Frank Herbert's worst novel


Moderators: Mr. Teg, Omphalos, Freakzilla, ᴶᵛᵀᴬ

User avatar
SandChigger
KJASF Ground Zero
Posts: 14492
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 22:29
Location: A continuing state of irritation
Contact:

Post by SandChigger »

Contact TAZ. He's in "T-dot". :lol:
"Let the dead give water to the dead. As for me, it's NO MORE FUCKING TEARS!"
User avatar
Omphalos
Inglorious Bastard
Posts: 6677
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 11:07
Location: The Mighty Central Valley of California
Contact:

Post by Omphalos »

SandChigger wrote:Contact TAZ. He's in "T-dot". :lol:
I never figured out what the fuck that meant.
Image

The New & Improved Book Review Blog

Goodnight Golden Path!
User avatar
A Thing of Eternity
Posts: 6090
Joined: 08 Apr 2008 15:35
Location: Calgary Alberta

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

Omphalos wrote:
SandChigger wrote:Contact TAZ. He's in "T-dot". :lol:
I never figured out what the fuck that meant.
Toronto. Gods know why some people call it that.
Image
User avatar
SandChigger
KJASF Ground Zero
Posts: 14492
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 22:29
Location: A continuing state of irritation
Contact:

Post by SandChigger »

I always figured it was just some code message to Uncle You-Know-Who-vin.

Like, "You're still the only one who can dot my 'I's. Love, from Toronto."

( i )

:shock:
"Let the dead give water to the dead. As for me, it's NO MORE FUCKING TEARS!"
User avatar
martinburo
Posts: 14
Joined: 17 May 2008 15:36

Post by martinburo »

Freakzilla, I think you really do need to reread TJI. Ship is in about every chapter, talking to all the good guys. Well, I'm not quite sure that Flattery is a good guy, but at least he's more misguided than bad on purpose.

Baraka, how about ebay?
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Post by Freakzilla »

martinburo wrote:Freakzilla, I think you really do need to reread TJI. Ship is in about every chapter, talking to all the good guys. Well, I'm not quite sure that Flattery is a good guy, but at least he's more misguided than bad on purpose.

Baraka, how about ebay?
But we learn almost nothing about ship except that he's added on some grow rooms. Maybe FH wanted Ship to be mysterious, but I was left craving more. I only read it a few months ago.
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
User avatar
A Thing of Eternity
Posts: 6090
Joined: 08 Apr 2008 15:35
Location: Calgary Alberta

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

Freakzilla wrote:
martinburo wrote:Freakzilla, I think you really do need to reread TJI. Ship is in about every chapter, talking to all the good guys. Well, I'm not quite sure that Flattery is a good guy, but at least he's more misguided than bad on purpose.

Baraka, how about ebay?
But we learn almost nothing about ship except that he's added on some grow rooms. Maybe FH wanted Ship to be mysterious, but I was left craving more. I only read it a few months ago.
Left curious about what exactly he'd been up to with the history of humanity? I was left wanting more of that myself, but I guess it wasn't really necessary to the story, and FH figured it was better left up to people's imaginations.
Image
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Post by Freakzilla »

A Thing of Eternity wrote:
Freakzilla wrote:
martinburo wrote:Freakzilla, I think you really do need to reread TJI. Ship is in about every chapter, talking to all the good guys. Well, I'm not quite sure that Flattery is a good guy, but at least he's more misguided than bad on purpose.

Baraka, how about ebay?
But we learn almost nothing about ship except that he's added on some grow rooms. Maybe FH wanted Ship to be mysterious, but I was left craving more. I only read it a few months ago.
Left curious about what exactly he'd been up to with the history of humanity? I was left wanting more of that myself, but I guess it wasn't really necessary to the story, and FH figured it was better left up to people's imaginations.
We'd better stop talking about this before Pinky & The Brian start writing VoidShip books. They'd probably do a 12 book series for each incarnation of humanity.
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
User avatar
Nekhrun
Icelandic Wiener
Posts: 3298
Joined: 10 Feb 2008 16:27

Post by Nekhrun »

I know I said Heaven Makers earlier in this thread, but I'm changing my answer, this weekend I just read The Green Brain. That one took me awhile and now takes my #1 spot on the worst list. Soul Catcher wasn't bad though.
User avatar
Tleilax Master B
Posts: 674
Joined: 11 Feb 2008 10:54
Location: Desert of New Mexico

Post by Tleilax Master B »

I think we have now firmly established that Dune Messiah is the worst book :P It must be if PoD is better.......
Image
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Post by Freakzilla »

Tleilax Master B wrote:I think we have now firmly established that Dune Messiah is the worst book :P It must be if PoD is better.......
Irrefutable logic. :puke:
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
User avatar
Spicelon
Posts: 703
Joined: 30 Mar 2008 23:31

Post by Spicelon »

Freakzilla wrote:
Tleilax Master B wrote:I think we have now firmly established that Dune Messiah is the worst book :P It must be if PoD is better.......
Irrefutable logic. :puke:
Plus it makes sense.
Poop is funny.
MetaCugel8262 is not.
User avatar
SandChigger
KJASF Ground Zero
Posts: 14492
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 22:29
Location: A continuing state of irritation
Contact:

Post by SandChigger »

Freakzilla wrote:
Freakzilla wrote:...I was left craving more.
...
We'd better stop talking about this before Pinky & The Brian start writing VoidShip books. They'd probably do a 12 book series for each incarnation of humanity.
I was thinking the same thing as I read your first comment. :shock: DON'T give them any ideas!!!
"Let the dead give water to the dead. As for me, it's NO MORE FUCKING TEARS!"
User avatar
Mr. Teg
Moderator
Posts: 708
Joined: 11 Feb 2008 10:14
Location: Chair
Contact:

Post by Mr. Teg »

SandChigger wrote:
Freakzilla wrote:
Freakzilla wrote:...I was left craving more.
...
We'd better stop talking about this before Pinky & The Brian start writing VoidShip books. They'd probably do a 12 book series for each incarnation of humanity.
I was thinking the same thing as I read your first comment. :shock: DON'T give them any ideas!!!
But, I assume part of the copyright still belongs to Ransom (Chig had mentioned that Ransom is only a couple years older than Brian, and considering all the time Frank spent with him "coffee every morning" gotta wonder if some jealously not involved).
CHOAM
Combine Herbert Ober Anderson Mercantile, Narf!
Brian, Kevin & Byron :? :cylon101: :roll: The HLP
User avatar
Omphalos
Inglorious Bastard
Posts: 6677
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 11:07
Location: The Mighty Central Valley of California
Contact:

Post by Omphalos »

I wonder if BH has ever blown off Ransom?
Image

The New & Improved Book Review Blog

Goodnight Golden Path!
User avatar
SandChigger
KJASF Ground Zero
Posts: 14492
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 22:29
Location: A continuing state of irritation
Contact:

Post by SandChigger »

I mentioned that to Teg the other day after having gone through DoD looking for info on the plane thing. Brian describes his father and Ransom's relationship as being extraordinarily close despite the difference in their ages, and I couldn't help but wonder if there wasn't some jealousy involved at the time. (Or afterwards.)

They (Brian and the HLP) certainly didn't treat McNelly, another FH friend, very well, now did they?

:?:
"Let the dead give water to the dead. As for me, it's NO MORE FUCKING TEARS!"
Lundse
Posts: 524
Joined: 01 Jul 2008 11:36
Location: Århus, Denmark

Post by Lundse »

I absolutely loved The White Plague - it came cose to Dune in the many layers of themes, and depth of the main characters. That said, it is sort of detectiv-y and slow; I just liked that too.
And I loved the president scenes, which said a lot about FH's looks on power and politics.

Destination: Void and beyond I liked, but they were, in terms of craftmanship, worldbuilding and execution, not nearly as good as Dune. You got the idea of cool characters, themes, plot and exposition on religion; but it never rang as... deep as FH's best work. Not bad books, IMO, but neither were they great - OK-good books with great themes.


The worst:

The Green Brain. One idea, drawn out only to be hammered home by character exposition in the end - no good.

Direct Descent. Childrens stuff, not very well done. You got the idea of a single FH theme hiding in there, but it went nowhere.

The Godmakers. Was only saved by being so goddamned weird and seeming like an over-the-top star trek episode. There was ideas and themes in there, but man did it fly by fast.
Secher Nbiw
Posts: 66
Joined: 27 May 2008 06:55

Post by Secher Nbiw »

Apparently I'm the only person who loved Godmakers. It was fun, it was light, it had a lot of Dune-elements locked into the story...

the Tleilaxu were in there, you even had the Bene Gesserit making an appearance...

but the novel I really disliked... Destination Void... I could not get through that one. It was just too much gobbly-gook and mumbo jumbo. I like the Organic Mental Cores as a concept... but after that... it just failed to keep me interested.
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Post by Freakzilla »

Secher Nbiw wrote:Apparently I'm the only person who loved Godmakers. It was fun, it was light, it had a lot of Dune-elements locked into the story...

the Tleilaxu were in there, you even had the Bene Gesserit making an appearance...

but the novel I really disliked... Destination Void... I could not get through that one. It was just too much gobbly-gook and mumbo jumbo. I like the Organic Mental Cores as a concept... but after that... it just failed to keep me interested.
You really should finish D:V, the ending is great.
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
Secher Nbiw
Posts: 66
Joined: 27 May 2008 06:55

Post by Secher Nbiw »

Freakzilla wrote: You really should finish D:V, the ending is great.
I got to the end eventually, but the whole trip wasn't a pleasant one. It just dragged.

It's got a couple of smashing ideas... but the excecution is just so dull and lifeless that those ideas just fall away.
User avatar
Tleszer
Posts: 2161
Joined: 17 Feb 2008 18:02

Post by Tleszer »

I just acquired a used copy of Destination: Void for $1. Perhaps after I finish A Clash of Kings I'll start reading it. Is it really bad? Regardless, I'm sure its worth the $1 I spent on it.
DUNE, as interpreted by a blue man with a green tushie
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Post by Freakzilla »

Tleszer wrote:I just acquired a used copy of Destination: Void for $1. Perhaps after I finish A Clash of Kings I'll start reading it. Is it really bad? Regardless, I'm sure its worth the $1 I spent on it.
It's got a lot of technobable about their attempt at building an AI, but if you can get past that or understand that, it's good.
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
User avatar
orald
Posts: 3010
Joined: 28 Feb 2008 14:48
Location: Maximum Security Mental Hospital

Post by orald »

Tleszer wrote:I just acquired a used copy of Destination: Void for $1. Perhaps after I finish A Clash of Kings I'll start reading it. Is it really bad? Regardless, I'm sure its worth the $1 I spent on it.
No, no! You must continue to A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows and only then read D:V!

Uh, shit, I'm locked between FH and GRRM, help! :o



I hope ADwD actually gets out by the end of the year, I need my Jon&Arya&Tyrion fix baaaaad... :cry:
In memory of Perach, who suffered and died needlessly.

I wish I could have been with you that one last time.
User avatar
A Thing of Eternity
Posts: 6090
Joined: 08 Apr 2008 15:35
Location: Calgary Alberta

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

D:V = Good. It's dryer than a Churchill martini, but it's good.
Image
User avatar
Tleszer
Posts: 2161
Joined: 17 Feb 2008 18:02

Post by Tleszer »

orald wrote:
Tleszer wrote:I just acquired a used copy of Destination: Void for $1. Perhaps after I finish A Clash of Kings I'll start reading it. Is it really bad? Regardless, I'm sure its worth the $1 I spent on it.
No, no! You must continue to A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows and only then read D:V!

Uh, shit, I'm locked between FH and GRRM, help! :o



I hope ADwD actually gets out by the end of the year, I need my Jon&Arya&Tyrion fix baaaaad... :cry:
OK! I'll continue with A Song of Ice and Fire. :lol: So far I think my favorite character is Tyrion. I like how almost no one is safe from his wit.
DUNE, as interpreted by a blue man with a green tushie
Post Reply