Skip to content
Account Login Winnipeg Toll-Free: 1-800-561-1833 SK Toll-Free: 1-877-506-7456 Contact & Locations

News

Dune 101

Saturday, May 06, 2023 at 4:50pm

What is Dune?

Dune is a science fiction novel published in 1965 by Frank Herbert. It was well received immediately, winning both the inaugural Nebula and sharing the Hugo in 1966. Dune is often called one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time; it has never gone out of print.

The novel is set in the far, far future when interstellar travel is possible thanks to “melange” or spice, a consumable substance which allows a specialist guild to navigate the complexities of faster-than-light travel. Galactic society is feudal in structure, with large Houses competing for economic dominance, all of whom hope to control the planet Arrakis, the only place in the universe where the spice can be found. The beginning of the Dune saga follows House Atreides as they take over stewardship of the planet only to be dismantled from within by spies planted by rival House Harkonnen. Duke Atreides’ son, Paul, survives the attack and goes “underground,” where he is trained in the ways of the desert by the Fremen people, the original settlers of the planet thousands of years earlier. Paul Atreides grows in power, fulfilling a prophecy thousands of years old that a Messiah who can see and think forwards and backwards through time would unite the galaxy. But first he must defeat Baron Harkonnen and his House and free Arrakis from ecological collapse due to demand for melange.

Herbert’s masterpiece is deeply philosophical, rife with deep thoughts about the nature of power, politics, religion, free will, technology and ecology. Dune has often been credited with bringing explicit ecological concerns to the field of science fiction. A deeply humanistic novel, Dune tries to consider how power shapes individuals and how individuals can shape society, for good or for ill. 

Where Should You Start?

With the first book of course! Herbert’s universe is complex and somewhat daunting at first, but he lays out everything you need to know in the first few hundred pages of the first book. Armed with that knowledge you are ready to take on the rest of the action packed second half of the novel and the rest of the series. 

After Dune, What’s Next?

Herbert took years and years to devise the sequels, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, and the time and care he put into them show. Some folks argue all you need is the first Dune, but we think books 2 and 3 have their delights. Dune Messiah and Children of Dune should be read together, one after the other, not only because that’s the order they were published in, but because they were conceived as tightly bound, one plot flowing into the next. Dune Messiah follows Paul Atreides, the Muad'Dib, as the Emperor of the galaxy, but the remnants of House Harkonnen and new enemies conspire to remove him from power. Paul is tormented by foreknowledge: that he must do despicable things to set humanity on a millenia-spanning course with distant utopia as the goal. Dune Messiah is shorter than Dune, but more focused, with less worldbuilding and more intrigue and action. Children of Dune is longer, but not quite as lengthy as Dune. In it, Paul’s children have come of age and the religion around the Muad'Dib has coarsened and veered from the path Paul worked so hard to put humanity on; the utopia promised will never come to pass because Paul refused to make the necessary sacrifice. Leto, his son, has the same foreknowledge as Paul but does not shy away from what must be done. With Children of Dune’s denouement and end, the trilogy is complete, and the story can be closed.

Aren’t there more Books in the Series?

Yes, the fourth book is God Emperor of Dune, set 3,500 years after Children of Dune, with Leto still living as Emperor. This novel, published five years after the previous one, is a bridge between what Herbert envisioned as two trilogies: the first Dune trilogy, then a second, comprising Heretics of Dune, Chapterhouse: Dune, and Dune 7, which was left unfinished after Herbert passed away in 1986. Dune 7 was completed by his son, Brian Herbert, and his collaborator Kevin J. Anderson as two books, Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune. While the reception to these last two was decidedly mixed, completionists may want to delve in just to see how Frank Herbert saw the series ending. 

Adaptations

There are quite a few adaptations of the books, despite their legendary status as impenetrable or difficult. First is David Lynch's 1984 version known simply as Dune. Critically reviled and disowned by its director, the 1984 version features Kyle MacLachlan as Paul and a score by the band Toto. Recently, the film was restored and reissued by Arrow Video in 4K UHD.

After that, the Sci-Fi channel did two TV mini-series with the intent of adapting the source material more closely. Frank Herbert's Dune and Frank Herbert's Children of Dune starred Alec Newman as Paul and then James McAvoy as Leto II, Paul's son. While these adaptations were closer to the book, a network TV-sized budget and rudimentary computer graphics held them back from being great.

Famously, Canadian director Denis Villeneuve adapted the novel into two parts: 2021's Dune: Part One and 2024's Dune: Part Two, starring Timothée Chalamet as Paul. Critical reception was high and more importantly, it reignited interest in the Dune books.

While the books have never been out of print, they have enjoyed a huge sales boost in the last two years and we hope to bring even more fans onboard! But how to start?

Categories: Site News, Staff Pick, Fun, SciFi & Fantasy, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Book Lists, Literature

Read More...

Our Sights & Sounds: March & April 2020

Tuesday, Mar 03, 2020 at 3:05pm

Mark Fewer & Hank Knox. VIVALDI: Manchester Sonatas. 2-CD set $20.99. RRC Price $18.89. Classical. These versatile Canadian musicians are known for their fresh and exciting interpretations. This collection of little-known works for violin and harpsichord is thought to have been first penned by Vivaldi in 1726, though they were unknown until their rediscovery in Manchester’s Central Library in 1976. To date, few recordings of the complete collection exist. This is the first recording of the works by Canadian artists. The Sonatas were arranged and recorded by Fewer and Knox in 2019 at Église St. Augustin in Quebec. (Leaf Music. February)

Ola Gjeilo. Night. CD $13.99. RRC Price $12.59. Classical. Norwegian composer and pianist Ola Gjeilo presents a stunning collection of original works for solo piano, composed and performed by Gjeilo himself. Night is an intimate and meditative collection of peaceful piano music, inspired by the twilight hours in the place he now calls home — New York City. Gjeilo has been releasing music from the album since last August, including the singles "Still", "City Lights", "Skyline", "Sleepless" and "Before Dawn." Gjeilo’s gentle piano compositions paint a perfect musical picture of a bustling city starting to simmer down. (Universal. February)

See more of our Sights & Sounds after the jump...

Categories: Music, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, movies

Read More...

Our Sights & Sounds: January & February 2020

Saturday, Jan 04, 2020 at 4:18pm

Natalie MacMaster. Sketches. CD $16.99. RRC Price $15.29. After eight years without a solo album release, the time arrived when Natalie wanted to return to the studio to record a new solo album. Sketches is the result—a fiery collection of traditional tunes and medleys mixed with new compositions teeming with retrospect and legacy as she looks back on the journey of life and career that has brought her to the present. (Universal. November)

Loreena McKennitt. Live at the Royal Albert Hall.2-CD set $20.99. RRC Price $18.89. In March 2019 Loreena presented a two hour concert that thrilled fans and critics alike. Live At The Royal Albert Hall;captures that evening from the European leg of the Lost Souls world tour. This set features twenty songs that comprise a substantially different collection of pieces from any of Loreena’s previous live album releases, including six from her latest album, Lost Souls. (Universal. November)

See more Sights & Sounds picks after the jump...

Categories: Music, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, movies

Read More...

Sights of the Season 2019

Tuesday, Nov 05, 2019 at 5:22pm

Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975. Blu-ray 8-disc set $275.99. Reader Reward Price $248.39. Criterion. In 1954, a beast came out of the sea, destroying everything in its path — and changing movies forever. Collected here for the first time are all fifteen Godzilla films of Japan’s Showa era, in a landmark set showcasing the technical wizardry, fantastical storytelling and international appeal of an iconic giant monster. This set features numerous interviews, commentary, trailers and a lavishly illustrated deluxe hardcover book. (November)

Downton Abbey: The Complete Collection. DVD 22-disc set $83.99. Reader Reward Price $75.59. Enjoy all six seasons of the multi-award winning hit series in this boxed set, which offers all of the splendour and romance, desire and heartbreak, scandal and rumour that Downton Abbey viewers across the globe have grown to love. Featuring all fifty-three episodes and over five hours of brand new bonus material, this is the perfect collection for every Downton Abbey fan. (April)

Twin Peaks: The Television Collection. Directed by David Lynch & others. Blu-ray 15-disc set $99.99. eader Reward Price $89.99. For the first time, every Twin Peaks episode is all in one place. Included are all twenty-nine episodes of the original two seasons, along with all eighteen parts of the return to Twin Peaks that captivated audiences twenty-five years later. This set also includes many behind-the-scenes special features. So grab a cup of coffee, a slice of cherry pie and experience the legendary mystery… again and again! (October)

Categories: Saskatoon, Winnipeg, movies

Sounds of the Season 2019

Tuesday, Nov 05, 2019 at 5:09pm

Music lover on your list? Then surely we have an album or two for them this year — check out our recommended albums for the 2019 holiday season below!

The Good Lovelies: EvergreenCD $14.99LP $22.99. Reader Reward Card Applies. It's been ten years, and ten Christmas tours since Toronto's The Good Lovelies released their album Under The Mistletoe. In celebration, they decided to capture many of the songs they have been performing over the past ten years on this brand new collection, "Evergreen." Included are three new original songs as well as some familiar chestnuts like "O Holy Night," "Please Come Home For Christmas" and more. (November)

Leon Redbone: Christmas IslandCD $18.99. Reader Reward Price $17.09. Out-of-print for many years, this European re-release of the enigmatic Leon Redbone's 1988 Christmas album comes just a few months after we lost him. Only one week later, Leon's longtime friend Dr. John also said goodbye. The two purveyors of folk, blues, jazz and Tin Pan Alley hook up on this album’s seasonal favourite, "Frosty the Snowman." The whole album is a pleasant mixture of Christmas songs, all in the typically unique Redbone style. (October)

See more new music CDs and vinyl after the jump...

Categories: Music, Saskatoon, Winnipeg

Read More...

  - 1 ...  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 25 -   Earlier >