NationStates Jolt Archive

Which is better? The novel Dune, written by famed author Frank Herbert, has been held high as the "Masterpiece of Science Fiction". The Foundation Trilogy (comprised of the novels Foundation, Foundation & Empire, and Second Foundation), written by the Grand Master of Science Fiction (Isaac Asimov), has been given the Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" and is the basis for all modern science fiction.

Which do you think is better, and why?

I, personally, think the Foundation Trilogy is better, although Dune is a very close second. I love Dune, it just doesn't strike me as the Masterpiece of Science Fiction. Good, yes, Masterpiece, no.

How come Dune gets treated as a stand alone novel, instead of as a trilogy, or a six book a sequence?

Of these two, I prefer Foundation, but I'm also a big far of Heinlein's Future History and Farmer's Riverworld (I know it's probably not in the same league with the others, but I have a special affection for it).

How come Dune gets treated as a stand alone novel, instead of as a trilogy, or a six book a sequence?

That is a good point. I didn't list the other novels (which I do own) because they are often not included in the "Masterpiece" statement. Whereas the entire Foundation Trilogy received the "Best All-Time Series" award, for Dune it was just the one novel.

EDIT: I added in the quote

I voted for Dune, although Foundation was a good book too. Dune just had alot more depth to it in my opinion, and I liked the characters more. Plus, you can't really argue with a bunch of knife-weilding, worm-riding space arabs killing everyone.

Can't argue with that

i think i just barely lean towards foundation. if it had had bedouin in it it would have won by a landslide.

Farmer's Riverworld (I know it's probably not in the same league with the others, but I have a special affection for it).

Nice start, but it goes downhill fairly quickly somewhere in the middle of book 3. If you haven't read the sixth book - Gods Of Riverworld - then don't. Just don't. Spare yourself the agony.

Long live the fighters!

Both choices are outstanding on balance Dune though.
The first Novel is just perfection...

How come Dune gets treated as a stand alone novel, instead of as a trilogy, or a six book a sequence?

Because how utterly brilliant that novel was.

Definetly Dune. All of Frank Herberts Dune series are masterpieces. To bad his son is a lousy writer.

Anybody else?

They're different.

Both have good sociological imaginations, being able to describe in detail how people may live in an unfamiliar culture.

Asimov is more of a scientist.

Herbert is a fantasist, and one who seems to have had more than a nodding acquaintance with hallucinogens.

I have tried to read both... both of them started out as tedious novels that did not capitivate me... i voted Dune because that was the one that broke that barrier and did end up making me read it, and every sequel up to Dune Heretics, which i need to finish. As for Dune, i agree that it was more of a fantasy than anything else, and it seemed to focus on the social elements of humans being used as tools to accomplish greater ends without them completely losing their personal will, but seeing it controlled to the point at which it does not really matter anymore...

Definetly Dune. All of Frank Herberts Dune series are masterpieces. To bad his son is a lousy writer.

Agreed the ones his son wrote with Kevin Anderson are not in the same game let alone league...

House Harkonnen was the worst of these...

Definately Dune, although I do really like the Foundation series as well. There's just no competition against foldspace :P

Dune all the way. Though I really can't imagine it as a stand alone novel, I consider it the beginning volume of a much more involving story, particularly Messiah, Children of Dune, and God Emperor. The sixth volume, Chapterhouse, was just weird at the end, with the mysterious old couple.
I hear there was a seventh volume planned, but Frank passed away soon after his wife. The notes for such a book were allegedly found in a hidden safebox in a distant real estate holding in a Florida Suburb...yeah.
I really hope Brian (his son) and Kevin Anderson attempt to finish the story, as - I at least - enjoed their prequels, notably the Butlerian Jihad/Machine Crusade volumes.

Definetly Dune. All of Frank Herberts Dune series are masterpieces. To bad his son is a lousy writer.

I read his Garbage Chronicle about twelve years ago, it was actually readable: in the 'not-memorable but passable' league.


Bad experiences with Gentry Lee writing as Arthur C. Clarke in the sequals to Rendezvous With Rama have warned me off these share-cropped extensions of classic novels.