posted
I didn't like the way the endings became predictable (no, there won't be any spoilers, Postman). After reading four books you begin to see kind of a pattern.
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I never read beyond the first book (because I'd heard negative statements) but thought the first was great. I primarily liked the political aspects.
Posts: 2926 | Registered: Sep 2005
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I knew Herbert would never be able to get past the sixth book. It may actually have done him in.
Note the pattern:
Dune (one word) Dune Messiah (two words) Children of Dune (three words) God Emperor of Dune (four words) Heretics of Dune (three words) Chapterhouse: Dune (two words)
The seventh book would have had to have been a single word, and needed to contain the word "Dune". Since he'd already used that title, there was no way out.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I just realized last night that OSC's recent reasons (reasons that have been given in recent stories) for the oppressive world government during Ender's Game are pretty much the same as the reasons for Leto II's oppressive government, and they had pretty much the same effects.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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And here I thought this was going to be about the Extended Edition of the original movie that came out yesterday (FYI, rumor has it that if you can avoid buying ones that say "Made in Mexico", it would be advised).
Yes, I've read Dune many times (see original Hatrack Screen name of Feyd Baron). In fact, I'm reading them all again in chronological order. So far I've gotten through the Machine Crusades, suffered through the House series, and have made it halfway into God Emporer of Dune. I'd honestly forgotten how much I enjoyed Children of Dune, so that alone was worth rereading them.
I am, however, fearful of the two sequel books in the works (this is slightly above rumor level info here), by Brian Herbert and KJA. What little I've read of the plot has me shuddering. Think Dune All-Stars... Yes, shudder indeed.
quote:Originally posted by The Pixiest: Out of all of them, I liked Doon the best.
Doon was indeed wonderful. (And this is the first time I've encountered anybody else who even knew it existed.)
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Meh, Doon was okay, but it wasn't all that funny, or at least I didn't find it so when I read it way back when.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Anybody seen the old movies? I'm wonding if they're any good. Or, at least, so bad that I *should* see them..
Posts: 1215 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Old movies... as in David Lynch's version starring Sting, a younger-yet-nearly-identical-looking Patrick Stewart, and a soundtrack by contemporaty band Toto?
Most people will say it is worth seeing, though they may disagree over which of the two reasons you gave.
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quote:Meh, Doon was okay, but it wasn't all that funny, or at least I didn't find it so when I read it way back when.
It works in so many ways... Herbert's use of Hebrew and Arabic is paralleled with Yiddish and Variety-speak; Herbert's ecology is transformed into a consistent ecosystem involving beer and pretzels; and every time one starts to feel that the correspondences are getting a bit too pat, the narrative pivots around and sends up the original, rather than following it. Best fantasy parody ever, surpassing even Bored of the Rings, in my humble opinion.
(The Tough Guide to Fantasyland is more trenchant, but can't really be read straight through.)
Posts: 884 | Registered: Mar 2005
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The 1984 movie is only worth seeing if you've already read the book. OSC has used as an example of how not to adapt novels to movies, and how he doesn't want Ender's Game to be adapted to film.
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So far it seems as if Dune is the only other book able to grab me like the ender series has done.
Posts: 262 | Registered: Jan 2005
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My first exposure to Dune was the 1985 "Smithee" cut that was broadcast on regular commercial television. My father recorded it because we were going to be out one of the evenings, my brother and I completely fell in love with it. Had I not seen the movie, I don't think I could have managed through the first book, and certainly not through the next 5
A couple years ago I found an EBay seller that had the Smithee cut (original studio productions, factory sealed, I checked before ordering) available as an import from Korea or something like that. So I got it for my brother's birthday, knowing he had a code-free, region-free DVD player. I was researching players to buy for myself with part of my tax refund this year so I could get a copy of the same version. And then the EE released!!!
I've watched it 3 times already since bringing it home oh, about 10 days ago. I didn't realize how much grainy image and tape tracking and just general age distortion I'd been filtering out when watching that 20 year old set of VHS tapes...
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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Am I the only person who really enjoyed Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse Dune? I loved reading from the Bene Gesserit perspective. Those of you who skipped the last couple of books or only read Dune are missing out on some really incredible reading.
Admittedly, though, I couldn't read past book 4 when I was younger. God Emperor of Dune was a really hard read for me back when I was a sophomore in high school. It wasn't until I had matured and become better read that I could re-read God Emperor and enjoy the following books.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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quote:I read the first one and really really liked it, which is why I haven't read anymore of them.
...Wins the 'most-ridiculous-thing-I've-heard-today' award.
God Emperor is actually my favorite of all the Dune novels, followed closely by Dune.
Dune is the most sophisticated science fiction series I've ever read. It's such a great series, guys. If you haven't read it, there is a gaping hole in your life and you don't even realize it. And I'm frowning at you sternly. For some reason.
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God Emperor is probably my favorite... it is the lynchpin of the series.
Down with Paul! That traitor to the Empire...
While I understand the need for the Golden Path to save Humanity for the Long Term, they never really said why or how the Human race was going to die out without Paul and his family's intervention. Probably a Foundation Psychohistory thing...the gradual decline of civilizaion or something.
Posts: 4953 | Registered: Jan 2004
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I really enjoyed the entire series (when I read it about 10 years ago).
Despite the fact that it was quite humbling. I could sense things happening but didn't quite get *FULL* comprehension of all that was going on.
Of course, it didn't help that the final volume was never written. Those 2 face dancers at the end of Dune: Chapterhouse? How they were visible to Duncan?
Going to have to do a reread here soon.
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quote:I read the first one and really really liked it, which is why I haven't read anymore of them.
...Wins the 'most-ridiculous-thing-I've-heard-today' award.
I won an award!
I was just going on the recommendation of a few of my friend's who were of the opinion the series became waayyy to complex. I'm actually a fan of a moderate amount of complexities, but from what I've heard it just got kind of ridiculous. But, if you all say that it's great, I might have to take a second look at the rest of the series. Your good deed for the day is done.
Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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At least the next two books. Dune Messiah and Children of Dune are short books and fairly quick reads (as well as being very good and moderately complex).
God Emporer of Dune... Well, you can try the first two chapters and guage your reaction from there. It is a long and complex book, but fleshes out a great deal of the golden path, other memory, and prescience in the Dune universe. I wouldn't say it's the weakest book in the original series (I think Dune Messiah has that honor actually), but it's probably the most controversial in terms of like / dislike.
Posts: 1368 | Registered: Sep 2002
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You guys are responsible for me rereading it. Again. And I find that each book of the series has its appeal. First time I read them I was too young to appreciate the later books, but now I like all of them for different reasons. Dune itself stays the best in terms of action, God Emperor is probably the hardest to read but also one of the most gratifying once you get to its substance, and the last two are a mix of that, with a new, interesting and highly awaited (by me, at least) point of view: that of the Bene Gesserit.
As for the prequels, I've read only the Legends of Dune series, and I had to try really hard in order to finish them. :shrug:
Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Probably a Foundation Psychohistory thing...
Oooh evil you tying in Asimov LOL... my other favorite sci-fi saga.
And yes I have read - and own - all of the sequels AND the prequels. It's been a while since I've done a full cycle re-read, and even on my last round, probably 5 years ago, I remember Chapterhouse being tough to fully comprehend. Course, I was sitting in a lawyer's reception area waiting to be deposed that time, so I was probably too scattered anyway.
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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I think the next two books after Dune aren't as good as Dune, but they retroactively make Dune a better book than it was by itself.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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I'll buy that. The Legends of Dune series however does not benefit from a similar backwards evaluation.
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