Hello
Posted: 17 Aug 2010 05:22
I've been wanting to do this for a very long time, ever since I joined here in 2008.
A close friend of mine told me I should read Dune. I did and kept reading until God Emperor of Dune. Virtually every book I've read afterward paled in comparison. Sometimes I find it difficult to appreciate a book just for what it is, simply because it is not Dune.
After GEoD nothing has been the same. Surely I had to read the books more often to grasp the more complex notions (and I'm sure I've still a ways to go) but it's scope was so mind-boggling, so convincing. I've never felt more sympathy for a character than for Leto Atreides II. I love him for all he sacrificed when he did what Paul would (or could) not.
After I read the 6 Dune novels I virtually begged my friend to do the same. Surely he would appreciate this wonderfully complex and detailed universe Frank had created. The first book is 'only' a spectacular introduction to a series that encompasses a lifetime worth of wisdom. He never made it halfway through Dune Messiah though.
I sifted through the House-books, desperate for more Dune. It was strange, empty. Things in these prequels didn't seem to be entirely consistent with Frank's Dune. Perhaps it was just me. I read through Legends. Awful lot of dead people. Mildly entertaining, but still something is missing. It had to be me though.
Then word came out that there would be a 7th book based on Franks notes. Finally, Franks vision would be complete! His son Brian was going to undertake the daunting task together with that Anderson fellow...Well, this time they have Frank's notes so that sort of makes it 'Frank-certified' right? Right! I really wanted it to be.
So, I went and bought the hardcover of Hunters of Dune. I read that and also bought the hardcover edition of Sandworms of Dune... After Hunters I tried to convince myself that it was decent enough, that I did enjoy myself and that Dune lived and would continue to do so. It would get better. It had to. I continued to delude myself through every ludicrous upon ludicrous plot-twist in Sandworms. All the way through the worst ending I ever thought possible. Leto II's sacrifice had been undone. His carefully laid out Golden Path made obsolete in an instant and none of these cardboard-cutout characters seemed to care or understand the implications. This could not be true, could it? How could Frank's own son be so blind to the nature of his father's work? And KJA? Let's just say I really don't like him...
It took me all those crappy prequels and a direct insult to the God Emperor himself to let go. Dune is not going to continue past Chapterhouse and it doesn't need to. I realize that now. The good thing is that when I read only a few pages of Frank's work, all the things written by those other two pales completely. It is becoming nothing more than a very distant memory. However, they simply will not stop. Whenever I see their handiwork it pisses me off; shill-reviewers, KJASF (I honestly thought this was a joke...), Master of Universes (seriously?!), "Well done my boys" (the sheer audacity...). The list is getting longer still.
I'm just really glad there is a place like Jacurutu and I admire all your undying efforts around the web.
Regards,
Sarafan
A close friend of mine told me I should read Dune. I did and kept reading until God Emperor of Dune. Virtually every book I've read afterward paled in comparison. Sometimes I find it difficult to appreciate a book just for what it is, simply because it is not Dune.
After GEoD nothing has been the same. Surely I had to read the books more often to grasp the more complex notions (and I'm sure I've still a ways to go) but it's scope was so mind-boggling, so convincing. I've never felt more sympathy for a character than for Leto Atreides II. I love him for all he sacrificed when he did what Paul would (or could) not.
After I read the 6 Dune novels I virtually begged my friend to do the same. Surely he would appreciate this wonderfully complex and detailed universe Frank had created. The first book is 'only' a spectacular introduction to a series that encompasses a lifetime worth of wisdom. He never made it halfway through Dune Messiah though.
I sifted through the House-books, desperate for more Dune. It was strange, empty. Things in these prequels didn't seem to be entirely consistent with Frank's Dune. Perhaps it was just me. I read through Legends. Awful lot of dead people. Mildly entertaining, but still something is missing. It had to be me though.
Then word came out that there would be a 7th book based on Franks notes. Finally, Franks vision would be complete! His son Brian was going to undertake the daunting task together with that Anderson fellow...Well, this time they have Frank's notes so that sort of makes it 'Frank-certified' right? Right! I really wanted it to be.
So, I went and bought the hardcover of Hunters of Dune. I read that and also bought the hardcover edition of Sandworms of Dune... After Hunters I tried to convince myself that it was decent enough, that I did enjoy myself and that Dune lived and would continue to do so. It would get better. It had to. I continued to delude myself through every ludicrous upon ludicrous plot-twist in Sandworms. All the way through the worst ending I ever thought possible. Leto II's sacrifice had been undone. His carefully laid out Golden Path made obsolete in an instant and none of these cardboard-cutout characters seemed to care or understand the implications. This could not be true, could it? How could Frank's own son be so blind to the nature of his father's work? And KJA? Let's just say I really don't like him...
It took me all those crappy prequels and a direct insult to the God Emperor himself to let go. Dune is not going to continue past Chapterhouse and it doesn't need to. I realize that now. The good thing is that when I read only a few pages of Frank's work, all the things written by those other two pales completely. It is becoming nothing more than a very distant memory. However, they simply will not stop. Whenever I see their handiwork it pisses me off; shill-reviewers, KJASF (I honestly thought this was a joke...), Master of Universes (seriously?!), "Well done my boys" (the sheer audacity...). The list is getting longer still.
I'm just really glad there is a place like Jacurutu and I admire all your undying efforts around the web.
Regards,
Sarafan
I remember feeling that pain too......welcome you're in a better place now
Indeed
