Paul of Dune Disscussion (Spoilers Allowed)

[Admiral_Young]

I haven't seen a thread on this...so forgive me if there is one, Neroon, feel free to add this to that thread if you like. I got a chance last week to finally read this after it came out the last week of September and for once with a Anderson/Herbert book it felt like "Dune". It was almost a perfect amalgation of their stuff and Frank's stuff merged together to create a pretty effective story about the start the first few years of Muad'dib's Jihad against the universe. They were touching on some events that were introduced in their House Trilogy in the flashback sequences and even in the main narrative that I really liked. I personally am really looking forward and curious to see how Jessica of Dune takes this next year. What did those who read think?

 

[Norrin Radd]

It scares me to think that many new Dune readers will now read this before Messiah.

 

[Harvey]

I don't know, I just don't know. I didn't care at all for the Butlerian Jihad trilogy--I couldn't even finish it. The House books were more tolerable, but only in a pulpy way that didn't approach the depth of the original Herbert book (as well as the sequels). What are critics saying about it? Has anyone else here read it yet?

 

[Starbreaker]

I'm going to get my library to order it this week. I had forgotten it had been released.

There are 28 5-star reviews on Amazon... which is extremely rare because it's usually the opposite.

 

[ATimson]

What did those who read think?

I don't like the retcons it makes to Dune, and it was a bit heavy-handed with the foreshadowing of Dune Messiah. But I like the exploration of how the Jihad spiraled out of Paul's control.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yeah the retcons to Dune and the repariation of the continuity blunders they made in the House Trilogy (such as Paul being born on Kaitain instead of Caladan as it clearly indicates in Dune) were clever but still pissed me off. Paul's lose of control was really done well, as well as his compassion for Irulan...or at least a sense of it. Chani is and will always be his love but demands on his Jihad have made it difficult for him to care for Irulan. I also liked all the Shaddam bits...I still picture the actor from the David Lynch movie, I thought that was one of the things they got right was their portrayal of Shaddam. The Fenring plot was interesting...and tragic in the end. I also liked the explaination of how Alia became St. Alia of the Knife!

 

[Norrin Radd]

I'm going to get my library to order it this week. I had forgotten it had been released.

There are 28 5-star reviews on Amazon... which is extremely rare because it's usually the opposite.

That's because Amazon deletes negative reviews. This has especially been noted in the case of these new Dune books. Why? Because it's not as easy to sell one and two-star rated books.

 

[ATimson]

I also liked all the Shaddam bits...I still picture the actor from the David Lynch movie, I thought that was one of the things they got right was their portrayal of Shaddam.

I started off picturing Turhan Bey (couldn't remember the actor from the miniseries well enough, so the Centauri emperor made a good substitute ), but ended up shifting to seeing him as Peter Jurasik about halfway through. A very... interesting mental image.

 

[ATimson]

That's because Amazon deletes negative reviews. This has especially been noted in the case of these new Dune books. Why? Because it's not as easy to sell one and two-star rated books.

How many of those reviews were actually about the book, though, and not just frothing-at-the-mouth ranting like has been known to happen with these books in the past?

 

[Starbreaker]

Example:

THere aERE no FRank HERBERT's notez.... teh Dune is the only one!!! Your a fag!