Hi Guys,
I just registered on the GWC Forum yesterday. And I jsut want to say, enjoy Dune Chuck. You won’t be dissapointed.
I’m a huge Dune fan (note my avatar). I’ve read all the Kevin Anderson/Brian Herbet Dune Sequels and Prequels (except Sandworms of Dune), and have mostly been happy with 'em.
-Thot
I like your avatar Thot… I love duncan idaho. if anyone is interested I did a quick digital painting exercise of him a while ago…
http://endoftheline.deviantart.com/art/Duncan-Idaho-61026854
I’m glad that everyone seems to be enjoying the re-read, or first time read of Dune, because I love the series… although I have yet to read all the sequels and prequels. I’ll have to get around to picking them up sometime though. Otherwise I’m lessening my boast of being a huge fan… 
Wow. Duelgirl, that’s an excellent painting of Duncan Idaho. You really capture the essence of his character–the brooding, restless, combative nature. That could easily be the Duncan from “God Emperor of Dune”—that feeling of old ghola memories, being recreated to live over and over again in the service of God Emperor Leto II.
I think I heard Sci Fi channel might countinue their Dune series --with maybe God Emperor and Heretics of Dune melded together (but perhaps I hear wrong).
Duncan…and correct me if I’m wrong about this…is the only character who (in some form(ghola version)) is in every single Dune sequel and prequel (except for the Butlerian Jihad trilogy).
-Thot
I think you are correct and that has puzzled me, because he really isn’t in the original novel for that long, is he? I know that one of Irulan’s commentaries as a chapter heading says that he was one of Paul’s closest companions, but it seems like he is much closer to Gurney, for example, than Duncan. On this re-read, I was surprised to find Duncan dying as early as he did. Did I miss something? Why did Herbert decide that Duncan would be the most effective one to bring back as a ghola? Why not, for example, papa Leto?
If memory serves (but its been a LONG time since I’ve read Dune: Messiah) in Dune: Messiah the (SPOLIER Alert–don’t READ beyond this point) (highlight to read the next four lines)
The Tlelaiux gave Emperor Paul Atreides a ghola of Duncan Idaho of Duncan as gift. Their purpose is to demostrate to Paul that a ghola can regain the memories of its progenitor. They do that so when Paul’s wife Chani dies, he will be putty in their hands when they offer Paul a ghola of Chani–in essense resurrecting her from the dead.
-Thot
It had alot to do with the fact that some quick-thinking Sardukar officer noticed Duncan, known as a master warrior and tactician, etc etc., among the dead after the fight and immediately prepped and shipped his body off to the right people faster than sand through a maker. You had to get the dead into the hands of the Tleilaxu and into their tanks quick and in good shape for ghola-rama to be possible. At the time of Duncan’s death there were Guild ships all around Arrakis, hired to assist in the invasion, and one probably got tasked to take Duncan away.
And Gurney was too ornery to be a ghola, he would’ve farted in his tank until they stopped trying. 
That is wicked funny, Topgun. And true!
One aspect I like a lot about the Dune prequel books–House Atriedes, House Harkonnen and House Corrino—is that they cover the complete backgrounds of folks like Gurney and Duncan. The books detail Duncan as a boy on Giedi Prime when he was hunted by the Harkonnens. Also how Duncan came to serve Leto I. And Duncan’s experiences in training on Ginaz to become a SwordMaster. And how Gurney got is inkvine scar on his face. Interesting stuff that fleshes out the characters.
-Thot
Oh, quite right. I had forgotten that the Duncan ghola was preparation for another one.
Just last night I began reading “Sandworms of Dune”. And of course Duncan Idaho is still a central–perhaps THE central character. Sandwormsgot some not so hot reviews, but I’m keeping an open mind. Supposedly the two books “Hunters of Dune” and “Sandworms of Dune” are based on notes by Frank Herbert about how the series would countine after “ChapterHouse Dune” found by his son Brian Herbert. At the slow rate I read it’s gonna take me a LONG time to finish this 450+ page book.
-Thot
Everyone:
I just wanted to say that I’ve completed Dune. It was indeed a much easier read once I got past the first few pages, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I’m looking forward to checking out some of the rest of the series – if only for the fact that I couldn’t help but feel like the ending was a bit rushed and forced. Sean assures me that Herbert will revisit the third quarter of the book where so much was left out.
I’m sure I’ll have more to say as I get a chance to digest it a bit, but for now I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the encouragement to get through it.
Kull Wahad Chuck ! I was always thrown by the ending as well, particularly the very last sentence. But the book (and trilogy) were my favorites as a young adult. Dune Messiah and Children of Dune are not only physically shorter in length, making for a speedier read, but since the infrastructure is already in place, there’s a little more ‘flow’ to these books as well. I hope you have time to give them a look in the future.
Woo-hoo, Chuck! Congrats! And I am glad you enjoyed it.
Congrats Chuck! Well done. You know something you COULD do–and this would give you an interesting perspective----instead of reading Dune: Messiah and Children of Dune next, you could go and read the three prequel books that lead up–time wise–to the events before Dune. I mean the Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson prequels: House Atriedes, House Harkonnen and House Corrino.
Granted they weren’t written by Frank Herbert, but it’s still fun to be in that universe. Just a thot.
-Thot
Oh My !! Blasphemy !! Next thing we know you’ll be saying you side with the Cylons !!! :D;)
Hey, if Tricia Helfer came up to me and said she’d be my girlfriend on the condition that I’d betray all of humanity…Well, I might take a moment to answer 
Maybe you’re right, Topgun. Maybe it’s better that Chuck forge ahead toward the real Frank Herbet sequels. The Brian Herbert stuff might make him lose his taste for the whole thing.
Dune was among the first books that really got me into reading. I have read Dune so many times, the book literally fell apart. But here is my gripe about the series. The sequels were okay, but by the time I got to the end I just wasn’t enjoying it as much as the original book.
So, as someone who loved Dune, but wasn’t all that crazy about the sequels, would I enjoy the prequels? Or are they just trying to milk the franchise for all its worth.
I felt very similar to you about Dune and the Frank Herbert sequels to Dune.
I loved Dune so much and like you reread it often. In fact, when the idea on this Fourm of this group reread of Dune came up, I realized there was no need for me to actually reread it because I pratically have it memorized.
I did get myself through Messiah, Children, God Emperor, etc. because I enjoy the Dune universe, but as novels, they don’t really compare to Dune.
As for whether the prequels are just milking the franchise, I’d say this: Consider Christopher Tolkein, son J.R.R. Tolkein, author of Lord of the Rings. Chris Tolkein’s Simarillion “prequel” to Lord of the Rings" was wonderful book, but really pretty much taken all from his dad’s notes. I don’t suspect Chris Tolkein added much to it, but it was a great work. But every other book after that the Chris Tolkein put out was all very blatant milking of the franchise, and pretty useless.
In contrast, in the Dune prequels (let’s just talk about the House Atriedes, House Harkonnen, House Corrino for the moment) the co-authors Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have really used their imaginaton and writing to create those books. And while granted they couldn’t mimic, not should they, the exact writing style of Frank Herbert, I think they do decent job.
But the real reason to read them is to play in that fanscinating uninverse and specifically with all the characaters that are imporant in the Dune novel.
It’s so cool to discover things like:
- How did Leto’s father get killed in the bull fighting areana, and what was it like for young Leto to become Duke upon his dad’s death?
- What were the circumstances that led Gurney Halleck and Duncan Idaho to the emloy of House Atriedes.
- How did Shadam become emperor? What was Shadam’s father like?
- What kinds devious intrigues was Count Fering up to? And what was life like on the Imperial homeword Kaitain?
- What kind of nasty stuff was the Beast Rabban doing before Dune?
- Why do the Tlelaiux hate the Atreides so much?
- What was life like on IX, and what House ruled them?
- What’s behind the Harkonnen’s hatred of the Bene Gesserit? Why is the Baron so fat? And how did he concieve his daughter Jessica?
…and so on and so on…
Well, I am definitely interested in the back story of Atriedes and Harkonnen. Since my mother is a librarian, I called her and convinced her to order the two books for the library. If I like them I will definitely check out the other newer dune novels, although they really haven’t gotten good reviews. But what do the critics know anyways?
man I really need to get on reading these…
so im finally reading it and its GREAT