Postby SandRider » 21 Apr 2011 20:14
I ain't never been one to let facts or unsubstantiated speculation
stand in the way of my agenda ....
anyway, I read on the internet that the reason Paramount dropped the project,
and why no-one else will ever pick it up, is that Paramount lawyers got ahold
of the actual contents of the "two safety deposit boxes" ... there WERE extensive
notes for the outline of "Dune 7" and very specific instructions to turn them (and the
copyright) over to Norman Spinrad in case Frank died before he could write the book
himself; the other piece of paper in there transferred all Frank's assets, notes & papers,
and the copyrights to all his other books to "The Herbert Foundation for American Literature",
a non-profit to be based at Fullerton and headed by Dr. McNelly (there was also a procedure
to return the "Dune" copyrights to this Foundation after the publication of "Dune 7", and
a very detailed procedure for Dr. McNelly and Spinrad to follow to choose another
author for "Dune 7", if Spinrad felt he was not up to the task or his health failed, and a very
clear directive that in no case should Frank's son, Brian Herbert, be allowed any input or
participation in any Dune-related projects, or any type of role in the "Herbert Foundation";
Frank specifically left control of his personal, commercial, and literary assets to Willis McNelly
exclusively, contingent on the execution of his plan for the Foundation, at Fullerton; he named
Dr. McNelly, Vonda McEntire, Spinrad, and Harlan Ellison as "co-equal trustees", and briefly
outlined a suggested format for choosing succeeding "trustees", but obviously left those future
decisions to the "Foundation Four"; and despite the obvious implications of this long-suppressed
document, the main reason the Paramount lawyers got itchy was the last little part, which stated
that in the event of the non-execution of Frank's plan for the Foundation, control of his
entire estate would devolve onto someone named "Sue Arfive" ....
................ I exist only to amuse myself ................
I personally feel that this message board, Jacurutu, is full of hateful folks who don't know
how to fully interact with people. ~ "Spice Grandson" (Bryon Merrit) 08 June 2008