I think Kroyd makes an excellent point above- these books changed the landscape when they first came out. They were amazing in their imaginative scope and absolute creativity. They captured the minds of millions. Even tho I found them a bit tedious this last read I still remember, as a separate and still beloved experience, the first and even the next several times I read them. Nothing can change, reduce or taint  my memory of that amazing dive into another world. And the movie brought all the good stuff back, for me. 

Kokipy wrote:

I think Kroyd makes an excellent point above- these books changed the landscape when they first came out. They were amazing in their imaginative scope and absolute creativity. They captured the minds of millions. Even tho I found them a bit tedious this last read I still remember, as a separate and still beloved experience, the first and even the next several times I read them. Nothing can change, reduce or taint  my memory of that amazing dive into another world. And the movie brought all the good stuff back, for me. 

This make sense to me. What doesn’t make sense is that there might be no valid reason for Dune to be so elevated in my own memory as a wonderful book in combination with its informal place as a classic of SF. Even if it is the case that is lacking in some dimensions of artistic merit, there must be others on which it succeeds. And there is no question of its influence on the genre at large. I do plan to reread it when I can, and look forward to being able to make a more informed set of comments.

I haven't reread Dune in a long time.  In fact, I doubt I will reread it, other than selected parts.  For example, at the dinner where the water merchant is baiting Paul, and Paul diplomatically puts him in his place, they are discussing ecology.  However, the parts I do not care for involve the senseless cruelty (in my opinion) shown to other humans.  My brother laughs at me for that kind of sentiment, and truthfully, I don't care if he finds it funny.  (He made fun of me because I didn't like "Game of Thrones".) 

That just makes me beam, Star. I read those books first when I was 13. And they captured me completely then. Your experience encourages me to revisit them. 

I slogged through the first two - or three of the Game of Thrones books and decided that I did not want to give any of the characters any space in my head. The only thing that interests me about the filmed version is the pictures I have seen of the costumes in an article on the needlework involved on the ornamentation.
I find it difficult to reconcile the feeling of the books with the impression I have gathered of the author himself.

Last edited by Pence (11/07/2021 11:47 am)