Dune series

[BlueSkyGB]

I've just finished re-reading the original Dune series by Frank Herbert.
And I'm wondering if anybody here has read the ones written by his son Brian.
would appreciate your opinions on before I start reading them....
thanks in advance...:)

[sysiphus]

hello bluesky. the dune series were the books that really got me into reading when i first discovered them around the age of ten. i was a bit skeptical when i heard that his son was continuing the stories based on his notes. well the first book was ok. you could catch glimpses of frank herbert in some of the paragraphs and concepts. the second book was less than ok. the third book- i couldn't get through it at all.

brian herbert just doesn't have the same vision nor literary skills to carry on what his father started.

[ClaesGefvenberg]

And I'm wondering if anybody here has read the ones written by his son Brian.OH, I did not know that his son had "reopened" the series. I have read the original series, of course, and imo Herbert seemed to run out of steam somewhere halfway through it. The later volumes are nowhere near as good as the first ones.

/Claes

[BlueSkyGB]

Thanks for the replies guys.....:)
even though I work in a library...and get reviews from our patrons...I do seek out other views from this forum from time to time...:D
I've been one to shy away from long series, for the most part, there are a few authors that I seem to read all, but in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, I tend to not start a series unless I've had lots of good word on..
Read the originals years ago and after seeing the ones by the son, my interest was renewed.

[ThePianoMan]

I couldn't really get into the Dune books after the first one. I found that they got rather dull.

[Nico87]

I actually just got hold of the first editions of Dune, Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune (paid a hell of a lot) written by Frank. I'm also considering getting the other 3 books in the series, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse Dune. I've started reading the original Dune and I really like it, just shame I won't be able to finish it as I'm going in the army next thursday, and I don't really want to bring first editions there as they might get destroyed.

Haven't read anything by his son, but according to some reviews on Amazon, I think it's safe to say that the Dune books by Frank is alot more appreciated.

Please let me know if it's worth investing in the latter three Dune books.

[FuzzySeduction]

Personally, I thought Brian did a good job. Of course, if I seperate it I can consider it a good bit of interesting literature but when I compare it to Frank Herbert, there is no competition. Though I suggest you read it if your as interested in the Harkonnen history as I was! :3

[GatsbyTheGreat]

I don't think I can read Brian/Anderson's capitalistic travesties. I'm sure they aren't all bad but I would much rather have the raw notes in my hand (refer to J.R.R. Tolkien's son and the way he expanded Middle Earth). How could they be so bold as to assume they could continue the Dune series? That was Frank Herbert's magnum opus and the fact that Brian Herbert couldn't think of anything better to do justifies Frank's theory that a progeny of a genius can never be as brilliant as the original genius. I believed he called it the "leveling off" effect of evolution and likened it to large trees that fall in the wilderness so other trees can acquire the nutrients to grow as large

[FuzzySeduction]

I don't think I can read Brian/Anderson's capitalistic travesties. I'm sure they aren't all bad but I would much rather have the raw notes in my hand (refer to J.R.R. Tolkien's son and the way he expanded Middle Earth).

Hmm, interesting. Though, I seem to remember reading a short preface of sorts explaining that bit. Brian stated that he and his father had always planned to do a book together, but were not able to begin on before his death. He also goes on to say that he was left with dozens upon dozens of his fathers notes, and he used these to better explain and fill in a few unanswered technical questions.

[Bakiryu]

I read the first book, but I can't find the second :mad: !

[GatsbyTheGreat]

Hmm, interesting. Though, I seem to remember reading a short preface of sorts explaining that bit. Brian stated that he and his father had always planned to do a book together, but were not able to begin on before his death. He also goes on to say that he was left with dozens upon dozens of his fathers notes, and he used these to better explain and fill in a few unanswered technical questions.

A Dune book you mean? Because they did write at least one book together that I know of that was unrelated to the Dune series, A Man of Two Worlds. I would be surprised but open to the fact that they planned to write a Dune book together, because personally I don't think anyone but Frank himself, alone, could pull it off. I'm too harsh on Brian, I know, but I worship Frank Herbert and really don't think anyone but him could continue the series.

[FuzzySeduction]

I'm too harsh on Brian, I know, but I worship Frank Herbert and really don't think anyone but him could continue the series.

I completely agree with you, I cannot really come to compare them. Sadly, I can do nothing but that, and in the end I am unhappy because Brian has enough talent to forge his own literary career without interfering with his fathers works. Actually, I believe he also said something to the effect of wishing to do his fathers works justice, and in that respect... when you have to decidedly compare them, you can't.

What do they say? Apples and oranges.

x3.

[Oh! Your right, I forgot about that book, har! Though it's my understanding that they were planning a novel of sorts that was cut short, so I assume it's of the Dune series, but I can't be sure. D:]

[GatsbyTheGreat]

Yeah, I just see Brian as being afraid to branch out and do his own thing, which to me shows that he isn't quite competent as a writer in his own right. I guess we'll never know though, because he focuses too much on the path his father has tread.

As for Kevin J. Anderson, I feel repulsed at the fact that someone who wrote a book with L. Ron Hubbard is continuing the Dune series. I suppose before L. Ron went completely insane he probably wrote some quality science fiction but it still bothers me.