Dune Rant

I have just started listening to the Heretics of Dune Audiobook, and I have come to the crashing conclusion of why have been avoiding it. It is not anything to do with the quality of the audiobook Simon Vance is as always on top form, and portrays the characters with the gravitas they deserve. Neither is it to do with the fact that the last 2 books are my least faviourite (..cause they aren't and having listened to about a third of Heretics I've got to admit its so far only 2nd to Dune(and Messiah) at the moment.) It is because this is the point where the depth of the Frank Herberts work comes to startling clarity. Why is that a bad thing? As this clarity is brought by comparison to the non-Frank Herbert written Sequels. As most who have got this far in this rant will know Frank never finished his great work. He tragically died leaving one book un-written and seemingly few notes on how he planned to continue and finish the narrative.

....before I get into trashing the sequel let's get things straight I enjoyed them. They were never going to be up to scratch. Herbert (senior) was a master of the art and dune was his masterpiece, while Kevin J Anderson is not. Don't get me wrong his work is enjoyable but he is not the literary genius the Frank Herbert was. The sequel(s) give me a conclusion to the story it just wasn't the conclusion to the story.

Over the years I have come to feel that the story may not have needed a conclusion, Daniel and Marty representing Herbert himself and his wife and the passage representing the narrative breaking free of his or any control. Dune always had the feel of a window into another universe and this ending is fitting for such a story. Maybe that's why the sequels angry my blood so, they cast dune as just a story through their inconsistencies, convenience and logical gaps. While Herbert's dune is filled with genius philosophers, deep motivations and abilities based in the existing mythos of the series. The sequels are filled with dim witted action heros, villains of the mustache twirling cape wearing variety and magic powers (both
Duncan's energy less super speed and Paul's telekinetic healing.). In handing over the dune universe to a super human saviour they miss the entire point of the dune universe, that to put ones faith in messiahs is dangerous, its Leto II's most important lesson.

But let's talk my specific reason for this rant and this is just from the first third of heretics

The drastic reduction in scope of human space. Let's give them that dune's definition of the known universe may well be ignored as a label rather than descriptive. That aside in god emperor of dune. Leto explicitly states he rules a multi galactic empire and that the intentions of his pressing ix to make no tech and his breeding program was to ensure that the scattering that would be the inevitable consequence of his death would allow humans to spread so far and so wide as to never again be vulnerable to a single threat. The no-ships and Siona's inheritance making sure that not even presience could find them all.

Let's now move to heretics were so far almost every single character has described the scattering as entering universes beyond measure. One (or was it 2)even described humanity as now being infinite and occupying infinite space. Let's skip ahead to the end of chapter house were to escape Duncan explicitly jumps his no ship to another universe devoid of the hunters.

Now let's look at the sequel. Human space (old empire and scattering) is compressed into a small part of our galaxy. So small that a well placed gamma ray burst or other large scale astronomical event could wipe all of humanity out (bit of a flaw in your golden path there Leto call yourself a God Emperor.) So small in fact a probe carrying an Ominus(?) clone has managed to beat the instantaneously traveling ships of humanity in such a way that we are now enclosed by its machines (despite space folding drives that could pass any barrier and out run any ship. See logic flaws.)

This downsizing is fact and was done to allow a threat to effect all humanity (a threat that leto would have seen easily.) From a foe that was only introduced in the prequels. It robs the life of leto of its meaning and therefore trashed 2 of the 6 original books. I'm not qualified to speak for frank but it seems to me the final trilogy is about the peril to the old empire of those returning from the scattering (chapter house shows that the Honoured Matre's are just the first and not even the worst,) the threat to the gold path (or the threat to the old empire's branch of the golden path, but not necessarily the whole golden path) of the wild talents to see no ships. Dune 7 being the resolution to these threats and the continuation of the golden path in to the infinite future.


Rant over.....for now.

Fitness Classes In St Helens

Class 1 : Abs and Pads Monday 6pm-7pm

Abs and Pads is very good. It consists of around 45 mins of boxing based circuits. Followed by/inter spaced with around 10 mins of abdominals. Watch out for the 2 minute burn-out (one minute continuous punching with each arm.) The fitness suite is well stocked with 2 heavy bags and ample boxing pads. I would advise you bring your own gloves (available for a tenner from sports direct.)

Class 2 : Circuit Training Wednesday 6pm-7pm

Classic circuits. 2 rounds of around 14 stations. 1 minute 30 on each station with 30 seconds rest. Stations are varied to keep you on your toes. Were as abs and pads has a upper body bais, circuits is balanced and will have you using all you muscles even some you didn't even know you had.

Classes are at central fitness in St Helens town centre (in the old YMCA building), and cost £2 for Go Active members or £3 for non members. Classes start at 6 so you'll need to be changed and ready.

Classes are delivered by Joe the man behind such blogs entries as First Experience with a personal trainer and Personal Trainer : Welcome to The Hurt Locker! While the classes are not as hardcore as the personal training sessions, these blog posts will give you some idea about what to expect.

I can personnally recommend both classes.

Book 8/50: Ender's Game

Ender’s game is another of those books that I passed up on several occasions for no real reason. Ender’s Game was written by Orson Scott Card and it was adapted from an earlier novelette of the same name.

Andrew “Ender” Wiggin lives on a Earth that has become massively overcrowded. The people are kept in check by a balancing of three separate power structures. All working together in the face of a common enemy. That common enemy is the Buggers, insectile creatures that have invaded the solar system on two occasions. The Buggers massive superiority was only defeated by the presence of a tactical genius in the right place and the right time. If the human race are to survive the next buggers attack they will need the right person to lead the defence. Ender and his siblings Peter and Valentine are part of a program to find this special tactician. Peter and Valentine were promising but both failed the cut, but due to their promise Enders parents were given permission to have him, a “third” [child] a position that carries great stigma. After a final exam which involves removing Enders monitor and seeing how he deals with persecution at the hands of his class mates, Ender is chosen to attend Battle School. The school were the pilots, officers and soldiers that will fight the next bugger attack are trained. Ender however will receive slightly different training, as Commander Graff believes that Ender is the person they need to lead the whole fleet and they need him now.

I love this novel its hard to put down. Ender is a likable character even though he is often aloof. The sub plots of Peter and Valentines [mis]use of their genius after Ender is taken to battle school, comes to a delicious conclusion. The book deserves the awards it has received over the years and can easily stand toe to toe with other classics of the genre.

Live: How to train your dragon!

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, normal service shall resume. In the mean time...



amazing footage of an animatronic for the live tour of How to train your dragon!!!

There is not even one thing wrong with the phrase "live tour of How to train your dragon".

Are you...?

Book 7/50 : The Lost Fleet Fearless

Courageous is the third book in Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet Series. It follows the first book Dauntless, and the second book Fearless. It continues the story of Captain ‘Black Jack’ Geary as he endeavours to get the alliance fleet home through enemy territory.

While the narrative continues on, it takes sometime to get going. Campbell continues with trying to flesh out the characters. While I understand why he’s doing this, part of the charm of the first book was the fact that apart from Geary the characters were paper thin. After all this is a military sci fi book you don’t need characters to be anything more than efficient/good/team-players , sloppy/insubordinate or just plain baddies. Sometimes the scenes between Geary and Victoria are rehashes of earlier scenes in this and the other books. Like he is trying to hammer home the format of their relationship so that everyone in the class fully understands. The fleshing out isn’t all negative the series does benefit from the view into fleet politics. Loyalties are shown not to be so black and white. It turns out those that support Geary aren’t all angels and those that don’t are not necessarily idiots.

The arc plot continues as Geary’s theory on a third party involvement in the hypernet is all but confirmed. Although the interesting nugget is added that maybe they aren’t alien rather they may be a third group of Humans, as there is very little evidence either way. While the impact of Geary’s previous victories on the syndicate worlds are shown. As its hinted that his good treatment of civilians is causing a softening of feeling towards the alliance and that this may lead to a revolution as syndic civilians seem to only be kept away from open revolt by their belief that there is no alternative.

I’m still really enjoying these books, I am however getting a little bit pissed at paying full price for each book. Lets not beat around the bush here, I’m on “book” 3 and while each "book" has a distinct start and finish its one story really. Add this to the fact you can easily read each book in a few hours and the only conclusion is that these books should have been published in omnibus form.

Looking Ahead to Glastonbury 2013

Just coming round from an amazing trip to Glastonbury Festival. This was my fifth time and can i dare say the best one so far. You may read people talking about it being too big, too corporate, too decadent. I can categorically say that anyone who has been knows none of this is true. Yes its come a long way from its humble beginnings and yes the hospitality/rich sections have grown somewhat, but the core of the festival is still as strong, beautiful and beguiling as ever. Also the Hospitality bits are just a way of squeezing money, for the worth while charities Glasto supports, out of the rich and stupid. The real festival is out with the people anyway, that's why so many of the bands venture out among us plebs.

So 2013. Glastonbury festival, and by extension worthy and its neighbouring farms, will be enjoying a fallow year next year. Strategically timed to coincide with the national portaloo shortage to be caused by the Olympic games. The festival will be returning, no doubt bigger and better in 2013. Gates are rumoured to open on Wednesday 26th June 2013.

Just the same as the last 5 years you will need to register your details to be able to buy a ticket. You can register now here. Why wait?

Tickets will be on sale...Well if they stick with current procedure tickets will go on sale sometime in late 2012 possibly the first weekend in October, and will cost around £200. Again if they stick with current procedure you will be charged a deposit of £50, you will than have to pay the rest of the price by a set date early in 2013 (around February). If you don't you will lose your ticket and be refunded your deposit minus an admin fee (£10 this year).

Glastonbury's a busy place so here is ...

A Considerate Guide to Glasto

1. Give priority on the paths to those lugging stuff. If your exploring the site once you've pitched camp, and your on the same path as someone lugging a ton of gear go round them. They are probably in no mood to go round you.
2. The paths are full of people trying to get from one place to another, if your on one and you need to stop step off them. Don't just stop and hold up several thousand people.
3. Do not wash wellies at the stand pipe. You don't need to wash wellies! Glasto festival itself had to tell people off about this. It is a wellies raison d'etre to be muddy, and anyway they will be just as muddy within 4 steps I promise you.
4. Do not wash your hair at the stand pipes. If you absolutely, positively, must wash your hair than do it at your tent with a jug. (As most others do.) Or get one of those fancy pants solar showers. I literally had to queue for 2 hours to fill a 5 litre water bottle(which takes about 2 minutes,) because lots of people were washing their hair (which can take between 10-20 mins each person.)
5. Don't wee anywhere but the toilets*. It really does put the festival at risk. It kills fish etc. Also its minging to step in mud that is a large percentage piss.
6. Love the Festival Love the farm. If you bring it take it home. In 5 festivals we have left nothing but the odd bag of rubbish.



* Comfort bottle or travel Johns are fine.