Is Dune dead?

GamePlayer · Post by **GamePlayer** » 28 May 2008 23:12

Mandy wrote:Dune isn't dead, but discussion forums are probably becoming a passing fad. I don't argue with preeks, and haven't tainted the original novels with P&tB's crap.. but it's hard to debate with people who think they know it all sometimes. I've noticed Dune fans can be nitpickers which sucks some of the fun out of discussions.

Yeah, and don't make a mistake. Because, you know you're the only one that's ever done that, according to the people on the internet

Post by **Omphalos** » 28 May 2008 23:21

Tleilax Master B wrote:I've archived some of his stuff

Tleilax Master H?

Pardot Kynes · Post by **Pardot Kynes** » 28 May 2008 23:21

Nebiros · Post by **Nebiros** » 28 May 2008 23:58

And now to add to everything said, the forums themselves are dissapearing. Remember Arrakeen? Remember the Official Dunenovels forum. Both dead. I'm glad I made the decision to join this forum.

SandChigger · Post by **SandChigger** » 29 May 2008 01:39

Oh Guldur in his Sandy Heaven, SO AM I!

I personally do not know what I would do without your insightful comments.

DuneFishUK · Post by **DuneFishUK** » 29 May 2008 04:58

Nebiros wrote:And now to add to everything said, the forums themselves are dissapearing. Remember Arrakeen? Remember the Official Dunenovels forum. Both dead. I'm glad I made the decision to join this forum.

Remember the Landsraad? That still exists, but the post count is only marginally above Arrakeen atm. And a few others I occasionally swing by ain't exactly buzzing either...

We're definately in a lull. The Movie might energise the fanbase in the same way the miniseries did, but this time around we don't have the optimism we had for the original prequels - the "still finding their feet" excuse is wearing very thin...

Yup.. definately a lull:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22Frank ... 2C+arrakis

Pardot Kynes · Post by **Pardot Kynes** » 29 May 2008 09:25

Ya, me neither. Good comic though.

Nekhrun · Post by **Nekhrun** » 29 May 2008 09:41

DuneFishUK wrote:Yup.. definately a lull:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22Frank ... 2C+arrakis

Man, those Romanians love Frank Herbert.

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » 29 May 2008 10:28

orald wrote:
Mandy wrote:lol.. Orald, you're one of the nitpickers!

I'd have never guessed you meant me...

Lighten up, I wasn't referring to you when I typed it.

Post by **Omphalos** » 29 May 2008 10:46

Nekhrun wrote:
DuneFishUK wrote:Yup.. definately a lull:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22Frank ... 2C+arrakis
Man, those Romanians love Frank Herbert.

Ive noticed a lot of Rumanians on just about every Dune board I have been on.

orald · Post by **orald** » 29 May 2008 12:06

Mandy wrote:
orald wrote:
Mandy wrote:lol.. Orald, you're one of the nitpickers!

I'd have never guessed you meant me...
Lighten up, I wasn't referring to you when I typed it.

My original post was a tongue in cheek to yours, as in, I know I might be called a nitpicker etc(though frankly, I'm not sure I ever do nitpick much). Then the second post is to show you I did understand the possible irony in me saying o about nitpickers etc.

So you see, I know it all already.

I never knew there was such a statistics search on Google, that looks cool.
Wonder what happens if I type in "sex"...you think I'll break Google?

Omphalos wrote:Ive noticed a lot of Rumanians on just about every Dune board I have been on.

Those damn Romanians are taking over Dune!

I'm half Romanian myself, mind you.

SandChigger · Post by **SandChigger** » 29 May 2008 19:08

Which half?

No, let me guess!

The mouth, right?

Serkanner · Post by **Serkanner** » 30 May 2008 04:33

My better half is Romanian ... weirdness.

Simon · Post by **Simon** » 30 May 2008 04:41

As usual you guys are flipping out over nothing, rest assured that the classics are doing just fine and are still masterworks (well Dune - GEOD at any rate).

As to the authors of this thread's initial comments about fans of the new stuff being unable to hold a discussion in "defense"(?) of the new stuff....

What's there to defend? There are continuity errors, can't defend that. They aren't a paragraph by paragraph match for the 4 original books, no argument there. The only thing we differ on is that we preeks can over look imperfections and still derive enjoyment from BH and KJA's books.

They aren't bad. Not at all. Just not "Great Masterworks of Fiction".
I enjoy the "space opera, special effects extravaganza" aspect of the new stuff, it's not deep, but I don't see the harm you guys see.

I guess the proof is in the pudding. We'll see how PoD does sales wise come September and find out if BH and KJA really sunk the series the way many of you maintain they have...

DuneFishUK · Post by **DuneFishUK** » 30 May 2008 04:55

Simon wrote:I guess the proof is in the pudding. We'll see how PoD does sales wise come September and find out if BH and KJA really sunk the series the way many of you maintain they have...

Actually - there is some goodness in this point.

For the past 3 years the duo have been writing and releasing books aimed at existing and long-time fans, of which OHs probably make up a significant proportion. RTD, and the Dune 7s are not aimed at the 'new fan' target group they were so eager to please earlier on. So it makes sense that now is the time for new fans to be alienated and old fans to moan.

If they can recapture the atmosphere that surrounded House Atreides it will be a victory for them and go some way to supporting their arguments. However it's difficult not to be cynical that they are re-re-visiting Paul ... again. And then what? re-re-re-visiting Paul?

End of the day though - Dune didn't sell very well when it was first released...

SandChigger · Post by **SandChigger** » 30 May 2008 05:30

Sales don't really prove anything. If they did, we would have to conclude that Kevin is a good writer.

He isn't.

"Overlooking imperfections" is one thing. Not even seeing them to begin with is another entirely.

Kevin reacted very strongly to the suggestion that he (and Brian) had dumbed down the books to appeal to a younger, stupider demographic. Which makes me think there is some truth in it.

Anyone who doesn't fight against the growing stupidity of our times is just helping it along. But don't mind me...enjoy your bread and circuses.

inhuien · Post by **inhuien** » 30 May 2008 05:33

SandChigger wrote:But don't mind me...enjoy your bread and circuses.

And Lead pipesand insanity.

Simon · Post by **Simon** » 30 May 2008 05:36

SandChigger wrote: Anyone who doesn't fight against the growing stupidity of our times is just helping it along.

Burn baby burn!!!

Now lets get some MD: 20/20 and watch some reality T.V!!!

SandChigger · Post by **SandChigger** » 30 May 2008 05:41

Pipesand?

Is that anything like drumsand?

(Reality TV....feh. Lazy producers catering to voyeuristic idiots.)

Simon · Post by **Simon** » 30 May 2008 05:43

the fall of western civilization!

(it's sad and hilarious all at the same time)

SandChigger · Post by **SandChigger** » 30 May 2008 09:58

It'll be much less amusing living under a Xian fundamentalist junta in a third-world country or under the dhimmitude established by the new World Caliphate, I'm sure.

A Thing of Eternity · Post by **A Thing of Eternity** » 30 May 2008 11:43

If sales mean quality the the backstreet boys are the greatest musical genius's in history. They smashed sales for the Beatles, let alone the sales of the true masters of music; Jazz and Classical composers/musicians. That's like saying McDonalds is finer food than real restaraunts that actually make their food. I'm fine with people enjoying the prequils, there were even a couple scene's I didn't mind myself in the Legends series, but saying that sales reflect quality is bullshit.

The reality is that most people are of (or below, we've got a few high scorers dragging up the averages) average intelligence and average attention span and average attention to detail. By and Large, what do they want to read? Average or below average writing. Note: I'm not saying that everyone who enjoys sub par writing is automatically average or sub-average, just that people who are at or below average rarely appreciate the finer things.

Simon · Post by **Simon** » 30 May 2008 15:49

Totally correct, sales do not equal quality, I was alluding to public interest in the franchise. I wasn't trying to debate quality with you gents, be it the new books or the readers they do or don't attract, I'm well versed in your views on these subjects.

A Thing of Eternity · Post by **A Thing of Eternity** » 30 May 2008 15:53

I agree that bringing more people to Dune is good, I don't beleive that ends justify the means however. I know that you know my stance on that though, so I'll call it a day on this subject for the time being.