Jan2012"Explorers...universe" Bri&kev, by Allen Pierleoni

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Jan2012"Explorers...universe" Bri&kev, by Allen Pierleoni

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http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/02/415693 ... verse.html

Explorers of an expanded universe
By Allen Pierleoni
Published: Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 1D
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 - 10:58 am



Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson live on another
planet. Better make that "in another universe," and
they like it there just fine.

They're the veteran science-fiction novelists who
formed a writing partnership 14 years ago to expand
and continue the legendary six-book "Dune" series
by Brian Herbert's father, Frank Herbert, through
their own best-selling prequels and sequels.

Both had careers as respected science-fiction writers
before their partnership, so it was a mutual love for the
"Dune" universe that led them to unite their energies.




"It's everything science fiction should be," Anderson said.
"It has an interesting culture, an alien planet, an intricate plot."

"It's always been sacred ground for me, and we had to be
careful how we (continued the series),"
Brian Herbert added.




The new "Sisterhood of Dune" (Tor, $27.99, 496 pages)
is their 12th collaboration, Book 1 of a trilogy within a
series, meant to explore the formation of the "Dune"
universe. The two men also have co-written nine "Dune"
short stories and the first of a non-"Dune" trilogy titled
"Hellhole."




The "Dune" franchise is a key part
of the Tor publishing imprint.

"It's the continuation of a great classic of science
fiction that's a major tradition for us,
" said Tor
president and publisher Tom Doherty. "Brian and
Kevin are very respectful of Frank Herbert's legacy,
and are committed to providing 'Dune' fans with more
stories from the beloved universe
."




The original "Dune" epic was conceived in the 1950s
by the late Frank Herbert – once a writer and editor
at the San Francisco Examiner – and published
between 1965 and 1985, beginning with "Dune" (the
first sci-fi novel to win both the Hugo and the Nebula
awards) and ending with "Chapterhouse: Dune."

That groundbreaking series gave the sci-fi genre a
sudden newfound respectability and changed how a
generation of readers approach fantastic fiction. The
books were unlike anything sci-fi fans had seen – more
intellectual and intricate, and very demanding of its
readers (though some critics have called it "ponderous"
in parts). It's been termed "science fiction's answer to
'The Lord of the Rings.' "

The collective "Dune" books have sold millions of copies
worldwide, with new fans coming to the series each time
Herbert and Anderson publish a title. The franchise –
books, movies, video games, board games, action figures –
is as close to a perpetual-motion machine as you'll find in
any genre of fiction.

You can call the "Dune" epic science fiction, but it
transcends that. The story is soaked in so much intrigue,
politics, spirituality and adventure that it makes the royal
courts and frontier empires of, say, ancient Rome and
Egypt look like elementary school playgrounds.

At its bones, the "Dune" story is set in a universe where
separate feudal empires – "noble houses" – scheme for
control of the addictive spice called "melange." It's a
precious commodity that slows aging, heightens
consciousness and can bestow seemingly mystical powers
on its users. Melange is found only on a desert planet called
Arrakis. Mining it can be deadly, as the deposits of melange
are guarded by gigantic, ill-tempered sandworms that swim
through the sand dunes like blue whales cruising Earth's oceans.




Author collaborations are uncommon, so how did this one
come about? After Frank Herbert's death in 1986, Brian
Herbert considered continuing his father's work, but moved
past the notion. Then, in 1991, he began researching his dad's
biography, "Dreamer of Dune," a five-year project that brought
him closer to picking up the "Dune" story.

"I was denying I would continue the series, but
(subconsciously) I was preparing myself to do it
,"
he said.




In 1997, as he and his new writing partner, Anderson,
prepared their first "Dune" book, Herbert made a remarkable
discovery. While settling his late parents' estates, he
discovered a treasure trove of Frank Herbert's notes for a
seventh "Dune" book.

"I went into a safe deposit box and found a floppy disk,"
Herbert recalled. "Dad had written on it, 'Dune 7 Notes.'
It held 30 pages of outlines and character ideas
."

Inspired by that, Herbert "started digging around in some
boxes in my storage loft." He re-examined what he'd long
thought to be old manuscripts and discovered instead
"over 1,000 pages of working notes, ideas and unpublished
scenes that Dad had used to write the series. (In life) my
mother was in touch with another realm, and I felt (her
spirit) was pointing the way for me then."

Most of the notes were used for "pointing us in certain
directions, but we did edit a few of his scenes into our
novels," he said.




In a separate phone conversation, Anderson described
how their collaboration began. Frank Herbert's last
"Dune" novel ended with a cliffhanger, he said, "so it
was clear he wasn't done with the story, and I always
wanted to know the ending."

When he heard that Brian Herbert might continue
the series, "I sent him a letter out of the blue,
asking if I could do it if he wasn't going to, or if he
was interested in doing it together."

They talked on the phone and "hit it off instantly."
They met, brainstormed and formed a partnership.




The two have developed a template for each new
writing project, meeting face-to-face and "spending
days brainstorming characters and outlining the story,
" Anderson said. They divide the chapters and story
lines between them "and we each write our own."

After that, they take turns editing the manuscript,
"writing as many as 12 drafts until we're both satisfied.
" Anderson lives in Colorado Springs, while Herbert is
near Seattle; communication is most often done by
fax and email.




Writing a new generation of "Dune" books is one way
Brian Herbert continues to "rediscover" his father. That,
and finding him within the pages of "Dune."

"In re-reading 'Dune' so many times, I noticed that Duke
Leto Atreides has great hopes for (his son) Paul Atreides,
similar to the hopes my father had for me
," Herbert said.
"I see things in their relationship that are similar to the
ones I had with my father.
"

"By the way," he added, "my mother was the role model
for Lady Jessica Atreides, except that Lady Jessica is not
a white witch, in touch with the paranormal realm, as my
mother was
."




Worldwide fans of the "Dune" collection are legion and,
Herbert said, "very demanding. They feel strongly about
keeping up the quality of the 'Dune' universe, and they
have their own images of how it should be.

"We try very hard not to disappoint them, but we are
writing in a different, more modern style than Frank
Herbert
," he said. "We think we've updated 'Dune' for
a modern readership without dumbing it down
."




Though Herbert's lengthy bibliography is diverse, with many
solo novels (he recently published two religious thrillers, for
instance), one way or another most of his life has been
touched by "Dune."

"I remember Dad reading chapters of it to Mom in 1960," he said.



Can the "Dune" phenomenon be summed up?

"No, but I can say the story of Paul Atreides is the core of it,
and Paul's story is one of a heroic journey. It's an old story
that still resonates with us as human beings
."




...
When a brand knew urinal puck showed up in the bathroom of my studio, I knew what I had to do.
-AToE
D Pope
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Re: Jan2012"Explorers...universe" Bri&kev, by Allen Pierleoni

Post by D Pope »

Brian wrote:"We try very hard not to disappoint them, <the Fans>
but we are writing in a different, more modern style than
Frank Herbert," he said. "We think we've updated 'Dune'
for a modern readership without dumbing it down."

"my mother was the role model for Lady Jessica Atreides,
except that Lady Jessica is not a white witch, in touch
with the paranormal realm, as my mother was."
When a brand knew urinal puck showed up in the bathroom of my studio, I knew what I had to do.
-AToE
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Re: Jan2012"Explorers...universe" Bri&kev, by Allen Pierleoni

Post by SandChigger »

Brian's a fucking nudge.

Has there been any movement with that "rewriting the New Testament" crap of his that came out in December? :roll:
"Chancho...sometimes when you are a man...you wear stretchy pants...in your room...alone."

"Politics is never simple, like the sand chigger of Arrakis, one is rarely truly free of its bite."

Arrakeen is an unawakened ghola.
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