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Meh. Since this article is largely anecdotal, I might as well add my 'dote to the anec: I'm on Book 5 of Dune (Heretics of Dune), averaging roughly one a week

Meh. Since this article is largely anecdotal, I might as well add my 'dote to the anec: I'm on Book 5 of Dune (Heretics of Dune), averaging roughly one a week since this started. I read my weekly issue of The Economist throughout the week with breakfast. For my "project" I'm studying up on STM32 low-power states, something I've wanted to do for ages and now have more free time. So I'm going back and fixing some of my projects to be more efficient. I've also finally figured out how to use Eclipse -- efficiently! -- on Linux with the ARM GCC toolchain. So that's a plus. Now I'm studying Silicon Labs Simplicity Studio. These are things that have been backing up on my project list for almost a year. Also grinding through the Linux Networking Drivers book, but that's an effort. So, I'm reading a lot, both technical and (pulp) literature. Granted, Herbet isn't Pynchon, but it's still reading. EDIT: Yeah, this is a not-humble-brag, but what the hell!

simonklitj 6y ago
Man! On book 4 of Dune myself, and it's been going a lot more slowly than the first three. About 30% in, is it worth it?
- floren 6y ago
  God Emperor is the 2nd best Dune book, so read it at least once.
  - jbgt 6y ago
    God emperor is amazing. The vision! I can't remember if it's Heretics or Chapterhouse when Miles Teg gets accelerated... I like the first three for the continuity of the Atreides story. But I love the latter three for the depth. I re-read them several times each. A pity Dune 7 never came out. And then the Brian Herbert pulp...
    - tspiteri 6y ago
      It would have been good to get a Dune 7, because the more the better of course. But if there was a Dune 7, it would not have closed all the ends; if something comes to a complete finish, it means it's dead. As long as life goes on, there are always new things. And about the Brian-Herbert-and-Kevin-Anderson things; I once found a comment on them which I really liked: "Pass on them. As in pass waste. Defecate."
- tspiteri 6y ago
  Book 1 is in a class of its own. Books 2 and 3 are a little slower than 1. Book 4 is very slower as you say. Book 4 brings out the most different reactions: some people even prefer it to 1, some just find it too slow. If you don't like the beginning, I don't think you'll like the rest as it doesn't change its pace. Maybe the problem is reading it in quick succession after 1, 2 and 3. The first time I read it it was after a break from the other 3 and it turned out I now love it (though I still prefer 1). If you're finding it frustrating a third of the way through, I would recommend dropping it now. Then if you feel like it, maybe restart after some time, maybe then it would work, and maybe it wouldn't. Then books 5 and 6 pick up the speed once more, I find them very fast paced.
  - 0xff00ffee 6y ago
    > Then books 5 and 6 pick up the speed once more, I find them very fast paced. Oof. 5 is killin' me. 1-4 where so fast-paced. 5 is like, "Here's 50 new people and backstories... oh and by the way there is 3000 years of alliance backstory to catch up on..." :) It's gonna take a few more reads to get everything into perspective.
- 0xff00ffee 6y ago
  To reiterate the other reply to your post, God Emperor of Dune is the 2nd best book in the series. It really pushes the envelope on imagining what the final outcome of a religion might be. It's a little polemic-heavy, but it IS a god we're talking about. :) Book 5 is the sleeping pill. After the frenzy that is 1-4, 5 just plods along in a dense aftermath.
- Scarblac 6y ago
  Book 4 is very special to me as it's so strange. 5 is back to action!
- sonofhans 6y ago
  Yes, very worth it. I've read all Frank Herbert's books and short stories. The last two Dune books, IMO, are the best things he wrote. It seems like he figured out that the Bene Gesserit were the most interesting thing he created, so he geeked out on them for two books.
barnabee 6y ago
Meh indeed. I'll add to the anecdata: I've read more since the lockdown started than I have in years despite being busier than ever. I've also been more productive in work and other projects.
- tluyben2 6y ago
  Same here ; I devour books and am far more productive (and fitter; newsflash, it seems meetings don’t work so well on my energy levels). Never been more focused; helps that it is finally quiet (no cars, airplanes, people here). Think this might become permanent for me.
lookdangerous 6y ago
It's encouraging to hear about good use of all the free time we have, so thank you.

simonklitj 6y ago

Man! On book 4 of Dune myself, and it's been going a lot more slowly than the first three. About 30% in, is it worth it?

floren 6y ago
God Emperor is the 2nd best Dune book, so read it at least once.
- jbgt 6y ago
  God emperor is amazing. The vision! I can't remember if it's Heretics or Chapterhouse when Miles Teg gets accelerated... I like the first three for the continuity of the Atreides story. But I love the latter three for the depth. I re-read them several times each. A pity Dune 7 never came out. And then the Brian Herbert pulp...
  - tspiteri 6y ago
    It would have been good to get a Dune 7, because the more the better of course. But if there was a Dune 7, it would not have closed all the ends; if something comes to a complete finish, it means it's dead. As long as life goes on, there are always new things. And about the Brian-Herbert-and-Kevin-Anderson things; I once found a comment on them which I really liked: "Pass on them. As in pass waste. Defecate."
tspiteri 6y ago
Book 1 is in a class of its own. Books 2 and 3 are a little slower than 1. Book 4 is very slower as you say. Book 4 brings out the most different reactions: some people even prefer it to 1, some just find it too slow. If you don't like the beginning, I don't think you'll like the rest as it doesn't change its pace. Maybe the problem is reading it in quick succession after 1, 2 and 3. The first time I read it it was after a break from the other 3 and it turned out I now love it (though I still prefer 1). If you're finding it frustrating a third of the way through, I would recommend dropping it now. Then if you feel like it, maybe restart after some time, maybe then it would work, and maybe it wouldn't. Then books 5 and 6 pick up the speed once more, I find them very fast paced.
- 0xff00ffee 6y ago
  > Then books 5 and 6 pick up the speed once more, I find them very fast paced. Oof. 5 is killin' me. 1-4 where so fast-paced. 5 is like, "Here's 50 new people and backstories... oh and by the way there is 3000 years of alliance backstory to catch up on..." :) It's gonna take a few more reads to get everything into perspective.
0xff00ffee 6y ago
To reiterate the other reply to your post, God Emperor of Dune is the 2nd best book in the series. It really pushes the envelope on imagining what the final outcome of a religion might be. It's a little polemic-heavy, but it IS a god we're talking about. :) Book 5 is the sleeping pill. After the frenzy that is 1-4, 5 just plods along in a dense aftermath.
Scarblac 6y ago
Book 4 is very special to me as it's so strange. 5 is back to action!
sonofhans 6y ago
Yes, very worth it. I've read all Frank Herbert's books and short stories. The last two Dune books, IMO, are the best things he wrote. It seems like he figured out that the Bene Gesserit were the most interesting thing he created, so he geeked out on them for two books.

barnabee 6y ago

Meh indeed. I'll add to the anecdata: I've read more since the lockdown started than I have in years despite being busier than ever. I've also been more productive in work and other projects.

tluyben2 6y ago
Same here ; I devour books and am far more productive (and fitter; newsflash, it seems meetings don’t work so well on my energy levels). Never been more focused; helps that it is finally quiet (no cars, airplanes, people here). Think this might become permanent for me.

lookdangerous 6y ago

It's encouraging to hear about good use of all the free time we have, so thank you.