The Reading Vent & Rant Thread

[theducks]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Arguable if Frank Herbert is continuing his most popular property given that he passed away in 1986. The continuations are mostly collaborations between his son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson.

As far as I know, six of the Dune books—Dune (1965), Dune Messiah (1969), Children of Dune (1976), God Emperor of Dune (1981), Heretics of Dune (1984) and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)—were written by Frank Herbert. The remainder of the books were co-authored by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson based on notes that Frank Herbert had made and that were found a decade after his death.

A humorous aspect about the original Dune novel is that it was published by Chilton which was and is best known for the Chilton auto repair manuals.

The first books were serialized first in Analog SF and Science Fact

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Ghostwriting.

Automatic writing? Ouija board? Alien hand syndrome?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Arguable if Frank Herbert is continuing his most popular property given that he passed away in 1986. The continuations are mostly collaborations between his son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson.

As far as I know, six of the Dune books—Dune (1965), Dune Messiah (1969), Children of Dune (1976), God Emperor of Dune (1981), Heretics of Dune (1984) and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)—were written by Frank Herbert. The remainder of the books were co-authored by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson based on notes that Frank Herbert had made and that were found a decade after his death.

I think you misread me. This sentence:

I sure don't begrudge him continuing his most popular property and may try at least the next two.

was prelude to this sentence:

Those other continuations though, I never see myself picking those up.

Dune was good enough as a stand-alone and did not require follow-ups (I mentioned this also). They feel a bit like diminishing returns. But hey, Franky had to eat and if Dune sequels put the Spice on the table, good for him.

The continuations churned out by his son and Anderson feel much more like a cash grab.

A humorous aspect about the original Dune novel is that it was published by Chilton which was and is best known for the Chilton auto repair manuals.

Oh yeah, I had several in my teenage years.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

The continuations churned out by his son and Anderson feel much more like a cash grab.

I never read sequels or even books in the same universe written by someone else than the original author, unless it's been the author's clearly expressed wish that others do so, and not always even then. For example, I read the last 3 books of the Wheel of Time written by Sanderson, as it was known Jordan wanted someone to finish the series after his death.

I also dislike sequels/prequels to well-known public domain classics written by contemporary authors. The same principle applies. Unless the original author wished it, I'm not interested.

As to Dune, I was not wildly enthused about the first book, so haven't read any sequels, even those written by Frank himself. As you said, the first book can stand pretty well alone.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by DNSB

A humorous aspect about the original Dune novel is that it was published by Chilton which was and is best known for the Chilton auto repair manuals.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Oh yeah, I had several in my teenage years.

What? You don't have one now?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Renate

What? You don't have one now?

Now I can afford mechanics. I also tend to have much better cars

[Renate]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Now I can afford mechanics. I also tend to have much better cars

But what could be better than a 1995 Chevy G30 7.4L?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Renate

But what could be better than a 1995 Chevy G30 7.4L?

A 2008 Mercedes E-350. I love that thing.

Also, our Chevy Volt (2017)

[Quoth]

Nissan Prairie gen II or Gen III.
I was sad I couldn't replace mine with anything similar. I didn't want a van.
But the previous was the insane Peugeot 504 7-seater estate.
The later (2005+?) "van" styled 7 seaters from everyone had no real luggage space even for 2 adults and 5 kids.

[issybird]

Thread drift is fine. Up to a point. Once there are several irrelevant posts would people please try to give it a rest and not have the last word? You can always respond in a new thread in the Lounge and link to it. Thank you.

[Quoth]

I just read a book with a generic translation glossary of British to USA terms at the rear.

I think a generic publisher added thing as most of the words were not in the story (I can't remember reading ANYTHING ever with Yorkie bars in it, stories usually just write "bar of chocolate", "chocolate bar" etc) and also some definitions seemed redundant anyway (Terms in Britain that originated or well known in USA).
It's a book for grown-ups, not children.

Also the now common and usually irrelevant disclaimer about 1980s being different at the start.

Why are publishers doing this? Do they think Detective-Mystery story readers are stupid?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Also the now common and usually irrelevant disclaimer about 1980s being different at the start.

Why are publishers doing this? Do they think Detective-Mystery story readers are stupid?

While it's irritating, I can find it in my heart to forgive it if the point is to derail criticisms of content based on current mores. Not that there are any commercial considerations to doing so!

As for the glossary, if it's at the back so I won't see it until I'm done anyway, I'm good. Although I do nurse a resentment regarding the practice of dumbing down British books for the perceived idiocy of the American reader.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Quoth

IAlso the now common and usually irrelevant disclaimer about 1980s being different at the start.

I don't mind the disclaimer. It usually means 'look, this book was written long ago and people behaved differently' and I would rather see that than have the book bowdlerized like the big discussion about Christie and Dahl a while back.

[Sirtel]

That same 1982 SF novel I wrote about a while back (with no personal comms in the 22nd cent.) also had a hostess offering ashtrays to her guests, in the living room. That gave me a jolt. Well, I don't really know what the contemporary customs in other countries are, but indoor cigar/cigarette smoking in the 22nd century?

[Sirtel]

On a positive note, I'm making my way into the Foreigner series by C.J. Cherryh (famous for her tape references). Those are mostly written from 1994 onwards, and it gladdens my heart to not see any mention of "tape" in them. Now it's "files".