Dune newbie questions - Page 5

Michael Chris · January 16 2010, 03:19 AM

Harvey wrote:

To be fair, he doesn't play a large role in the first book, does he? He has more than two scenes, but he's killed off early in the middle section, isn't he?

That sounds about right.

Lindley · January 16 2010, 03:33 AM

I think it's hilarious that everyone is matter-of-factly saying how a character plays such a huge role in later books, oh, and by the way yes he was killed off in the middle of the first one.

Skywalker · January 16 2010, 04:00 AM

Hey, I was only talking about the miniseries.

I haven't read any of the books, either.

Lindley · January 16 2010, 05:34 AM

Speaking of the mini, just finished it, again. Funny how it's always better than I remembered it being......

And I'm always left feeling a bit sorry for Irulan.

Starbreaker · January 16 2010, 05:45 AM

They really give Irulan hell in Paul of Dune and The Winds of Dune.

Reverend · January 16 2010, 10:29 PM

JD wrote:

I started the book last night. I only got a few pages into it though.
Sorry to keep asking all these questions, but I promise these will be the last two. I was just wondering which book(s) is/are your favorite(s), and who your favorite character(s) is/are.

Favourite book: well the first one, obviously. Favourite character: Miles Teg (from Heretics & Chapterhouse.) He rocks. Though Count Fenring and Irulan come a very close second and third, respectively.

Harvey wrote:

To be fair, he doesn't play a large role in the first book, does he? He has more than two scenes, but he's killed off early in the middle section, isn't he?

I'd say his role is about on par with the likes of Gurney, Leto, Thufir and Liet. Number of scenes aside, his absence is defiantly felt and he's talked about several times throughout the book.

JD · January 18 2010, 03:48 PM

I'm about 30 pages into so far (I'm only reading bits and peices, I haven't really started focusing on it yet) and TBH so far I'm finding some of it hard to follow. Does it get easier as it goes along?

Lindley · January 18 2010, 04:02 PM

Yes, but I don't recall when exactly. It's been a few years since I read it. The beginning was definitely the hardest to get through.

Asbo Zaprudder · January 18 2010, 04:12 PM

"A beginning is a very delicate time..." -- Princess Irulan.

DarKush · January 18 2010, 05:30 PM

JD wrote:

I just picked Dune a couple days ago, and I have a couple questions before I read it.
1) Which adaptation is better? I'm talking both general quality, and closeness to the book. A few years ago I tried to watch both of them, and I really liked the miniseries, but I didn't make it very far in the movie. I don't think they'd even gotten to Arrakis yet before I turned off the movie.
2) If I decide to continue the series what is the best order to read the sequels/prequels/interquels, midquels or whatever you want to call the new series?

My two cents:

1. I think the Sci-Fi adaptations are better mainly because they have more time to explore the content of the novels in a way the Lunch doesn't. However, I think the Lynch film still looks visually better. I just remember how the casting for the Lynch film really fit the characters in the book. However, the 2 hour version of the Lynch film is really truncated and Dune is something that just doesn't fit in a 2 hour movie. The Dune miniseries was better than the Children of Dune miniseries, however I preferred the casting changes for Duncan, Jessica, and Stilgar for CoD. I also liked an expanded Wensica Corrino role for Susan Sarandon.

2. Best order to read the books. You could do the chronological thing, but I recommend checking out Frank Herbert's Dune first. If you don't like that, what's the point of continuing on IMO.

Book order is really tough. I tried to sort of group the stories around similar time periods because the saga spans centuries. Full disclosure, I've only read the four of the original novels and the three House books. I tried to read the Butlerian Jihad but couldn't get into it, same with Heretics of Dune. I did enjoy the House series, was enjoying Paul of Dune but I haven't finished it. The first three Dune novels were my favorite. It took me forever to read God Emperor of Dune, and Heretics didn't do anything for me. I just think I like the Paul Atreides era stories, from both Herberts. I don't think the Brian Herbert stories are as good or as deep as the Frank Herbert stories, but I think they are easier to read.

Recommended reading order:
1. Dune
2. Dune Messiah
3. Children of Dune
4. House Atreides
5. House Harkonnen
6. House Corrino
7. Paul of Dune
8. Winds of Dune
9. God Emperor of Dune
10. Butlerian Jihad
11. The Machine Crusade
12. The Battle of Corrin
13. Heretics of Dune
14. Chapterhouse Dune
15. Hunters of Dune
16. Sandworms of Dune

Michael Chris · January 18 2010, 07:33 PM

Q: I've read all the original books multiple times, and read a couple of the prequels (Butlerian Jihad). Do you think the new Paul of Dune and Winds of Dune should come before or after the House series? I'm much more interested in the original characters..

Agenda · January 18 2010, 07:37 PM

Duncan's a strange character. He's completely different depending on what book you're reading. In the first, he's kind of a swashbuckling type, in the second he's a weirded out Ghola/Mentat, in the third, he's a wise Ghola/Mentat, in the fourth, he goes back to how he was in one, in the fifth he's just a kid, and in the sixth, I forget. And despite the fact that he appears in all the books, I don't buy him as the main character of the series.

Starbreaker · January 18 2010, 08:51 PM

Michael Chris wrote:

Q: I've read all the original books multiple times, and read a couple of the prequels (Butlerian Jihad). Do you think the new Paul of Dune and Winds of Dune should come before or after the House series? I'm much more interested in the original characters..

I am too and that's why I picked these up. Paul of Dune deals with Paul's reign up until he dies AND switches back and forth between Paul when he was a kid. He is telling stories to Irulan for his propaganda.

Winds of Dune takes place after Paul's death and the women trying to hold together AND has another young Paul subplot.

They have several characters introduced in the House series, but they can be read alone. Also, the House trilogy does feature many of the original characters: Leto, Jessica, Gurney, Shaddam, etc.

Michael Chris · January 18 2010, 11:14 PM

Are they any good? Would you say the new series is better or the House series?

Hyperspace05 · January 18 2010, 11:35 PM

I refuse to read any of the non-Frank Herbert Dune novels. To me the rest are just on the level of fan fiction - even if they are better written than most fan fiction.

January 16 2010, 03:33 AM	#62
Lindley Moderator with a Soul Location: Fairfax, VA	Re: Dune newbie questions I think it's hilarious that everyone is matter-of-factly saying how a character plays such a huge role in later books, oh, and by the way yes he was killed off in the middle of the first one. __________________ Lead Organizer for EVN: Firefly. "So apparently the really smart zombies have automatic weapons!" -Torg, Sluggy Freelance

January 16 2010, 04:00 AM	#63
Skywalker Admiral	Re: Dune newbie questions Hey, I was only talking about the miniseries. I haven't read any of the books, either.

January 16 2010, 05:34 AM	#64
Lindley Moderator with a Soul Location: Fairfax, VA	Re: Dune newbie questions Speaking of the mini, just finished it, again. Funny how it's always better than I remembered it being...... And I'm always left feeling a bit sorry for Irulan. __________________ Lead Organizer for EVN: Firefly. "So apparently the really smart zombies have automatic weapons!" -Torg, Sluggy Freelance

January 16 2010, 05:45 AM	#65
Starbreaker Fleet Admiral	Re: Dune newbie questions They really give Irulan hell in Paul of Dune and The Winds of Dune.

January 18 2010, 03:48 PM	#67
JD Admiral Location: Arizona, USA	Re: Dune newbie questions I'm about 30 pages into so far (I'm only reading bits and peices, I haven't really started focusing on it yet) and TBH so far I'm finding some of it hard to follow. Does it get easier as it goes along? __________________ Over the course of many encounters and many years, I have successfully developed a standard operating procedure for dealing with big, nasty monsters. Run away. Me and Monty Python. Harry Dresden - Blood Rites (The Dresden Files #6)

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January 18 2010, 04:02 PM	#68
Lindley Moderator with a Soul Location: Fairfax, VA	Re: Dune newbie questions Yes, but I don't recall when exactly. It's been a few years since I read it. The beginning was definitely the hardest to get through. __________________ Lead Organizer for EVN: Firefly. "So apparently the really smart zombies have automatic weapons!" -Torg, Sluggy Freelance

January 18 2010, 04:12 PM	#69
Asbo Zaprudder Rear Admiral Location: Chairman of the bored	Re: Dune newbie questions "A beginning is a very delicate time..." -- Princess Irulan. __________________ "It is a lonely life, the way of the necromancer... oh, yes. Lacrimae Mundi - the tears of the world."

January 18 2010, 07:33 PM	#71
Michael Chris Admiral Location: The 'Querq, NM	Re: Dune newbie questions Q: I've read all the original books multiple times, and read a couple of the prequels (Butlerian Jihad). Do you think the new Paul of Dune and Winds of Dune should come before or after the House series? I'm much more interested in the original characters.. __________________ To live is Christ, and to die is gain.

January 18 2010, 07:37 PM	#72
Agenda Fleet Captain	Re: Dune newbie questions Duncan's a strange character. He's completely different depending on what book you're reading. In the first, he's kind of a swashbuckling type, in the second he's a weirded out Ghola/Mentat, in the third, he's a wise Ghola/Mentat, in the fourth, he goes back to how he was in one, in the fifth he's just a kid, and in the sixth, I forget. And despite the fact that he appears in all the books, I don't buy him as the main character of the series.

January 18 2010, 11:14 PM	#74
Michael Chris Admiral Location: The 'Querq, NM	Re: Dune newbie questions Are they any good? Would you say the new series is better or the House series? __________________ To live is Christ, and to die is gain.

January 18 2010, 11:35 PM	#75
Hyperspace05 Commodore	Re: Dune newbie questions I refuse to read any of the non-Frank Herbert Dune novels. To me the rest are just on the level of fan fiction - even if they are better written than most fan fiction.