Brian, Leave Dune Alone!

Dune is my favorite book. By "favorite" I mean it would be the one book I would take with me to a deserted island. I have read the original series (first 6 books) over and over again, and I keep returning to it.

When Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert's son, first started publishing the House and Legends trilogy, I was generally happy about the concept. After all, what could be bad about reading more of your favorite fantasy world? The books that Bryan wrote weren't as good, but they served as some sort of history archives, setting up the background and the events that led to the Dune story.

Six books of Pre-Dune weren't enough for Brian. Obviously, the trick seemed to be working - write anything that says "Dune" on it, and people will buy it. Yeah, I bought all 6 books of the two trilogies by Brian Herbert. And it was starting to feel weird.

Then came Hunters of Dune. And it wasn't good. At all. Hunters of Dune was supposed to let us know what happened after the somewhat-cryptic ending of Frank Herbert's final Dune book, Chapterhouse: Dune. It is a badly written book, that utterly ruins the spirit and beauty of the original Dune. Frank Herbert was a gifted writer and a man of amazing imagination. His son falls seriously far from that tree, and another writer in the form of Kevin Anderson doesn't really help.

What Frank Herbert could convey in one paragraph, now took a whole page. Perhaps they needed to fill the pages. Maybe the publisher thought it would be a good idea. People love FAT books, and you can charge more for them, can't you?

I didn't even touch Sandworms of Dune. Frankly (no pun intended), I'm too scared. I don't want to read Brian's version of the future of Dune. I know it won't be good. I love Dune too much, and I don't want any more horrible books by the no-good son to spoil it for me.

It could have ended here. But nooooooooooooooooo. Brian apparently needs more money or something of the sort. He is bored, perhaps. His friend, Kevin, probably also feels the need to milk this cash-cow some more. The pair are planning YET ANOTHER SERIES of books, this time more Pre-Dune.

The first volume in the series, Jessica of Dune, is scheduled for an autumn 2009 release in trade paperback. The other books in the series are Irulan of Dune and Leto of Dune for releases in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

And I say - Brian, Leave Dune Alone! In the name of Shai-Hulud! Leave us with the glorious, wonderful world that your father has created, and stop sucking the marrow out of this poor cash-cow that you have found.

Fat chance, though. I hope the upcoming Dune movie will bring us some happiness. In the mean time, we can watch Brian and Kev ruin yet another piece of the Dune universe.

Best 15 Science Fiction Book Series?

An interesting list has appeared on The List Universe: Top 15 Science Fiction Book Series.

I find it a very interesting list. I have been looking for something new to read, and I guess I just might pick something for this post.

Still, I think Dune should have been ranked higher! For me, it's the best series of books ever. I even chose the first, Dune, as my One Book. Not an easy choice, I tell ya. Ender's game wasn't such an amazing story, in my opinion, so I would have given it a lower place in the list.

All in all, a cool list and worth a look.

The Last Message of Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke has Passed Away

Yet another legend has passed away from the face of the earth: Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke died at age 90.

After a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer, space promoter and science populariser, Clarke said he would like to be remembered primarily as a writer and wished for peace in his adopted home Sri Lanka where had lived since 1956. Clarke was mostly known for his creation "2001: A Space Odyssey".

Clarke was knighted in 1998. He wrote dozens of novels and collections of short stories and more than 30 nonfiction works during his career, and served as a television commentator during several of the Apollo moon missions.

Among his novels: Prelude to Space, The Sands of Mars, Islands in the Sky, Childhood's End, Earthlight, The Deep Range, Dolphin Island, Glide Path, 2001: A Space Odyssey, 2010: Odyssey Two, The Songs of Distant Earth, 2061: Odyssey Three, The Ghost from the Grand Banks, The Hammer of God and much more.

"Its origin and purpose still a total mystery"

>> Arthur C. Clarke, 1917-2008
>> Arthur C. Clarke on Wikipedia
>> Sir Arthur C. Clarke Fan Site

Star Trek XI Trailer

Although Star Trek movies haven't been a big hit lately, every new one triggers speculations and discussion. Star Trek XI is being directed by J.J Abrams, and very little is known about it.

The first teaser trailer of the Star Trek XI is out, but it doesn't reveal much. Still, it's a trailer, so there ya go:

Jumper: The Trailer

Here's the official trailer for the movie Jumper:

Jumper is a 2008 science fiction film based on the science fiction novel by Steven Gould. The film is directed by Doug Liman and stars Hayden Christensen. The movie is slated for a February 15, 2008 release.

How come they never killed Wesley Crusher?

Star Trek: TNG celebrates 20 years today, or so they say.

I remember watching this show when I was in high school, and trying hard not to miss any episodes. Still, time had its effect, and I didn't get to see the entire 7 seasons. Recently I have decided to correct this mistake, I got a hold of the entire 187 episodes, and started watching season one.

To tell you the truth, the 1st season isn't very impressive. Everything seems a bit rickety, the characters are awkward and the shooting angles reminded me of over-dramatic soap operas. Only Q reigns supreme, as usual. I had no idea that he was there on the first episode of the first season.

I was also surprised to discover that the very-well remembered episode, in which Data and Tasha sleep together, is one of the first episodes of the series.

Boldly I have waded through the 1st season, and it was worth it - the rest of the seasons just got better and better. Seasons 4-7 are the best, in my opinion.

The episodes at the end of the seasons tended to be very good, not just because of the cliff-hangers, but simply because the plot had more time to develop. The bottom line is that the series survives the test of time - it's still enjoyable these days, and because of special effects or a twisted plot-line.

I just have one question, though - Why oh why did you bother with Wesley Crusher for the entire length of the series? I mean, it's OK to have annoying characters, but he was so much above and beyond that. He is the guy that gets beat up at school - not because he's smart, but because he so damn nerdy. I mean, how can you spend so much time on the coolest starship in the sector, and still come out an idiot? You offed Tasha rather easily, why not the boy?! Even Picard loathed him!

This can really go on and on, but I thought of summing it up in a very concise list:

Favorite character and best actor: Data - Brent Spiner
Most annoying character: Wesley Crusher
Most annoying female character: Tough battle between Diana and Beverly
Coolest Gadget: Tircorder
Most Disappointedly not-sexy character: Riker
Most needed to be killed character: Wesley Crusher
The thing I would probably abuse the most: Holodeck
The stupidest thing: WHERE ARE THE SEAT BELTS?
Favorite Episodes: Anything with Q and/or Data as stars.
Coolest Character: Q
Most uncool Character: Wesley Crusher