Jᴀᴄᴜʀᴜᴛᴜ - Tʜᴇ Cᴀsᴛ Oᴜᴛ

Hi all,

I posted in the "FH's Other Books" to start, but I feel like explaining what brought me here.

Got introduced to Dune as a kid through my older brother who was a big fan. While I hadn't read the novels, I remember being intrigued by looking through a large coffee table size version of the Encyclopedia, then the Lynch films, as well as a lot of film inspired spin-off stuff was around at that time too (mid/late 80s?)- I specifically remember having a Marvel Comics adaptation of the movie (I was still a kid and Dune was out of my league at that point).

I knew I had to do the series justice one day by sitting down and reading through it. Fast Forward to my 20s, I was living in Tokyo, and somewhat desperate for reading material from home. Browsing through a massive bookstore in Shinjuku, I came across the Dune novels and decided now was the time. I ate 'em up. Over the course of 4 years in Japan I read through all 6 books, I read through a second time with a highliter, and started a 3rd read through with a pen, underlining and making notations in the margins. I couldn't get enough.

So time, passes, I'm overseas, so I'm not really up on pop-culture or anything back home, when one day, in the same bookstore I see the 'House" series in paperback. I'd been aware that Brian had published books before, but I'd never heard of Kevin Anderson.

I didn't need to be prepped that this was going to be Dune-lite, I just had this vibe that it was going to be just that. I read through them, as I was voracious for anything Dune. I had low expectations, I knew they were going to be shallow, and at the time I felt. "Hey, Dune-lite is better than no Dune at all"

Then the 'Legends' series. I guess I felt obligated as a Dune fan to fill in the gaps, but the straw that broke the camel's back for me was "The Battle of Corrin". I can go into detail, but I'm sure you have threads on it already.

I read the Dune 7 cash-ins dispassionately, almost like it was homework. I did make it a point of principle to get it from the library, no way was I going to get burned again.

I gave them a chance, but enough is enough.

It would be almost funny how transparently they are raping this series if it weren't something that had so much potential and still had such a strong following.

Anyway, back to the start, in searching for an answer to my OP, I googled "Dune Forums" and you can guess where that brought me first. I kid you not, I browsed the forums for not more than 2 minutes and I knew something was seriously wrong because there was no criticism of the spin-offs. I had read some Amazon reviews before and found out there was a lot of controversy about critical reviews being pulled for no good reason, and lots of 5 star reviews that basically regurgitated the PR press kit.

So I found you guys, and have signed up to fight the good fight. I may be done with their spin-offs, but I can help but be disgusted by the petty tactics used to cover up how, just, half-assed these books are. And the fact that they are now going back and cramming books into any gap they can find between previous books just tells me they are just milking it dry.
I'm down with those clowns.

Welcome home!

Welcome. I think you need to go back and get banned an DN first, though.

welcome on board. Looking forward to getting to know you better.

Cro-Mags wrote: I'm down with those clowns.

Oops, I meant "I'm DONE with those clowns"

Did I mention I suck at typing/proofreading?

Cro-Mags wrote:

Cro-Mags wrote: I'm down with those clowns.

Oops, I meant "I'm DONE with those clowns"

Did I mention I suck at typing/proofreading?

Don't worry, some of us might make a few mistakes along the way too.

Renegade Rev Mother wrote: It is rather amazing, isn't it, that we, the fans of Frank Herbert's original masterpieces, are considered The Cast Out?

I don't know if I see it that way.

In my mind, they have the legal right to write sequels. You don't get legal rights because of merit.

But I don't have to recognize them as spiritual sequels.

They can call the books whatever they want, it doesn't make them something they can never be in spirit.

From my perspective they are outsiders, usurpers. What they do under the guise of IP ownership is academic to me.

McDonald's could come out with a 'Porterhouse Steak Burger', but if it's the same, bland, grey junkfood, I reserve the right to call B.S.

Nice intro Cro-Mags. Welcome.

A Little Galach wrote:I think you need to go back and get banned an DN first, though.

I still haven't been banned from that place and I've been here for a little while now.

Nekhrun wrote:Nice intro Cro-Mags. Welcome.

A Little Galach wrote:I think you need to go back and get banned an DN first, though.

I still haven't been banned from that place and I've been here for a little while now.

Welcome, Cro-Mags.

I'm trying to get banned, but I don't want to do it by just saying: "Fuck you, motherfucker!" It's getting to that point, though.

yeah it's become quite the initiation rite hasn't it?
And welcome twice welcome!!

I actually tried to register but they haven't (won't?) activate my account. I'm wont to avoid that place like the plague since it seems like they stifle debate/criticism. But I'd be lying if I said I don't get a kick out of tweaking people like that.

merkin muffley wrote:

Nekhrun wrote:

A Little Galach wrote:I think you need to go back and get banned an DN first, though.

I still haven't been banned from that place and I've been here for a little while now.

I'm trying to get banned, but I don't want to do it by just saying: "Fuck you, motherfucker!" It's getting to that point, though.

I've never tried to get banned, but I'm shocked that I haven't been considering some of the milder posts that others have been kicked out for.

merkin muffley wrote:I'm trying to get banned, but I don't want to do it by just saying: "Fuck you, motherfucker!" It's getting to that point, though.

I kind of threw myself under the bus at DN because no matter what I said, he would not ban me. So I took the choice out of his hands, and that was somewhat empowering. But at C-H Tabr, I joined, went on and said "FU!" to Hyppo. I wanted to be the very first one banned there, and IIRC I was.

Achlan!

Have I said "Welcome home!", yet?

Achlan wasachlan!


I take it you're not here in Japan any longer? (I'm in Fukushima and Mr Teg is between here and Tokyo.)

I'm getting jealous of all you Japanese livin people!

SandChigger wrote:Achlan wasachlan!


I take it you're not here in Japan any longer? (I'm in Fukushima and Mr Teg is between here and Tokyo.)

Oh wow, cool.
No, I'm back in the States now, was living/working in Ikebukuro. Met my wife there, so we go back once a year or so to see friends/family. I was just there (Tokyo/Saitama/Kanegawa) in May.

Man, I hate that flight (JFK to Narita).

Have some tonkatsu and few Super Drys for me!

Cool.

I honestly can't remember the last time I went into Tokyo, much less been to Ikebukuro. I used to go in several times a month, when I lived in Tsukuba (the first 8 or 9 years I was over here).

I used to hate the flights, too, but the last few years I've finally gotten to the point where I can sleep on the plane, so it's not so bad. Miss the free booze, though.

(I only do Kirin Classic and Ebisu these days, but I'll raise a glass to you next time. )

Welcome! Your story sounds familiar; you'll fit right in here.

HBJ

hi

Welcome