Worth reading the entire Dune book series?

[hans030390]

First three. That's all.

 

[Wag]

Yeah, forget about the sequels written by his son. They suck. I read a few of them (or at least tried).

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: jman19

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
nerp,

So, does this mean the Dune series is bad or you don't prefer it? Did you read all 6?

It was just an asshat comment. I know this is ATOT where everyone only reads sci fi and comic books. Dune is an interesting book, but hardly literary. I feel like I need to be the lone voice to say read Dune and then read other books. Spending all that time to read 6 dune books is a travesty with all the tremendous fiction out there that will actually inspire you. I read dune and liked it. But on my deathbed, I'm not going to be reflecting on Dune, but you bet your ass I'm going to be remembering passages from Mailer.

who the fuck is Mailer? I've never heard of him.

Only one of the most important literary minds of the 20th century.

if he's so important, why have i never heard of him?

Is that the test these days? Someone isn't important if some random internet tool hasn't heard of him?

i didn't say he wasn't important. thanks for putting words in my mouth, but then again, thats what tools on internet forums are all about.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Babbles

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
nerp,

So, does this mean the Dune series is bad or you don't prefer it? Did you read all 6?

It was just an asshat comment. I know this is ATOT where everyone only reads sci fi and comic books. Dune is an interesting book, but hardly literary. I feel like I need to be the lone voice to say read Dune and then read other books. Spending all that time to read 6 dune books is a travesty with all the tremendous fiction out there that will actually inspire you. I read dune and liked it. But on my deathbed, I'm not going to be reflecting on Dune, but you bet your ass I'm going to be remembering passages from Mailer.

who the fuck is Mailer? I've never heard of him.

Only one of the most important literary minds of the 20th century.

if he's so important, why have i never heard of him?

Ignorance?

nope. not even close. I love reading books of all kinds. I've never once come across this name in my own search for books nor have i heard anyone recommend him.

 

[bobdole369]

First couple books are required reading, the rest, meh....

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Babbles

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
nerp,

So, does this mean the Dune series is bad or you don't prefer it? Did you read all 6?

It was just an asshat comment. I know this is ATOT where everyone only reads sci fi and comic books. Dune is an interesting book, but hardly literary. I feel like I need to be the lone voice to say read Dune and then read other books. Spending all that time to read 6 dune books is a travesty with all the tremendous fiction out there that will actually inspire you. I read dune and liked it. But on my deathbed, I'm not going to be reflecting on Dune, but you bet your ass I'm going to be remembering passages from Mailer.

who the fuck is Mailer? I've never heard of him.

Only one of the most important literary minds of the 20th century.

if he's so important, why have i never heard of him?

Ignorance?

nope. not even close. I love reading books of all kinds. I've never once come across this name in my own search for books nor have i heard anyone recommend him.

That is pretty much an example of ignorance.

Don't take that as a total character slander, but rather this is a literal description of the word; you are unaware or otherwise lack an understanding of something.

 

[nerp]

I'm just baffled that an avid reader would never hear about Mailer. It's like never hearing about Salinger or Steinbeck.

 

[Tobolo]

Nope. Just read the first one, it lost its drive and intensity after that.

 

[torpid]

The last couple aren't as good as the first two to three, but I still think it's good to read the entire series to get a complete vision. The crap written by the offspring is not worth a frog's spit in a swamp.

 

[racolvin]

Read the 1st one, definitely. That's a SciFi must. Read the next two if you're particularly inclined but don't lose any sleep if you don't get around to it. Give the last 3 a miss entirely as you'll lose sleep just slogging through that mess

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I liked all 6. First was my favorite. Second was my least favorite. Granted, I read them in middle school like 14 years ago.

 

[pontifex]

I liked the books written by his son and the other author.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: pontifex


I liked the books written by his son and the other author.

I didn't mind them so much either. Different strokes I suppose...

<-------Also has no idea who this Mailer fellow is.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: jman19

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
nerp,

So, does this mean the Dune series is bad or you don't prefer it? Did you read all 6?

It was just an asshat comment. I know this is ATOT where everyone only reads sci fi and comic books. Dune is an interesting book, but hardly literary. I feel like I need to be the lone voice to say read Dune and then read other books. Spending all that time to read 6 dune books is a travesty with all the tremendous fiction out there that will actually inspire you. I read dune and liked it. But on my deathbed, I'm not going to be reflecting on Dune, but you bet your ass I'm going to be remembering passages from Mailer.

who the fuck is Mailer? I've never heard of him.

Only one of the most important literary minds of the 20th century.

if he's so important, why have i never heard of him?

Is that the test these days? Someone isn't important if some random internet tool hasn't heard of him?

i didn't say he wasn't important. thanks for putting words in my mouth, but then again, thats what tools on internet forums are all about.

Seriously? Read what you wrote. You are questioning his importance due to the fact you haven't heard of him.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: nerp
I'm just baffled that an avid reader would never hear about Mailer. It's like never hearing about Salinger or Steinbeck.

I've heard of all three, only read two. Steinbeck was a bore, and Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" was interesting when I was young, but now, aside from "shocking" language I don't see anything terribly special about it. IMO, Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" is a superior allegory for the transition from youth into adulthood because, unlike Salinger, Burgess doesn't idealize childhood and see it as something that we "fall away from" when we reach adulthood.

Mailer hasn't been on my list; given his general style he is unlikely to fall within the realms of what I enjoy.

I can completely understand how an avid reader might not recognize Mailer's name. He has probably heard it once or twice, but the books don't come up widely outside of English Lit classes in college.

ZV

 

[jonks]

You can be perfectly content just reading the first book which is by far the best of the series.

If you wish to go on, read the first 3.

If you still love it, read all 6.

DO NOT READ HIS SON'S "SEQUELS".

I can't non-recommend them enough. Bad, bad, bad. And not just by comparison to the originals, just all around bad writing, dialogue, plotting, etc. I suffered through them so you don't have to.

 

[Uhtrinity]

I've read the first 6 at least 2 times each and loved them. The first 3 are the best of course. I have also read all of the Brian Herbert / Kevin Anderson books and though good, not as good as Frank's.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
nerp,

So, does this mean the Dune series is bad or you don't prefer it? Did you read all 6?

It was just an asshat comment. I know this is ATOT where everyone only reads sci fi and comic books. Dune is an interesting book, but hardly literary. I feel like I need to be the lone voice to say read Dune and then read other books. Spending all that time to read 6 dune books is a travesty with all the tremendous fiction out there that will actually inspire you. I read dune and liked it. But on my deathbed, I'm not going to be reflecting on Dune, but you bet your ass I'm going to be remembering passages from Mailer.

who the fuck is Mailer? I've never heard of him.

Only one of the most important literary minds of the 20th century.

if he's so important, why have i never heard of him?

Because what is important in this world isn't determined by you?

Why is some ass clown writing a book important to anyone but ass clowns that read books?

I liked the 1st Dune book, but couldn't read any others.

 

[Electric Amish]

Yes. I liked them.

Some sections drag a little, but they are great overall.

 

[Leros]

How did you guys keep track of the names? I tried to read Dune last year, but couldn't get past a few chapters because the names were too hard to remember.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Leros
How did you guys keep track of the names? I tried to read Dune last year, but couldn't get past a few chapters because the names were too hard to remember.

I didn't have a problem with names but I did consult the glossary at the end of the book often for the terms.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Leros
How did you guys keep track of the names? I tried to read Dune last year, but couldn't get past a few chapters because the names were too hard to remember.

I didn't have a problem with names but I did consult the glossary at the end of the book often for the terms.

I forgot about the glossary. Between writing the names down to keep track and flipping to the glossary every few sentences, I found it unpleasant to read.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Leros
How did you guys keep track of the names? I tried to read Dune last year, but couldn't get past a few chapters because the names were too hard to remember.

I don't quite understand this. How are they hard to remember?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: nerp
I'm just baffled that an avid reader would never hear about Mailer. It's like never hearing about Salinger or Steinbeck.

I've heard of all three, only read two. Steinbeck was a bore, and Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" was interesting when I was young, but now, aside from "shocking" language I don't see anything terribly special about it. IMO, Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" is a superior allegory for the transition from youth into adulthood because, unlike Salinger, Burgess doesn't idealize childhood and see it as something that we "fall away from" when we reach adulthood.

Mailer hasn't been on my list; given his general style he is unlikely to fall within the realms of what I enjoy.

I can completely understand how an avid reader might not recognize Mailer's name. He has probably heard it once or twice, but the books don't come up widely outside of English Lit classes in college.

ZV

I've heard of Salinger and Steinbeck. I believe I've even read a Steineck novel or 2, probably in HS, but can't remember the names. Never read Salinger.

I looked up Mailer and what books he's written and none of them sounded familiar at all.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Leros
How did you guys keep track of the names? I tried to read Dune last year, but couldn't get past a few chapters because the names were too hard to remember.

I simply don't worry about the names. I remember the major characters and the author will usually repeat the pertinent associations for less prominent characters at the time it is beneficial to know them. A large part of the reason he named everyone and connected them with some familial house or other relationship is to make the universe he created believable. I just trust that the relationships are there and accurate and try not to let my inability to track each and every one get in the way of my enjoyment of the story.

I find myself doing the same thing with George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, which is sort of striking me as being a "Dune in Fantasyland" except that less exciting and interesting stuff happens in it compared to Dune.