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Hi guys, welcome to December Read-Along.
Here we'll be discussing Dune...

I started this book yesterday but for some reason I wasn't able to read more than 10 pages. It just felt... ummm... kinda heavy! With all the M names and all it felt really weird.
Maybe after 10 more pages , I'll get comfortable with the entire setup.

The first time I read Dune (in my 20s) I had to start it a couple times. Once I pushed through the first hundred pages I couldn't put it down. Then on rereading came to really appreciate the opening. It is a lot of names and concepts to wrap your head around all at once, but perseverance will be rewarded!

True, the book is brilliant but it takes some effort to get started, and the pay off is simply one of the great scifi novels ever written. And if some stuff sounds or looks familiar do realize that even George Lucas did borrow some stuff and so did other folks.

for me the book Dune is first part with Dune Messiah and Children of Dune finishing of the story.

I started the book today, and I came back to mind the movie of the 80s, by David Lynch with Sting and Kyle MacLachlan. The pace is a little slow, with a first part of introduction, but it's easy to read.

Once saw a director's cut of Dune by David Lynch. Seemed to be an improvement over the theatrical release. Would love to find it sometime. I think SciFi channel broadcast it as part of their opening.

The movie doesn't do justice to this masterpiece.. But the book is awesome, keep up and you will be rewarded!

Snowfalcon wrote: "The first time I read Dune (in my 20s) I had to start it a couple times. Once I pushed through the first hundred pages I couldn't put it down. Then on rereading came to really appreciate the openin..."

As I'm reading more and more pages, I'm actually starting to like it more... I guess I'll reread the first 50 pages again to get it perfectly well... :)

Mark wrote: "True, the book is brilliant but it takes some effort to get started, and the pay off is simply one of the great scifi novels ever written. And if some stuff sounds or looks familiar do realize that..."

I've started to get used to the names and all... And I've also started liking it :)
Thanks Mark for listing these books. Honestly, after reading the Dune book list on Wikipedia, I really flipped out! But I guess I'll read the ones you mentioned. Thanks again :D

Andrew wrote: "I started the book today, and I came back to mind the movie of the 80s, by David Lynch with Sting and Kyle MacLachlan. The pace is a little slow, with a first part of introduction, but it's easy t..."

I agree Andrew! Now even I've started to get the handle on names and all, though I refer to Appendices again and again! lol!
So far I'm liking it... lets see what happens next...

Snowfalcon wrote: "Once saw a director's cut of Dune by David Lynch. Seemed to be an improvement over the theatrical release. Would love to find it sometime. I think SciFi channel broadcast it as part of their opening."

I had no idea about it. I'll also check it out. Thanks for mentioning :)

Konstantina_pap wrote: "The movie doesn't do justice to this masterpiece.. But the book is awesome, keep up and you will be rewarded!"

I'm starting to like it... I hope by the end even I'll be a fan of Dune series!

Okay, starting this today!

Steve wrote: "Okay, starting this today!"

Yay! :)

Heena wrote: "Yay! :)"

I read this the first time in the early 80s while I was still in high school. Loved it then, and it's been one of those book series that I've intended to go back and reread. But life (and a lot of other books!) gets in the way!

Definitely agree with the others here, once you get past the opening exposition and get interacting with the Freemen more, it becomes much more interesting.

The opening exposition is worth savoring. It sets the stage and it's a very rich, complex stage. The later action would not be so much fun if it weren't on the face of this backdrop. I think that's why this book holds up to rereading so well: there is a lot of depth to it and the web of the book survives fairly close examination.

Snowfalcon wrote: "The opening exposition is worth savoring. It sets the stage and it's a very rich, complex stage. The later action would not be so much fun if it weren't on the face of this backdrop. I think that's..."

I wholeheartedly agree! The early intrigue sets the entire political game into motion, with it playing out in unplanned fashion, much to the surprise of everyone (not just the Harkonnens).

Steve wrote: "Heena wrote: "Yay! :)"

I read this the first time in the early 80s while I was still in high school. Loved it then, and it's been one of those book series that I've intended to go back and reread...."

Wow! This is my first time but I guess it'll be like this for me as well! I'm loving it and I really felt felt a pang of depression at Duke's death (the way I felt for Eddard/Ned Stark's death.)
I'm getting attached to Paul a lot. I hope everything turns out good for him!

Chris wrote: "Definitely agree with the others here, once you get past the opening exposition and get interacting with the Freemen more, it becomes much more interesting."

I'm just at that point. Good to know that it gets even more interesting from here... :)

Snowfalcon wrote: "The opening exposition is worth savoring. It sets the stage and it's a very rich, complex stage. The later action would not be so much fun if it weren't on the face of this backdrop. I think that's..."

I guess that's true... I enjoyed the beginning a lot, though it took me 50 pages to get comfortable with all the names and all... :)

Don't get me wrong, the beginning isn't bad. It's just not as interesting as the second two thirds, then the (relative) safety net has been pulled away, and the characters are reacting to completely new situations and circumstances. :)

Sorry to run in from of the train - so to speak, but do we have any plans to read next books of the series?

Chris wrote: "Don't get me wrong, the beginning isn't bad. It's just not as interesting as the second two thirds, then the (relative) safety net has been pulled away, and the characters are reacting to completel..."

I've just started with the part you are talking about and I'm realising what you you mean :)

Evgeny wrote: "Sorry to run in from of the train - so to speak, but do we have any plans to read next books of the series?"

I don't know about everyone but I'll be reading the next parts in late January.

I don't know about the whole series, but if you are interested Dune Messiah concludes the story of Paul Atreides, it's worth it.

On a whim last night, I sat down and watched the David Lynch version of Dune (bought the Blu-ray at Vintage Stock for $5). It's been a long time since I've seen it, and I didn't realize how far it strayed from the book. Sad, because I've always like that movie (more than the Sy-fy miniseries).

Heena wrote: "This is my first time but I guess it'll be like this for me as well! I'm loving it and I really felt felt a pang of depression at Duke's death..."

I just read that part during a break in my meeting-after-meeting-after-meeting day today. Gotta get reading time whenever I can, right? ;)

Evgeny wrote: "Sorry to run in from of the train - so to speak, but do we have any plans to read next books of the series?"

Has anyone ever noticed how often Paul is told to go rest in the first third of the book? It seems like every scene he's in ends with the phrase, "Go take a rest, Paul" or "Why don't you go lay down, Paul."

Steve wrote: "Has anyone ever noticed how often Paul is told to go rest in the first third of the book? It seems like every scene he's in ends with the phrase, "Go take a rest, Paul" or "Why don't you go lay dow..."

Yeah, I noticed this. In a way didn't like it. It was hard to jive the boy who needed all this rest with the vital hero he suddenly becomes.

Steve wrote: "On a whim last night, I sat down and watched the David Lynch version of Dune (bought the Blu-ray at Vintage Stock for $5). It's been a long time since I've seen it, and I didn't realize how far it ..."

I make it a policy to take the movie as a separate thing from the book: the mediums are too different. What you can do in a book you can't do in a movie and vice versa.

That said, while I like the David Lynch film there is room for improvement and I've heard rumors that there is a remake in the works.

Konstantina_pap wrote: "I don't know about the whole series, but if you are interested Dune Messiah concludes the story of Paul Atreides, it's worth it."

Hmmm... I'll be reading Dune Messiah and Children Of Dune in January. I wanna read the rest as well but they are too many... I'll read these two after Dune and then take a break before reading others.

Steve wrote: "On a whim last night, I sat down and watched the David Lynch version of Dune (bought the Blu-ray at Vintage Stock for $5). It's been a long time since I've seen it, and I didn't realize how far it ..."

I'm gonna complete the book first as I don't wanna know what happens before reading it.
I saw the first 10 mins though, and I can say that I really want to watch it asap.
Good you mentioned about this, atleast now I know what to expect out of the movie! Thanks :)

Steve wrote: "Heena wrote: "This is my first time but I guess it'll be like this for me as well! I'm loving it and I really felt felt a pang of depression at Duke's death..."

I just read that part during a brea..."

Heheheh! Indeed!
I haven't read a lot in last 2-3 days... I'm experiencing a kind or reader's-block! lol! I hope I finish this one in time!

Steve wrote: "Has anyone ever noticed how often Paul is told to go rest in the first third of the book? It seems like every scene he's in ends with the phrase, "Go take a rest, Paul" or "Why don't you go lay dow..."

Somehow I failed to notice it. Maybe I was caught up in getting familiar with the names and all in the first third of the book.
I'll read that part again after finishing the book...it will be hard to miss it then ;)

Snowfalcon wrote: "Steve wrote: "On a whim last night, I sat down and watched the David Lynch version of Dune (bought the Blu-ray at Vintage Stock for $5). It's been a long time since I've seen it, and I didn't reali..."

Yea, even I've heard about the remake. I hope that it's true and also that they take some kick-ass leads :)

I'm at the beginning of the third part. I've noted often that the Atreides are described like and honored and loyal house, but here lady Jessica consider the Freemen like a mere instrument for reach a goal and I dislike her aristocratic ways and the influence of Bene Gesserit on other's life.
Interesting is the approach to the Freemen culture, their rites and beliefs. Very useful in this case the Appendices at the end of the book. The second part was a bit boring for me, but I hope that will be better.

I've finished this book some minutes ago and in the whole I liked the story and the universe that Herbert has created. There are some boring things, for example the part of reasonings about philosophy and theological or the appendices at the end of the book (except the one about terminology), too complex.
Interesting is the evolution of Paul like character, and the grow of his power that corresponding to a loss of power and control by his mother. I think that in the next year I'll read the next books.

I'm almost done, and one thing I've noticed this time is how the author didn't really capture the passage of time very well. There are hints, but the fact that years pass between major events seems lost. Still a classic, but that's probably the one thing I'd change simply by adding "x months/years later" or specific dates at the start of each section.

Andrew wrote: "I'm at the beginning of the third part. I've noted often that the Atreides are described like and honored and loyal house, but here lady Jessica consider the Freemen like a mere instrument for reac..."

I completely agree Andrew! Even I feel the same!

Andrew wrote: "I've finished this book some minutes ago and in the whole I liked the story and the universe that Herbert has created. There are some boring things, for example the part of reasonings about philoso..."

heheheh! Yea, though I found Bene Gesserit Appendix very interesting.
Terminology helped tremendously in understanding every aspect, well... almost every.

Steve wrote: "I'm almost done, and one thing I've noticed this time is how the author didn't really capture the passage of time very well. There are hints, but the fact that years pass between major events seems..."

OMG, I can't agree more! It was really irritating!

I'm was done with the book on 23rd :)
I really liked it and I'm looking forward to read the next 2 books :)

Finished this afternoon. My review is posted here: /review/show...

Damn my luck. I missed this because of exams.

Titas wrote: "Damn my luck. I missed this because of exams."

It's not too late!

Titas wrote: "Damn my luck. I missed this because of exams."

Never too late! Get reading!

Snowfalcon wrote: "Titas wrote: "Damn my luck. I missed this because of exams."

Never too late! Get reading!"

Steve wrote: "Titas wrote: "Damn my luck. I missed this because of exams."

It's not too late!"

Thanks for the support guys! :D
Right now I am neck deep in circuit designing. But I am gonna cover the whole series in 2015 for sure.

Titus: you're in for a treat. Some fine SF in Dune. I liked the two following but not after that. Circuit design? Whatcha makin'?