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Vanity - I started reading "Dune" by Frank Herbert last night

Posted on 02/02/2015 3:27:28 PM PST by Perdogg

I apologize for the vanity, but I know that FR is a community of avid readers. Last year, I read "The Hobbit", "The Lord of The Rings" and "The Silmarillion".

I read that Arthur C Clarke referred to "Dune" as 'The Lord of the Rings' of Science Fiction.

What are Freepers opinion of Dune (the book not the movie) and should I continue with the sequels? I saw the film 30 years ago, I remember receiving a sheet with a primmer at the movie theatre after buying a ticket.

also, is there a Gothic horror equivalent to "Dune" of "Lord of the Rings"?


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: dune; frankherbert; thespicemustflow
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To: naturalman1975

The Sci Fi channel Dune and Children of Dune miniseries were good.


81 posted on 02/02/2015 4:16:40 PM PST by tbw2
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To: Perdogg

I have read every Dune book published including the novels by Herbert’s son.

The first three books are the best in my opinion.

Herbert created a compelling and immense body of work that,for me, grabbed my imagination. Highest recommendation.


82 posted on 02/02/2015 4:17:02 PM PST by A message
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To: Perdogg

It is a tough read for about 50-75 pages. Then it will all snap together, and after that it is a brilliantly thought out universe. The first four books are well worth reading.


83 posted on 02/02/2015 4:18:37 PM PST by Vince Ferrer
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Huge fan of the series. The original is fantastic, the movies are garbage, the miniseries not totally awful.

I found all the books written by Frank to be interesting they were vehicles for looking as different aspects of technology and genetics wrapped up in politics.

I really enjoyed the 4th book God Emperor of Dune as it examines the ‘choice’ God has to make on the topic of free will.

I have read the prequels supposedly taken from Frank Herbert’s notes. Writing not at the same level at all, There is a Trilogy that gives the background of the players in Dune, and how things evolved to the situation where House Atredies is going to Dune. There is another trilogy that explains the Butlerian Jihad and the limitations placed on Computers in that world. Then a set of novels that take up where the Frank Herbert books end to ‘finish that story not written very well but of interest to see where Frank Herbert was coming from.


84 posted on 02/02/2015 4:20:16 PM PST by Leto
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To: ez
Rendezvous With Rama

No other sci fi book stands out in my mind as much. Probably been 35+ years since I've read it.

I need to set aside some alone time, pop some popcorn, turn off the phone and settle in for a nice long night of reading it again.

85 posted on 02/02/2015 4:20:30 PM PST by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
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To: outofsalt

I agree with outofsalt.
I thought Dune was great, didn’t care for any of the books that came later. I kept hoping they would get better but IMHO, they didn’t.
Did not like any of the movie versions, but some of the casting in the 1984 film was interesting...too bad the movie had a crappy script!!!
As far as a gothic novel is concerned(I’m not sure it’s really a gothic novel, but it sure held my interest and is definitely imaginative),you may like the Gormenghast novels by Mervyn Peake..at least, the first two. IIRC, the 3rd in the series was written several years after the first two books, and also after Peake had suffered a serious illness, and seemed like a different book altogether..anyway, hope this helps!!!


86 posted on 02/02/2015 4:20:38 PM PST by Radagast the Fool (At my signal, UNLEASH PALIN!!)
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To: Perdogg

Dune (the novel) is well worth the time.

The sequels are worthless, IMO.


87 posted on 02/02/2015 4:21:08 PM PST by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.)
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To: outofsalt

...You will be tempted to read the sequel. DON’T!
Dune is a really good read but, stop right there. Trust me.”....

The same could be said for the movie sequels....I thought they really failed to carry on what could have been a whole lot better. ...the third was a dud.


88 posted on 02/02/2015 4:21:36 PM PST by caww
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To: Perdogg
Dune is a 1965 epic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. It won the Hugo Award in 1966,[1] and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel. Dune is the world's best-selling science fiction novel.


89 posted on 02/02/2015 4:24:08 PM PST by Brother Cracker (You are more likely to find krugerrands in a Cracker Jack box than 22 ammo at Wal-Mart)
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To: Jim Noble
People would be further entertained re-watching the first Dune ,three times, rather than the sequels...what a disappointment they were!

I've seen the first Dune may times and consistently find things I didn't connect from the time before...Fun!

90 posted on 02/02/2015 4:24:36 PM PST by caww
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To: Perdogg

Very good book! Do give it an honest try. And forget the movie and mini-series (on SyFy a few years back?). They don’t even begin to do it justice, in a worse way than the LOTR movies did to the actual LOTR book.

Some of the aspects in the book to do with desert cultures, Arabic themes and languages, etc. have a hollow, awkward tone to them nowadays, but that wasn’t the case when it was written.

Books like this and LOTR just shouldn’t have movies made of them. It never works out to anyone’s satisfaction.


91 posted on 02/02/2015 4:28:56 PM PST by LaRueLaDue
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To: Liberty Tree Surgeon; Perdogg
I would agree, the quality of the Dune Series declines linearly after the first book, exponentially after the third one. I'd add that the Foundation Trilogy should be all of the Foundation series that you read. Reading the fourth book in the series was a huge letdown, and the fifth book in the series left me asking, "Did Asimov even read his original Trilogy?" It sure didn't seem like it.
92 posted on 02/02/2015 4:29:06 PM PST by FredZarguna (O, Reason not the need.)
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To: Perdogg

The trilogy is good and enjoyable. The sequel books beyond that lost me. You’ll find the movie of it a disappointment after the book (which often happens, of course).

(Only thing I liked about the movie was that copper and brass and wood took the place of plastics in vehicles and dwellings.)


93 posted on 02/02/2015 4:29:21 PM PST by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: Radagast the Fool; caww

The only books I have ever enjoyed as movies were by Tom Clancy. The only video product that I found to be better then the books is Game of Thrones.


94 posted on 02/02/2015 4:30:18 PM PST by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything.)
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To: Perdogg; Constitution Day; Paul Atreides

95 posted on 02/02/2015 4:36:43 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: cripplecreek
I absolutely love Turtledove’s “The road not taken”

OMG- somebody else that knows about that! I just re-read it; someone put it up on Pastebin. Napoleonic teddy bears. I loved how it challenged the assumption that 'we'll, they have FTL travel, so they must be undefeatable militarily'.

(raises a beer in salute)

96 posted on 02/02/2015 4:37:57 PM PST by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: Perdogg

One of the best Science Fiction novels.


97 posted on 02/02/2015 4:38:30 PM PST by Lady Heron
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To: Perdogg

dare I ask, how old are you? private reply is oK. :-)


98 posted on 02/02/2015 4:39:19 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - Revolution is a'brewin!!!)
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To: Perdogg

Brilliance. Note the conditions in which they exist: The Butlerian Jihad eliminated and then banned all thinking machines.


99 posted on 02/02/2015 4:39:45 PM PST by corkoman
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To: Riley

No body ever thinks that we may be wildly advanced in a technological direction that a spacefaring alien race didn’t expect.

The road not taken altered my thinking forever.


100 posted on 02/02/2015 4:42:05 PM PST by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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