New on my blog is the second half of my top 10 imaginary worlds. I get a bit deeper this time (or go on a bit more!), as these are ones that have shaped me as a writer.
I have finished reading Chapterhouse Dune. My fools errand is finished. It’s not good, and of course ends with loose ends.
I think my personal recommendation is reading the first two books. Although just one or even zero are solid choices. Three is alright, except it’s a trap if it makes you curious and want to read more.
I’m tempted to revisit Heinlein who I haven’t read in at least twenty years, but I’m also afraid he’ll be disappointing.
One of the weird premises of Dune is the notion of scientific secrets. It’s really hard to keep scientific secrets. Once you know something is possible, if you have the resources of numerous planets for centuries, you can absolutely recreate anything ever invented.
Usually the limiting factor is resources.
Okay, now that I think about it’s one of the least weird assumptions. Just a dumb one.
That feeling when your workmates start talking about things you geek out for but you have to try and NOT be a total nerd about it to conform to the established social norms lol :blobcatderpy:
It happened right now when they were talking about the #Dune movie and I was like "hmm yes I read the novel hmm, of course I don't recall their name, but it's that witch group that kinda inspired Jedi mind trickery stuff, oh yes Jedi those guys wearing robes in star wars, yes the movie with the cute orange ball shaped droid"
I'm being hyperbolic but it felt like that to me lol
The very first piece of my writing that was ever published was an entry in the Dune Encyclopedia, some 40-odd years ago. So of course I have to watch the Dune films. I didn't get out to see Dune 2 in a theatre, so I paid the big bucks today and streamed it. I have my quibbles with they way it's being done, but on the whole I've liked both films. We'll see about Dune 3. #today#Dune
I don’t really know what to make of it. On the one hand, it’s back to political maneuvering and is at least readable. But it’s still mostly about eugenics. And controlling people through sex.
I feel like you can skip God and enjoy this one, but you are still better off ending at either 1, 2, or at most 3.
Off the top of my head I don’t remember how much the book of #Dune talks about the Harkonnen use of gladiatorial combat, but the movie draws a relatively subtle link between their idea of it and bullfighting - the guys in the wide black hats are like picadors, who stab the bull with lances to weaken it. I’ll avoid spoilers on a 60-year-old book or the new movie, but it’s a fun subtle thing.
I’m not really talking about the challenging. That’s just like duels and having stand-ins so the nobles express discontent while killing other people instead of themselves. It’s more how both houses have ways of proving the butch manliness of their leaders in front of the masses - the #Atreides kill bulls, the #Harkonnens kill captives. Even if the other houses have versions of that, there’s a very specific resemblance between Atreides and Harkonnen.
I think Herbert mentions how Leto’s father died fighting a bull, but that’s about it, unless that comes up in books after the first. I need to read Messiah, which is conveniently next on the list after #InfiniteDetail.
Dune 3: The Problem With Adapting Alia From the Books (www.denofgeek.com)
Anya Taylor-Joy's Alia will presumably have a much bigger role in Dune: Part Three, but adapting this Frank Herbert character won't be easy.