Jᴀᴄᴜʀᴜᴛᴜ - Tʜᴇ Cᴀsᴛ Oᴜᴛ

JOIII: Your Dune novels have often been vilified by Frank Herbert purists. As a result, I’m sure you have had a number of irate emails, letters, or blog comments. How do you handle such negative reactions, and what advice do you have for writers who encounter the same?

KJA: Frank Herbert was a genius, one of the most brilliant writers ever to work in science fiction, and Dune is (in my opinion) the greatest SF novel ever. Those are awfully big shoes to fill, and even though Brian and I are putting forth all of our effort to make our novels worthy of the label, it’s not surprising that we can’t meet every reader’s expectations. A bit of a reality check is in order, however. Don’t misconstrue a lot of negative postings to mean there are hordes of angry purists. For example, for Paul of Dune, one guy posted attacking comments to 40 out of 42 five-star reviews on amazon, the same guy attacked 24 out of 24 four-star reviews, the same guy runs a hate site, and the *same guy* maintains a Twitter feed devoted solely to bashing our stuff. And when somebody posts with great vehemence how much they hated book after book after book, how can you take them seriously? Anyone who keeps reading the novels for the sole purpose of attacking them just has an axe to grind and is clearly biased.

In reality, our Dune books have garnered a great deal of critical acclaim, nominated or won many awards, received starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly, were included on numerous Best of the Year lists, one was named as a New York Times notable book, another was picked as the Favorite Book of the Year by the members of the Science Fiction Book Club by the largest margin in the history of the award. We have received thousands of fan letters since we’ve begun writing them, and we get 24 positive letters for every negative one—I can live with a 96% approval rating.

My advice to other writers who face similar situations (and many of them have spoken to me) is not to let a couple of sour notes detract from the vast majority of satisfied readers.

You know, I have heard an awful lot of this author's take on character, plot setting and all the other traditional mainstream critical points, but despite all the interviews I have read I have yet to hear him talk about SF influence in his books, or, more importantly, how he approaches SF themes. I even asked him and Brian Herbert questions about both of these issues at two different stopps on the PoD tour, and they kind of blew the questions off and went back into salesman mode. I cant fault them for that too much, since it was a promotional tour, but I would really like to hear what Anderson and Herbert both have to say about more SF oriented things, like influences and themes. Until I hear that I cant consider them real SF authors (saying that despite the fact that I cannot stand their Dune works) - but still it would be nice to hear something about SF stuff. Its like they sell these books as romances, not SF.

....not to let a couple of sour notes detract from the vast majority of satisfied readers.

And I sure think it would be ironic if the fellow mentioned in the interview that has such a bias against Kevin would show up here and have something to say. Probably wouldn't even notice that he was talked about in the interview.

7. "One Guy" (SandChigger)

Well ... for an inveterate name-dropper like Kevin not to mention *me* or my Hairy Ticks of Dune site by name, especially after going on so, is just ... well ... hurtful. And it deprives me of the attention I crave!

Or did he mean someone else?!

Wait ... that would mean that there are *two* disgruntled "biased" attention-seeking website-running hater "Talifans" out here, right? OH NO!!!

Yeah, it's always easier to dismiss your critics than to consider the possibility you might not be as good as you think you are.


Btw, John, you do realize that some of Kevin's answers are just regurgitated text from the interview included in the "Extras" section at the end of The Edge of the World, right?

Omphalos wrote:Posted a comment there - something that has bothered me for a long time.

You know, I have heard an awful lot of this author's take on character, plot setting and all the other traditional mainstream critical points, but despite all the interviews I have read I have yet to hear him talk about SF influence in his books, or, more importantly, how he approaches SF themes. I even asked him and Brian Herbert questions about both of these issues at two different stopps on the PoD tour, and they kind of blew the questions off and went back into salesman mode. I cant fault them for that too much, since it was a promotional tour, but I would really like to hear what Anderson and Herbert both have to say about more SF oriented things, like influences and themes. Until I hear that I cant consider them real SF authors (saying that despite the fact that I cannot stand their Dune works) - but still it would be nice to hear something about SF stuff. Its like they sell these books as romances, not SF.

Rakis wrote:You should have said fast-food, not romance, you inglorious basterd...

I've also already found one scene reminiscent of the "Gilbertus' bum" bit in the Dune Legends

SandChigger wrote:Kevin doesn't write SF if by that you mean "Science Fiction". He writes Science Fantasy.

[W]hen somebody posts with great vehemence how much they hated book after book after book, how can you take them seriously?

SandChigger wrote:Damn ... you mean I missed two five-star reviews on Amazon?!

Be back in a minute!

Edit: Hey, TEG!!! Look what I found on the page when I went there!



Isn't that just TOO perfect?!

SandChigger wrote:...inveterate...

SandChigger wrote:Well, I've always thought so.

But then, I'm psychotic.

According to Shawn Gordon, President of ProgRock Records, at least.

THAT'S RIGHT! USUL, WE HAVE NEW PRIMA-DONNA SIGN!!!

SandChigger wrote:According to Shawn Gordon, President of ProgRock Records, at least.