The Duke of Caladan has arrived !!!

 

The Duke has arrived, the father of Muad'Dib!! Bless the coming and the going of the Maker!! This is actually a little dune talk and anyone who has read the books will understand. This the latest of those precious dune books. Now before I make my point, and yes I have a point a little rant!

There are those who read Frank Herbert's books and say they are great. I am one of them and though some are a hard slog they are enjoyable. However he got a lot confusing in his story telling and by God Emperor it was total. I know because I read it twice. By the end of the second reading it was better. Thankfully the last two books got back on track. However I wondered what had happened in the intervening years to cause the universe of Dune to come to this place and time. Sadly Frank died and left us hanging.

For me the series of books by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson made it much clearer. I finally got to know what happened in The Butlerian Jihad and the in between times. I like them as well though there are those that do not and that is there right, may their blades chip and shatter!!

To anyone who has not read Dune, please do !! I am a Dune nut and have read ALL the books. I cannot get enough of Dune so I was shattered when I heard that the new movie would be delayed. I ask what are those of us with taste in science fiction going to do till then ,watch raised by wolves or discovery?? I said tasteful, not disgustingly stupid and an utter waste of time and space!!

Now this is the first book of a trilogy. I do not know yet when they they will be published. From experience with the last great trilogy they are usually space out by about one year. So now I have a big, big, big problem. If I start reading it I will get drawn into the story and before I realize I would have read the about three hundred pages. I know I will love it because the stories about these people who populate the Dune universe are wonderful.

Then what do I do ??? I will have to wait, and wait. Then today's world will come crashing in and this will sadden me greatly. Not that the world of Dune ever portrays a walk in the park kind of life. right from the very first page of the very first book the worlds and the future that Frank Herbert creates is deliciously intricate with plots and plans and powers and principalities. We learn as the story progresses what man's future has become. When you read the book it has a section that explains many things and words used in the narrative. After a while you get very comfortable with it all.

Before long you will be introduced to one of the most important elements that exist in Dune. The giant worms of Arrakis are big. In one estimation they have the diameter of a house and the length of a city block. They patrol and protect another important item , the spice, melange. This spice is the most important commodity in the known universe. It possesses special properties and the entire structure of the Dune universe is supported on this one , singular pillar. It is only found on one planet, Arrakis or as it is often called Dune. A planet without any water, just dessert. To control this most precious commodity the humans in the future, much like the ones today, scheme, plot, kill and maneuver powerful political, religious and military forces.

As such the stories go into detail how these forces clash. In all human endeavors there are the protagonists and this where DUNE excels. The people who are behind all the action are very real. They have a past, are very passionate about what interests them. The good are , with some very human traits, basically decent people with good intentions. The evil are also very realistic in their greed and cruelty. Of course we could not have a good story without some very stupid and helpless individual who are used by the one who have plans within plans. You cannot help but get drawn into what they are up to in each of the books.

So here is my dilemma , if I start reading the book I will get so interested as to what happens that within a short time I will have read it all. Then I will have to wait. However there is a sliver lining. Usually I read the book again to remind me of the story and then read the second one right after so the story is fresh in my mind!!

 

The Mentats have arrived !!

Today I have received my own copy of the most recent DUNE book. The Mentats of Dune is sitting on my lap and I cannot wait to read it. I am proud to say that I have read ALL the Dune books. When you consider that there are now 20 books telling the marvelous saga of that future planet you may think me a bit obsessed. Well after 2.5 million words I cannot get enough of Dune.

To those unfamiliar with Dune I will try to tell you quickly how it all began. It is set in a future where humanity has gone out to the stars. Due to an ancient conflict computers and advanced robots have been banned and people have had to develop their minds. There are groups who struggle under a feudal type of economy based on the spice melange. It is a powerful drug that extends not only life but helps expand the minds of certain individuals. Groups like the Bene Gesserits, navigators and great houses battle each other for power with the emperor

The mentats are special humans who are able to use their minds in a logical ans analytic manner. They are taught to absorb data and make projections much like computers. They assist the great houses and are all important since in this future all artificial intelligence and any, and I do mean type of computer is banned. They have a saying and it is simply that the mind of man is holy. Now we get to learn how it all began.

There is only one place in the known universe that has this most valuable commodity. It is the planet Arrakis otherwise known as Dune. There are no oceans on Dune just great deserts that extend almost to the poles. In this sand the great sand worms of Dune reside. They are 400 meters long and as tall as a three story house.

What is so intriguing about the story are how human the characters are written. As they struggle you get wrapped up in their lives. The story of Dune is far from over.