Dune House Atreides

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Dune House Atreides / Comments on Dune: House Atreides / A convoluted mess!

Ante Dominus
User ID: 2372774 Jan 26th 4:52 PM
Not to be picky but did anybody bother to read this book? I mean really read it? While it's nice to take a day trip back to the old fun Dune world, it is an anurism waiting to happen if you happon to actually be a fan of the series. Why? I don't know. Brian Herbert has proven himself a great Sci-Fi writer. This isn't exactly a bad story. Keven Anderson... well I've never read him but friends of mine loved his Star Wars books (I hope that I'm not the only one who didn't notice the Phantom crappice all over this one).

So why doesn't this book work? Well, to be honest, it isn't a book as much as an outline for a book. Of all the things Frank Herbert was great at one of them was writing. His writing style was Hemmingway in space! He would weave great scenes in his chapters with compelling characters and just beautiful scenery. His imagination came alive on the page and stimulated the readers! That was another one of his talents!

While the original Dune series had a flow that was calm yet emotionally stirring, simply told complexities were savered and digested and everything really made sense! "Atreides" read more like an abridged version of Frank Herberts world. Every chapter was a quick "cut" (the authors didn't seem to want to write any chapter long enough to develope an emotion or a character or even a point, though people suffering from ADD can get more out of this book then the others)!
Every complexity of the "new" story was glossed over and spoon fed. Pardot Keynes, though truly a remarkable (and sellable) aspect of the book, really didn't have a point in the book other then the oh so sneaky he's important so we'll bring him back later syndrome!
I couldn't quite pinpoint the story either! Was it about Leto? Was it about Shadamm and Fenrig (to me the latter seems like it would've been the best), or was it about the Harkonnens and the Bene Gesserit...or the Ixians and the Tleilexu, Duncan Idaho... oh the list goes on. Yes, and all of these people play major parts in the book (Can't quite call it a story)! In the end, and I say this with great reservations, the book was a convoluted attempt at making a beautifully mysterious painfully and dully obvious! Though in defense of the book, I must say that it is pretty much the norm today with science fiction and fantasy. A trilogy, played out like a TV show with short scenes and a lot of crowd pleasing moments, with a cliffhanger and an oh-so intellegent "subtext"! This book is no Frank Herbert, Asimov, Bradburry, Tolkin book. Though it is about as good as any Eddings, Gibson, Anderson and Star Trek/Star Wars/X-Files book out today. It seems that the Science Fiction Greats have now truly been replaced by the sci-soap opera writers of today. Tis a pity!

Picky!
User ID: 2372774 Jan 26th 5:20 PM
You are a pompus ASS! This book ruled man and if I ever find out who you are I am going to rip you a new @@##! Get a life you miserable piece of @@## and stop saying what you believe and let the rest of us read it in peace!

Miles Teg
User ID: 3034424 Jan 27th 10:45 AM
Relax Mr. Picky. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. I think saying what you believe is the whole point of a message board. If you can't handle other people's opinions then don't read the posts!

Admin
User ID: 7726333 Jan 27th 1:20 PM
Thank you for using %*^# instead of words. This book has really divided people on if they like it. Some hate it, some loved it, but all agree it is NOT Frank Herberts unique style. I looked passed that and just enjoyed it, even with that it was not until about half way through the book that that "can't put the book down" urge started on me. So I liked it for what it was, it was a fun read, and enjoys a place on the book shelf beside the best book ever made.

VIP
User ID: 9517143 Jan 30th 6:26 AM
True enough, it didn't really compare to FH's works, but those had one major drawback, each and every one of them. That being the profound nonsense he would come out with, most notibly was almost immediatley after the new Duncan ghola was d@#$#@$^START:6
I have just recently read a critical examination of Herbert's work. Now that I understand the many levels Herbert tried to reach his readers on I find HA to be an absolute sham. It is not Brian Herbert's place to make a mockery out of his father's work. If anything HE should be the number one Dune fan, and knowing better than anyone what his father was trying to accomplish, should not have attempted this obivous attempt at cashing in on his father's legacy. I will not buy the next book in this triology. I believe in leaving well enough alone, and I will not contribute to the profits of this mockery of one of the most intelligent and thought provoking series in the 20 th century. One question I have is why Brian could not handle the task himself; employing a science fiction hack writer to round out the story. I agree with the originator of this post that the book is more of an outline than a fully fleshed out tale. The many storylines involving different characters attempts to copy the many layered plot of the original series but without substanstiation. It is very much like a movie, and no doubt that is the aim of this not so dynamic duo.

Liza B.
User ID: 1592424 Jan 30th 7:20 PM

VIP
User ID: 8270083 Jan 31st 3:54 AM

gswan
User ID: 2163744 Jan 31st 5:18 PM

nothing else
User ID: 0394114 Mar 5th 12:26 PM

Ulsdan
User ID: 0930774 Apr 18th 8:44 AM

Bryan from Mich
User ID: 0366544 Apr 24th 7:29 PM

Admin
User ID: 0317884 Apr 26th 3:25 AM

Jack
User ID: 0038914 Apr 30th 8:18 AM

MJG
User ID: 1397584 May 15th 2:06 PM

Rob
User ID: 0701364 Jul 11th 7:28 AM

Djon
User ID: 1523284 Nov 14th 9:26 PM

lcfqrcdin
User ID: 8659853 Jun 23rd 4:04 PM

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Ante Dominus User ID: 2372774	Jan 26th 4:52 PM Not to be picky but did anybody bother to read this book? I mean really read it? While it's nice to take a day trip back to the old fun Dune world, it is an anurism waiting to happen if you happon to actually be a fan of the series. Why? I don't know. Brian Herbert has proven himself a great Sci-Fi writer. This isn't exactly a bad story. Keven Anderson... well I've never read him but friends of mine loved his Star Wars books (I hope that I'm not the only one who didn't notice the Phantom crappice all over this one). So why doesn't this book work? Well, to be honest, it isn't a book as much as an outline for a book. Of all the things Frank Herbert was great at one of them was writing. His writing style was Hemmingway in space! He would weave great scenes in his chapters with compelling characters and just beautiful scenery. His imagination came alive on the page and stimulated the readers! That was another one of his talents! While the original Dune series had a flow that was calm yet emotionally stirring, simply told complexities were savered and digested and everything really made sense! "Atreides" read more like an abridged version of Frank Herberts world. Every chapter was a quick "cut" (the authors didn't seem to want to write any chapter long enough to develope an emotion or a character or even a point, though people suffering from ADD can get more out of this book then the others)! Every complexity of the "new" story was glossed over and spoon fed. Pardot Keynes, though truly a remarkable (and sellable) aspect of the book, really didn't have a point in the book other then the oh so sneaky he's important so we'll bring him back later syndrome! I couldn't quite pinpoint the story either! Was it about Leto? Was it about Shadamm and Fenrig (to me the latter seems like it would've been the best), or was it about the Harkonnens and the Bene Gesserit...or the Ixians and the Tleilexu, Duncan Idaho... oh the list goes on. Yes, and all of these people play major parts in the book (Can't quite call it a story)! In the end, and I say this with great reservations, the book was a convoluted attempt at making a beautifully mysterious painfully and dully obvious! Though in defense of the book, I must say that it is pretty much the norm today with science fiction and fantasy. A trilogy, played out like a TV show with short scenes and a lot of crowd pleasing moments, with a cliffhanger and an oh-so intellegent "subtext"! This book is no Frank Herbert, Asimov, Bradburry, Tolkin book. Though it is about as good as any Eddings, Gibson, Anderson and Star Trek/Star Wars/X-Files book out today. It seems that the Science Fiction Greats have now truly been replaced by the sci-soap opera writers of today. Tis a pity!
Picky! User ID: 2372774	Jan 26th 5:20 PM You are a pompus ASS! This book ruled man and if I ever find out who you are I am going to rip you a new @@##! Get a life you miserable piece of @@## and stop saying what you believe and let the rest of us read it in peace!
Miles Teg User ID: 3034424	Jan 27th 10:45 AM Relax Mr. Picky. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. I think saying what you believe is the whole point of a message board. If you can't handle other people's opinions then don't read the posts!
Admin User ID: 7726333	Jan 27th 1:20 PM Thank you for using %*^# instead of words. This book has really divided people on if they like it. Some hate it, some loved it, but all agree it is NOT Frank Herberts unique style. I looked passed that and just enjoyed it, even with that it was not until about half way through the book that that "can't put the book down" urge started on me. So I liked it for what it was, it was a fun read, and enjoys a place on the book shelf beside the best book ever made.
VIP User ID: 9517143	Jan 30th 6:26 AM True enough, it didn't really compare to FH's works, but those had one major drawback, each and every one of them. That being the profound nonsense he would come out with, most notibly was almost immediatley after the new Duncan ghola was d@#$#@$^START:6 I have just recently read a critical examination of Herbert's work. Now that I understand the many levels Herbert tried to reach his readers on I find HA to be an absolute sham. It is not Brian Herbert's place to make a mockery out of his father's work. If anything HE should be the number one Dune fan, and knowing better than anyone what his father was trying to accomplish, should not have attempted this obivous attempt at cashing in on his father's legacy. I will not buy the next book in this triology. I believe in leaving well enough alone, and I will not contribute to the profits of this mockery of one of the most intelligent and thought provoking series in the 20 th century. One question I have is why Brian could not handle the task himself; employing a science fiction hack writer to round out the story. I agree with the originator of this post that the book is more of an outline than a fully fleshed out tale. The many storylines involving different characters attempts to copy the many layered plot of the original series but without substanstiation. It is very much like a movie, and no doubt that is the aim of this not so dynamic duo.
Liza B. User ID: 1592424	Jan 30th 7:20 PM
VIP User ID: 8270083	Jan 31st 3:54 AM
gswan User ID: 2163744	Jan 31st 5:18 PM
nothing else User ID: 0394114	Mar 5th 12:26 PM
Ulsdan User ID: 0930774	Apr 18th 8:44 AM
Bryan from Mich User ID: 0366544	Apr 24th 7:29 PM
Admin User ID: 0317884	Apr 26th 3:25 AM
Jack User ID: 0038914	Apr 30th 8:18 AM
MJG User ID: 1397584	May 15th 2:06 PM
Rob User ID: 0701364	Jul 11th 7:28 AM
Djon User ID: 1523284	Nov 14th 9:26 PM
lcfqrcdin User ID: 8659853	Jun 23rd 4:04 PM