Dune Series - Buddy Read

[Saumitra]

Anyone interested in discussing the Dune series, please feel free to join

[Sarah]

Did you get any takers to join you with this?

[Saumitra]

Tru mentioned in the main thread that she would be joining for this..

[Tru]

I did, I did. I found it. We start now right?

[Sarah]

Saumitra wrote: "Tru mentioned in the main thread that she would be joining for this.."

Excellent! Glad you have found a buddy :-) I would like to read it at some point as it's been on my TBR for a long while but it's a chunkster which I can't commit to now. I hope you guys enjoy it!

[Sarah]

Saumitra wrote: "Tru mentioned in the main thread that she would be joining for this.."

Excellent! Glad you have found a buddy :-) I would like to read it at some point as it's been on my TBR for a long while but it's a chunkster which I can't commit to now. I hope you guys enjoy it!

[Saumitra]

Yeah Tru, I have already finished the first book, will post in a while, since I am traveling and posting using the mobile app is not really convenient.

[Kandice]

In 9th grade we had to read this book for English and I didn't want to for some reason. I put it off and put it off passing the 10 question, Friday quizzes just by listening to class discussion. When the teacher announced that the final would be three essay questions about Dune I panicked and realized I'd never pass without reading. I read it over a weekend and absolutely fell in love!

I went on to read the entire series (originals only by Herbert, NOT his son) and Dune over and over. It is one of the best examples of world building ever, bar none!

[Janice, Moderator]

One of these days, I'll have to read Dune.

[Tru]

Im loving what Im reading so far. A little confused but that only makes it more interesting.

[Almeta]

Janice wrote: "One of these days, I'll have to read Dune."

I read the Trilogy (when it was only that) a long time ago.

Dune, the first book, was wonderful. I've never forgotten it. After the initial three, I was not compelled to continue.

Although the film had a lot of great actors in it, for some reason, I thought the movie sucked. Kenneth McMillan's character "Baron Vladimir Harkonnen", was way over the top. Maybe I wasn't ready for surrealist director, David Lynch back then!☻

[Kandice]

I love the movie only for nostalgic reasons (and Sting!) but think they could do a much, much better version today. I wish Frank Darabont or someone of his caliber would tackle that.

[Janice, Moderator]

Almeta wrote: "Janice wrote: "One of these days, I'll have to read Dune."

I read the Trilogy (when it was only that) a long time ago. "

The buddy read might compel me to make that "someday" sooner. Who knows, it could be level 7 or 8 in the killer challenge. We'll see.

[Cherie]

I read the Dune books when it was only a trilogy too. I was so fascinated with the Freemen and the spice and the worms. I read them over and over and have vivid memories of the story. I have never red his son's books.

The movies always disappointed me, but there are scenes stuck in my head that I have never forgotten.

[Saumitra]

I completed the first book. Being an Asimov fan, was invariably drawn into comparisons with the Foundation series, which I still seem to prefer. But on its own, Dune was a good read. BTW, can I post the spoiler tags from a mobile App?

[Cherie]

Saumitra wrote: "I completed the first book. Being an Asimov fan, was invariably drawn into comparisons with the Foundation series, which I still seem to prefer. But on its own, Dune was a good read. BTW, can I pos..."

RE the Asimov/Foundation series vs Dune. I was never a fan of Foundation. I read Heinline before I read Asimov, and his books were always dry and slow for me.

You can write spoilers in the app, if you know the format, but you cannot read them in the app thread, only in the on-line thread.

(view spoiler)[I edited my comment. (hide spoiler)]

[Colleen]

I need to get to this book. I don't recall the movie either, but I know it was a big hit. I picked up a used copy of the novel at a sale last year and would like to schedule it in soon.

[Tru]

Ok, I need an explanation. What is the difference between what Paul is and what they thought he was going to be? I keep re-reading it but can not get the grip of it.

[Kandice]

Tru wrote: "Ok, I need an explanation. What is the difference between what Paul is and what they thought he was going to be? I keep re-reading it but can not get the grip of it."
(view spoiler)[I started typing a big explanation, but this is probably better...http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Kwisatz_Ha... (hide spoiler)]

[Tru]

Thanks Kandice!

[Suzanne]

I'm so excited for you embarking on such a wonderful series! I've read almost all of the Dune books, including the prequels and fillers by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. I think I only have two more to read at this point (but those two keep writing more, so it really never seems to end!) Happy reading!

[Saumitra]

At the end of my 2 weeks travel, I am done with the first two Books. Below are my views on them:

(view spoiler)[Loved the build up of the story (although not much information about rest of the empire other than Dune was mentioned). The transition of Paul into Muad'dib was beautifully portrayed. Although Lady Jessica's transition to a reverend mother was also spectacular, Paul obviously overshadowed everything else.

Paul's toppling of the Harkonnen regime was believable, but the Emperor himself coming and finding himself helpless seemed pretty illogical to me. The end was also pretty abrupt (As I keep comparing this with Foundation, Foundation seems more logical as the empire took almost 400 odd years before totally crumbling and the Foundation becoming the center of the empire. Whereas within 2 years, the entire Empire shifted to Dune. I agree that Dune controlled the spice, but it still seems a bit far fetched, considering the Guild steersmen also had prescience, albeit not as strong as Paul's.

The ruling via religion again draws parallels with the concept portrayed in the Foundation and obviously is pretty logical.

I really loved the ending of the second book, wherein Paul after losing his eyes keeps it up till Chani's death after which his prescience deserts him. Still trying to understand how his kids were born with the awareness, so will wait for the third book to reveal further details.

Overall Paul's road to becoming a Messiah was beautifully portrayed, along with his human and "Prophet" side.
(hide spoiler)]

[Lynda]

Excited to find this thread. I'm currently on Book 4, The God Emperor...

I read Dune years ago, and never wanted to read the sequels because it felt like such a perfect story, I didn't want it spoiled by inferior copies. I decided to add Dune to this year's Serial Killer challenge, and haven't been disappointed yet. I'll need to get off the app and read everyone's spoilers when I can.

I'm also a fan of Lynch's movie, in as much as I'm a fan of David Lynch. However, I think of it as something other than an adaptation of the books.

[Saumitra]

Having completed the 3rd book of the original trilogy, I found it really good and now I would rate it at par with the Foundation series (which i really do love). By mistake I directly moved to Heretics of Dune, but it seems independent enough and am already loving it.

[Kim]

Just finishing Book One, which I've read on Kindle, mainly because it was listed as one of the Top 100 Books in the BBC Big Read list sone years ago. Not usually a Sci-fi fan but really enjoyed this and would give it 5 stars. Thought it was a SF version of Lord of the Rings ot Game of Thrones - great characters, unique setting, excellent diplomatic intrigue etc. Superb!

[Lynda]

Yes, Kim, it contains all that great palace intrigue that is one of my favorite aspects of The Game of Thrones.

I love how internal the Dune series is, I think that is what keeps drawing me in time after time. Also, because it's so methodical and much of it is anticipation that the action is intense and much more exciting then standard-issue, action sci-fi.