Interview with EVeryone's Favourite Dictater

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » 13 Feb 2008 20:46

Oh. If A, then B. B, therefore A?

That's easy, it's affirming the consequent.

Edit: Actually, that's a more simplistic version of what's going on here. The actual, full argument would be more like:

A: Frank's books are good.
B: Frank's books were initially disliked.
C: Eventually, Frank's books were acknowledged as good.

KJA is making a bad generalization: Books that are good are always acknowledged as being good. SO:

A: KJA's books are disliked.
B: Books that are good will eventually be acknowledged as being good.
THEREFORE
C: KJA's books will eventually be acknowledged as being good.
D: KJA's books are good.

However, this is faulty logic, because he has to assume that his books are good in order to prove that they are good. Since they are not good, even though (B) is false, his books will not necessarily be acknowledged as good.

GamePlayer · Post by **GamePlayer** » 13 Feb 2008 21:09

Thanks for the quotes. That confirms all I need to know about this crap.

Having just finished reading Dune Messiah for only my second time, I have to say I like it much more now as an adult than I did as a child. Most importantly, I appreciate the high quality of the writing. It's still not as good as Dune, but it is head and shoulders above most science fiction literature.

On the subject of KJA and his remarks, Herbert's work was worth re-examination after first release had come and gone. KJA's books are literature's equivalent of the vapid summer blockbuster made to sell the month of release and forgotten next month. Such books will never be re-examined except when historians include them as highly visible examples of the mediocre consumerism that plagued the 1990's and 2000's when nearly all art forms were at their lowest point in their respective centuries.

SandChigger · Post by **SandChigger** » 13 Feb 2008 21:18

I think the bad generalization that Kevin (and Byron, as yesman) usually makes is:

All books popularly acknowledged as good (by sales figures, in-the-pocket reviewers, etc.) are good.

Now back to the fun stuff:

ForAll(x)( ( book(x) And wrote(FH,x) ) Then good(x) ) = All FH books are good.
...

(I'm sure there's a way of doing this!

)

Post by **Omphalos** » 13 Feb 2008 23:49

SandChigger wrote:
Omphalos wrote:False syllogism?
Hmmmmmmm....

I've been trying to figure it out using this page: http://www.duniho.com/fergus/sillysyllogisms.html

ARGH! It's been too long since I did this formal logic!

AAAARRRRGGGGAAAA! Modus ponuns, modus tollens!!!! Run!!!!!

The only class I have ever failed.

Crysknife · Post by **Crysknife** » 14 Feb 2008 01:11

Wait a minute, Omph! Are you making fun of Warrant?!

BLASPHEMY!

Suzy, oh Suzy, open up the door, we won't be able to walk tomorrow so we might as well do it some more...

GodEmperorJason · Post by **GodEmperorJason** » 15 Feb 2008 03:00

Its both funny and sad how pathetic this interview was. He places the burden on the fans like we are some fickle fools that don't like anything but the original Dune. He claims constraint by FHs notes, but he obviously took a lot of liberties.

tanzeelat · Post by **tanzeelat** » 15 Feb 2008 05:14

Brian and I have now written ten novels in the Dune universe, and they have been extremely well received, winning numerous awards and being selected as New York Times Notable book (absolutely unheard-of for a novel written in somebody else’s universe), many best-of-the-year lists, etc.

Er, what awards? What "best-of-the-year" lists? Not one of the BH/KJA Dune books has appeared on the shortlists for any of the major genre awards. I have a Tor promo booklet for The Machine Crusade at home, and it mentions "critical acclaim". I scoffed when I first read that. I'm still scoffing...

tanzeelat · Post by **tanzeelat** » 15 Feb 2008 05:17

I’ve published something like 95 novels...

Eek! In twenty years! That's five a year! And we wonder why his books are shite...

Post by **Omphalos** » 15 Feb 2008 12:59

tanzeelat wrote:
Brian and I have now written ten novels in the Dune universe, and they have been extremely well received, winning numerous awards and being selected as New York Times Notable book (absolutely unheard-of for a novel written in somebody else’s universe), many best-of-the-year lists, etc.
Er, what awards? What "best-of-the-year" lists? Not one of the BH/KJA Dune books has appeared on the shortlists for any of the major genre awards. I have a Tor promo booklet for The Machine Crusade at home, and it mentions "critical acclaim". I scoffed when I first read that. I'm still scoffing...

Those are fucking lies. But I wonder if he is talking about some bullshit award that book publishers award to their stables of authors. I would not put that kind of misdirection past him (Dune scholar, anyone?)

Tleilax Master B · Post by **Tleilax Master B** » 15 Feb 2008 13:48

Omphalos wrote:
tanzeelat wrote:
Brian and I have now written ten novels in the Dune universe, and they have been extremely well received, winning numerous awards and being selected as New York Times Notable book (absolutely unheard-of for a novel written in somebody else’s universe), many best-of-the-year lists, etc.
Er, what awards? What "best-of-the-year" lists? Not one of the BH/KJA Dune books has appeared on the shortlists for any of the major genre awards. I have a Tor promo booklet for The Machine Crusade at home, and it mentions "critical acclaim". I scoffed when I first read that. I'm still scoffing...
Those are fucking lies. But I wonder if he is talking about some bullshit award that book publishers award to their stables of authors. I would not put that kind of misdirection past him (Dune scholar, anyone?)

Hey, wait a minute!!! I'm an award winning poster on the Jacurutu forum! Seriously, I just awarded myself the first annual "Master B's Award for Posting Excellence in the Category of DUNE."

Post by **Omphalos** » 15 Feb 2008 14:52

Tleilax Master B wrote:
Omphalos wrote:
tanzeelat wrote:
Brian and I have now written ten novels in the Dune universe, and they have been extremely well received, winning numerous awards and being selected as New York Times Notable book (absolutely unheard-of for a novel written in somebody else’s universe), many best-of-the-year lists, etc.
Er, what awards? What "best-of-the-year" lists? Not one of the BH/KJA Dune books has appeared on the shortlists for any of the major genre awards. I have a Tor promo booklet for The Machine Crusade at home, and it mentions "critical acclaim". I scoffed when I first read that. I'm still scoffing...
Those are fucking lies. But I wonder if he is talking about some bullshit award that book publishers award to their stables of authors. I would not put that kind of misdirection past him (Dune scholar, anyone?)
Hey, wait a minute!!! I'm an award winning poster on the Jacurutu forum! Seriously, I just awarded myself the first annual "Master B's Award for Posting Excellence in the Category of DUNE."

I think that is just like the one that Stephen Colbert put on his book "I Am America, And So Can You."

Mr. Teg · Post by **Mr. Teg** » 15 Feb 2008 21:34

If I were a Herbert I would be pissed off by Kevin's answers.
But...

I get they impression they don't care either way.

Kevin's bitches!

Tyrant · Post by **Tyrant** » 15 Feb 2008 23:12

Mr. Teg wrote:If I were a Herbert I would be pissed off by Kevin's answers.
But...

I get they impression they don't care either way.

Kevin's bitches!

anyone know if Byron is registered here?..probably not...with all the banned people here..but just curious...although he is a 'yes' man..i still have always liked him

Post by **Freakzilla** » 15 Feb 2008 23:27

Tyrant wrote:
Mr. Teg wrote:If I were a Herbert I would be pissed off by Kevin's answers.
But...

I get they impression they don't care either way.

Kevin's bitches!

anyone know if Byron is registered here?..probably not...with all the banned people here..but just curious...although he is a 'yes' man..i still have always liked him

He is.

Post by **Omphalos** » 16 Feb 2008 00:43

Tyrant wrote:
Mr. Teg wrote:If I were a Herbert I would be pissed off by Kevin's answers.
But...

I get they impression they don't care either way.

Kevin's bitches!

anyone know if Byron is registered here?..probably not...with all the banned people here..but just curious...although he is a 'yes' man..i still have always liked him

Yep.

Mr. Teg · Post by **Mr. Teg** » 16 Feb 2008 02:26

Tyrant wrote:
Mr. Teg wrote:If I were a Herbert I would be pissed off by Kevin's answers.
But...

I get they impression they don't care either way.

Kevin's bitches!

anyone know if Byron is registered here?..probably not...with all the banned people here..but just curious...although he is a 'yes' man..i still have always liked him

Brian, Byron or both?

Post by **Omphalos** » 16 Feb 2008 02:48

Brian is too weird to use a computer. It frightens him. Its scary.

Were talking about Byron. Spice Grandson, I believe.

Talos Aquinas · Post by **Talos Aquinas** » 16 Feb 2008 03:00

Isn't that weird, with him being a scifi author and all?

Has anyone connected it with the anti-machine theme of the Jihad books?

Machines are your friends.

Mr. Teg · Post by **Mr. Teg** » 16 Feb 2008 09:22

Freakzilla wrote:
Tyrant wrote:
Mr. Teg wrote:If I were a Herbert I would be pissed off by Kevin's answers.
But...

I get they impression they don't care either way.

Kevin's bitches!

anyone know if Byron is registered here?..probably not...with all the banned people here..but just curious...although he is a 'yes' man..i still have always liked him
He is.

No kidding! Ol'Pussy Willow is registered, too.

Tleilax Master B · Post by **Tleilax Master B** » 16 Feb 2008 09:26

Tyrant wrote:
Mr. Teg wrote:If I were a Herbert I would be pissed off by Kevin's answers.
But...

I get they impression they don't care either way.

Kevin's bitches!

anyone know if Byron is registered here?..probably not...with all the banned people here..but just curious...although he is a 'yes' man..i still have always liked him

yup, "spice grandson"

Tyrant Worm · Post by **Tyrant Worm** » 16 Feb 2008 21:10

Kevin's a douche. There, I said it.

Post by **Omphalos** » 16 Feb 2008 21:28

Tyrant Worm wrote:Kevin's a douche. There, I said it.

Congratulations. But we are waaaaaaaay past that my good man.

Mr. Teg · Post by **Mr. Teg** » 16 Feb 2008 22:04

Tyrant Worm wrote:Kevin's a douche. There, I said it.

If Kevin is the douche, then Brian is the bag.

There, I said it, too.

GamePlayer · Post by **GamePlayer** » 16 Feb 2008 22:04

Yeah, but sometimes it's good to go back to the fundamentals

Post by **Freakzilla** » 16 Feb 2008 22:05

I suspect Brian has little to do with it other than his name.