Why Frank Herbert Sleeps Not Peacefully in His Grave
September 26th 2006 12:26
Four words and a letter of the alphabet. Brian Herbert, Kevin J Anderson. I liked Dune, I really did. I read Dune almost 20 times, have watched the original movie (including the made for TV version that was three hours long, back when making a movie that kind of time length was illegal) and the more recent mini-series. So when I say I am a fan of Dune, I know what I am saying.
I liked the universe of Dune. I liked the Bene Gesserit being weird and mysterious. I liked the Mentats being weird and manipulative. I liked the fremen being absolute psychopaths (and weird). I liked the way the plot was twisted, convoluted and impossible to completely comprehend the first time through. I like how the dialogue was good. I like how the characters were interesting. I like how the book was exciting. So, as you can see, I know what I like. And what I would like, is for those two not to have molested the series in such a terrible way.
The Prelude to Dune series managed to pretty well destroy the mystique around the characters and implemented a kind of very cheap version of Star Wars to a universe that was rich with an already fantastic ethos. The characters they created were basically stereotypes, with almost none of the charm that was so evident in the original. Even the Baron Harkonnen had a kind of charm when Frank Herbert wrote him in the first novel. What they did was make a very poor soap opera in a futuristic setting. Honestly, who gives a shit?
To conclude, my older brother (who got me into Dune in the first place, God bless 'im) asked to borrow the books. I lent them to him and being a good younger brother, gave him fair warning. “Dude, you might not like these. They’re kind of bad.” He nodded sagely. “So if it’s cold or I need some toilet paper?” I crossed him gravely. “Then you do what you need to do brother.”
(When I got them back pages 22-27 were missing. Not surprised)
I liked the universe of Dune. I liked the Bene Gesserit being weird and mysterious. I liked the Mentats being weird and manipulative. I liked the fremen being absolute psychopaths (and weird). I liked the way the plot was twisted, convoluted and impossible to completely comprehend the first time through. I like how the dialogue was good. I like how the characters were interesting. I like how the book was exciting. So, as you can see, I know what I like. And what I would like, is for those two not to have molested the series in such a terrible way.
The Prelude to Dune series managed to pretty well destroy the mystique around the characters and implemented a kind of very cheap version of Star Wars to a universe that was rich with an already fantastic ethos. The characters they created were basically stereotypes, with almost none of the charm that was so evident in the original. Even the Baron Harkonnen had a kind of charm when Frank Herbert wrote him in the first novel. What they did was make a very poor soap opera in a futuristic setting. Honestly, who gives a shit?
To conclude, my older brother (who got me into Dune in the first place, God bless 'im) asked to borrow the books. I lent them to him and being a good younger brother, gave him fair warning. “Dude, you might not like these. They’re kind of bad.” He nodded sagely. “So if it’s cold or I need some toilet paper?” I crossed him gravely. “Then you do what you need to do brother.”
(When I got them back pages 22-27 were missing. Not surprised)
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