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Dune Genesis (1980)

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Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#11

Post by shabda »

tspiteri wrote: post #4
JonnieCache wrote: post #3

It probably doesn't need to be said here, but if you haven't read Dune, stop what you're doing and read Dune. If like me you enjoyed the idea of LoTR but found the writing irritating, you're going to bloody love Dune. Don't worry too much about the many sequels, they can get a bit too weird. The first book stands alone just fine.

Don't worry too much about the many sequels, they can get a bit too weird. The first book stands alone just fine. True, but if you decide to read the sequels, only read the Frank Herbert sequels. The Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson novels are more like poor fanfiction than sequels.

> The Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson novels are more like poor fanfiction than sequels.

Thank you. I read one book by Brian H. and every chapter filled me with rage, for destroying the magic of one of my most loved books.

One of the most enjoyable things about Dune is that all factions/entities have shades of grey and plans within their plan. The way Brian H. books change them to a linear story and put entities in a black/white divide is infuriating.

Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#13

Post by baxter001 »

Tloewald wrote: post #10
dccoolgai wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just got around to it a couple months ago after 15 years of meaning to read it. It is still an awesome book. Like Game of Thrones in space with a little bit less incest.

More psychic fetuses though.

Time may tell on that one.

Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#14

Post by jameskilton »

walterbell wrote: post #5

There's a good documentary about the Dune movie that was never made, http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jodorowskys-dune-2014 & http://jodorowskysdune.com/trailer.html

Fantastic documentary, but to be fair, Jodorowsky never actually read Dune. The story and message were completely different from Dune the book.

Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#15

Post by trevelyan »

Tloewald wrote: post #9
JonnieCache wrote: post #3

It probably doesn't need to be said here, but if you haven't read Dune, stop what you're doing and read Dune. If like me you enjoyed the idea of LoTR but found the writing irritating, you're going to bloody love Dune. Don't worry too much about the many sequels, they can get a bit too weird. The first book stands alone just fine.

It's been a long time since I read the initial trilogy, and i agree the sequels (including Messiah and Children) were not really worth reading (not so much for weirdness as just not being interesting). It seems, however, that the themes Herbert claims drove the book really only come into play in the sequels. The first book is a standard story of revenge and a good, handsome, plucky underdog overcoming the fat, deform…

Herbert wrote the first book as multiple novellas, serialized for publication by Analog. His later novels are much looser, and clearly didn't benefit from the attention he put into making sure the originals would be accepted by the leading science fiction publisher of the time.

Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#16

Post by alexfisher »

Read all the Dune books through Mentats of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Loved them all! Favorite series ever-- love, politics, philosophy, technology, fantasy. Brilliant.

Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#17

Post by bane »

JonnieCache wrote: post #3

It probably doesn't need to be said here, but if you haven't read Dune, stop what you're doing and read Dune. If like me you enjoyed the idea of LoTR but found the writing irritating, you're going to bloody love Dune. Don't worry too much about the many sequels, they can get a bit too weird. The first book stands alone just fine.

The best part about Dune is that it's really one of those books that reveals different things every time you read it. It should be part of every serious literature course.

Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#18

Post by Amezarak »

ekianjo wrote: post #7
tspiteri wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't worry too much about the many sequels, they can get a bit too weird. The first book stands alone just fine. True, but if you decide to read the sequels, only read the Frank Herbert sequels. The Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson novels are more like poor fanfiction than sequels.

Even the Herbert sequels are not really that good. I'd recommend new readers to stop at Dune to avoid destroying their image of the Universe.

I actually find that God Emperor of Dune was my favorite, not Dune itself. I don't recall whether it was Chapterhouse or Heretics, but the scene with the Bene Gesserit in the cave has stood out in my mind for years.

Really, the writing style is the same, and there's a lot of "idea" content in the sequels, especially God Emperor. I really don't feel the Dune universe is any different - but the events of Dune did change the (known) universe, and thousands of years have passed by the time of Chapterhouse.

I would agree that nobody should touch the Brian Herbert books, though.

Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#19

Post by awjr »

JonnieCache wrote: post #3

It probably doesn't need to be said here, but if you haven't read Dune, stop what you're doing and read Dune. If like me you enjoyed the idea of LoTR but found the writing irritating, you're going to bloody love Dune. Don't worry too much about the many sequels, they can get a bit too weird. The first book stands alone just fine.

Have to agree, Dune is an amazing book and stands well on it's own. One of my favourite ever. Even the film/TV interpretations are pretty good :)

Re: Dune Genesis (1980)

#20

Post by n0body »

tspiteri wrote: post #4
JonnieCache wrote: post #3

It probably doesn't need to be said here, but if you haven't read Dune, stop what you're doing and read Dune. If like me you enjoyed the idea of LoTR but found the writing irritating, you're going to bloody love Dune. Don't worry too much about the many sequels, they can get a bit too weird. The first book stands alone just fine.

Don't worry too much about the many sequels, they can get a bit too weird. The first book stands alone just fine. True, but if you decide to read the sequels, only read the Frank Herbert sequels. The Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson novels are more like poor fanfiction than sequels.

the legends of dune trilogy were the only good dune books. the reset were drivel in my opinion. that said, i did read them all, so they can't have been that bad, but i did spend most of the time waiting for the robots to come back. which they don't do :(
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