Stainless Steel Droppings: Dune Group Read Round 2 Questions

1. Was Liet's identity a surprise?  Who do you think he really works for?

2. What do you think of the Fremen culture?  Is this a culture you think you'd enjoy spending some time with?

3. What do you think of Count Fenring's unusual verbal mannerisms?

4. This is a far future empire with very little in the way of computerization. Information is often passed down orally, and schools (such as the Mentats and the Bene Gesserit) have formed to train young people in memorization and information processing.  What are you thoughts on a scifi story that is very "low-tech"?  Does that sound like a feasable future? A ridiculous one?

5. If you found the beginning of the book tough to get into, do you find that you're having an easier time with the middle portion, now that all the "set-up" is complete?

6. The center portion of the book is still pretty dialog heavy, but what I've noticed is the subtlety of the dialog. Things left unsaid are often more important than things that are said.  What do you think of that as a stylistic choice? Does it make the dialog more interesting? less interesting?

7. Dune was written in the 60's. Does it feel dated to you? How does it compare, writing style-wise, to more contemporary science fiction you've read?

8. If you've never read this book before, where do you think the storyline is headed?

Dune Group Read, Round 1, Answers

1. What, if any, preconceived ideas did you have before you started reading Dune and how has the first section measured up to those preconceptions?

I have read the six prequels so I was able to understand every detail that was presented in Dune. However, I felt uneasy while reading the book because I was expecting a continuation of what the prequel authors have wrote. I found out that Dune was written better and It is far complex and exciting than the prequels. The characters portray strong emotions and I love how Frank was able to cause conflict among the protagonists. A jump from one conflict to another which was portrayed in the chapter where Lady Jessica was tied up was quite stirring."wheels within wheels within wheels"

I also found discrepancies with the prequels and Dune. First, Piter de Vries' interest in Lady Jessica. In the book, House: Corrino, Piter died and was replaced by a ghola. So I assume that the Piter in Dune is a ghola. How then is it possible for Piter to like the same person? I believe that there is a possibility but I find this subplot of the prequel unpleasant. A blunder of the son, I guess.

Second, Gurney and Liet. In the prequel when Liet joined Dominic Vernius in his voyage to Salusa Secundus he met Gurney. But in Dune, they do not know each other. Probably, another blunder. 

(Alternate Question for those who’ve read the book: Did you see anything in this first section of the book that either you hadn’t seen before or that you had forgotten about, anything that stood out to you?

2. What did you think about the plot device of the early revelation that Yueh was to be the traitor?

It kept me waiting for Yueh to strike! I even thought that the hunter seeker was planted and controlled by the Suk doctor. The conversation of Yueh and Jessica when they first arrived on Arrakis, though a pretty normal conversation, became suspenseful because I was waiting for Yueh to spill  the beans!

3. What was your favorite part of this first section? Which character(s) do you find most interesting and why?

My favorite part of this section is the exchange of opinions during dinner. I love this part because Frank was able to portray a lot of characters here. It is amazing how an author can make the reader understand the emotions and motives of his characters during a heated discussion. Frank was able to do this notwithstanding the number of characters in the dining table.

4. Did the revelation about the Harkonnen surprise you?

Yes. It surprised me. Jessica had just finished arguing with the mentat so I was expecting a much steady situation for the Atreides.But the Harkonnens are so sly and unpredictable! (I wouldn't want them to be my neighbors. LOL)

5. Finally, please share some overall thoughts on this first section of the book. Are you finding it difficult to follow? Easy to understand? Engaging? Boring? Just share what you are thinking thus far.

It is easy to understand because of the prequels but I am still adapting to Frank's way of writing. I have a feeling that I will discover more errors by the son and his co-author as I go along.

Stainless Steel Droppings: Dune Group Read Round 1 Questions

I had just joined a Dune Group Read (care of Stainless Steel Droppings) and I am trying to catch-up with the group. Here are the first questions I need to answer after I finish reading the first one-third of the book.

1. What, if any, preconceived ideas did you have before you started reading Dune and how has the first section measured up to those preconceptions?

(Alternate Question for those who’ve read the book: Did you see anything in this first section of the book that either you hadn’t seen before or that you had forgotten about, anything that stood out to you?

2. What did you think about the plot device of the early revelation that Yueh was to be the traitor?

3. What was your favorite part of this first section? Which character(s) do you find most interesting and why?

4. Did the revelation about the Harkonnen surprise you?

5. Finally, please share some overall thoughts on this first section of the book. Are you finding it difficult to follow? Easy to understand? Engaging? Boring? Just share what you are thinking thus far.

Quicksand

Last Monday, I finished reading Dune: House Corrino. It got me excited because after it, Dune is next. It is the 7th book of the Dune Saga and was Frank Herbert's ticket when he won the Nebula Award.

Out of excitement, I ran to the nearest Fully Booked branch from our office. But to my dismay, the book was not available and still has to be shipped for four or eight weeks. I felt like sinking in soft sand. Regret pushed me down further knowing that I see this book whenever I visit the store. I regret not having bought it earlier.

I arrived home disappointed. I badly want to read the book so I searched the net for a PDF version. Eventually, I found one. I downloaded it right away and started reading. Currently, I am on the 7th page out of the 300. I guess, I will finish the PDF file before the book arrives. But what the hell, of course I will still buy the book! I so love Dune!

The First Post

Believe me, I have been writing since 2008. However, all of the blogs that I have written are probably floating like dust particles in cyberspace, dissipated, and never to be seen again.

I am a man of change. I want things to be dynamic. I want to see different things as I go on with my life that whenever I am upset with what my blog looks like, I delete it. In fact, I just deleted a blog a few minutes ago.

So this post will be my nth first post.

I wish I could be more patient with this blog.