Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Please post your comments here. I'm afraid I'm a little behind, but I just requested a copy from the library, so hopefully I will be able to get caught up! Sorry it took so long to get the discussion up and running!

Although I haven't been the most active person in this group (sorry!) I absolutely love this book and look forward to discussion!

What does everyone think about the political framework of the novel?

Wow, it looks like this book was not a popular group read in 2012 when we read it. I'm starting this one soon as it is the group read for my F2F group next month.

It's my favorite work of science fiction.

Kat wrote: "What does everyone think about the political framework of the novel?"

It seems suprisingly plausible that the future is ruled by monarchs and emperors instead of elected politicians.

Lena wrote: "It's my favorite work of science fiction."

Sweet -- looking forward to it.

Alia wrote: "Kat wrote: "What does everyone think about the political framework of the novel?"

It seems suprisingly plausible that the future is ruled by monarchs and emperors instead of elected politicians."

Sadly so

I re-read this earlier this year for the first time in many years, but still re-awarded it 5 Stars - a true classic :oD

I had forgotten about actually needing to use the glossary at the back of the book for the "foreign" words. So nice to be starting this book again. It has been years since I've read it and already it is a great read.

I remember having to use the glossary so heavily at the beginning of the book made me give up last time ... I hope to be more disciplined now :)

About 2/3 of the way through the book -- I had forgotten how well this one is written. Far enough along that I'm not using the glossary much any more. Very satisfying.

I was wondering though (view spoiler)[What was the motivation for the Emperor to help destroy the House of Atreides? More wealth doesn't seem to be enough. What did I miss? (hide spoiler)]

Kathy wrote: "I was wondering though [spoilers removed]"

Pushing my memory here but I recall that House Atreides was becoming increasingly popular with the other great houses and this was considered a threat by the Emperor and with that a threat to House Corrino. Due to a centuries old feud between house Atreides and Harkonnen the Emperor was able to force Atreides to take over Dune and with that House Harkonnen were able to claim a vendetta under imperial convention and with that no other house was able to intervene under those conventions. The fly in the ointment was that the imperial forces attacked disguised as Harkonnen troops.

Great book. Reckon I have read it 5 or 6 times.

I think that's right
the Emperor was worried that Atreides were getting too popular in the Landsraat and also had too much power wrt control of the spice and thought he could control the Harkonnens better
iirc! ;o)

Kathy wrote: "I was wondering though [spoilers removed]"

And Hawat answered my question in last night's reading. Nearly finished. This is a great read for me this month.

ComicBookGirl19 did a bookclub thing on this havn't watched it as i am planning on reading Dune eventually but some might might like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryc-Y...

We've been binge watching Game of Thrones. It's a lot like Dune lol

It is May, my Dune Buddies, and this is our spot to discuss Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic. I started reading tonight on the late side, so I only got about 20 pages in before lights out. I am not a fantasy or science fiction fan and I can tell that I'm going to have trouble with the names and settings. If I can get past every tenth word being some made up thing or place I'll do just fine. Really enjoyed the test in the first chapter.

I'm excited to begin but I'm going to do it on audio and I'm already listening to TWO audio books!! So as soon as I finish one of them I'll begin Dune (I hope by May 7th). Maybe you'll have some of the names and settings down by then -- and you can answer any questions that I have! ;)

It's going to be a slow start for me, too. I need to finish Malcolm X Bio and I'm listening to Brideshead Revisited, so I'm spread a little thin. I plan to finish X by tomorrow so I can get it back to the library.

I was thinking last night that if any place name came along that I didn't like, I'd just swap it out with a state that starts with the same letter! So Arrakis will be Arkansas.

I just started this morning, just the first chapter, and am really enjoying it! I like that you're sucked into the world with so little introduction, even if it's a bit confusing at first. Muad'Did, Kwisatz Haderach, Bene Gesserit... I think it'll all come together as we go along. :D

I hope to start reading this week, after I finish a couple of books that I have been reading for ages.

It turns out that this is still a very popular book. All of the copies at the two local libraries are checked out. I had to put a hold on it.

Rosemarie wrote: "I hope to start reading this week, after I finish a couple of books that I have been reading for ages."

Yes, I'm doing the same thing. I need to clear the table a bit, so to speak, before starting yet another chunkster. Hopefully sometime during the weekend.

Are we planning on reading this whole thing in May? Actually, I should probably aim to do that anyway. The last time I got this from the library someone reserved it right away and I had to return it before I'd even gotten started.

I love this series :) Excited to be reading it with a group!

So, for who here is this your first time reading it? Who's read it before?

I read it in 1973 and really loved it.

Can't wait to start this one - will be finishing/reading 2 others then will FINALLY get to this one!

Michelle, this is my first time for Dune. I haven't even seen the movie that everyone says is awful!

Lori, I expect to finish it in may!

I have started reading Dune. I'm only about 10% into it and am just starting to meet all the characters and understand a little of the story. So far, so good!

A couple of things I thought were interesting were:
+talking about doing a lot of paperwork -- I'm guessing technology that far in the future doesn't include paper!
+The Duke (I think it was him?) put a guy to work going around synchronizing all the clocks -- again, I think technology would be setting all the timepieces by computer (we already do some of that now).
I always think it is interesting when authors try to write about the future. Dune was published in 1965 and now, 53 years later we already see a lot of futuristic things that folks from earlier times couldn't begin to imagine! ;)

The movie is awful!

Rosemarie wrote: "The movie is awful!"

I don't think I would want to watch it.

Rosemarie, I saw that you said you originally read this in 1973. I tried to read it in 1977, but just couldn't get through it. So I'm glad to try again and give it a little more attention. Reading it with others is also helpful, I think :)

I completed book one tonight so I am about 200 pages in. I hope to read the next two sections over the next few days. I enjoyed your thoughts, Terris. Guessing what the future will be like is tricky work!

Rosemarie wrote: "The movie is awful!"

As a poor representation of the book, or just as a movie in general?
[I thought the scene of the arrival of the spice/head space/pilot was cool, and the sand worms weren't bad either.]

It has been so long I don't remember that much, but they had to leave a lot out so it is a poor representation of the book and some of the cast were not suited to the role. But as a movie it wasn't that bad, but not that good either. The main character, Paul, was well cast, I thought, and Sting had an interesting role in the movie. I saw it when it was in the theatres, so that was a long time ago.

Yes, a poor representation; and, yes, a long time ago.

Rosemarie wrote: "The movie is awful!"

Mark wrote: "As a poor representation of the book, or just as a movie in general?"

Both, IMO.

The book was good.

How are all my Dune Buddies getting along. Anybody finished yet? Anybody having trouble starting? I will say that book two amps up the action.

I am 10% of the way in, and they have just arrived on Arrakis. The society in the book sounds dangerous and unpleasant, since you have to look out for poisoners and assassins if you are a person of any importance.

I'm in the same spot as Rosemarie. They have just arrived on Arrakis.

I'm listening to the audio during my commute. It's an interesting book to listen to. There are low wind sounds in the background now that they've arrived on Arrakis.

Yes, Arrakis does not seem to be a "plum" assignment for the Duke and his family. Not only do they have to worry about assassins, but the harsh dessert land is hardly conducive to sustaining human life (at least not the kind of life in which they've become accustomed).

I'm about 10% in too - and I'm done with finals so should be speeding along faster now! :) They do seem pretty clear that Arrakis is a trap...

What do you guys think about the Bene Gesserit and (view spoiler)[ the whole distinguishing between "humans" and other? (hide spoiler)] There's a lot of politics in general in the book so far, some of which is confusing as you're trying to figure out who is who.

Tammy wrote: "Yes, Arrakis does not seem to be a "plum" assignment for the Duke and his family. Not only do they have to worry about assassins, but the harsh dessert land is hardly conducive to sustaining human ..."

With great danger comes great opportunity, as the say...

I finished Dune last night (stayed up until 1AM to do so). I gave it a 4.5 Stars. I'm anxious to see how my fellow readers will rate this epic tale.

I read it 40 years ago. For what is was intended: sci-fi/adventure/fantasy I think it did/does a pretty good job.

I am 100 pages in and the action has really picked up.

I think Frank Herbert was pretty forward thinking...drug wars, an emphasis on ecology (and a questioning of how human interference could impact the planet), and a deep interest in eastern religions. And worms!

I just started it as well, and now I'm getting past the phase of having to look up every word. I think it will all come together if I just give it time. And stop analyzing every sentence for what it means. :)

I remember the movie not doing too well - maybe they should remake it? I want to check it out - I remember Sting being in it and that would be cool to see. When I'm done with the book. :)

(view spoiler)[ I do hate how I know the villian is Dr. Yuhwe & is Paul/Muad'Dib the same person? Sounds like he gets killed or something...ugh. The Bene Gesserit sounds fascinating and wise. Arrikas does sound horrible for a prophecy that the One (woman goddess/priest = Jessica) from there is to save them all? Per Shakout Mapes.> (hide spoiler)]

Colleen, (view spoiler)[The person of Maud'dib is a prophecy of a future messiah-type of being. The people are waiting for Maud'dib to come. Paul seems to fulfill some of the prophecy. I guess we'll have to wait to see what happens. At one point, someone was wondering whether the Maud'dib could be Paul or whether Jessica would have another baby who could be Maud'dib. The prophecy is unclear as to whether Maud'dib would be born on the planet. (hide spoiler)]. The whole concept is very interesting and leads to a lot of possible tangents.

Franscesca, about that Bene Gesseret ceremony, (view spoiler)[ it would be a scary thing to submit one's child to such a test. In essence, an animal would pull back unthinkingly from pain.....but wouldn't most humans? So the test seems to be to show whether a person can outthink the pain and stay calm. A good quality to have in times of extreme trouble.
However, to kill the person who cannot outthink the pain is extreme, especially when the amount of pain administered is subjective. The Reverend Mother submitted Paul to more pain than she had ever submitted a test subject to.
I guess we'll find out whether such extremes of survival are necessary. Perhaps it is in this universe.
The world itself seems very conniving and political. (hide spoiler)]