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Dec 17, 03
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Dune
anybody into the writings of Frank Herbert, specifically the Dune series? For me it's right up there with LOTR as one of the greatest works of fantasy fiction... set in the far future after an ancient war where mankind freed itself from slavery to manmade 'thinking machines' (matrix whut?) and has expanded across the universe using long-distance space travel techniques that rely on a substance (the spice Melange) that exists on only one known planet in the universe, Arakis aka Dune. Fantastic characters throughout, from the fanatically religious Fremen to the depraved Harkonnens. And Herbert's knowledge of science, ecology in particular, add a depth of detail and believability to the story that is lacking in most science fiction.
there's been a few failed (imo) attempts at capturing it on film, the most passable being David Lynch's version, starring Kyle McLaughlin (Twin Peaks, Sex And The City), which was cool as a film but only a very skeletal interpretation of the book. There's also an HBO mini series which, while it does stay closer to the detailed storyline of the book, is a complete embarassment due to horrible acting and made-for-tv production values. I really hope, in my lifetime, somebody tackles this story the way Peter Jackson went about LOTR. anyways i highly reccommend the books to anyone who enjoys epic sci-fi fantasy with enough depth & complexity to make you want to re-read it over & over. I'm currently reading 'House Atraides', the first of two prequel novels written by Herbert's son and another writer. I'd almost reccommend starting with them, especially for those with lesser attention spans, as the writing is a lot more accessible than the elder Herbert's. I haven't got past the first in Herbert's initial series though, plan on tackling that once i'm done the prequels. 
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Dec 18, 03
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I love that movie. I had a marathon with my buddy who had never seen it befre or ever read any of the books and we watched dune 2000, and children of dune all at the same time. I totally agree with you about the best sci fi series out there. It actually explores what a real situation like that would be like. People die. Which doesn't exactly hapen all too much in any of the (glam) sci fi movies out there now a days.
Children of dune is the best thing ever. I love the way it was done and I think that the over acting was to emphasize characrter development and how everyone was so unique in their path. Awsome flick bro, good choice.
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Dec 18, 03
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Methinks he was talking about the books.
For the record, House Atreides is the first of four prequels written by Brian Herbert and Whatshisface Anderson. House Harkonnen, House Corrino and Butlerian Jihad being the other three. I read up to Children of Dune so that I could have them all done before I touched the Sci Fi Miniseries or the Dino DeLaurentis movie. Dino DeLaurentis was an interesting take on it but went way too far from the book for my tastes. Sci Fi Channel Miniseries ruled. I've only seen the first episode of Children of Dune so I've really only caught up to Dune Messiah. I have God Emperor waiting for me when I finish the Ender series by Orson Scott Card (currently on Ender's Shadow... Holy shit. I never thought I'd be so blown away by reading the same story twice).
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Dec 18, 03
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Dec 18, 03
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Bulterian Jihad afaik is about the big war oh-so-long ago when stuff like nukes and stone-burners and the like became banned weapons in the wake of.
The other three are seperate looks at the three main houses talked about in Dune. They're not sequential from what I understand.
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Dec 18, 03
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^i'm reading House Atriedes now, and so far (i'm about 1/3 in) there's been much more focus on House Corrino than anything else...
right now where i'm at, a young Leto is caught on Ix in the middle of House Vernius being ousted by the Bene Tlielax, while Shaddam & Fenring plot to assasinate Emporor Elrood IX... meanwhile Pardot Kynes has just been taken in by the Fremen after saving Stilgar from a Harkonnen attack
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Dec 18, 03
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You just gotta love all the fun cameo spots in the Lynch movie. Heh... Patrick Stewart before anyone even knew who he was. Sting prancing about. Brain Eno supplying additional music.
But the greatest thing about that movie? All the samples that have been ripped from it to use in electronic music. It seems more often than not, you'll hear a sample, then say, "HEY! That was from Dune!"
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Dec 19, 03
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^no, but that's probably because it's happy hardcore.
yeah i do really enjoy the Lynch film, despite it's obvious divergence from the book ('weirding modules'? wtf is that?). Dean Stockwell as Yueh was the best, so creepy... that was one of the (many) things that pissed me off about the HBO movie - they didn't develop the Yueh character at all, so his betrayal of the Duke had no impact.
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Dec 21, 03
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the prequels are all pretty good. i'm just wondering if the son is going to finish off the original Dune series after he finishes the butlerian jihad.
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Dec 23, 03
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I thought Chapterhouse was meant to be the final chapter... haven't read it though, did Herbert intend to continue the series?
just noticed that a sequel to Butlerian Jihad has just come out... 'Machine Crusades' i think it's called? damn, so much reading to do.... :smoke1:
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Dec 23, 03
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^^yeah i'll wait for paperback.
he was supposed to write a seventh book, but he died.
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Dec 23, 03
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And the intro to Dune has been used far too many times...
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Dec 23, 03
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Dec 23, 03
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And, yes, the intro has been pillaged. It's the other, relatively unknown lines that I enjoy hearing. Example: FSOL's Moscow. Mind, placing song samples to their source is a guilty pleasure of mine anyways. Dune just seems to get many pilfered (along with Trek and 2001, of course).
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Dec 24, 03
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God knows the time that I discovered that the sample from the hardcore remix of "Stan" by Eminem was actually Saddam Hussein in the South Park movie ("Yeah, y'like that, don'tcha bitch") was a very happy day. Scares me when I notice the snare roll from some remix of Jon the Pleased Wimmin's Give Me Strength was the same from some Poltergeist track (Vicious Circles)
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Dec 24, 03
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Eon was my favorite early rave producer, he had at least 3 hit tracks that sampled Lynch's Dune heavily - 'Spice' ("the spice must flow" - paul atraides, "he who controls the spice controls the universe!" - baron harkonnen), 'Inner Mind' (".. the inner mind" - paul atraides) and 'Fear: The Mindkiller' (".. I must not fear, for fear is the mind killer, and fear is the little death which brings total obliteration..." - bene gesserit Litany Against Fear, said by Paul Atraides)
My favorite Dune sample though has to be from an early Renegade Hardware release by Paradox - "some thoughts... have a certain sound" - Paul Muad'dib
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