Dragaera

From Neil Gaiman's journal

David Dyer-Bennet dd-b at dd-b.net
Sat Jun 5 20:07:35 PDT 2004

Mark A Mandel <mam at theworld.com> writes:

> On Wed, 2 Jun 2004, Casey Rousseau wrote:
>
> #David Dyer-Bennet writ:
> #> ... whereas Dune is a major classic.
> #
> #Agreed.  My only complaint about Dune is the same complaint that I have
> #for Jane Eyre, another classic.  It took me two tries to break past the
> #first 80 pages.  Once the story really gets going though, I'm hooked.
> #
> #As for the subsequent Dune books, I've never successfully reread
> #Children, whereas Dune, God Emperor, Heretics and Chapterhouse are
> #definite reread candidates.  I read Dune and Messiah back to back on a
> #trip across country.
>
> I have heard that Dune was massively edited by the editor of Analog for
> its original appearance there (as "The Prophet of Dune"), wchich is
> where  I first read it, and that  after Dune's success Herbert said, in
> effect, "I'm so goodI don't need an editor. " And Dune had been so
> successful the publisher didn't argue with him. Hence the exhausting
> prolixity of the sequels.. -- So I have heard.

Yes, so I, also, have heard.  I heard it as roughly "Dune is
essentially an uncredited collaboration between Frank Herbert and John
W. Campbell."

It makes sense.
-- 
David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b at dd-b.net>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/>
RKBA: <http://noguns-nomoney.com/> <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/>
Pics: <http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/> <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/>
Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/>