Dune, by Frank Herbert

[Cordilow]

I just started listening to Dune, by Frank Herbert (currently on CD 3, chapter 15).

Has anyone else read this yet?

Anyway, the style of this book struck me as quite interesting. I can see why it has received so much acclaim already. It has a lot of complexity in a manner that the world likes. I suspect most critics would love this book and find little fault with it.

The style reminds me of David Eddings' style (I haven't read much David Eddings, though), although with much more—much more—in the way of real-life interactions, diversity and well-planned settings and scenarios. Some things about it remind me of Charles' Dickens' style—but if you're not a fan of him, you may well still be a fan of this book.

There seems to be frequent use of some things akin to magic in this book, although I've never heard it called fantasy—so I suppose there may be something later on to explain it all.

The one thing I'm missing so far in it, though, is color (character-wise). I mean, there is a strong sense of realism. Things are quite serious. The characters are serious. Danger, deception and other such are everywhere. The view is great, but it reads like a classic in some ways. The elements of the story, however, are quite imaginative, and some could be considered fanciful, but the characters are more serious than playful (so far), and of course, if you read the book, I'm sure you'll know why they're like that. I just mean to say that it doesn't seem to be a lighthearted book—nor a comical one. And, this isn't a bad thing (but I just finished reading a Charles Dickens book—so I'm in the mood for something lighthearted, now).

Anyway, I just thought I would include my beginning impression. I plan to compare it with my ending impression when I finish.

[Cordilow]

People often compare books with The Lord of the Rings. This can mean many things, unfortunately.

Dune is one book that has been compared with The Lord of the Rings. However, you should know that it was probably meant to be compared in scope and influence, and not in plot, so that this comparison is meant to be a great compliment. I might say, even now, that Dune quite outdoes The Lord of the Rings in some respects, but comparing the two books in anything typical other than ambition and scope, except it be an abstract comparison, seems quite unfair to both authors. They are really quite different. It is true, though, that there are rising good and evil forces—but I don't think Tolkien has the sole claim over those things.

[Sultan]

Dune is by far my favourite book so far. It's incredibly detailed and the plot is full of politicking from a number of sides, all scheming to get their way.

Dune is a great example of wolrd-building as you can see Frank Herbert has thought of everything for Arrakis, from the weather, the ecology, the currency, the government, the culture, the language, the religion everything, and some philosophical points do hit home. I enjoyed it alot, the prequels are equally fascinating too.

[Cordilow]

Yes, indeed. I'm liking it more and more as I go along (about to start CD 7 in a while). The world-building and politics are among the best I've seen, if not the very best I've seen (at least in the manner of details used, and how realistic it seems). Quite detailed.

[Cordilow]

I finished this a while back—so I might spoil some things.

It was an enjoyable book. It wasn't everything I had hoped and more, but it was still quite good. The world-building was what stuck out the most; it was quite intense, although the focus strays from that to the plot, as one might expect—or you get used to the world once we know all the things the author has to tell us new about it in this book, and focus on the plot.

I was worried that the author might go more into a certain character's bad side than I deemed desirable, but thankfully, we didn't have to worry about that for much longer, as he died. I was thinking I might not like it because of that worry, but it's okay after all.

Anyway, it's a wild book. Some really usual things happen, and I'm quite uncertain as to how all the other Dune books proceed. There are lots of politics, but they're mostly kind of interesting (not the most interesting I've read, but interesting, still), and not the tiresome sort.

The environmental issues are quite interesting. The end is kind of sad when you think about it in relation to them, and I think that might have been the intention. I liked that one guy who had a vision to make the planet more inhabitable and water-supplied—his saying were quite interesting.

Anyway, it was a good book. I could recommend it, although I don't know if I'd say it's for everyone.

[bloodstone]

I've never read the book, but I did watch the movie a while ago.  I wonder how the two compare?  I remember that the visual effects where quite intersting.  I think more people haave seen it rather then read it.  I've found some spoof pictures on the net.  Then again, you can probably find spoofs of everything on the net.

[Cordilow]

I'd certainly like to see it—especially now that I can legally watch encrypted DVDs on Linux, on my laptop! I wonder if the library here has it—they probably do if it was very popular as a movie. Hmm, I just checked online. They have one VHS copy of the Sci-fi channel version that aired in the year 2000: Is that the one you meant?

Anyway, I don't have a VCR, and it's on the holding shelves for someone else, anyway. On the other hand, my DVD limit is reached (I have two out already), and I believe you can get up to ten VHS movies. I might be able to find someone with a VCR, and I can wait for that person to watch it, I suppose.

It astounds me how much they have on VHS there still—they even get new stuff on VHS, it seems (unless people just donate new stuff all the time, although I have my doubts as to that). I wonder if/when they'll start having blue ray. That would be interesting. People certainly still check out the VHS a lot (I guess since they can only get two DVDs, they make up for the rest of what they want with VHS—either that or we have a lot of quite thrifty people around here).

Maybe I'll get a USB TV card for my laptop and get a VCR to plug into it.

[bloodstone]

I think that was the version I watched.  I know I borrowed it from the library.  Yours must have different rules than ours.  I beleive there is a limit on vhs but it depends on what you are getting, educational, childrens, ect.  I'm pretty sure it was on 2 tapes.  That or maybe it was two mini-seiries.  I vaguely remember something about Children of Dune.  I think it was the sequel.  Oh well, I guess I'll just have to find it again.

[Dolphinia]

I believe there were two versions of the movie Dune. The 1984 and the 2000 version, they have a new Dune coming out in 2010 from what I've heard. I saw them both and read a few of the books they aren't all that different but you definitely get more out of the books. Children of Dune came out in 2003.  I did look on the IMDB and found a '73 short version of it and a '92 video game of it. I agree about the world-building being one of the best I've ever read myself, especially the politics. I found it interesting how he was able to get all that information in there without boring you like some authors do. He found a nice medium between too little and too much. D.

[Cordilow]

Yeah. I've heard there were two movies. Would you recommend one over another?

That's cool about the new movie for next year. Is it expected to be bigger than the others?

[Dolphinia]

I preferred the original but that's just because I'm nostalgic like that. The second was pretty good in and of itself but still I liked the original better, it seemed realer to me. That's probably because the original had less in the way of special effects. I've always admired sci-fi and fantasy movies that are able to tell a fantastical story without all the extra hubbaloo getting in the way.
As for the one coming out next year I've not heard too much about it, except it's supposed to be a special effects extravaganza. We'll see next year I guess. D.