Frank Herbert’s Dune is the biggest-selling science fiction story of all time; the original book and its numerous sequels have transported millions of readers into the alternate reality of the Duniverse. Dune and Philosophy raises intriguing questions about the Duniverse in ways that will be instantly meaningful to fans. Those well-known characters—Paul Atreides, Baron Harkkonen, Duncan Idaho, Stilgar, the Bene Gesserit witches—come alive again in this fearless philosophical probing of some of life’s most basic questions.
Dune presents us with a vast world in which fanaticism is merciless and history is made by the interplay of ruthless conspiracies. Computers have long been outlawed, so that the abilities of human beings are developed to an almost supernatural level. The intergalactic empire controlled by a privileged aristocracy raises all the old questions of human interaction in a strange yet weirdly familiar setting.
Do secret conspiracies direct the future course of human political evolution? Can manipulation of the gene pool create a godlike individual? Are strife and bloodshed essential to progress? Can we know so much about the future that we lose the power to make a difference? Does reliance on valuable resources—such as “spice,” oil, and water—place us at the mercy of those who can destroy those resources? When gholas are reconstructed from the cells of dead people and given those people’s memories, is the ghola the dead person resurrected? Can the exploitation of religion for political ends be reduced to a technique?
Philosophers who are fans of Dune will trek through the desert of the Duniverse seeing answers to these and other questions.
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 25 Sep 2010 23:10
by Omphalos
Yea Lundse, what is your connection?
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 25 Sep 2010 23:49
by SandRider
is this approved by the Living Herbert Parasites ?
will it include the Philosophies of Fat Ass & Dingleberry ?
also:
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 26 Sep 2010 07:01
by Lundse
My connection is indeed that I have a paper appearing. And although it does no justice to Herbert, nor the Truth I feel so obliged to, I am "cautiously extremely proud".
And not to be coy (did enough of that), but I am not quite certain how much of the little info I have I am supposed to share at this point. Here, however, is the call for papers I answered: http://prosblogion.ektopos.com/archives ... /dune.html.
I can tell you I am not getting rich off this Neither is the HLP. To the best of my knowledge, they are not at all involved. And to put it as diplomatically as I can, I think the book is the better for it.
I will shortly enter a cookie-for-reviews program with Sandrider (of whom I am, of course, a sockpuppet), giving away virtual cookies and other merchandise for anyone who posts a favourable review or twitter message
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 26 Sep 2010 07:10
by lotek
the Lundse Special Forces?
edit to add smiley
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:21
by inhuien
Nice one Lundse, congrats on making the cut.
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:56
by SandChigger
SandRider wrote:is this approved by the Living Herbert Parasites ?
Their approval IS SIMPLY. NOT. REQUIRED.
You can write and publish any sort of literary or other analysis of the books your heart desires. What you cannot do is quote above a certain percentage of the original works in doing so ("fair use") OR publish fictional works using the setting and characters of the stories.
That Science of Dune book a couple of years back was completely unapproved and unauthorized, and it's still on the market. (Not selling very well, though, because, frankly, it wasn't all that good.)
When it comes to REAL Dune, the intellectual analysis and academic research thereof, the HLP have made themselves pretty much irrelevant. Don't give them a second thought.
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 26 Sep 2010 15:10
by Serkanner
I have put it on my wishlist ....
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 26 Sep 2010 15:27
by DuneFishUK
Serkanner wrote:I have put it on my wishlist ....
Likewise.
Congrats!
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 26 Sep 2010 16:02
by Lundse
Thanks guys. I'll be interested in your opinions, and to read what the other guys wrote! Now I just have to wonder how long it takes to actually materialize...
Lundse wrote:Now I just have to wonder how long it takes to actually materialize...
Is there some reason to think it won't be out by the stated publication date of April 1, 2010?
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 27 Sep 2010 04:19
by Lundse
SandChigger wrote:And for a few pennies cheaper than on Amazon.com!
Lundse wrote:Now I just have to wonder how long it takes to actually materialize...
Is there some reason to think it won't be out by the stated publication date of April 1, 2010?
I'd be much surprised
(Or would I have been?)
But, despite my inability to ctrl-f a publication date, I do presume it will be out April 2011...
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 27 Sep 2010 05:45
by lotek
thanks Chig for the heads up on copyright stuff, it's good to know that the world is not as messed up as much as I thought, and that intelligent people can still write about their favourite book(instead of idiots rewriting them).
Oh and KJAHLPBHBM conglomerate of dicks? UP
YOURS
!! (that font is too small and doesn't fully express my feelings)
Cool. I'll have to go put my order through on Amazon.
(I'm not sure if they've started delivering over here again yet. Might be a while before I can get it and start reading. )
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 24 Apr 2011 10:48
by Ampoliros
I've got mine on order. I haven't read it yet, but if we are shilling for cookies, I'll go put my 5-star review up:
Not Harriet Klausner wrote:
Dune: & Philosophy was SIMPLY AMAZING! I could not put it down! Page-turner, sleep-loss generator! Buy it now! While the plot seemed kind of loose (I believe its supposed to be a series of short stories), the characters were amazingly spot-on and each author, especially the one I'm plugging for, showed an intimate knowledge of Frank Herbert's body and works.
Too bad this was complied before the sudden disappearance of God Emperor of Dune. It would be interesting to see a philosophical paper on how that effected the Duniverse, especially considering how Leto's Golden Path was treated by McDune.
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 24 Apr 2011 11:10
by SadisticCynic
You should be getting royalties from me any day now.
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 24 Apr 2011 11:41
by Serkanner
Ordered my copy from B&N ... they accept PayPal
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 24 Apr 2011 13:49
by merkin muffley
Nice, I'd like to read that.
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 24 Apr 2011 14:58
by Omphalos
Just bought a Kindle version. Which essay is yours?
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 24 Apr 2011 15:10
by Lundse
Omphalos wrote:Just bought a Kindle version. Which essay is yours?
Hu? There should be author names in the index... Anyway, it's "Wiping Finite Answers from an Infinite Universe". Let me know what you think!
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 24 Apr 2011 15:15
by Robspierre
Got it through ibooks, on my ipad now.
Rob
Re: Shameless plug!
Posted: 24 Apr 2011 18:56
by Robspierre
McDune alert! Erasmus makes an appearance on pg 25 concerning eugenics. The author made it sound as if Frank created the fucking robot
Shit! There is the blending of McDune into Frank's work, this could be rough going guys.
