r/books discussion
This topic is about
Dune
Book Support Group
>
[Discussion] Dune with Darliza for April 1-30, 2013
date
newest »
newest »
message 51:
by
Darliza
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Apr 11, 2013 11:40PM
I always saw Mentats as similar to "Coordinators" from the GUNDAM universe. They're really very similar though. I wonder if the GUNDAM creators were inspired in one way or another by Herbert's Dune? hmm.
reply
|
flag
Any favorite Dune character so far? And why?
I can't say I have a favorite. I think the most interesting was Petir... But that didn't last long. I think Mapes might have gone somewhere. Her character seems set up to have so much more meaning than it did. TL;DR All the interesting characters are dead.
When I first started on the book, I was expecting myself to like Paul because he's supposedly this cool messiah kid. But I don't. I'm not connecting with Paul at all, but this is probably because he is someone I really shouldn't connect with. He is the Muad'Dib after all.
Looks like we haven't had much activity in here recently. Have we all fizzled out? Did any of you see the recent post on Reddit (either r/books or r/booksuggestions) about the most overrated books that get recommended on Reddit all of the time? Someone said Dune and stated that they thought it was not a great book, etc. I backed that used up and mentioned we were reading it here and most were not impressed. i got downvoted a few times haha. Looks like the Dune lovers are still out in force! Sorry for having an opinion, Reddit. Anyway, I finished the book a few days ago and was still left wondering what exactly Dune's version of "Human" and "non-human" is? There doesn't seem to be any explanation. I understand the Mentat thing, but this...?
Also, I am left very dissatisfied with Herbert's religion/mysticism theme. He seems to be very confised about his own feelings on the subject, and that shows in the characters. There is obvious mysticism at play in Paul's rise to a demi-god (not the right term, I know), yet Jessica keeps referring back to the Bene Gesserit's planting of religious ideas throughout the galaxy. That is just an example; I think the entire book is interwoven with characters contrasting themselves over the existence, the importance, or the falsity of religion throughout the galaxy. It became very muddles for me and led to my overall ambivalence hedging towards dislike of the book. Does anyone else have thoughts on this? Similar or opposing viewpoints? I would love to hear from you all!
Mod
I will keep subscribed and definitely keen to do this again. :)"
I am sorry guys and gals but I am with Charlotte, I just cannot get into this book! I feel there are SO many good novels with better characterization.
The other problem for me is that science fiction is not my thing either. I have tried over the years and even took a sci fi english class. That was short stories, most of which I didn't really 'get' either, but it did give me a wide range of authors and styles to read.
Didn't mean to let everyone down. I will start on Midsummer's Night Dream and hopefully have more 'intelligent' things to say next month!
It's okay if you didn't make it all the way through- at least you tried something that you normally wouldn't have. Thanks for participating :)!
I'm through Book Two. My sentiments echo many of your above comments.The crux of it, for me, is that Herbert is too generous in divulging character emotions and designs. The result is a reading experience woefully lacking in mystery and speculative page-turning. To borrow an expression from AS Byatt, I'm just not feeling the narrative greed.
The bird's eye view of the plot does deserve some applause. When I think of everything that's happened, it feels like an epic D&D sleepover-world-building session where every participant is a savant.
Sadly, most of this feeling is in retrospect. Normally a failed assassination attempt would send me to giddy stratospheres, but in Dune, it barely registers.
Mod
I did try - honest - twice actually - LOL. I had started the book a long time ago and thought it was just me! Guess by some of the comments, I sense not.
Shakespeare will be new to me too - I am more of a Dickens fan myself - think I only have read Romeo and Juliet. Up to try anything once though!
I'm having a very busy time at work so I'm just dropping by for a short comment:Count me among the minority because I really am liking Dune so far. :) I'm a big science fiction fan and I like epic books. Books that dare to do or accomplish great things and books that have great ideas. Often, great works of science fiction aren't very character-centric. They tend to focus more on the motivations of the events that happen to the characters or to the world which they live in. I think Dune has all that.
EDIT: I still think Asimov kicks Herbert's ass.
EDIT2: I loved the way Dune managed to imply the vast history and cultural and political complexity of its Universe. I'd buy a copy of the Orange Catholic Bible if it exists.
Eric wrote: "I seemed to be middle of the road with this book. I love the description of the world and the political structures, but I don't seem to care for anyone but the bad guys haha.Random, random questi..."
Those were my thoughts exactly. We know it is darker than sand, and they describe it as smelling like cinnamon, so.... my mind sticks on cinnamon. I wish Herbert would have done a more thorough job on laying out the importance and properties of the spice. We only find out near the end in an off-hand comment that it opens up the future's possibilities. Also, it is frequently called the "geriatric spice", and it is hinted (or maybe stated outright?) that is causes longer life, but then there is no evidence of that among the Fremen. I should think this would be a major reason why this planet is so important.
Mod
Jennifer wrote: "Random, random question, but what does everyone think spice looks like? I don't remember it being described in the book. So I think it looks kind of like cinnamon, just more coarse like sand. Thoughts? "
I imagine it looking like cinnamon too. I know (from the book) that it was put in coffee (and on everything, to some people's dismay), and smells like cinnamon.
A question for those who have gotten far along: As of Books I and II, what did you think Dune is all about?
It would be interesting to compare this to what we think it is after reading the whole thing. For people who have finished the book, feel free to comment! :)
@Darliza- what do you think about a poll of what everyone has rated the book upon finishing? Then we can have an average of how our book rated among the group readers and we can put that rating on the group bookshelf :).
@Ashley: I don't think there's any "group rating" for books in the group shelf. There is only "My Rating" which is reflected in your profile. The Group shelf is a bit weird too since there are a lot of books read personally there and not together/as a group?Back to topic: Maybe some of us in the book support group can post our reviews or thoughts regarding Dune in the group blog.
Ahh Darliza, you are correct. Nevermind then haha.
Eric wrote: "Also, I wonder how they physically remove the water from corpses..."Yes. This. I wondered that the whole damn book. No answer. My guess is that they drain it like a mortician would, then use some sort of water purification to turn it into potable water?
I know I haven't read very far but I assumed that it was meant like "life water" aka blood. Yes? No?
Ashley wrote: "I know I haven't read very far but I assumed that it was meant like "life water" aka blood. Yes? No?"No, I think they literally mean water. They carry it around mixed with all their other water and drink it or offer it to others who are thirsty. It seems like they have some sort of portable device to collect the water too, since they are able to do it in the middle of the desert. I liked the water preserving technology - that was really the only new technology in the book - and I wish it would have been described or explained more.
I think my favorite scene was the assassination attempt at the end of book 1.
A Deathstill was mentioned - a place where the water from the body can be retained. It's funny how one of us complains about the lack of narrative greed in Dune while some others want every thing divulged or explained. I think the "narrative greed" lies in those details that do not drive the geopolitics and intrigue in the story.
I think that Herbert presented these elements merely as a background for what he thinks are the more important parts of his epic saga, which I personally think are characterization and plot movement.
Man, I think this what makes Dune a timeless piece of science fiction. It encourages all sorts of different viewpoints and promotes discussion even after all these years. The book is different for everyone. Pretty cool, IMO. I'm glad we're reading this together. :)
Danielle wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I know I haven't read very far but I assumed that it was meant like "life water" aka blood. Yes? No?"No, I think they literally mean water. They carry it around mixed with all the..."
I interpreted as it being extracting the water from the blood, which is why they carry the body away-for proccessing.
As far as the rest of the book, I was underwhelmed. The political intrigue of the 3 main powers as well as the history of the fremen is barely explained, the characterization leaves a sense of disconnect with the characters and the narrative has very common narrative plot points(potentially a result of it's influence).
The world is carefully crafted, but what Herbert chooses to explore is not always the most interesting part of the world, a good example being all the conspiracy intrigue amidst the Harkonnen side, which serves little more than to reinforce the notion of their evil and violent nature.
Book III managed to grasp my interest better than the first two, but overall I can't say this novel rocked my world. There's a great narrative in this novel, but the author doesn't tell us the best bits.
I'll read it again some day just to check.
