Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

It feels like a very easy read… not sure if it’s the movie memories, but you’d think something that waxes philosophical would drag more…

Finished part 2 yesterday… not sure I’ll ever continue with the rest of Frank Herbert’s books or the expanded universe written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson… but I found a very thorough youtube channel with over 100 Dune videos, including an ultimate guide to the Frank Herbert books… plans to cover the Brian Herbert stuff eventually… each book video is over 1hr… might check that out, to see what I’m missing…

Youtuber is named Quinn’s Ideas… he’s been praised in the r/dune subreddit…

Don't think I'm gonna pick this up yet, I have a feeling some parts take a bit of work, and assume this is a bit of a tome.. I really need something to thrill me in whatever I pick up next, so maybe in a while I'll get to it.

I am up to about 10% ... I am hooked! We are still in the introduction to the characters and world building part, but I find it fascinating.

The moment we met H, I totally got the creeps! His blatant (view spoiler)[ lust for young boys is disgusting! For that, I feel sorry for his nephew, whom he is sexually abusing, despite not liking the nephew because of how his personality comes off...

I like Jessica. I hope she doesn't disappoint us and play right into H+P plans of using her as the main figure of discord to bring down her family... (hide spoiler)]

😆 ... Nirkatze writes. 🧐🤔

Ya stuck with the other FBRer that have cool fam! 😎

Came to see how everyone likes this, staying for Nirkatze's Poltergeist story 😮
That's wild!

Aiming to finish up, now... into part 3: Prophet...

I’m on part three the prophet as well.

I definitely feel like there's so many characters, factions, motivations, intrigues, that'll be left to be explored in future books (that I don't really intend to read, given the mixed opinions)...

I'm tempted tho... but have 300+ other BRs on my schedule for the year...

The Ordos are missing from the story ;)

For the longest time, in the late 90s, my main experience with Dune was the PC game Dune II:



One of the early progenitors of the RTS genre, you competed against 2 other factions to harvest spice and destroy enemy bases, and control Arrakis... the other 2 factions being Atreides and Harkonnen... each had slight variations in troops, like the Ornithopters... harvesting spice was dangerous with worm attacks... and as you approached full domination in the final stages of the game, the Emperor started helping the enemies with his Sardokar troops...

I played games alot more thoroughly as a kid, than I do now, with access to so many free/indie games, and ability to spend money more freely on paid games... as a kid, I was seeking maximum enjoyment per dollar spent... I can't remember how many times I played through Dune II, and/or tried to just dominate the board...

I heard the books by Brian Herbert weren’t any good. I’ve not read them. I don’t think House Ordos is in the books?

Finished... I can see why some comparisons were made to Chronicles of Amber... it's very cinematic and visual, but the action sequences pass so fast... I was kinda surprised to be done, at the end... I forgot there were 3 appendices...

I adore Chronicles of Amber. Way more than Dune. 😆

I DNF'd Chronicles of Amber after 3 volumes... wasn't feeling it...

Nirkatze and Choko and others managed all 10 last year, I think...

Lonesome October is my main Zelazny success...

I've heard that the Brian Herbert books are more normal action-adventure SF--mostly surface, with little deeper philosophy or ideas--but fun if you don't try to compare them to the original.

I'd be mildly interested in continuing, at least through the next book or two... but only if anyone else wants to.

Glad people enjoyed the Poltergeist story... ^^

Nirkatze wrote: "I've heard that the Brian Herbert books are more normal action-adventure SF--mostly surface, with little deeper philosophy or ideas--but fun if you don't try to compare them to the original.

I'd b..."

Poltergeist story was wild...

That's what I heard about Brian Herbert, too... it's said it's all based on Frank Herbert's lore notes... the concerning part is mostly with books 7-8, which end the narrative that Frank started in 1-6... the rest of the books are backstory prequels and side stories and can be take them or leave them... 7-8 (Hunters/Sandworms of Dune) play with the main narrative more, and I hear (view spoiler)[make machines the main enemy of the series, which contradicts the Frank Herbert narrative that men controlling smart machines is the main enemy... (hide spoiler)]

If others continue, I might, but I don't want to be the impetus for continuing... we'll see how my months/year go...

Timelord Iain wrote: "I DNF'd Chronicles of Amber after 3 volumes... wasn't feeling it...

Nirkatze and Choko and others managed all 10 last year, I think...

Lonesome October is my main Zelazny success..."

😱😱😱😱😱

Dude, you read lots and lots of stuff I have zero patience for. Can't believe you snoozed on Amber.

It was one of the 1st ginormous compilation books I bought as a kid. I re-read that series enough to buy 2 more copies to have one less beaten up. 😆

The blend of mysticism, tarot cards, dimensional travel, mix of modern & historical settings, magic, swords & daggers, etc. Relatively short books for a giant plot arc. 💖💖💖

Not sure if I can audio the story though. It's also weird to read it in ebook format but I've done that a few times.

- Back to Dune -
I don't remember Dune 2 much. I vaguely want to read #3 if the BR continues.

I just finished part one of this book. I kind of expected the way it went. The only thing I am sorry for is that (view spoiler)[ Baron A wasn't able to kill Baron H with the poison gas:((((( I hated what the doctor did, but I feel more sorry for him than hate him... Kind of a tragic figure, him and his wife... I also felt really bad for the staff who got killed in the takeover. I need revenge! (hide spoiler)]

I would like to continue with the series. That is the main reason I started it:)

Soo, you are so right about Chronicles of Amber! Great series with great writing!

Choko wrote: "I would like to continue with the series. That is the main reason I started it:)"

^_^ Do you have a schedule that works best for you, Choko?

I liked Amber my first read through, but I stopped after book 5 last year... Just wasn't feeling it at the time

Nirkatze, anytime, as long as we do it monthly:)

Emily, my experience with Amber was exactly the opposite. I liked it OK the first time around , but didn't get beyond book 5. Last year I loved it:)

Choko wrote: "Nirkatze, anytime, as long as we do it monthly:)"

Let's go ahead and keep the 10th then, make it easy.
How about I put in requests for just the next two for now, through Children of Dune, then we can decide how to go forward after that.

Sure! Sounds great to me:)

I will bring 🍿🍿🍿 and chats. 🥸

Maybe re-read #2 with dramatized audiobook if that's at library/Audible.

Finished with this one. I would like to continue with the series as well.

Requests made! Feb 10 for Dune Messiah and March 10 for Children of Dune

Warning Soo, if you bring popcorn, I am stealing some...

I see the Macmillan dramatized version on my libby, but not Hoopla...

Sweet! Glad you'll be joining us, Crystal.

My library only has normal. So I may skim book instead if I need to. 🙃

🍿🍿🍿*rains popcorn on Nirkatze*🍿🍿🍿

That's a shame. But at least there's popcorn.... *catches all popcorn in mouth and runs around trying to catch overflow in shirt*

I think it's the 2007/2008 copies that are the full cast ones...

I guess I'm reading the series, then...

looks like book 2 is half as long as the rest...

8hr-ish - if I remember, I had to pay more attention to the first hour of listening time and the rest unfolds easy from there.

I finished and I really liked it! The theme of swindling the masses with a good show, about being careful what you wish for, or you might get it, and loyalty and love, really resonate today, just as they have in 1964 when the book was written... It really feels timeless. I am very excited to continue with the series!

Choko wrote: "I finished and I really liked it! The theme of swindling the masses with a good show, about being careful what you wish for, or you might get it, and loyalty and love, really resonate today, just a..."

There's a secret to writing timeless futuristic stories... jump far enough into the future... strip away known technology... create a new paradigm... and you don't have to reinvent the cell-phone and text messaging, like happens in something like the In Death series...

So far I have not been able to really get into it. My best guess is this omnipotent narration style is not clicking with me. But as your reviews seem so positive, I’ll keep trying and might pop in to give my five cents.

Don't need to force it, if you eventually want to move on... there's always other Buddy Reads to try...

Tabea, I agree with Iain. There are different times different books work for us. It doesn't mean just because you are laboring with it right now, you will not absolutely love it at another time. Read something that clicks with you at the moment. If you feel like something ridiculous and fun, try the Stephanie Plum series with us. Or if you want something more Urban Fantasy - the Alex Verus, Marla Mason,and The Iron Druid we are reading right now... If you want more epic, try the Faithful and the Fallen or The Fifth Season... Just join on the fun:)

Felina didn't like 2-3 of the BRs we did this month...

She was wrong ;)

@Choko thanks 🥹 I just really hate DNFing a book 😂 maybe I’ll give it a go for a few more consecutive chapters in one sitting and if still doesn’t grip me, I’ll come back. Eventually.

Choko you summed up my thoughts on Dune better than I could lol.

Nirkatze thank you, I’m looking forward to BR the next two with you all.

Timelord Iain wrote: "Felina didn't like 2-3 of the BRs we did this month...

She was wrong ;)"

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Maybe she's right?

I'm pretty sure I was right :D

Iains are always right...

Tabea wrote: "@Choko thanks 🥹 I just really hate DNFing a book 😂 maybe I’ll give it a go for a few more consecutive chapters in one sitting and if still doesn’t grip me, I’ll come back. Eventually."

Dune doesn't really present likeable characters from the get go. There's definitely a "you gotta chill and just go with the flow" for about 1/3 of the story before you have significant personal feels about the story segments.

Also agree with others about "mood reading". We're in different modes all the time. Even a fav novel will not feel awesome each time we read it.

Within the story progress in Dune, the frank portrayals of people and setting becomes more of what has been shown and different than one may have predicted. You don't have to like it to find it interesting was applied a lot when I read it.

Plus, there's pretty good presentation of strong females. Not just the generic mom/wife/appendage of strong male, etc.

Is that portrayal frank?... or the ones written by Frank (Herbert)?

Timelord Iain wrote: "Is that portrayal frank?... or the ones written by Frank (Herbert)?"

🤣🤣🤣

wording is hard sometimes... or unintentionally punny...

@Tabea--the part of me stuck in high school wants to say "read the cliffnotes and then go watch the movie!" lol

I know what you mean about not wanting to DNF... have found audio useful for bullying through things I'm not interested in, just to get to the end... but there's definitely a lot more fish out there in the booksea, ones better suited to individual tastes...

Timelord Iain wrote: "Felina didn't like 2-3 of the BRs we did this month...

She was wrong ;)"

Hey now!

I didn’t like Gunnie Rose. What else didn’t I like?

Also, Guidell does The Dark Tower series which is one of my favorites. I need to do a reread on those.