Calico Jesse

I have finished reading Chapterhouse Dune. My fools errand is finished. It’s not good, and of course ends with loose ends.

I think my personal recommendation is reading the first two books. Although just one or even zero are solid choices. Three is alright, except it’s a trap if it makes you curious and want to read more.

I’m tempted to revisit Heinlein who I haven’t read in at least twenty years, but I’m also afraid he’ll be disappointing.

#Reading #SciFi #Dune #ChapterhouseDune

May 5, 2024 at 6:22pmWeb
Show threadSteve HerseyMay 5, 2024
@deinol
It was disappointing for me. My $0.02: Spend the time rereading Iain Banks' Culture series. Or everything written by Terry Pratchett.
Show threadHtephMay 5, 2024
@deinol I learned the hard way, do not read book you liked as a little whelp. I realised that I my brain had added stuff which was better than the original, and as a more mature reader I found topic and themes that … had not aged gracefully.
I instead find myself in an ever increasing flood of new authors, indie and self pub that fills my reading time.
(Although right now I’m in a slump and hiding from my TBR which is terrible)
Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyMay 5, 2024

@deinol

Heinlein was a deeply surprising author. "I will fear no evil" might be quite the surprise read through modern eyes.

There's a lot of his books which do not stand the test of time but the ones that do are bangers. Moon is a... has some nice rep for infertile women and handles it so sensitively, I didn't realise what enormous assholes people were about them in general. (Looking at you Rebecca Kuang).

Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyMay 5, 2024

@deinol

And Starship Troopers is an unwinking parody.

Those who haven't read it or just given it a trivial read miss:

0. Villain POV at the start.
1. Women are the best at doing maths
2. Filipino hero
3. Buenos Aires being a home for Nazis post WW2.
4. Fascists are bad at fighting wars hence the "everybody fights" and logistics being an extra duty as opposed to a specialisation.

Just things off the top of my head which it would be unusual to include in a celebration of fascism. IMO.

Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyMay 5, 2024
@deinol but having said that it's an old book. Culture honestly is better writing, I recommend Consider Phlebas as the first book because I did not understand Use of Weapons first time round, although Player of Games might make a good start too.
Show threadErik (OLD ACCOUNT)May 5, 2024
@deinol my rereadings of Herbert, Dick, Asimov, even Tolkien and a whole lot of other beloved authors from my teens went well along these lines. The only ones who seem to be holding up are the likes of Pratchett, Adams, who took the piss most of the time
Show threadStrider | ScottMay 5, 2024
@deinol I've only read the other books once. I don't plan on reading them again. I agree in part. I think the first book is amazing. I think the others are an author riding on the coat tails of the previous book without the knowledge of what made the first one so great.
Show threadElfbiterMay 5, 2024
@deinol Joe Varley? Iain M. Banks?
Show threadSamanthaMay 6, 2024
@deinol I enjoyed the Moon is a Harsh Mistress