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Is the book "Dune" good science fiction?

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Originally posted by: BladeVenom
If you don't like fantasy, I don't think you'll like Dune. Try Arthur C. Clark or Lary Niven for hard science fiction.
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Thanks for the info. I'll keep this in mind for my next read.
 
Originally posted by: BladeVenom
If you don't like fantasy, I don't think you'll like Dune. Try Arthur C. Clark or Lary Niven for hard science fiction.
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That's my opinion as well. I loved Dune but it's about 90% fantasy writing and 10% Sci-Fi, although technically I think it's categorized as Sci-Fi.
 
Originally posted by: jjones
Originally posted by: BladeVenom
If you don't like fantasy, I don't think you'll like Dune. Try Arthur C. Clark or Lary Niven for hard science fiction.
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That's my opinion as well. I loved Dune but it's about 90% fantasy writing and 10% Sci-Fi, although technically I think it's categorized as Sci-Fi.
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Except for the fact that all of the technology and happenings are an intentional allegory for current society, as is true in most science fiction and not true in most fantasy.
 
Originally posted by: uberman
Originally posted by: BoomerD
I don't know if I'd like it on audio tape...
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Yes, I agree. On tape it might be strange.

Can someone recommend a good version of the movie "Dune" to see after listening to the 34 hours of audio tape?
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I remember there being a movie made, but IIRC, it was really...strange. I didn't care much for it.
 
Originally posted by: Blunc
Dune is mainly about politics, plots and intrigue.

if you have the book, read through the definitions in the back of the book first to make it easier to understand the new terms and words Herbert used in the book.

IMHO, the first Dune movie is more like cliffnotes to the book and so far there hasn't been a movie/miniseries that has done it justice.

I'm still hoping they will make a movie of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
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Very, very true. There is almost no sci-fi in Dune at all. It is much more of a book about religion and politics. I've read it so many times that I couldn't give you an exact number, but it is one of the few books that I actually find more enjoyable with each read. I find the politics between the Great Houses and the Emperor and the history of the Fremen to be fascinating.

The Sci-Fi channel miniseries is pretty good. I wouldn't watch it without reading the book though. There is a lot of small things left out of it that really makes the book come together.

Stay away from the David Lynch version. Especially the extended cut, unless you have a thing for seeing Captain Picard act really, really, really badly. I do think Jorgen Prochnow was almost perfect as the Duke though.
 
Originally posted by: Jesusthewererabbit
The Sci-Fi channel miniseries is pretty good.
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Actually, the Sci-Fi version of Children of Dune is far, far better. Their version of Dune borrows too many cinematic techniques from the old '60s Batman series (where they show the villains scheming away in reddish light with the camera angled at about 40 degrees).
 
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
I don't really get the whole "Dune isn't sci fi" feeling here. Shields? Space ships? Pilots that see into the future? Laser guns? Ornithopters?
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Star Wars isn't sci fi. Sure, it has space ships and all that, but what it's lacking is science. Dune doesn't really have science, either.
 
Originally posted by: Blunc
Dune is mainly about politics, plots and intrigue.

if you have the book, read through the definitions in the back of the book first to make it easier to understand the new terms and words Herbert used in the book.

IMHO, the first Dune movie is more like cliffnotes to the book and so far there hasn't been a movie/miniseries that has done it justice.

I'm still hoping they will make a movie of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
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the sci-fi miniseries was pretty damn good.
don't listen to these douchebags, they'd find something to bitch about if it came with a free steak and blowjob.
 
If I think about it for awhile I might come up with a worse book to listen to as an audio book. Dune is a great read but I think so much would be lost a as a audio book that it would be frustrating. Then again, The Hitchhikers Guide started out as a radio program but I enjoy reading it far more than listening to it.
 
Originally posted by: Kadarin
Originally posted by: Jesusthewererabbit
The Sci-Fi channel miniseries is pretty good.
Click to expand...

Actually, the Sci-Fi version of Children of Dune is far, far better. Their version of Dune borrows too many cinematic techniques from the old '60s Batman series (where they show the villains scheming away in reddish light with the camera angled at about 40 degrees).
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I haven't seen the Children of Dune series. I think it would be hard to cram Dune Messiah and Children of Dune into a single miniseries. I might be wrong though.

The main problem I have with Dune in any format besides a book is the inner dialog. There are tons of thoughts that go through Paul and Jessica's heads that work very well in the book. The effect is kind of lost with a closeup of their faces while you hear the actor saying the lines.

 
Nope, Dune is only one of the most famous sci-fi book/movie series in history because it sucks. 😕
 
When I moved I had to get rid of many old well-read books. Three that I kept:

Dune
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Foundation

Absolute classics.
 
I enjoyed Dune and several sequels by Herbert. For starters, consider how carefully he has created a completely new ecosystem in which to place his stories. One strong impression I had, though, was that the stories have a stong undercurrent of cynical self-serving political manipulation; "Machiavellian" comes to mind. And that is driven by a progression of self-absorbed power holders in a family heriarchy. An allegory for many political and business leaderships?

Water as a metaphor for oil? That may have been in Herbert's mind when he wrote from a country with significant water resources. But these days it's starting to look prophetic, never mind a metaphor!

Oh, and let me put in a plug for reading the books - better than movies or tapes, I think. Reading lets you stop and think about the story, then proceed at your own mind's pace.

For a different perpective on political manipulation of societies that seems more idealistic than self-serving, try Issac Asimov's Foundation series. Reminds me of a friend's clever assessment: "A lot of people are turned off by Asimov's egotistical high opinion of himself and his talents. The problem is, he's justified to feel that way."
 
Dune is awesome. In laymans terms, its LOTR for Sci-Fi, except .. longer? and more immersive (lots of worlds, factions, guilds, etc).
 
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