Dune
question
Did Brian Herbert add new chapters to the original?
Daniel
Feb 26, 2013 12:59AM
This is something I'm very curious about.
I have an older copy of the book from about 10-15 years ago, but I'm not sure where it is. I wanted to read it again, but since I couldn't find it, decided to download an audiobook version.
If I'm not mistaken, it's part of a 2007 audiobook compilation of all the books by Frank, and the first prequels by Brian.
I read Brian's prequel series, and I did read his Butlerian Jihad books. The first I enjoyed as a teenager but now find it amateurish in... most things. The BJ books were just terrible from conception. It's impossible to read those without thinking "Did Frank really mean humans fighting robots?"
In any case, I synced my iPod with the original Dune book in audio, and prepared to listen to the one established book in the entire series.
And was puzzled, because there were parts I didn't quite remember. It's been a while since I read Dune, so I can't be absolutely sure. But I am highly suspicious about passages which describe events which only happened in Brian's prequels, like Gurney Halleck's sister, or how Duke Leto's father died.
And then there's a chapter about Leto pondering his choice to come to Arrakis, and in it there's pointless added stereotypical banter of arriving Atreides soldiers which feels horribly out of place.
I couldn't continue past that, but I'm really curious if Brian's continuing fecal spray has gone on to include changing the original work.
I have an older copy of the book from about 10-15 years ago, but I'm not sure where it is. I wanted to read it again, but since I couldn't find it, decided to download an audiobook version.
If I'm not mistaken, it's part of a 2007 audiobook compilation of all the books by Frank, and the first prequels by Brian.
I read Brian's prequel series, and I did read his Butlerian Jihad books. The first I enjoyed as a teenager but now find it amateurish in... most things. The BJ books were just terrible from conception. It's impossible to read those without thinking "Did Frank really mean humans fighting robots?"
In any case, I synced my iPod with the original Dune book in audio, and prepared to listen to the one established book in the entire series.
And was puzzled, because there were parts I didn't quite remember. It's been a while since I read Dune, so I can't be absolutely sure. But I am highly suspicious about passages which describe events which only happened in Brian's prequels, like Gurney Halleck's sister, or how Duke Leto's father died.
And then there's a chapter about Leto pondering his choice to come to Arrakis, and in it there's pointless added stereotypical banter of arriving Atreides soldiers which feels horribly out of place.
I couldn't continue past that, but I'm really curious if Brian's continuing fecal spray has gone on to include changing the original work.
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I have the memory of a pocket calculator so i might be wrong but i certainly dont remember:
Gurney Halleck's sister
anything about the Duke's dad
or that part about the soldiers
i would say you are correct but im the most unreliable of witnesses.
Gurney Halleck's sister
anything about the Duke's dad
or that part about the soldiers
i would say you are correct but im the most unreliable of witnesses.
Okay read the original way back when but have listened to recent audio book. If my memory serves...
Gurney Halleck's sister is mentioned - something to do with her favourite flower.
Duke Leto's father was killed by an animal and the head of the dead animal was mounted and had to be displayed in the dining room.
Soldiers banter something to do with the duke listening in.
Sorry my memory isn't great and perhaps I've been influenced by the audio book....
Gurney Halleck's sister is mentioned - something to do with her favourite flower.
Duke Leto's father was killed by an animal and the head of the dead animal was mounted and had to be displayed in the dining room.
Soldiers banter something to do with the duke listening in.
Sorry my memory isn't great and perhaps I've been influenced by the audio book....
deleted member
Feb 26, 2013 09:53PM
0 votes
I can't recall about the other parts, but my super, crazy old copy of Dune definitely includes the info about the Duke's father.
It's a pretty major point between Leto and Jessica during the move to Arrakis.
It's a pretty major point between Leto and Jessica during the move to Arrakis.
I don't have a copy of the newer reprint, but according to the Goodreads description, the most recent edition has 608 pages. Most of the other editions have around 500-560. That doesn't really mean much, of course, given the vagaries of font size, page size, etc. but it does make me curious.
The first edition of Dune certainly mentions "She had loved pansies . . . or was it daisies? He [Gurney Halleck] couldn't remember." This of course was Gurney's sister who had died 'in a pleasure house for the Harkonnens'.
The trophy of the boar's head that had killed the old Duke was always to hang in the main hall with preserved blood of the Duke still on its horns.
There are both conversations between Leto and Jessica and internal dialogue from Leto about the mixed reaction he has to having been 'ordered' to Arrakis by the Padishah Emperor.
So these are not 'additions' to the original but they have been rearranged in sequence. I haven't listened to any audio book in the Dune saga so I can't really comment on them.
I haven't found the section on the soldiers specifically but I do remember a comment or two made by them as the march through the halls under Duncan's command.
The trophy of the boar's head that had killed the old Duke was always to hang in the main hall with preserved blood of the Duke still on its horns.
There are both conversations between Leto and Jessica and internal dialogue from Leto about the mixed reaction he has to having been 'ordered' to Arrakis by the Padishah Emperor.
So these are not 'additions' to the original but they have been rearranged in sequence. I haven't listened to any audio book in the Dune saga so I can't really comment on them.
I haven't found the section on the soldiers specifically but I do remember a comment or two made by them as the march through the halls under Duncan's command.
I really enjoyed the original Dune and I think it would be downright disrespectful of of Brian or anyone else to deface his work. Writing a prequel or a sequel is one thing, but leave the man's original work alone.
Hear, hear.
Alas, nothing is sacred these days when in pursuit of profit.
Alas, nothing is sacred these days when in pursuit of profit.
Daniel wrote: "This is something I'm very curious about.
I have an older copy of the book from about 10-15 years ago, but I'm not sure where it is. I wanted to read it again, but since I couldn't find it, decid..."
Oh my God, you're kidding! I too never liked the Legends of Dune series or how the duo chose to end Frank's series. I mean really, shoehorning Erasmus and Omnius into the plot the way they did was crass and amateurish to say the least!
But to know they are also going back to rewrite his legacy to make their own work fit. It's like Lucas rebooting the original movies to accord with his terrible prequels. If anything, the terrible follow-ups should accord to the original, not the other way around!
I have an older copy of the book from about 10-15 years ago, but I'm not sure where it is. I wanted to read it again, but since I couldn't find it, decid..."
Oh my God, you're kidding! I too never liked the Legends of Dune series or how the duo chose to end Frank's series. I mean really, shoehorning Erasmus and Omnius into the plot the way they did was crass and amateurish to say the least!
But to know they are also going back to rewrite his legacy to make their own work fit. It's like Lucas rebooting the original movies to accord with his terrible prequels. If anything, the terrible follow-ups should accord to the original, not the other way around!
