Page 1 of 1

Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 09 Jun 2011 21:54
by Jodorowsky's Acolyte
In Brian Herbert's personal Afterword for Dune: House Atreides, he talked about an attempt to set up an anthology of DUNE stories written by other sci-fi authors.
The trouble was, a fellow named Ed Kramer kept after me. An accomplished editor and sponsor of science fiction/fantasy conventions, he wanted to put together an anthology of short stories set in the Dune universe-- stories by different, well-known authors. He convinced me that it would be an interesting, significant project, and we talked about coediting it. All the details weren't finalized, since the project had a number of complexities, both legal and artistic.
I don't know which "different, well-known authors" Ed Kramer had in mind, or what was the actual cause for the project's complexities, but I wish the project was completed. While other Jacurutuans have sponsored the thread as to which authors are best suited to continue the franchise, I propose a list of authors, both alive and dead, who I would like to have seen write short stories for the Dune anthology.

Here they are, a list of authors acccompanied by what I think they would best write about from DUNE

William S. Burroughs -- explicit descriptions of Shai-Hulud biology, reproduction, and spice excretion; horrific, pornographic vignettes about Geidi Prime, the Harkonnens, and the Baron.

Stanislaw Lem -- cerebral exploration of the planet Arrakis' s atmosphere, ecology, orbit, and scientific history, from the point of view of an Imperial student of planetology.

Douglas Adams -- Humorous summaries and fables about Mua'dib's family and holy war.

Arthur C. Clarke -- stories ranging from the point of view of a spice harvester pilot, to a story about the tedious voyage which led to the discovery of Arrakis.

Robert Graves -- Account written by a member of House Atreides about it's private history, from the Butlerian Jihad to the time of Duke Leto.

Michael Crichton -- Cheap thrilling story about House conflict and Arakeen warfare, with political and ecological morals.

Christopher Tolkien -- Historical tale of the Zensunni wonderers, and the Fremen mythology surrounding Dune.

Robert A Heinlein -- Tales of water desire, planetary survival, and religious ecstasy among the early Zensunni inhabitants of Arrakis, and of Fremen water stealers centuries later.

William Gibson -- sparse stories about the psychology and experiences of the Guild Navigators, and the strainful effects of spice addiction and space travel.

Isaac Asimov -- Depicts a futuristic utopia on Arrakis, or, more likely, Chapterhouse, where the religions of the Orange Catholic Bible and Mua'Dib have been abolished, and where society's primary reliance is devotion to the worms and desert ecology.

That's about it.

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 10 Jun 2011 02:29
by Redstar
Jodorowsky's Acolyte wrote:Robert A Heinlein -- Tales of water desire, planetary survival, and religious ecstasy among the early Zensunni inhabitants of Arrakis, and of Fremen water stealers centuries later.
And lots of incest.

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 12:07
by Jodorowsky's Acolyte
Redstar wrote:
Jodorowsky's Acolyte wrote:Robert A Heinlein -- Tales of water desire, planetary survival, and religious ecstasy among the early Zensunni inhabitants of Arrakis, and of Fremen water stealers centuries later.
And lots of incest.
Does that mean that Heinlein had incest in his science-fiction, or that the Zensunni Wanderers and the castout Fremen had to resort to incest in order to survive? I'll assume the latter.

Are there any other really good sci-fi/fantasy authors I don't know about who could write decent short stories set in the Dune Universe? (Independent from Brian and Kevin, that is).

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 19:51
by Robspierre
Jodorowsky's Acolyte wrote:
Redstar wrote:
Jodorowsky's Acolyte wrote:Robert A Heinlein -- Tales of water desire, planetary survival, and religious ecstasy among the early Zensunni inhabitants of Arrakis, and of Fremen water stealers centuries later.
And lots of incest.
Does that mean that Heinlein had incest in his science-fiction, or that the Zensunni Wanderers and the castout Fremen had to resort to incest in order to survive? I'll assume the latter.

Are there any other really good sci-fi/fantasy authors I don't know about who could write decent short stories set in the Dune Universe? (Independent from Brian and Kevin, that is).
Heinlein in his later works used incest as part of his characters basically becoming gods and not being bound by the same rules, in particular sexual rules, as normal humans. In Time Enough For love, Lazarus Long has sex with two female clones of himself as well his mother after traveling back in time.

Rob

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 19:57
by Freakzilla
If I have sex with my clone is that masturbation?

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 08:36
by SandChigger
Only if it's a male clone? :P
Jodorowsky's Acolyte wrote:Does that mean that Heinlein had incest in his science-fiction, or that the Zensunni Wanderers and the castout Fremen had to resort to incest in order to survive? I'll assume the latter.
:doh:

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 17:03
by Redstar
Robspierre wrote:
Jodorowsky's Acolyte wrote:
Redstar wrote:
Jodorowsky's Acolyte wrote:Robert A Heinlein -- Tales of water desire, planetary survival, and religious ecstasy among the early Zensunni inhabitants of Arrakis, and of Fremen water stealers centuries later.
And lots of incest.
Does that mean that Heinlein had incest in his science-fiction, or that the Zensunni Wanderers and the castout Fremen had to resort to incest in order to survive? I'll assume the latter.

Are there any other really good sci-fi/fantasy authors I don't know about who could write decent short stories set in the Dune Universe? (Independent from Brian and Kevin, that is).
Heinlein in his later works used incest as part of his characters basically becoming gods and not being bound by the same rules, in particular sexual rules, as normal humans. In Time Enough For love, Lazarus Long has sex with two female clones of himself as well his mother after traveling back in time.
Basically the Heinlein themes I imagined/implied he would have inserted into the series, though they would have likely been realized in a very hamfisted, non-Dune way.

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 16 Jun 2011 00:23
by Jodorowsky's Acolyte
SandChigger wrote:Only if it's a male clone? :P
Jodorowsky's Acolyte wrote:Does that mean that Heinlein had incest in his science-fiction, or that the Zensunni Wanderers and the castout Fremen had to resort to incest in order to survive? I'll assume the latter.
:doh:
Come on, Sandchigger! I was trying to be respectful to Heinlein! I only read Stranger in a Strange Land, and not having read much of Heinlein's other works, I didn't know for sure. Actually, my first gut instinct was that Heinlein did incorporate incest in his science-fiction (Stranger in a Strange Land was wildly sexual enough to prove that he could do it), but then I logically considered that, in order for the small band of Zensunni wanderers to survive, they would have to inbreed. The same would probably go for the cast-out water stealers to ensure their own survival (and vengeance). Still, I admit I shouldn't have hastily written I assume the latter. I was setting myself up for a :doh: Thanks for the funny response, even though it was in reacton to my ineptitude. :D

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 16 Jun 2011 01:43
by SandChigger
Yeah... I guess it was the assumption that hybrid Muslims would be cool with incest that did it. ;)

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 14 Jul 2011 23:33
by SandRider
Freakzilla wrote:If I have sex with my clone is that masturbation?

I dated some twins from Leadville, Colorado, who insisted that
playing with each other was masturbation ....

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 04:24
by SandChigger
Were they blondes?

Re: Dune Short Stories--Proposed Authors (A&D)

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 16:23
by A Thing of Eternity
SandRider wrote:
Freakzilla wrote:If I have sex with my clone is that masturbation?

I dated some twins from Leadville, Colorado, who insisted that
playing with each other was masturbation ....
BS! Pics or it didn't happen!