DUNE Book 7? Asimov on Screen? Browder Loves Hobb?

By: Chris Wyatt
Date: Monday, March 17, 2003

Welcome to another edition of Book Notes. We've had some great comments this week and I'm excited to get to them. First though, we respond to a question from James Mackey in LA, who asks about the existence of an unpublished manuscript by Frank Herbert for a seventh DUNE novel.

Here's the deal... before Frank Herbert's death, he apparently made no mention of a seventh book, so no one knew to look for it. Years later Frank's son Brian Herbert was surprised to just happen across literally stacks of notes about this unmentioned book.

Sadly no complete manuscript seems to have been written. There are, however "extensive" notes including some novel fragments. Brian Herbert and his writing partner Kevin J Anderson intend to use the papers to create the seventh novel...but only after completing their own series of original DUNE books.

For more information, check out last year's CINESCAPE interview with Herbert and Anderson here. Or check out Anderson's official website here.

Thanks for the question, James. If anyone else has SF book related questions please fire them off to us at: CWyatt@cinescape.com.


We'd also be interested in hearing your thoughts of Herbert and Anderson's new DUNE series. I know you guys are reading them because they're consistently on the bestseller's list. So what do you think? Do they live up to the originals? Let us know at: CWyatt@cinescape.com.

Now on to comments you sent this week...

FOUNDATION on the silver screen

Last week we asked what you guys thought of the idea of bringing FOUNDATION to the multiplex. Since then THE CORE screenwriter John Rogers announced that he's completed his version of a FOUNDATION script, featuring Asimov's Mule character. You can check the Scifi.com announcement here.

Reader Stefan Hurzeler responded with trepidation, saying "I don't know if it's such a good idea... the Mule is definitely an interesting subject, but adapting the story of the Mule (and neglecting background info in the first book) would require considerable revamping, possibly at the expense of the main idea-- in other words, taking the branch and discarding the root... The FOUNDATION books should be left as they are."

Pumpkin Escobar also has his doubts. "Long have I dreamt of how the FOUNDATION books would play out on the silver screen, with famous actors in the parts of Seldon or the Mule," writes Escobar. "But I don't think a studio would shell out enough money to do it correctly, seeing as the story is probably too intelligent for the average movie-goer."

I got a lot of mail about this, but not a single person expressed excitement at seeing FOUNDATION come to the screen. Come on guys, no one thought you could do LORD OF THE RINGS... but then Peter Jackson went out and did it.

Send me the other side of the story at: CWyatt@cinescape.com.

Books and Directors

The abovementioned Stefan also brought up a good subject when he wrote, "I think Terry Gilliam should film HIS DARK MATERIALS by Philip Pullman. That would rock!"

That's a great topic of conversation. Do you have a dream director in mind for some of your favorite books? Personally, I would give my life to see Darren Aaronofski direct William Gibson's NEUROMANCER!

I'd also love a Wes Craven version of Stephen King's BAG OF BONES, and a Steven Soderbergh version of CHILDHOOD'S END.

And-- hear me out on this one-- what about the Coen Brothers doing THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY? I know that seems like a strange choice, but when you think about it, it just fits...

...or that's my opinion, at least. What do you think? What other books go with what other directors? Send us your lists and ideas at: CWyatt@cinescape.com.

Debating THE WHEEL OF TIME

The last few weeks we've been going back and forth on the merits of Robert Jordan's WHEEL OF TIME series. Adding to the debate is Darkangel who writes, "I love the intricacies of THE WHEEL OF TIME but every time a new one comes out I have to re-read all the previous books to figure out what's going on. It looks like at least two more books to finish (Please-no more). I hope they're published at a faster rate. Extremely well written, but let it end already!"

LC lost interest "somewhere around book six. Book nine was a major improvement but the latest book was boring until the final 200 pages. Instead of not being able to wait to read, I had to talk myself into it." In fact, many of you mentioned book six as the crisis point.

Jim and Suzanne had specific comments about book ten. They found it "a piece of fluff soap opera with no clear end in sight. Why did this series change from an exciting saga to an episodic cash cow? Boy, do I feel like a sucker. Despite my anger at being hoodwinked, I'll be first in line to see if the next book finally gives me the ending I crave. I hope Robert Jordan doesn't ruin this great series with a lackluster ending." Ouch!

There do seem to be alternatives. Walker McKnight suggests that "anyone who discovers George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series SONG OF ICE AND FIRE will quickly realize how poorly Jordan's irrelevant prose stands in comparison."

Walker wasn't the only one to recommend Martin. Sarah Conner, Blakesseven, bl23 all sang the praises of SONG, with Travis adding that disenchanted Jordan readers might also check out Robin Hobb's FARSEER series or Mark Anthony's LAST RUNE series.

I don't know if this matters to you, Travis, but at last year's Saturn Awards FARSCAPE star Ben Browder mentioned that Robin Hobb was his favorite fantasy writer. Maybe, with FARSCAPE ending this week (screw you Scifi Channel!) we might all honor poor Ben by picking up a Hobb.

Write in to let us know your feelings on Jordan, or any other writers. What are you reading these days? What have you liked and want to share? What have you hated? Spill the beans to: CWyatt@cinescape.com.

Happy reading!

Book Notes is our weekly Books column.