a quill and vellum

A Letter to Ernest Cline

Dear Mr. Cline:

I began reading Ready Player One on 6 January.  Here it is eleven days later and I am getting ready to read chapter 32 on my lunch break.  I am not normally such a slow reader, but Ready Player One has forced me to read extremely slowly so that I can savor each and every page in this amazing book.

When readers consider world building, they automatically think of Tolkien, Frank Herbert, George R.R. Martin, Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, Patrick Rothfuss, and others as world building masters.  This list, however, is not complete without the addition of Ernest Cline to the esteemed list.  The world you have created in Ready Player One is amazing and the plot of your story is mind blowing.  Also, there is not one unnecessary scene or character, boring page, or useless page filler.  Every word you have chosen, sentence you have crafted, paragraph you have constructed, and chapter you have polished and refined to near perfection is so very precious and deeply appreciated.  I have so enjoyed the time I have spent in your world, and I so dread the time when I read the very last age, close the book, and return it to the library, but i must move forward, for the Battle of Castle Anorak is at hand and Parzival, Art3mus, Aech, and Shoto need me to cheer them on.

Thank you most sincerely for creaing such an enjoyable book and I am looking forward to thr realease of Armada later this year!

Sincerely,
Joseph Quinton

 

Book Review: God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

Book:  God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert (Book Four in the Dune Chronicles)

Author:  Frank Herbert

Published:  unknown

Publisher: The Berkley Publishing Group/The Penguin Group

Date Read:  14 May 2013

Format:  iBook

First Line:  "It not only is my pleasure to announce to you this morning our discovery of this marvelous storehouse containing, among other things, a monumental collection of manuscripts inscribed on ridulian crystal paper, but I also take pride in giving you our arguments for the authenticity of our discoveries, to tell you why we believe we have uncovered the original journals of Leto II, the God Emperor." 

Genre/Rating:  Science Fiction, 5.0

GoodReads Rating:  3.73

Review:  God Emperor of Dune, is the fourth book in the six-book Dune Series, written by Frank Herbert.  As the book opens, we are cast 3500 years into the future following the events of Children of Dune.  Lord Leto II is almost a complete sandworm and he rules the entire universe with despotic fervor.  Beside himself, there are no more sandworms in existence because he has turned Arrakis into a lush world with rivers and forests; however, Leto II maintains a small desert, which he refers to as his Sareer, which is the home to his citadel.  With the absence of the sandworms, there is no more spice to be located on Arrakis and Leto maintains a huge cache of mélange from which he blesses or punishes the Guild, the Bene Gesserit and others who depend so strongly upon the spice.  He has also forbidden interplanetary space travel, so people are relegated to life on their own planets.  Leto maintains control through the use of his all-female army, called Fish Speakers, who revere Leto as a god and carry out his will with unquestioning, fanatical devotion. 

Leto II has cast himself into the role of tyrant to the fulfillment of his Golden Path.  This Golden Path is a way of salvation for the universe, first understood by Paul Muad’Dib who was unable to take upon himself the mighty mantle of sacrifice that the Golden Path required.  God Emperor of Dune lacks the exciting narrative of the first three novels and is more philosophic and contemplative in tone.  Through Leto’s conversations with his majordomo Moneo, the eleventh ghola of Duncan Idaho,  Siona Atreides, Hwi Noree, and others, we are privy to their conversations and thoughts as they explore the implications of the Golden Path and the sacrifice that Leto II made to merge himself with the sandtrout and become a sandworm.   

I perceive God Emperor of Dune as a character-driven bridge which links the plot-driven first three novels with the plot-driven last two novels in the science fiction sextet.  Even though this novel is devoid of the action in the other books in the series, there are some exciting moments.  Within the narrative we learn more about the Ixians, the Bene Tleilax, and the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood and this makes for intriguing reading and establishes a framework for what to expect in Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse Dune.       

I find God Emperor of Dune to be a most satisfying read and I enjoy the character development that occurred within the narrative and the ending was unexpected and heart wrenching.  If you have yet to explore the amazing world of Dune, I would like to provide you with a chronological reading of the works of Frank Herbert and the prequels/sequels penned by his son, Brian Herbert, along with Kevin J. Anderson.

A Chronological Reading of the Dune Universe (I'll highlight the ones  have read)

1. Hunting Harkonnens (short story) in The Road to Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
2. The Butlerian Jihad by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
3. Whipping Mek (short story) in The Road to Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
4. The Machine Crusade by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
5. The Faces of a Martyr (short story) in the Road to Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
6. The Battle of Corrin by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
7. The Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
8. House Atreides by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
9. House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
10. House Corrino by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
11. Paul of Dune (Parts II, IV, VI) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
12. The Winds of Dune (Part II) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
13. A Whisper of Caladan Seas (short story) in The Road to Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
14. Dune by Frank Herbert
15. Paul of Dune (Parts I, III, V, VII) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
16. The Winds of Dune (Part IV) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
17. The Road to Dune (short story) by Frank Herbert
18. Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
19. The Winds of Dune (Parts I, III, V) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
20. Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
21. God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert
22. Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert
23. Sea Child (short story) in The Road to Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
24. Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert
25. Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
26. Treasure in the Sand (short story) in The Road to Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
27. Sandworms of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Title:  The Eyre Affair
Series:  Thursday Next, Book One
Author:  Jasper Fforde
Published:  19 July 2001
Publisher:  The Penguin Group
Awards:  New York Times Bestseller
Pages:  374
Genre:  Metafiction, Alternate History, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery
GoodReads
Recommended by:  Sue Moro at Sue's Book Nook

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde is a novel set in an alternate world of 1985 where literary allusions abound.  In this alternate world setting, England and Russia have been involved in the Crimean War for 131 years.  Our protagonist, Thursday Next, is a veteran of this long-standing war and now works for SpecOps' special unit known as SO-27 which is known as LiteraTec.  As a LiteraTec, Thursday is responsible for investigating the counterfeiting and theft of the world's great literary masterpieces.  Thursday inhabits a literary-centric world where people rename themselves after literary characters, dress in literary constumes, adore literary characters, revere authors, turn productions of Shakespeare into a cult following similiar to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and divide themselves into various, opposing literary camps. 

As the novel opens, Thursday is investrigating the theft of the original Martin Chuzzelwit manuscript from the Dickens' Museum at Gad's Hill.  Thursday's eccentric uncle, who also is a technological genius, has created a machine which allows anyone to enter any literary work and interact with the characters and plot line.  This invention in an intregal part of the plot because it is used by Hades Acheron, our antagonist, to enter the original manuscript of Jane Eyre with the idea of kidnapping Jane Eyre and holding her for ransom. 

I loved my first foray into the world of Thursday Next and I will be returning to the series.  This novel has inspired me to read Jane Eyre and I appreciate Sue Moro for recommending it.

Rating:

Ender's Game

Title:  Ender’s Game
Author:  Orson Scott Card
Published:  15 July 1994
Publisher:  Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
Pages:  352
Genre:  Science Fiction
Goodreads
Recommended by:  PureDragon100

Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card, concerns a dystopian world where each family, due to overpopulation, is limited to two children.  Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is a third, which means
that he is a third child, and he suffers greatly because of his birth order.  Andrew has two siblings: a
brother, Peter, and a sister, Valentine. 

On two previous occasions, the earth has been attacked by insect-like aliens referred to as “buggers” and the military are breeding exceptional children to give birth to a military genius and a savior of the world.  These exceptional children are sent to an orbiting Battle School where they receive military instruction.  It is Ender’s experiences in the Battle Schools which give the book its amazing plot.

Orson Scott Card has created some endearing, flesh-and-blood characters.  Within the pages, we are able to see Ender’s character development from young child to experienced soldier, and we root for him to succeed.  The ending of the book is totally unexpected and is thrilling in the way that Card chose to conclude his book. 

Rating: 

Literary Dinner Party Tag

 

Renee at Nahoma52 has just posted her Literary Dinner Party Tag.  The rules for this tag are quite simple.  You invite eleven fictional people to a dinner party.  Those eleven guests shall consist of the following:

1. One character who can cook/likes to cook

I am a foodie and there is nothing I would appreciate any more than a dinner party surrounded by my most favorite fictional characters.  The chef for this dinner party would have to be Babette Hersant from Isak Dinesen's Babette's Feast.  If you have not read this story, I would highly recommend that you do for it is a sumptuous feast of words.

2. One character who has money to fund the party

Our dinner party would be funded by F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby who not only has extravagant wealth but also a penchant for extravagant dinner parties.

3. One character who might cause a scene

The rules stated that this character does not have to cause a bad scene, necessarily, so I would invite J.K. Rowling's Luna Lovegood.  I am sure Luna could cause an interesting scene through her discussion of obscure magical creatures.

4. One character who is funny/amusing

My amusing guest would have to be none other than Miss Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice who possesses a most charming and amusing personality. 

5. One character who is super social/popular

This seat of distinction would definitely go to one of the most popular characters in all of fiction....the boy who lived....Harry Potter!

6. One villian

The villanous guest in attendance would have to be Professor Moriarty who possesses great intellect and wit and could greatly add to the dinner conversation.

7. One couple - doesn't have to be romantic

I grew up devouring Agatha Christie mysteries, so the couple I would invite would be Miss Jane Marple and Hercule Poirot.  They could be set to the task of preparing most excellent British tea and biscuits. 

8. One hero/heroine

Our hero for the evening would be Bilbo Baggins and he can enthrall us with his many heroic adventures in Middle Earth.

9. One underappreciated character

Throughout most of the Harry Potter series, Severus Snape was underappreciated for all of the work that he did to assist Dumbledore and keep Harry Potter safe.  Since Professor Snape is my most favorite character from the Harry Potter Universe, he would most definitely be one of the dinner guests.

10. One character of your own choosing

My most favorite series of books of all times is the Dune Saga created by Frank Herbert.  The protagonist of Dune, Paul Muad'Dib,  is someone I would love to talk to and find out first hand knowledge about the Dune Universe.

 

My Ten Most Beloved Books in Fiction

I have been noticing several book lovers have been blogging lately about their ten best loved books, which started me thinking what books would compose my own list of favorites.  It has been in the back of my mind for a few days and it is not an easy task to set oneself to accomplishing.  I suppose it would be similiar to having to identify your most favorite child; like our own version of Sophie's Choice.  So, after much agonizing thought, here is my list of my top ten favorite books.

Addendum:  since it would not be fair to list all books within one series as one choice, I will be identifying my most favorite book within a series.

1.  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling.  Even though I love the entire series, I am partial to HBP for two reasons.  First, as Snape is my most favorite character, I appreciate understanding more of his background and motivation.  Second, I really love the time that Harry and Dumbledore spend together.  

2.  Dune by Frank Herbert.  Like many others, I consider Dune to be the best writing in the science fiction genre.  The world building is magnificent and the intelligence behind the prose is most stunning.  This is the first book that evolved into the Dune Saga of six excellent books.

3.  The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien.  Yes, I love The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, but it is The Silmarillion that gives you the epic backstory of the creation of Middle Earth and its inhabitants.

4.  The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.   I believe this is the finest example of a first novel that I have ever read.  The author's command of time and place, characterization and plot, gives the novel a enjoyable and thrilling readability.  This book is sheer pleasure.

5.  The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.  Spain, a book shop, plus a mystery.  Need I say anymore?

6.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  The finest example of American fiction.

7.  Beach Music by Pat Conroy.  My wife and I love South Carolina and Conroy, being a Charleston native, easily captures the wonderful nuances of this great city and its people.

8.  The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.   Fantasy fiction where each and every word is magical.

9.  At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon.  This is the flagship in the Mitford series and introduces us to Father Tim, Cynthia, Dooley, and the others who populate this quaint and beautiful North Carolina town.

10.  Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.  A haunting glimpse into the French betrayal of the Jews in World War II.

The Dune Universe

In the late 80s, I saw David Lynch's 1984 production of Dune, a movie which greatly intrigued me.  Following the film, I was fascinated to learn that it was based upon a creation of the Hugo Award-wining author, Frank Herbert; and not only was there a book called Dune, but five others comprised the Dune Saga.  These six books have been touted as the greatest works in science fiction and I highly agree with that sentiment.  

Frank Herbert died in 1986, but in 1999, Herbert's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson created a prequel to the Dune Saga.  The prequels have been met with mixed reviews.  I have read the prequels and I feel that the authors, while not possessing the philosophical mindset and austere writing style of Frank Herbert, certainly are good story tellers.  

I mention this because I am soon to undertake a chronological reading of the entire Dune Universe, which follows the following order:

1. Hunting Harkonnens (short story)
2. The Butlerian Jihad
3. Whipping Mek (short story)
4. The Machine Crusade
5. The Faces of a Martyr (short story)
6. The Battle of Corrin
7. The Sisterhood of Dune
8. House Atreides
9. House Harkonnen
10. House Corrino
11. Paul of Dune (Parts II, IV, and VI)
12. The Winds of Dune (Parts II)
13. A Whisper of Caladan Seas (short story)
14. Dune
15. Paul of Dune (Parts I, III, V, and VII)
16. The Winds of Dune (Part IV)
17. The Road to Dune (short story)
18. Dune Messiah
19. The Winds of Dune (Parts I, III, and V)
20. Children of Dune
21. God Emperor of Dune
22. Heretics of Dune
23. Sea Child (short story)
24. Chapterhouse: Dune
25. Hunters of Dune
26. Treasure in the Sand (short story)
27. Sandworms of Dune