, Illium" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47186418))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir](https://hackerapproved.com/p/project-hail-mary.md): 117 recommend
- [There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm](https://hackerapproved.com/p/there-is-no-antimemetics-division.md): 98 recommend
- [Blindsight by Peter Watts](https://hackerapproved.com/p/blindsight.md): 96 recommend
- [Dune by Frank Herbert](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dune.md): 82 recommend
- [Accelerando by Charles Stross](https://hackerapproved.com/p/accelerando.md): 71 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1857983289?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9781857983289) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Ilium by Dan Simmons", https://hackerapproved.com/p/ilium/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).