1948 – 2026

Dan Simmons

American novelist (1948–2026)

science fiction writerspeculative fiction authornovelistpedagoguewriter

Born

1948-04-04, Peoria

Died

2026-02-21

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Daniel Joseph Simmons was an American science fiction and horror writer. He was the author of the Hyperion Cantos and the Ilium/Olympos cycles, among other works that span the science fiction, horror, and fantasy genres, sometimes within a single novel. Simmons's genre-intermingling Song of Kali (1985) won the World Fantasy Award. He also wrote mysteries and thrillers, some of which feature the continuing character Joe Kurtz.

Occupation

Dan Simmons is recorded as a science fiction writer, a speculative fiction author, a novelist, a pedagogue and a writer, born in Illinois (1948–2026).

Connections to Illinois

Dan Simmons was born in Peoria, Illinois in 1948. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Overview

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The Land

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Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

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president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

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Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Dan Simmons

Who was Dan Simmons?

Dan Simmons was American novelist (1948–2026), born in Illinois (1948 – 2026).

When and where was Dan Simmons born?

Dan Simmons was born on 1948-04-04 in Peoria.

When did Dan Simmons die?

Dan died on 2026-02-21.

What was Dan Simmons known for?

Dan Simmons is recorded as a science fiction writer, a speculative fiction author, a novelist, a pedagogue and a writer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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