I'm into it!

Book

I'm glad I finally took on the book considering I've heard about Dune for what feels like my entire life. I listened to the audiobook on audible which was a really well done production.

I have to say, it was kinda obvious that Paul would win wasn't it? It feels like they spell it out immediately. He's just so damn special and naturally good at everything. By breeding, design, training, prophecy etc.

I wish the book would have been a bit longer towards the end since to me it felt a bit rushed. Leto II getting killed right before the end seemed a bit random and uneccessary, even if it was shocking. The ritual and importance of the crysknife also seems thrown away since it seems to be waved around willy nilly. I don't even think it draws blood each time it is unsheathed but I'm not sure of that.

Those are basically nitpicks in the end and I really enjoyed myself all throughout. It felt really modern and I liked how the focus was more on story and politics than on technology. It was interesting, mysterious and leaves you wanting more. Like do the sandworms produce all of the Spice on the planet or just the water of life? Also I'm surprised CHOAM didn't have a back up plan in case something ever went wrong on Arrakis since it's so vital to their existance.

Movie

Theatrical cut of Lynch's Dune was awful. Just a overacted, melodramatic mess of a film. It felt rushed and disjointed. Like someone was reading the book at 10x speed and ripping out chunks of it as they went. I liked the spicediver alternate redux more at least, it makes it better when it comes to pacing and it's nice to see some scenes from the book that weren't in the theatrical version but it's still not exactly good. Overall I liked some of the design aspects, music and some of the cast.

Music

I listened to Richard Pinhas - Chronolyse. An electronic album from 1978.

Klaus Schulze - Dune. Also an electronic album but from 1979.

Z (a.k.a. Bernard Sjazner) - Visions of Dune. Another electronic album from 1979. Must have been something in the water at the time.

Dün - Eros. An experimental/prog rock album from 1981.

I quite enjoyed all of them. The schulze album especially has a fantastic violin track with middle eastern sounding melodies and heavy pulsing synths in the background.

Also, I'd be amiss if I didn't mention this absolutely hilarious part of the lyrics from the song Giza Butler by Sleep

The Kiefsatz Hasherach now takes the Bong Jabbar.

Rifftual commences 'round the tree stump altar.

Bong Water of Life anoints the Muad' Doob messiah.

So yeah, this Dune stuff is pretty cool, I guess. Can't wait to get through some more books. I think I'll continue with audible versions but am thinking about picking up physical ones as well.

Can anyone speak to the quality of the Great Dune Trilogy? I found a softcover and a hardcover version for the one containing the first three books. I just want something with good quality paper and font size so I don't have to squint a bunch.