Frank Herberts Children of Dune March 16 SCIFI channel

scifi.com ^

[ottersnot]

Children of Dune Miniseries. SCIFI Channel starts March 16th, 9PM.

[Paul Atreides]

There is more character development and relationship dynamics in Dune than you think.

[what's up]

I'm sure you would think so, Paul!

[agarrett]

This is the perfect place to ask...I want to give my nephew Dune to read his parents are divorced and any little thing starts a court battle from the other side. Do you see anything wrong with giving a 13 year old boy Dune to read? Thanks!

  Depends on the parents, and the kid. First off, Dune is a fairly dense book - it's excellent, but it's probably a bit tough for a 13 year old. Now, if he's a bright kid, he could probably manage it, but I doubt he'd enjoy it quite as much as he would a few years later. Still, if he's a sci-fi fan, and bright, he might enjoy it.

  As to the parents... If they sue over anything regarding religions, avoid Dune. It doesn't refer directly to modern religions, but it makes some pretty clear analogies. Depending on how seriously people take it, it can be seen as a slam at Christianity, and even a promotion of Islam. (Note: I don't think this is the case - I think Herbert was more interested in the cultures than the religions, and was going with what was, to him, the more exotic.)

  For all that I love Dune, I don't think it's the best book given the circumstances you describe. I'd also add that, while Dune itself is a masterwork, the series rapidly declined in value as it proceeded.

Drew Garrett

[uncbob]

Yeech - those Dune books have to be THE most boring series I ever tried to read. And I'll read damn near anything.

That about sums up my evaluation

[Paul Atreides]

I am serious. Dune is a multilayered work. Every time I have read it, I have found something new. It's not a standard action novel, but it is exciting.

[Diana Rose]

I read Dune at 13 too. I have read it many times and see nothing his mother could get in a snit about but just for the sake of legal fees I thought I would get other opinions.

[Paul Atreides]

Concerning the religion aspect: Dune is set over twenty thousand years in the future. The religion practiced in the book is nothing like what we have today. It is a combination of Catholocism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and superstition. Combine this with the fact that religion is used as a tool to use against the populace.

[Diana Rose]

You have made some good points. Thank you!

[freedumb2003]

sci-fi fan

"Sci Fi"? SCI FI??

SCI FI???????

NO one who is a true science-fiction affectinado EVER says Sci-fi.

That abbreviation was the invention of know-nothings in the pulp era, then trotted back out to describe Flash Gordon and the rest of the saturday serials. Both Mssrs. Aasimov and Heinlein hated the term.

[coydog]

CRYSTAL GALE KILLED FRANK HERBERT
Parody lyrics by Tom Smith

TTO: "You Make My Brown Eyes Blue"

The Spice Melange, it's so sugary sweet,
I sprinkle some over all I eat,
It's addictive too!
And don't it make my brown eyes blue!

Dad got control over all that Spice,
So Baron Harkonnen had him iced,
Tried to kill me too!
And don't it make my brown eyes blue!

So me and my mother ran away across Dune,
Got found by the Fremen not a moment too soon,
They said it'd be easier to leave us behind,
But if we went with them it'd 'stillsuit' them fine!

So now we're dreamin' of a huge Jihad,
And the Fremen all think I'm God,
Maybe I do too!
And don't it make my brown eyes, don't it make my brown eyes, don't it make my brown eyes blue!

[agarrett]

  I've heard that before - that some fans despise the term sci-fi. They tend to be so vocal about it that I have made sure to use it regularly. It's a good, solid abbreviation, sounds nice, and is well understood.

  Deal with it.

Drew Garrett

[Sentis]

Give me a break, Asimov to qoute another master of the art "He's not so big". Anytime I feel bad about writing or fell discouraged in my chosen profession I go read Asimov's first anthology of short stories "Selling Jupiter" it is so bad most third graders write better scifi :)

[softengine]

if the socialist susan sarandon is in it I'll make sure I don't watch it.

You can say that again.

Is she supposed to be a replacement for Francesca Annis? If so, she'll nauseate the audience and will never be able to hold a candle to Annis.

[softengine]

Susan Sarandon is playing Princess Wensicia

I stand corrected. Its a minor part but I still won't watch anything with Commie Sue in it.

[freedumb2003]

>>to qoute another master of the art "He's not so big". <<

Does this "other master" have a name?

Other than redefining modern speculative fiction, Asimov was huge. He was also rather disliked by his peers -- Harlan Ellison and he had quite the rivalry going for years. Heinlien didn't really travel in the same circle since their styles were so different.

When deciding who is great in SF, The Crusades were launched for less reason. ;)

(Also, I know there are Herberters out there, but there is no way they are as slavish as the Hubbardites.)

[SengirV]

I can't wait for the third Mini series. The second book was by far the worst in the series.

I didn't much care for the first mini-series. It protrayed the Barren as a mostly normal person with ambitions towards galactic domination. In the book he is the epitome of evil.

But then again I love the 3.5 hour film much better than the first mini. So take that into account when judging my opinion.

[Maigrey]

Fredrik Pohl. Up there with Bradbury and Asimov. He is one of the Grandmasters of SF!

[federalisthokie]

Instead of Dune for a thirteen year old I suggest Asimov's Foundation trillogy. Great story, more age appropriate in my opinion.

[winodog]

Better check your stillsuit, I think you have a leak.

[Maigrey]

If those here think Dune is too dense, try Robert Jordan and his World of Time series. It's dynamic like Tolkien and reads quite easy.