So.... Anyone read the final Dune book? (Sandworms of Dune)

[nimbu]

Got it yesterday, bunked the day off work and read it cover to cover......

Dunno feel kinda weird about it. Glad that it now has a conclusion, however just have my sincere doubts that any of the prequels and the concluding books have anything to do with FH's vision of the the end....

Nims

[Fraz]

I read the first one of the Dune series a couple of months ago and liked it... which of the others are actually worth it then?

[charleski]

You have to read them in order or it makes no sense at all.

Given that Herbert died 11 years ago, is this anything more than just milking the franchise?

[kalniel]

Yes. Pure lait.

Just read the original one and don't go near the rest. It's better that way.

[nimbu]

Original Series
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emporer if Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse Dune

First set of Prequals
House Atreides
House Harkonnen
House Corrino

Second set of Prequals
Butlerian Jihad
The Machine Crusade
The Battle of Corrin

Final Books
Hunters Of Dune
Sandworms of Dune

Actual Timeline would be

Butlerian Jihad
The Machine Crusade
The Battle of Corrin
House Atreides
House Harkonnen
House Corrino
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emporer if Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse Dune
Hunters Of Dune
Sandworms of Dune

I presume that would be the order to read it in now, if thats what you do dont let the first 6 put you off, the orignals are well worth the wait.

"You have to read them in order or it makes no sense at all.

Given that Herbert died 11 years ago, is this anything more than just milking the franchise?"

Well supposidly a notebook was found with an outline and plots for the final book, but BH and KJA delt the need to write the 6 prequals (another three on the way too i think), to set the stage for 7th and final book that FH had planned. So yes i agree milking the franchise. Dont get me wrong both are good writers, just cant hold a candle to the work of FH.

[charleski]

Actually, I can't count, Herbert died 21 years ago, heh.

[not_my_ip]

I have finished on last dune at F. Herbert, never read this sequels by Brian Herbert (is he his son?).
God Emperor took me lots of time, was somehow not so good as the rest.
So tell me are this, 2 last books good? I'm mean good to read, interesting etc?
I would not expect same kind of stile cause these are different writers.

[mildlyAmused]

Heretics of Dune was the one I just couldn't start. God Emperor was hard going, didn't really seem as gripping as the previous books. It put me off reading any of the others.

[nimbu]

So tell me are this, 2 last books good? I'm mean good to read, interesting etc?
I would not expect same kind of stile cause these are different writers.

As ive said to find out what happens yes. However they introduce some characters and ideas that you wont be able to grasp unless you have read the prequels. General depth of the newer books is lacking.

If you mean Heretic and CH, I would say yes they are worth it in an instant.

Also any one else notice, you know the extracts before each chapter. In the original books they added a sense of depth and were random. In the sequels they were always based upon the characters / factions that the chapter was about.

Heretics of Dune was the one I just couldn't start. God Emperor was hard going, didn't really seem as gripping as the previous books. It put me off reading any of the others.

Actually found Chapterhouse the hardest to read, God Emp being one of my favourites, only Second to Children of Dune.

[Agent]

Not yet, but I will soon enough.
I'm a huge Dune fan, but nothing really stands up to the original IMO (Children was very good though).

I managed to get the "Dune Encyclopaedia" not too long back, which seems to be a rare one (granted, its not official Dune material, but still an interesting read )

[nimbu]

I managed to get the "Dune Encyclopaedia" not too long back, which seems to be a rare one (granted, its not official Dune material, but still an interesting read )

Nice! Did a hunt a few years back for it but didnt find that one. However found a 1st edition of one of the book signed by FH. Was really really tempted but it was £2k at the time........

[IBM]

Whereas if you'd been able to get one at the bargain price of £1.5K, you'd have snapped it right up....

Better be a bloody good read at that price...

[nimbu]

Tbh i would have bought it at £2k if i had the money, no questions asked. I first read Dune at the age of about 14. It change my outlook on a lot of things and thus is very special to me.

[IBM]

yeah man, I never used those standard commercially available stillsuits after reading Dune, custom Fremen suits FTW!!!

[charleski]

I'm not trying to knock the Dune series, I read it as a teenager as well and loved it (and have reread the early books again since then), but it does betray the era in which it was written. In many ways it represents the activist hippy dream: you can be high most of the time and still get your act together enough to rule the world and fix everything.
Turn on, tune in, become a demi-god.

[Agent]

I first read Dune at the age of about 14. It change my outlook on a lot of things and thus is very special to me.

Same here (around 15 though).
So much of it I didn't really understand, but as time went on it was more of a case of "I'm sure I've read this somewhere".

I also have "The Notebooks of Frank Herbert's Dune" somewhere. Although im hoping I didn't loose it in the move. It was mint condition.
Not actually that good as a book, just hard to find though