I wouldn't say that Bruce's decision to become gay as a response to his father makes him necessarily gay (he just forced it upon himself), nor would I say that Brian is in any position to accurately acertain the psychology of his brother. Still, though Bruce Herbert is kind of the black sheep of the family, Brian's claim that Bruce shared many similarities with his father despite their uneven relationship is impressive nonetheless. Sorry if I am going to jump off to bold what-if scenarios, especially with other members of the Herbert family, but here it isBruce's homosexuality was had never been accepted by my father, and they had never reached full rapprochement. Still, when my brother came to Seatle he broke into tears while riding in the backseat of my car. Penny and Jan consoled him. My brother told me later that he didn't cry from love, because he didn't feel he loved the man. He said he cried from what he had never experienced in the relationship between his father.
I missed almost everything," Bruce said. "I never saw the good side he showed you. He wasn't there fore me."
He went on to say that he couldn't watch movies or television programs having to do with father-son relationships, because they upset him so much. I told him that Dad loved him, that he spoke of him often and fondly, and that he just didn't know how to show it. I reminded Bruce of all the ways he emulated our father, and of the many interests they shared . . . electronics, computers, science fiction, photography, flamenco guitar . . . and I asked if that could possible mean that he loved Dad after all. My brother fell silent.
If Bruce does share a number of interests with his father, would that make him eligible as a likely legitimate heir to writing (or rewriting) the Dune prequels and sequels?
Again, I know I am being bold, so please don't draw my blood, take my water, and throw me to the desert for the worms too quickly.