u/BaroqueCycle

I am reading *1776* by McCullough now and learning more about some of the key battles during that early year of the American Revolution. My general sense is that even by 1775, Parliament was split whether to fight or withdraw. However, the Colonies had a much more unified will to repulse British sovereignty at any cost.

Some key battles went to the British - Bunker Hill (technically), Long Island, etc. Other battles swung the needle back in favor of the Colonies. Despite this back-and-forth, would any additional victories for the British actually have completely overwhelmed the drive for American independence?

In other words, was it only a matter of time for an American victory, with any setbacks due to British victory in battle being temporary?

Alternatively, do you think there was a pivotal battle that could have completely exhausted the independence movement had it instead been won by the British?

If we could bring back a full Johnny Keats (er, I mean Dan Simmons) cybrid to write one more tale in the world of Hyperion, I would love a prequel story covering the history of the TechnoCore:

• Creation of the TechnoCore

• Schism into the Volatiles, Ultimates, and Stables

• Secession / Hegira

• Final events leading to the Hyperion crisis

Generally a prequel sounds like a surefire way to kill some of the intrigue and mystery that serves as a backdrop to the main series, but in this case the events are almost spelled out in Book 1 - primarily in the Detective's tale. I think it would be very entertaining to see how it played out in real time.

Endymion/RoE potential spoilers: >! I know Books 3 and 4 expand on this history as well, but it still feels "after the fact" (because it is). There would be something special about Simmons fleshing this out into a novel. !<

Do you have any thoughts, on this or any other unexplored areas of the lore that would have made a good novel? (Prequel, sequel, or anything)