Let's make this birthday one to remember.

77 years old (Born on April 04, 1948)

Happy Birthday, Dan Simmons! May your celebrations rival the extravagant escapades from Hyperion—though hopefully without needing to confront any terrifying Shrike. Your storytelling brilliance in blending epic science fiction with classical literature continues to inspire readers worldwide. Here's hoping today outshines even the imaginative voyages of Ilium and Olympos.

As you turn another page (pun thoroughly intended), remember that unlike some literary protagonists, you get happier endings—and plenty more yet unwritten adventures ahead. Keep crafting worlds where Keats shares scenes with androids; characters who ponder deep existential truths between spaceships and Trojan War reenactments—we can't wait for your next universe-hopping masterpiece!