Since the publication of Song of Kali in 1985, Dan Simmons has produced a substantial body of fiction notable for its vigor, variety, and sheer ima...
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Mar 08, 2011
Kae
rated it: 
Far future, Otherworldly, when humans are pawns of other entities. A traveling Shakespearean troupe encounters more than they ever expected as their renditions of the Bard's various plays launch a new era. Wilbr tells the story (first person) and he becomes a critical player in the denouement. Excellent interweaving of the ancient plays with the incredible reality of their lives. Furthered my appreciation of Shakespeare. I first borrowed this book at my Public Library, but have since bought it.
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Apr 22, 2011
± Colleen of the Crawling Chaos ±
rated it: 
2.5
A decent story, and I liked the twist at the end. I thought it was kind of funny and interesting how Shakespeare is held as the bastion if civilization, and one of the only things held-over in this vision of the future, but I especially liked the bit at the about having to learn new poets.
The philosophy was interesting, as were the descriptions of the bard's plays, but both went on a bit too much.
Ultimately, though, I never really connected with it on any More...
A decent story, and I liked the twist at the end. I thought it was kind of funny and interesting how Shakespeare is held as the bastion if civilization, and one of the only things held-over in this vision of the future, but I especially liked the bit at the about having to learn new poets.
The philosophy was interesting, as were the descriptions of the bard's plays, but both went on a bit too much.
Ultimately, though, I never really connected with it on any More...
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Feb 18, 2011
MB
rated it: 
Finished reading Muse of Fire (2007) by Dan Simmons the other day. Good book, but that’s what I expect from Simmons. Muse of Fire is a novella that Subterranean Press decided to publish as a book, a trend I’m not sure I like. Muse of Fire was really good and I don’t think publishing it with other short fiction would have improved it any. But it’s kind of expensive…
Muse of Fire is science fiction of the distant future kind. The main characters are a troupe of Shakespearean actors, tra More...
Muse of Fire is science fiction of the distant future kind. The main characters are a troupe of Shakespearean actors, tra More...
Nov 04, 2009
Alan
rated it:
The packaging is quite nice, with rich, creamy pages and a running head in a contrasting color. The content is a little less pleasing, though. This book is described as a novella, which may even be technically correct, but it felt more lightweight to me than that, no more than a long short story. I made short work of it, anyway, reading the book over the course of one sluggish Saturday afternoon.
The gist of the plot is simple to describe as well: what if Shakespeare's plays were all More...
The gist of the plot is simple to describe as well: what if Shakespeare's plays were all More...
Apr 24, 2009
Jessica
rated it:
Reading Dan Simmons is always interesting - he loves to just drop you into the world that he has created for the story, and you have to read carefully so as to not miss any clues about what is going on. This book is no different. It is narrated by Wilbr, a 20 SEY old man (what is SEY, you ask? not sure, Simmons hardly ever outright explains things like that - if I had been less sleepy, I'm sure I would have figured it out) who is a member of a traveling Shakespeare troupe. They travel the galaxy
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Feb 02, 2009
Andreas
rated it:
A theater group is traveling between the planets and performs Shakespeare plays in front of humans. It's a dark and disturbing future where men have to work as slaves and servants for a superior alien race.
(A word of warning: if you don't like Shakespeare forget about reading this novella.)
I greatly enjoyed reading the book. It's one of the examples that justify why Science Fiction is a unique genre and deserves attention. Dan Simmons takes a great writer of the past (Sha More...
(A word of warning: if you don't like Shakespeare forget about reading this novella.)
I greatly enjoyed reading the book. It's one of the examples that justify why Science Fiction is a unique genre and deserves attention. Dan Simmons takes a great writer of the past (Sha More...
Feb 13, 2010
Shendara
rated it:
Muse of Fire takes place in a remote future age in which the human enterprise has all but ground to a halt. Earth, drained of its oceans and populated largely by the dead, is little more than a distand memory. The scattered human remnants occupy the lowest rung of a Gnostic hierarchy that dominates both their secular and spiritual lives. Against this backdrop, Simmons introduces the Earth's Men, a wandering troupe of players dedicated to presenting the works of Shakespeare to every accessible c
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Jun 21, 2009
Terence
rated it: 
In an indeterminate future humans are the slaves ("doles" and "arbeiters") of a hierarchy of aliens - archons, poimen, demiurgos and Abraxas - and the Earth's Men tour the galaxy performing Shakespeare. Beyond a nice, well written novella that incorporates the Bard's work (primarily "King Lear," "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet") and celebrates his genius, it also says that Shakespeare is just the beginning of exploring what it means to be human. A
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Jul 20, 2009
Sandi
rated it:
What a fabulous little novella! I just totally fell in love with this story of a far-future troupe of Shakespearean actors traveling from planet to planet performing the Bard's plays for scattered human slaves on inhospitable mining planets. In this future universe, Shakespeare is the only remnant of human culture left. The troupe catches the attention of some higher life-forms and is called to a command performance. You'll just have to read the story to find out what happens next.
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Sep 27, 2009
Marsha
rated it:
I give this novella 5 stars for the idea but 3 stars for its execution.
The story is set in a future where humanity has been subjegated and dispersed among farflung habitable planets. Initially saved from extinction because aliens found a voice of merit in the works of William Shakespeare, a roving troop of actors is selected to perform his plays in front of hierarchical aliens as a test for mankind's continued existance.
As a long time fan of Dan Simmons, I was disappoint More...
The story is set in a future where humanity has been subjegated and dispersed among farflung habitable planets. Initially saved from extinction because aliens found a voice of merit in the works of William Shakespeare, a roving troop of actors is selected to perform his plays in front of hierarchical aliens as a test for mankind's continued existance.
As a long time fan of Dan Simmons, I was disappoint More...
May 12, 2010
leon
rated it:
synopsis: Muse of Fire, an adult sci fi book telling bout the story of aliens living life for a new generation oh 'human beings'. Even though they are aliens, their goal in life is to play in a famous play( ex. hamlet.) The life of this civilization is basically aliens living human lives; their goal or journey in life is growing up as actors.
classification-
Audience: for ages 13+
Purpose: telling a story of life from a different point of view; what can happen in the future More...
classification-
Audience: for ages 13+
Purpose: telling a story of life from a different point of view; what can happen in the future More...
Feb 01, 2009
Steve
rated it:
It's the far-future, and humanity has been made a race of slaves to several alien species. A Shakespeare troupe which tours the galaxy preserves one of the last remnants of human culture.
Not fully realized and lazily executed, but it has some ideas. It also pulls off a decent crowd-pleasing ending. I got the impression Simmons couldn't let this idea go but also decided he couldn't devote much time away from his major novels. Ultimately, this is silly but mildly enjoyable. A very quick
Not fully realized and lazily executed, but it has some ideas. It also pulls off a decent crowd-pleasing ending. I got the impression Simmons couldn't let this idea go but also decided he couldn't devote much time away from his major novels. Ultimately, this is silly but mildly enjoyable. A very quick
Jun 06, 2011
Gregory
rated it:
Since I've been nuancing these star ratings, I'll say that this is a weak five, but still definitely a five. He does an amazing job with Shakespeare, he almost makes me want to like Shakespeare, like Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead level of like/love Shakespeare (or at least read more, because I have to admit that he is pretty darn good). The Shakespeare parts of Olympos/Ilium were among my favorite parts of that series. But this book pretty much existed within a Shakespeare/huge alien sp
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Feb 21, 2010
Eva
rated it:
Reading Muse of Fire by Dan Simmons is a glimpse behind the scenes of a horrid future, and backstage of the workings of the universe. Dystopian novels of a world undone compel me to read them; a story of a whole metaverse gone haywire was irresistible.Muse of Fire... (more at my blog)
Apr 15, 2009
Diana
rated it:
Humans now rank as the lowest species on the universal hierarchy. A traveling band of human actors journey from colony to colony performing the only authorized human works allowed - Shakespeare. When their alien overlords take notice, the actors must perform as if their lives counted on it...for the fate of humanity may be on the line.
Sep 26, 2011
Alexandra
rated it:
I knew almost as soon as I started this that I'd already read it, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this short and sparkling story, and I finished reading it in an afternoon. It starts extraordinarily drearily, making one wonder how on earth a happy resolution could ever be reached, but after a few twists and turns becomes a lovely "coming of age for the human race". Definitely worth the read.
Jun 27, 2011
Jon
rated it:
I was expecting a Simmons style, dense and prolonged story, but this is a very short novella. Maybe my expectation biased me, but I thought the idea was OK, but I never felt a connection with the characters and the basic premise and plot were really interesting as a concept and pretty flimsy in execution.
Dec 29, 2011
Brooks
rated it:
Quick read. Kind of a love letter to Shakespeare, I like the concept, but that's all there really is in this short book - an interesting universe, with some interesting concepts.
Oct 20, 2010
Jeff
rated it:
A short science fiction novella about an acting troupe in the future who are forced to perform Shakespeare for advanced alien cultures. A strange, but fun and quick read.
Jun 10, 2009
kvon
rated it:
Very short (novella?), Shakespeare performances for aliens, future alternate religions, humanity as slaves. Nice overview of the Big Four of Shakespeare.
Apr 01, 2009
Ray
rated it:
Really a novella - a ripoff as a stand-alone book for the price.
Usual Simmons though, so it's good. Especially for Shakespeare fans.
Usual Simmons though, so it's good. Especially for Shakespeare fans.
May 24, 2009
Mark
rated it:
I think you need to be a knowledgeable Shakespeare lover to really get the most out of this book. Enjoyed it, but felt like an outsider.
May 28, 2009
John
rated it:
A marvelous little book in which the entire fate of mankind rests in the hands of a wandering troupe of Shakespearian players.
Dec 28, 2011
Bayneeta
rated it:
A short, fast read. A group of earthlings perform Shakespeare to various levels of aliens who now rule the universe.
Dec 01, 2011
Don
rated it:
A nice novella in which the future of the mankind lies with the talents of a Shakespearean troupe of actors. I didn't know it was a novella until I picked it off the library shelf, so that was sort of disappointing that it wasn't full length, but I think it would have gotten tedious as a full-length novel.
Jan 29, 2009
Sadly I have tossed this one on the coulda shoulda shelf. When you try to read it 3 days in a row, and get about 20 pages in, and don't know/care what it going on...well, life's too short.
Feb 08, 2009
Brian
rated it:
semi interesting short story about shakespearan troupe performing for various alien races. feels like simmons has done this type of thing better before as far as world building, sci-fi, and shakespeare. still, interesting enough on the surface...
Aug 08, 2011
Excellent novella by one of my favorite writers. Shakespeare saves mankind...
Jan 15, 2011
Boris
rated it:
Short and sweet, quintessential Simmons, combining the new with the old.
Oct 26, 2011
Ken
rated it:
What a setting! Shakespearean plays performed to higher intelligences to determine the fate of humanity. The plot is not as silly as it sounds.
Didnot like it at first, but kept thinking about it long thereafter.
Didnot like it at first, but kept thinking about it long thereafter.
