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NFT: Dune, The Book - No Spoilers

UConn4523 : 8/4/2021 10:05 am
In preparation for the movie I decided to finally get to the book, something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. Since I stopped taking the train 18 months ago I haven’t read anything substantial so here we go.

I’m about 60 pages in and my initial thoughts are that I wish I had more time each night to keep going, it’s that good. It’s a fascinating story with so many parallels to society today which I find to be the most impressive part of Herberts vision. The first few chapters are a bit confusing but like GoT, once you learn the names of people/places/things it starts to fall in place nicely.

I know there’s a bunch of fans here so please no spoilers. The goal of this is to acknowledge a classic and encourage those on the fence to just jump in an enjoy the ride.
A towering classic  
Spyder : 8/4/2021 10:10 am : link
so psyched that Denis will have Frank's vision on screen, unlike the Lynch version which I hated when it came out.

Dune is so influential I think you should easily pick out parts that both Georges, Lucas and GRRM "borrowed" for their own classic works.
RE: A towering classic  
UConn4523 : 8/4/2021 10:15 am : link
In comment 15321996 Spyder said:
Quote:
so psyched that Denis will have Frank's vision on screen, unlike the Lynch version which I hated when it came out.

Dune is so influential I think you should easily pick out parts that both Georges, Lucas and GRRM "borrowed" for their own classic works.


Funny you mention that because even this early on I see where so many of the current greats get their inspiration from. And to think this was written almost 60 years ago.
.  
Scooter185 : 8/4/2021 10:21 am : link
Definitely one of my all time favorites. I used to reread LotR yearly, maybe I'll give the first 3 or 4 a reread this year.

RE: RE: A towering classic  
Spyder : 8/4/2021 10:30 am : link
In comment 15322013 UConn4523 said:
Quote:
In comment 15321996 Spyder said:


Quote:


so psyched that Denis will have Frank's vision on screen, unlike the Lynch version which I hated when it came out.

Dune is so influential I think you should easily pick out parts that both Georges, Lucas and GRRM "borrowed" for their own classic works.



Funny you mention that because even this early on I see where so many of the current greats get their inspiration from. And to think this was written almost 60 years ago.


Another interesting influence to consider is the real Lawrence of Arabia (but not the film) on Frank Herbert for Dune itself...
Yeah...  
Chris in Philly : 8/4/2021 10:38 am : link
there are a lot of players to get to know, but once you get the lay of the land the story pulls you in. As mentioned Lawrence was a big influence as well as middle eastern history on a much broader scale.

Enjoy the book. It's an all-time classic.
Despite its short-comings  
PEEJ : 8/4/2021 10:39 am : link
I find the earlier "Dune" flick to be a guilty pleasure
I never got through it.  
Mad Mike : 8/4/2021 10:42 am : link
Tried a bunch of times, and enjoyed it but lost interest somewhere along the way. Probably worth giving another try.
Its such a cliche  
j_rud : 8/4/2021 10:43 am : link
But I discovered Dune, Pink Floyd, and weed all in the same year, and what a freaking year that was...
Religion, Politics & Economics  
ATL_Giants : 8/4/2021 10:43 am : link
It's got the makings for an epic story.
RE: Its such a cliche  
UConn4523 : 8/4/2021 10:44 am : link
In comment 15322070 j_rud said:
Quote:
But I discovered Dune, Pink Floyd, and weed all in the same year, and what a freaking year that was...


Haha, that does sound awesome, what a triangle that is.
RE: I never got through it.  
thomasa510 : 8/4/2021 10:44 am : link
In comment 15322068 Mad Mike said:
Quote:
Tried a bunch of times, and enjoyed it but lost interest somewhere along the way. Probably worth giving another try.


I remember reading the book and then being excited to rent the movie from blockbuster, at the time. Only to be - what the fuck is this?

There was a sci-fi channel movie version that came out that was better than the original, but sure this will be better.

The book is fun. Just a giant complicated chess match
RE: Its such a cliche  
Chris in Philly : 8/4/2021 10:49 am : link
In comment 15322070 j_rud said:
Quote:
But I discovered Dune, Pink Floyd, and weed all in the same year, and what a freaking year that was...


I am sure we must have discussed Jodorowsky's Dune, haven't we?
RE: RE: I never got through it.  
Chris in Philly : 8/4/2021 10:50 am : link
In comment 15322076 thomasa510 said:
Quote:
In comment 15322068 Mad Mike said:


Quote:


Tried a bunch of times, and enjoyed it but lost interest somewhere along the way. Probably worth giving another try.



I remember reading the book and then being excited to rent the movie from blockbuster, at the time. Only to be - what the fuck is this?

There was a sci-fi channel movie version that came out that was better than the original, but sure this will be better.

The book is fun. Just a giant complicated chess match


I hated the Sci-Fi channel version. The Lynch version is a mess, but it's a guilty pleasure for me.
RE: Its such a cliche  
Vinny from Danbury : 8/4/2021 11:15 am : link
In comment 15322070 j_rud said:
Quote:
But I discovered Dune, Pink Floyd, and weed all in the same year, and what a freaking year that was...


Hahaha... Basically the same for me. I first read them my sophomore year in High School, back in '78, after my best friends much older brother gave us a synopsis on Christmas Eve that year. Went out and bought the 1st book the next week. Since then I've read each of the first 5 books about a dozen times each. And I've also read all of his son's continuing books at least a few times each. It's been my all-time favorite book series since I read it that first time in high school. Can't wait for the new movie!
Loved the 1st book, one of my favorites of all time  
montanagiant : 8/4/2021 11:18 am : link
Really liked the second Dune book

Only made it through half of the 3rd book
I've read it at least 5 times  
Jim in Forest Hills : 8/4/2021 11:23 am : link
each time more enjoyable than the next. Then you learn about Herbert's life and the jobs he had and it all starts to make sense. I'm going to read it again too, I lost my copy and bought another one for my daughter (who likes Timothee) and is now interested lol.

I thought the other books were good but I thought the last couple (written by Frank not his son) were just as good as the original if not better. The ones focused on the honored matres vs the Bene Gesserit.
RE: I've read it at least 5 times  
montanagiant : 8/4/2021 11:36 am : link
In comment 15322150 Jim in Forest Hills said:
Quote:
each time more enjoyable than the next. Then you learn about Herbert's life and the jobs he had and it all starts to make sense. I'm going to read it again too, I lost my copy and bought another one for my daughter (who likes Timothee) and is now interested lol.

I thought the other books were good but I thought the last couple (written by Frank not his son) were just as good as the original if not better. The ones focused on the honored matres vs the Bene Gesserit.

I have not tried the last two Frank wrote. I have read his son's continuations and while nowhere near the storytelling his father produced they were adequate fast reads I thought
RE: RE: I've read it at least 5 times  
Jim in Forest Hills : 8/4/2021 11:42 am : link
In comment 15322175 montanagiant said:
Quote:
In comment 15322150 Jim in Forest Hills said:


Quote:


each time more enjoyable than the next. Then you learn about Herbert's life and the jobs he had and it all starts to make sense. I'm going to read it again too, I lost my copy and bought another one for my daughter (who likes Timothee) and is now interested lol.

I thought the other books were good but I thought the last couple (written by Frank not his son) were just as good as the original if not better. The ones focused on the honored matres vs the Bene Gesserit.


I have not tried the last two Frank wrote. I have read his son's continuations and while nowhere near the storytelling his father produced they were adequate fast reads I thought


Agreed there montana. I think I tried one book House Atreides? and it wasn't near par.

The last 2 books are much different but he had done so much world building it holds it together. The other Bene faction plays a bigger role and the new threat is awesome. But its not about Atreides/Harkonnens anymore.
Dont venture into...  
Chris in Philly : 8/4/2021 11:57 am : link
spoilers guys for UConn's benefit. Nothing said yet, but getting close to the line...
That said..  
Chris in Philly : 8/4/2021 11:58 am : link
there is also a Dune series coming to one of the streaming services centered around a certain group of characters...
RE: RE: Its such a cliche  
j_rud : 8/4/2021 1:07 pm : link
In comment 15322083 Chris in Philly said:
Quote:
In comment 15322070 j_rud said:


Quote:


But I discovered Dune, Pink Floyd, and weed all in the same year, and what a freaking year that was...



I am sure we must have discussed Jodorowsky's Dune, haven't we?

At some point Im sure. Im still looking for decent frame-worthy concept art.
Took me three tries to get into it  
Don Draper : 8/4/2021 1:57 pm : link
I don't know why. The third time I picked it up, I was totally into it and just tore through the rest of the series.

The Brian Herbert books are OK and fill in some gaps nicely, but they're not on the same level as his father's works.

Looking forward to the movie(s)!
I really disliked the book.  
Crispino : 8/4/2021 5:08 pm : link
I read it as part of a science fiction literature class in college. It was my least favorite book we read as part of the course materials.
I thought it was heavy handed and pretentious.
RE: I really disliked the book.  
UConn4523 : 8/4/2021 5:18 pm : link
In comment 15322558 Crispino said:
Quote:
I read it as part of a science fiction literature class in college. It was my least favorite book we read as part of the course materials.
I thought it was heavy handed and pretentious.


Have you tried it since? Only asking because I suspect at 18/19 I wouldn't have liked it. I view the world completely different now and my tastes in things have definitely changed.
Read the Entire Trilogy  
Jeffrey : 8/4/2021 5:58 pm : link
Found it slow going at first but after I got all the terms and characters down I really enjoyed them all.
I started reading it back in September of last year  
Mike in NJ : 8/5/2021 3:01 pm : link
and flew through the first half of the book. Then we moved and I didn't have much time to read while getting all of that squared away, and never finished it. I have actually started it back up again recently, hoping to finish up in the next week or two.
Reading it for the first time?  
PwndPapi : 8/5/2021 4:13 pm : link
What a treat! Enjoy, my friend.
RE: Reading it for the first time?  
UConn4523 : 8/5/2021 4:55 pm : link
In comment 15323710 PwndPapi said:
Quote:
What a treat! Enjoy, my friend.


Yeah it’s been great so far. Time has been the issue but hoping to carve some out where I can. Going on vacation next weekend so hopefully will get to read a ton at the beach.
I've only read the first and loved it.  
Mike from SI : 8/5/2021 5:02 pm : link
I'm going to give it a re-read for the movie. Are the sequels worth it? I've heard very mixed things.
Pardon my ignorance  
Bubba : 8/6/2021 7:03 am : link
went to the library to get the "book" and found like 7 or 8 versions. What should I be looking for and in what order?
RE: Pardon my ignorance  
UConn4523 : 8/6/2021 7:44 am : link
In comment 15324123 Bubba said:
Quote:
went to the library to get the "book" and found like 7 or 8 versions. What should I be looking for and in what order?


The first entry is just “Dune”. This is the latest print, your library likely has it and maybe an older edition.
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