I’ve read the first book. Should I read all the books? I still haven’t seen the sci-fi series. Just the 84 movie. I didn’t know he said all that. Race swaps serve as a red flag at least. I did hear in his defense he was forced to race swap but I didn’t know he said that about focusing on females. Didn’t know about the Fremen casting.
Read all the books by Frank. The later material by his son, Brian, and Kevin J Anderson are often considered to be little more than a cash grab and exploiting Frank's successes.
The SciFi miniseries is good. The CGI is obviously dated, but can be ignored because the rest of it is good. To be more efficient with their money, they also used massive painted/printed back drops, which give it an almost stage play like feel. They lean into this by using vibrant colors to highlight characters in specific shots. It might bother some, but I find it endearing.
It does change some aspects of the story, but they're relatively minor compared to what modern Hollywood does. The length even enabled them to add scenes, to expand some characters, like princess Irulan. Whether you agree with the changes or not, the changes are made to try and improve it, and not subvert the audience.
The first book is broken down into 3 parts in the Dune miniseries, which works really well, and doesn't condense the story drastically, or leaving a lot out like the 1984 movie, and even part 1 of the recent movie did. The "Children of Dune" miniseries is also good, and combines the 2nd and 3rd books together, but I like the first miniseries more.
I've only read up to Children of Dune. I'd like to read them all, but I prefer to buy the older hard cover books, which are ridiculously over inflated in price at the moment.
As for my impression, the first 3 books are well worth a read. A relatively minor, if largely impacting spoiler, but the first book is turned on its head. Herbert wanted to warn about messianic savior figures in the Dune saga, like Paul Muad'dib Atreides in the first book. The first book can be appreciated by itself as a classic hero's journey and revenge tail set in a great scifi universe. The Dune saga, however, explores the consequences of that, and of messianic figures in general.
To be vague, and yet clear enough to make the point, Paul's actions lead to horrific atrocities. Paul sees a far flung future problem which he sees no way to avoid, or chooses not to follow the path to avoid it. His children do, however, which affects all the subsequent books, which go much further in time than one would normally expect, and from what I've heard, get rather weird. I've also heard that Herbert intended to write one or two more books, but he knew his time was short (health problems), and wrote fairly strange final chapter, with himself and his wife inserted into the story, as ordinary yet godlike figures looking down upon the galactic story Herbert was telling, but it's really just a thinly veiled final address to his readers and fans, to thank them.
It's obvious, even in book 1, especially in Paul's spice visions, how esoteric Herbert can be. He also makes philosophical commentary throughout subsequent books, which you may or may not like. I appreciate what he's saying, but as I'm inclined that way, I noticed that he contradicts himself in some areas (philosophically), which I venture most people would miss. In any case, it doesn't affect much, because Herbert is very good at his world building, even if it's a bit unique compared to other authors, and the messages he's conveying are genuine. Some chapters/sections get quite abstract and cerebral, which can be tough to read, but overall I definitely recommend the books.
I’ve read the first book. Should I read all the books? I still haven’t seen the sci-fi series. Just the 84 movie. I didn’t know he said all that. Race swaps serve as a red flag at least. I did hear in his defense he was forced to race swap but I didn’t know he said that about focusing on females. Didn’t know about the Fremen casting.
Read all the books by Frank. The later material by his son, Brian, and Kevin J Anderson are often considered to be little more than a cash grab and exploiting Frank's successes.
Ok. I have the next 2 in the series but haven’t read them yet
I would skip Dune Messiah. You won't miss anything you can't get from a wiki, and the book is difficult and slow and does not stand on its own.
But if you like Herbert there is a limited amount of material.
Thanks! I’ve heard that a lot so I’ll take that advice
Chapterhouse is actually favorite. Yes, dirty old man Herbert, but the interest is way beyond the futa BS
The SciFi miniseries is good. The CGI is obviously dated, but can be ignored because the rest of it is good. To be more efficient with their money, they also used massive painted/printed back drops, which give it an almost stage play like feel. They lean into this by using vibrant colors to highlight characters in specific shots. It might bother some, but I find it endearing.
It does change some aspects of the story, but they're relatively minor compared to what modern Hollywood does. The length even enabled them to add scenes, to expand some characters, like princess Irulan. Whether you agree with the changes or not, the changes are made to try and improve it, and not subvert the audience.
The first book is broken down into 3 parts in the Dune miniseries, which works really well, and doesn't condense the story drastically, or leaving a lot out like the 1984 movie, and even part 1 of the recent movie did. The "Children of Dune" miniseries is also good, and combines the 2nd and 3rd books together, but I like the first miniseries more.
I've only read up to Children of Dune. I'd like to read them all, but I prefer to buy the older hard cover books, which are ridiculously over inflated in price at the moment.
As for my impression, the first 3 books are well worth a read. A relatively minor, if largely impacting spoiler, but the first book is turned on its head. Herbert wanted to warn about messianic savior figures in the Dune saga, like Paul Muad'dib Atreides in the first book. The first book can be appreciated by itself as a classic hero's journey and revenge tail set in a great scifi universe. The Dune saga, however, explores the consequences of that, and of messianic figures in general.
To be vague, and yet clear enough to make the point, Paul's actions lead to horrific atrocities. Paul sees a far flung future problem which he sees no way to avoid, or chooses not to follow the path to avoid it. His children do, however, which affects all the subsequent books, which go much further in time than one would normally expect, and from what I've heard, get rather weird. I've also heard that Herbert intended to write one or two more books, but he knew his time was short (health problems), and wrote fairly strange final chapter, with himself and his wife inserted into the story, as ordinary yet godlike figures looking down upon the galactic story Herbert was telling, but it's really just a thinly veiled final address to his readers and fans, to thank them.
It's obvious, even in book 1, especially in Paul's spice visions, how esoteric Herbert can be. He also makes philosophical commentary throughout subsequent books, which you may or may not like. I appreciate what he's saying, but as I'm inclined that way, I noticed that he contradicts himself in some areas (philosophically), which I venture most people would miss. In any case, it doesn't affect much, because Herbert is very good at his world building, even if it's a bit unique compared to other authors, and the messages he's conveying are genuine. Some chapters/sections get quite abstract and cerebral, which can be tough to read, but overall I definitely recommend the books.