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read any good books lately...
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maani View Drop Down
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Points: 2632 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote maani Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 25 2005 at 22:10

stonebeard/golden spiral:

It may be too late for stonebeard, but...

Wait!  Now that the "prequels" to Dune are available, you really owe it to yourself to read the entire series from the beginning.  Yes, Dune stands on its own, and the series it started also stands together as a series.  But...

The prequels are all quite brilliant, and provide an extraordinary "set-up" for Dune and what followed.

In case you are not aware, the order is:

The Butlerian Jihad
The Machine Crusade
The Battle of Corrin
House Atreides
House Harkonnen
House Corrino
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse Dune

Have fun!
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the prequels don't compare, thye are interesting side notes but don't stand on their own at all

you have to start with Dune
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Dune *****
Dune Messiah  ****
Children of Dune ***
God Emperor of Dune ***
Heretics of Dune  **
Chapterhouse Dune **

I haven't read the prequell's but I'm rather interested in the Butlerian Jihad, for it plays such a big part in the other books.

I liked the first book the best, after God Emperor I lost interest since the other two weren't as good

I'm reading Kalki, from Gore Vidal now 

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Dune is one of the greatest books.

I just started Atlas Shrugged.

 
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Originally posted by maani maani wrote:

stonebeard/golden spiral:

It may be too late for stonebeard, but...

Wait!  Now that the "prequels" to Dune are available, you really owe it to yourself to read the entire series from the beginning.  Yes, Dune stands on its own, and the series it started also stands together as a series.  But...

The prequels are all quite brilliant, and provide an extraordinary "set-up" for Dune and what followed.

In case you are not aware, the order is:

The Butlerian Jihad
The Machine Crusade
The Battle of Corrin
House Atreides
House Harkonnen
House Corrino
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse Dune

Have fun!

The prequel books just didn't sweep me away like the original series did.And I like Kevin J Anderson because I am Star Wars fan and he has written quite a few good SW books.The prequel books don't suck,they just don't compare to Frank's work.I did enjoy the Butlerian Jihad trilogy more than the House series though.Out of the original series of books(which I have reread and reread over and over again)the first 3 are my favorites.Besides the original book I am quite fond of Children of Dune.Leto II is so cool.


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Originally posted by Arsillus Arsillus wrote:

Dune is one of the greatest books.

I just started Atlas Shrugged.

 

I could never get into Ayn Rand,god knows I tried.I wish you luck.I just finished reading an extremely violent book that is like Lord of the Flies but wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more violent and bloody.It's a Japanese novel called Battle Royale,has anyone read that?


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Originally posted by TheProgtologist TheProgtologist wrote:

Originally posted by Arsillus Arsillus wrote:

Dune is one of the greatest books.

I just started Atlas Shrugged.

 

I could never get into Ayn Rand,god knows I tried.I wish you luck.I just finished reading an extremely violent book that is like Lord of the Flies but wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more violent and bloody.It's a Japanese novel called Battle Royale,has anyone read that?

I read it once awhile ago, I know they made a film  of it, too. Never seen the film, though.
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"The World According to Garp" by John Irving.
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Originally posted by Spanky Spanky wrote:

"The World According to Garp" by John Irving.

One of my favourite books of all time ... I own all his books but haven't got around to reading the last two yet

I also rate Son Of The Circus very highly, as well as the obvious Owen Meany, Cider House Rules, Hotel New Hampshire books ...

Am currently re-reading Ivan Turgenev's Sketches From A Hunter's Album ... wonderful depiction of 19th century Russia 
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Originally posted by Cygnus X-2 Cygnus X-2 wrote:

Originally posted by TheProgtologist TheProgtologist wrote:

Originally posted by Arsillus Arsillus wrote:

Dune is one of the greatest books.

I just started Atlas Shrugged.

 

I could never get into Ayn Rand,god knows I tried.I wish you luck.I just finished reading an extremely violent book that is like Lord of the Flies but wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more violent and bloody.It's a Japanese novel called Battle Royale,has anyone read that?

I read it once awhile ago, I know they made a film  of it, too. Never seen the film, though.

the film is supposed to be excellent. i can't find it anywhere though. i'm gonna check ebay.
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Clive Barker's  Books of blood II 
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Originally posted by felixxx felixxx wrote:

Clive Barker's  Books of blood II 

Barker is really good.Have you ever read The Great and Secret Show and it's sequel Everville?If you haven't you should.Imajica is good too.


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Originally posted by TheProgtologist TheProgtologist wrote:

Originally posted by felixxx felixxx wrote:

Clive Barker's  Books of blood II 

Barker is really good.Have you ever read The Great and Secret Show and it's sequel Everville?If you haven't you should.Imajica is good too.


I have read these books, i have read almost everything from Barker, he is my favorite! Him and H.P.Lovecraft!
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As many of proggers seem to enjoy science fiction, I mention Walter Tevis' Mockinbird (1980) which I read lately. It's an interesting future vision, somewhat melancholic instead of being very dark like 1984. Population of mankind has decreased, no new babies have been born for decades, almost all the work is done by robots and people have regressed into dull drug addicts with not much other social activities than quick sex. The 3 main characters are the most humane and superior robot who wishes to 'die', a man who discovers long-gone reading skill, and an outcast woman with whom the man falls in love. Pretty nice novel despite of all the unoriginal themes! (Tevis wrote also The Man Who Fell to Earth, the film of it starring David Bowie - I haven't been yet able to read or see it, is it good?)
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Where it comes to fantasy books I really like The Dream Stone  by C.J. Cherryh. It's a bit Tolkien-like. For me it comes close to the Lord Of The Rings books in quality. It's not a very big book, but one of the best books I've ever read. Not as much storytelling as Tolkien. A bit more atmospheric and psychological. Very good though.

And I really like Jack Vance's Showboat World. Vance is a great storyteller and I love all the people he describes with all their strange habits.
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Originally posted by TheProgtologist TheProgtologist wrote:

Originally posted by NetsNJFan NetsNJFan wrote:

I think Dune is my favorite book, along with 1984 and Deepness in the Sky (Vernor Vinge)

I am a huge sci fi and fantasy fan and IMO Dune is the greatest sci fi book ever written



Have you ever read any Dan Simmons? If you haven't, you owe it to yourself to read the Hyperion series. Pure genius, IMO.
Pure Brilliance:
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Originally posted by TheProgtologist TheProgtologist wrote:

Originally posted by felixxx felixxx wrote:

Clive Barker's  Books of blood II 

Barker is really good.Have you ever read The Great and Secret Show and it's sequel Everville?If you haven't you should.Imajica is good too.



Imajica is brilliant. I loved Weaveworld and the Damnation Game as well. The last thing Barker wrote that I semi-liked was Coldheart Canyon.
Pure Brilliance:
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Originally posted by Empathy Empathy wrote:

Originally posted by TheProgtologist TheProgtologist wrote:

Originally posted by felixxx felixxx wrote:

Clive Barker's  Books of blood II 

Barker is really good.Have you ever read The Great and Secret Show and it's sequel Everville?If you haven't you should.Imajica is good too.



Imajica is brilliant. I loved Weaveworld and the Damnation Game as well. The last thing Barker wrote that I semi-liked was Coldheart Canyon.

Weaveworld is my best from Barker! I heard that they are gonna make a movie  based on that book!
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Originally posted by Matti Matti wrote:

As many of proggers seem to enjoy science fiction, I mention Walter Tevis' Mockinbird (1980) which I read lately. It's an interesting future vision, somewhat melancholic instead of being very dark like 1984. Population of mankind has decreased, no new babies have been born for decades, almost all the work is done by robots and people have regressed into dull drug addicts with not much other social activities than quick sex. The 3 main characters are the most humane and superior robot who wishes to 'die', a man who discovers long-gone reading skill, and an outcast woman with whom the man falls in love. Pretty nice novel despite of all the unoriginal themes! (Tevis wrote also The Man Who Fell to Earth, the film of it starring David Bowie - I haven't been yet able to read or see it, is it good?)

i have never met someone else who has also read that masterpiece.

Its almost like what Brave New World would be like in decay, a much better book though in my opinion.
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Originally posted by Empathy Empathy wrote:

Originally posted by TheProgtologist TheProgtologist wrote:

Originally posted by NetsNJFan NetsNJFan wrote:

I think Dune is my favorite book, along with 1984 and Deepness in the Sky (Vernor Vinge)

I am a huge sci fi and fantasy fan and IMO Dune is the greatest sci fi book ever written



Have you ever read any Dan Simmons? If you haven't, you owe it to yourself to read the Hyperion series. Pure genius, IMO.

I have read Simmons brilliant Hyperion series.I agree with you,pure genius


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