It was announced yesterday that Daniel Simmons died on February 21st from complications of a stroke. Mr. Simmons was 77.
Dan Simmons began his career in education. Mr. Simmons received a B.A. in English from Wabash College and a Masters Degree in Education from Washington University in St. Louis. While teaching, Dan Simmons began submitting short stories.
His first published story, “The River Styx Runs Upstream,” won the Rod Serling Memorial Award. This got Dan Simmons an agent. His first novel, SONG OF KALI followed. It won the World Fantasy Award. His first horror novel, CARRION COMFORT, won the Bram Stoker Award. His first science fiction novel, HYPERION, won the Hugo Award.
Someone who writes in a lot of different genres, could be the sign of an artist looking for his voice. In Mr. Simmons’ case, it was a talent who refused to be constrained.
Even with all the awards Dan Simmons won, I was only vaguely familiar with his work. I don’t read fantasy, and very little science fiction or horror. But I do love a hardboiled thriller! You know, the kind written by Andrew Vachss, or Eugene Izzi, Stephen Hunter, or Richard Stark. And that is how I came to love Dan Simmons’ writing.
Mr. Simmons wrote three novels about Joe Kurtz –
Joe Kurtz was a PI… before he was an ex-con. See he killed a man, a couple of men actually. They’d murdered his girl and unborn child. While it’s pretty reasonable to me that he threw one of ’em off a six story building, the jury didn’t see it that way.
Now, out of prison after eleven-and-a-half years…
…you’d think things would be looking up for Kurtz. You’d be wrong. Too many people want him dead…
I loved the Kurtz novels and they led me to others written by Mr. Simmons. I enjoyed every one of them. Even in the genres I generally avoided. In fact, I still have a few Dan Simmons novels on my “to be read” shelf. I’m going to have to move them up on the list. Dan Simmons was a master storyteller. He was able to write compelling tales in every genre he attempted. How many writers can say that?
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Daniel Simmon’s family, friends and fans.
