Mordack wrote:urogard wrote:Mordack wrote:although I come from the minority of people who consider Frank Herbert's writings to be heinously overrated.
Well as you said it, you are a minority, luckily for us

Oh - don't get me wrong. I do think Dune is an excellent book, there is a compelling plot, interesting characters, excellent world-building and plenty of good science fiction concepts. Unfortunately, Dune Messiah and Children Of Dune only had those things sporadically and had increasingly contrived plotting. I didn't read any more of the books after that, but the sequels being mediocre doesn't stop the original novel being good.
Having read the original books set down by Frank, I have to concede the same point. Horribly overrated and so many unnecessary plot devices or historical links and after God Emperor I pretty much disowned the Dune universe. There are some nifty things in it, some nice philosophical ideas and a rather unique setting and i'd rather have read the first and come into contact with those ideas and perspectives then not, but having to endure it for that long... *shudders*
Thats even before Brian managed to get his hands on the set and continue on :/
In my top 20 list of aurthors, his works tend to come dead last. The others being (but not in order): H.P.Lovecraft, Isaac Asimov, C.S.Lewis, Philip Pullman, John Milton, Tolkien, Robert Heinlein, H.G.Wells, Michael Moorcock, Ursula Le Guin, George Orwell, Harry Turtledove, Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, Dan Abnett, Terry Brooks, Matthew Reilly, Dean Koontz & Stephen King.
So pretty much restricted to the Gothic Horror/Sci Fi/Alternate Universe/Fantasy genres although these days I am on the lookout for more obscure texts that history has forgotten or left behind.
Oh and by Neutral alliance, you mean the rest, resupply, rearm and rejoin the conflict when its convenient centre only to run back and claim the moral highground? Such Bastions I doubt given the mass abuse of DUNE by a particular side would be allowed or established in the war that may or may not come
