
tt.com
alt.fan.dune, 
         _Dune_, and related matters.


Archive-name: sf/dune-faq

The alt.fan.dune FAQ

Table of Contents

1. General questions
 1.1 What is Dune?
 1.2 What is alt.fan.dune?
 1.3 What is appropriate subject material for alt.fan.dune?
 1.4 What other resources are on the Internet about Dune?

2. Questions about written materials on Dune
 2.1 What books are in the _Dune_ series?
 2.2 What other books about Dune have been published?
 2.3 Who/what are Marty and Daniel from the end of _Chapterhouse: Dune_?
 2.4 Who/what is Scytale from _Dune Messiah_ and _Chapterhouse: Dune_?
 2.5 Are there any comics and illustrated books about Dune?

3. The movie(s)
 3.1 What is the movie _Dune_?
 3.2 Is there more than one version of the movie?

4. Questions about the game(s)
 4.1 What MUSHes are there with a Dune theme?
 4.2 How do I make these MUSHes look right on my screen?
 4.3 Are there any PC games about Dune?
 4.4 Are there any board games about Dune?

5. Questions about sound recordings relating to Dune
 5.1 Are there any sound recordings relating to Dune?
 5.2 How do I get the movie soundtrack?

Inquiries/suggestions/corrections can be mailed to: 
 cgilmore@phoenix.princeton.edu

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Recent CHANGES:

3/15/95:  Section 1.4, update of links and addition of new sites
3/15/95:  Section 2.4, addition of new section
3/15/95:  Section 3.2, update of all information, inclusion of laserdisc
3/15/95:  Section 4.1, update of information
3/15/95:  Section 4.3, update of reviews
3/15/95:  Section 5.1, addition of new title

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1. General Questions

---------------------------------------------

1.1 What is Dune?

_Dune_ is the first of a series of science fiction books by Frank 
Herbert. 

---------------------------------------------

1.2 What is alt.fan.dune?

Alt.fan.dune is a newsgroup for postings relating to Frank Herbert's
_Dune_ series or any of its adaptations, including the movie _Dune_
and the on-line MUSH simulations in the Dune universe. The group will
provide a forum for fans of Herbert's work to communicate, and for
dissemination of MUSH announcements and plot information.

---------------------------------------------

1.3 What is appropriate subject material for alt.fan.dune?

Any discussion of anything related to Herbert's _Dune_ series is
probably appropriate. Please take advantage of keywords: use the
keyword "movie" for discussion about the movie, "book" for discussion
of the books, "mush" for discussion of subjects related to the MUSHes,
"game" for discussion of the game, etc. Discussions about general MUSH
issues should be directed to the rec.games.mud.* hierarchy, most
likely rec.games.mud.tiny.

---------------------------------------------

1.4 What other resources are on the Internet about Dune?

  -----------------------------
 1.4.1 Anonymous FTP archives
  
alt.fan.dune FAQ: nctuccca.edu.tw, /USENET/FAQ/alt/fan/dune
DuneII:   gardenia.berkeley.edu, /pub/Dune2
tinyfugue:  glia.biostr.washington.edu, /pub/tinyfugue
Dune .au samples: breadmold.pc.cc.cmu.edu, /pub/au/dune
Dune .wav samples: breadmold.pc.cc.cmu.edu, /pub/wav/dune
  -----------------------------
 1.4.2 World Wide Web URLs

Dune:   http://www.princeton.edu/~cgilmore/dune/
7th Dune Book:  http://www.cs.utwente.nl/~faase/D7/main.html
DuneMUSH II:  http://www.princeton.edu/~cgilmore/dune/mush/
Dune .wav samples: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~atkin901/dunewav.html
  -----------------------------
 1.4.3 Online games sites

DuneMUSH II:  gardenia.berkeley.edu 4201
HereticsMUSH:  sacmush.swac.edu 4202
RevenantMUSH:  mulberry.wustl.edu 4201

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2. Questions about the books

 Anyone with information about the references listed here (or others!) 
 is welcome to submit a brief review or synopsis of the material to 
 cgilmore@phoenix.princeton.edu for inclusion in this introduction. 

---------------------------------------------

2.1 What books are in the _Dune_ Series?

  -----------------------------
 2.1.1 _Dune_, Frank Herbert (New York: Berkley Pub., 1987, c1965).
  -----------------------------
 2.1.2 _Dune Messiah_, Frank Herbert (New York: Berkley Pub., 
  1987, c1969).
  -----------------------------
 2.1.3 _Children of Dune_, Frank Herbert (New York: Berkley Pub., 
  1987, c1976).
  -----------------------------
 2.1.4 _God Emperor of Dune_, Frank Herbert (New York: Berkley Pub., 
  1987, c1981).
  -----------------------------
 2.1.5 _Heretics of Dune_, Frank Herbert (New York: Berkley Pub., 1986).
  -----------------------------
 2.1.6 _Chapterhouse: Dune_, Frank Herbert (New York: Berkley Pub., 
  1987, c1985).

---------------------------------------------

2.2 What other books about Dune have been published?

  -----------------------------
 2.2.1 _Songs of Muad'Dib: poems and songs from Frank Herbert's
  Dune series and his other writings_, edited by Brian Herbert. 
  (New York: Ace, 1992).
  -----------------------------
 2.2.2 _The Dune Encyclopedia_, compiled by Willis E. McNelly (New York:
  Berkley Books, c1984), is a comprehensive, authorized encyclo-
  pedia spanning the _Dune_ series up to book 4, and including 
  little-known information and nice drawings. It's written from 
  a post-Scattering perspective.
  -----------------------------
 2.2.3 _The Notebooks of Frank Herbert's Dune_, edited by Brian Herbert
  (New York: Perigee Books, c1988).
  -----------------------------
 2.2.4 _The Maker of Dune: insights of a master of science fiction_, by
  Frank Herbert, edited by Tim O'Reilly (New York: Berkley 
  Books, 1987).
  -----------------------------
 2.2.5 _The Making of Dune_, by Ed Naha. (New York: Berkley Books, 
  1984), is one is about the making of the movie.
  -----------------------------
 2.2.6 _Eye_, Frank Herbert (New York: Berkley Pub., 1985), contains 
  short stories from throughout Mr. Herbert's career. Notable is 
  the story, "The Road to Dune," written in 1985.

---------------------------------------------

2.3 Who/what are Marty and Daniel, who appear at the end of 
    _Chapterhouse: Dune_?

 They are face dancers, advanced beyond Tleilaxu control. Good chance 
 they were, or had the abilities of a Kwisatz Haderach (remember the 
 Tleilaxu had developed their own KH long ago). It was also implied 
 that they had greater control over their past-lives than the Bene 
 Gesserit or the Tleilaxu Masters. 

 The HM were running from a new breed of face dancers created by the
 Tleilaxu.  The face dancers became independent and fought off the HM
 using biological warfare, which would not affect them since they could
 easily engineer themselves to be immune.

 Duncan was created from information bought back from the scattered
 Tleilax. This is how he gained a lot of special powers.

 The face dancers at the end had the same or similar powers as Duncan.
 They were, however, able to understand and use these powers whereas 
 Duncan just floundered through without knowing what he was actually
 doing. 

 Marty and Daniel could in some respects, the extent of their powers
 is unclear, have control of what happened in their field of vision,
 which was a relatively large hunk of the universe.  Duncan escaped
 from their field of vision and thus came outside of their control.

        Literally, we know they are Face Dancers.  We know they make 
reference

 to what happens when you collect enough personas. We know the same 
 thing is happening to Duncan (although they say he's stretched out 
 pretty thin).  We know they can see into the  no-ship (they go beyond 
 Paul or Leto's prescience).  But we also see Duncan and crew escape 
 them by cutting all ties with their origins.  

 Another interpretation of the Face Dancers which can accompany any 
 literal interpretation, is that they are Herbert and his wife. Herbert 
 looks on somewhat indifferently and benevolently, interested but with 
 other things in his life.  In the end, he lets (so Marty accuses) 
 Duncan and his band escape, which is what Herbert may have done, 
 realizing this very well might be the last book of the series. He gives
 a few characters the means to escape with unlimited possibilities free 
 from his powers.

---------------------------------------------

2.4 Who/what is Scytale from _Dune Messiah_ and _Chapterhouse: Dune_?

From jraynor@minerva.cis.yale.edu (John P. Raynor)
 The original Scytale was a Face Dancer, who was born (or,
 perhaps, "grown") prior to the development of the Master
 caste.  During his original life, the ability to force gholas
 to recover their original memories was discovered.  Although
 Scytale, the Face Dancer, was killed by Paul Muad'dib at the
 end of "Dune Messiah," his body was recovered, a ghola was
 grown, and then forced to recover its original memories.  Just
 what Scytale was at this point is a mystery: it depends upon
 whether Face Dancers were, at that point, a biologically
 engineered race (as they were during the
 "Heretics/Chapterhouse" era), or the products of delicate, but
 non-genetic, surgical techniques.  Fortunately, however, it
 doesn't matter - Scytale is reborn through an unknown number
 of ghola incarnations.  Eventually, the ruling class of the
 Bene Tleilax (including the reincarnated Scytale)
 intentionally decide to "adopt" the enigmatic, vaguely
 disturbing "Master" form.

---------------------------------------------

2.5 Are there any comics illustrated books about Dune?

  -----------------------------
 2.5.1 _The Illustrated Dune_ by Frank Herbert, illustrations by John
  Schoenherr (New York: Berkley Pub., 1978, c1965).
  -----------------------------
 2.5.2 The official Marvel Comics adaption of Dune, adapted by Ralph
  Macchio, art by Bill Sienkiewicz (New York: Marvel Comics 
  Group: distributed by Berkley, 1984).

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3. Questions about the movie(s)

---------------------------------------------

3.1 What is the movie _Dune_?

_Dune_ was made into a movie of the same title, and is available on
video.  The movie was directed by David Lynch (of Twin Peaks and
Eraserhead fame), produced by Dino di Laurentis, and starred: Kyle
MacLachlan (Paul Muad'Dib), Jurgen Prochnow (Leto), Sean Young
(Chani), Francesca Annis (Jessica), Dean Stockwell (Dr. Yueh),
Virginia Madsen (Irulan), Patrick Stewart (Gurney), Jose Ferrar
(Shaddam IV), Sting (Feyd Rautha), Max von Sydow (Liet-Kynes), and
Linda Hunt (Shadout Mapes). The clothes the Fremen wear were designed
by Jean-Gir.

---------------------------------------------

3.2 Is there more than one version of the movie?

Yes. There are actually 3 versions of the movie. 

  -----------------------------
 3.2.1 _Dune_ had its theatrical release in 1984. Its length
  is about 2 hours and 30 minutes. It has also been
  shown on the Sci-Fi channel.
  -----------------------------
 3.2.2 The video release version contains fewer scenes than
  the original, but makes a bit more sense for the
  non-reader of _Dune_. It is 2 hours and 17 minutes long.
  -----------------------------
 3.2.3 The version which is commonly shown on television
  contains some scenes which were not in the movie.
  It is not on video cassette. It is 4 hours long with
  commercials, roughly 3 hours without. This version
  contains certain scenes that the director, David
  Lynch, wanted cut, such as a scene of Gurney playing
  the baliset, and a voiceover introducing some of the
  characters. Lynch petitioned the Director's Guild to
  have his name removed from the credits of this
  version. The generic 'Alan Smithee' appears in his
  place.

There is also a laserdisc letterboxed edition of the movie. It
contains versions 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 for a total of 320 minutes from
beginning to end of the disc. It contains no new scenes that are not
in 3.2.2 and 3.2.3. The laserdisc is available only as a Japanese
import. Each version is subtitled in Japanese, and the Director's Cut
(version 3.2.2) is in a very nice widescreen format. It's list price
is $180.

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4. Questions about the game(s)

---------------------------------------------

4.1 What MUSHes are there with a Dune theme?

There are currently three MUSHes that are either open or will be
opening soon. See section 1.4 for game locations.

  -----------------------------
 4.1.1 DuneMUSH II takes place during the reign of the Padishah
  Emporer Shaddam IV. Its starting date is 10,181, 10
  years before the ascension of Muad'Dib. The game is
  based upon factional role-play centered on Kaitain,
  the Imperial seat. The emphasis of rule-based play the
  integration of an macro economy and the elimination of
  a micro economy are some of the interesting features
  of this MUSH.

  -----------------------------
 4.1.2 HereticsMUSH takes place after the conclusion of
  _Heretics of Dune_. The game is also based upon
  factional role-play. HereticsMUSH has found a new site
  and should be opening soon.

  -----------------------------
 4.1.3 RevenantMUSH takes place 1,000 years after
  _Chapterhouse: Dune_, the concluding novel of the
  series. The MUSH does not appear to be opening any
  time soon.

For information about multi-user games in general, readers are
directed to the rec.games.mud.* hierarchy.

---------------------------------------------

4.2 How do I make these MUSHes look right on my screen?

How to set your system up so that a MUSH looks reasonable can be a
tricky puzzle, and because there are so many different configurations,
I'll just give some quick tips:

 1. If you use a terminal program to dial an Internet account,
    emulate a vt100 if at all possible. You may have to play with
    your screen-wrap setting, as well. You'll know if you need it.
    Screen-wrap can also be controlled within some telnet's.
 2. Be sure your terminal setting matches your terminal. :)
 3. If you're using telnet, you'll find that other players' typing
    interferes with your typing, causing some strangeness on the
    screen. This is inevitable, and unfortunate. The only solution
    is a client program (see below)

The easiest way to defeat all screen problems is to compile a MUSH
client program to use instead of telnet. The tinyfugue client is
available by anon-ftp from glia.biostr.washington.edu,
/pub/tinyfugue. For more information about clients, read the MUD FAQ
in rec.games.mud.announce.

---------------------------------------------

4.3 Are there any PC games about Dune?

There are two readily available games for personal computers based
on _Dune_: Dune I and Dune II.
  -----------------------------
 4.3.1 Dune I

Dune I is a graphic adventure game based on both the book and the movie, 
in 
which players take the role of Paul. Here's a review:

   "Dune" is an adventure/strategy game for DOS computers, written by
   Cryo and published and distributed by Virgin Games.  There is a

_
                                                          

   version that ships on floppy disk and a version that ships on
   CD-ROM (recommended).  The game roughly follows the plot of the
   first "Dune" novel, though there are a number of plot twists which
   were introduced, presumably to let fans enjoy some unpredictability
   rather than plodding through a plot they already know by heart.
   For instance, rather than suffering the Betrayal, Duke Leto
   Atreides becomes angry and leads an expedition to attack the
   Harkonnens and is captured.

   As Paul Atreides, you must visit the Fremen sietches, gradually
   winning their trust and building a power base.  You must employ the
   Fremen to mine spice, allowing you to send regular shipments to the
   Emperor to satisfy his demands.  Excess spice can be used to buy
   equipment from smugglers.  Eventually you can train more and more
   Fremen as troops rather than as spice gatherers, and attack the
   Harkonnens, who land on Dune to challenge your authority.

   Dune contains elements of adventure games as well as strategy
   games.  The adventure game aspect: As Paul Atreides, you must visit
   many locations and talk to characters, asking them to do things or
   giving them objects to use.  The strategy aspect focuses on the
   world map, where you assign the Fremen to perform different tasks
   in different places -- at first by physically visiting the Fremen
   and giving orders, and later by making use of telepathy, a
   previously unknown gift of the Kwisatz Haderach.  :)

   Dune is an engrossing game.  The game play is continually
   interesting, with tidbits and new technology popping up now and
   then to renew interest.  The graphics are very good, with flights
   over a 3-D rendered sandscape as you fly about in your ornithopter.
   The soundtrack is great -- mesmerizing, played with weird
   instruments with a vaguely Arabic feel.  In the CD-ROM version, the
   pop-up heads of the characters (Duke Leto, Jessica, Gurney, Hawat,
   Chani, Stilgar...) are lip-synched to the audio of the characters
   talking to you.  Good audio, and there are touches of humor -- if
   you stand in the desert with Gurney and talk to him, and he has
   nothing important to say, he just says, "It's cooler inside, isn't
   it?"  A sound card is recommended and almost required.

Dune I is published by Virgin Games.
  -----------------------------
 4.3.2 Dune II
 
   Dune II is a very different type of game.  It is a real-time
   tactical strategy game, also for DOS computers.  The game was also
   ported to the Sega CD.  It was written by Westwood Studios (now
   owned by Virgin).  It is published and distributed by Virgin Games.
   You can play the Atreides, the Harkonnens or the Ordos, another
   noble family.  You start with a primitive military base and spice
   harvester equipment.  You have one opponent, situated across the
   map from you.  The map is colored black at the beginning and
   becomes visible as your troops move into the unknown areas of the
   board -- similar to "Empire" and all its descendents.

   Dune II's uniqueness lies in its real-time nature.  Unlike tactical
   strategy games that make use of turn-based play, Dune II is real
   time.  That is, if your tanks are fighting enemy tanks in the
   southwest corner of the map and you are viewing the battle closely
   in an effort to direct the battle, you may be neglecting the
   manufacture of replacement troops back at your base, or a worm may
   be eating one of your sandcrawlers up at the north end of the map.
   Just as in real life, you can only focus your attention on one
   thing at a time.

   After you finish the whole game there is still some replay value;
   you can switch to the two other families, which have other types of
   troops available.  After you play the noble Atreides, as all Dune
   fans surely will :), you can start over as the Harkonnens with
   their "Devastator" tanks, or as the Ordos with their special
   chemical weapon that brainwashes enemy troops into accepting your
   orders for a short time.

Dune II is published by Westwood Studios, distributed by Virgin Games.

Dune II: The Battle for Arrakis - Official FAQ by S.E.Pollitt is
available by e-mail from sepollit@teaching.cs.adelaide.edu.au or by
anonymous ftp from ftp.uwp.edu:/pub/msdos/games/romulus/hints.

---------------------------------------------

4.4 Are there any board games about Dune?

  -----------------------------
 4.4.1 Avalon Hill

Avalon Hill once made a board game called "Dune", which has since gone 
out of 
print in English (though a French language edition is still floating 
around), 
but old copies can sometimes still be found. It is reportedly quite 
enjoyable.


LINDERT@SARA.NL (Rick te Lindert) writes:
   Well, I own a French version, and it has a 1992 copyright. So my 
assumption

   is that it is new, and that there used to be no French version before 
'92. 
   The French game company is called Jeux Descartes, and its full 
address is:
        1, rue du Colonel Pierre Avia
        75503 Paris Cedex 15
   Noteworthy is the fact that the French version contains both modules 
(Duel 
   and Spice Harvest) that were separately issued for the original 
Avalon Hill

   version.
  -----------------------------
 4.4.2 Parker Bros.

Parker Bros. also released a Dune game. 
htonight!saint@galaxy.ucr.edu (Dean St.Antoine) writes:
   Dune Adventure game - by Parker Brothers (C)1984
   ================================================

   Object: To eliminate all enemy characters and be the only player to
   have at least one character remaining at the end of the game.  Use
   your Spice, Harvesters, Kanly cards, and Equipment cards to assist
   you in reaching this ultimate role.

   The game board represents the water-starved planet of Dune. The
   spaces that form the inner circle of the board represent the castle
   of the rulers of Dune. The spaces surrounding the outer walls of
   the castle represent the hazardous sand-covered terrain of Dune.

   Castle Spaces: Space Guild, Smuggler, Traitor, Bene Gesserit,
        Poison, Spice raid, and Training.

   Desert spaces: Sietch, Spice, Duel, Worm and Sand Storm.  

   All in all this board game is worth having if you are a true Dune
   fan. It's a 2 to 4 player game with players playing a 3 character
   group.

   1) Paul Atreides, Gurney Halleck, Duke Leto Atreides.
   2) Beast Rabban, Baron Harkonnen, Feyd-Rautha.
   3) Sardaukar Warrior, Princess Irulan, Emperor Shaddam IV.
   4) Dr. Kynes, Stilgar, Chani.
   
   The pieces are quite nice and have each person's picture in the
   middle. The spice is represented by the plastic pieces used in the
   game "Risk". The game is based on the motion picture _Dune_.  Pick
   this game up if you find one. :)

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5. Questions about sound recordings relating to Dune

---------------------------------------------

5.1 Are there any sound recordings relating to Dune?

  -----------------------------
 5.1.1 "Sandworms of Dune" by Frank Herbert (Caedmon CDL 51565,
  p1978). 1 2-track mono cassette.
  -----------------------------
 5.1.2 The soundtrack to the movie was apparently put out by
  Polydor, Production # 823 770. It has since been
  re-released in the US by the Collector's Pipeline on
  compact disc. ISBN 44807-00132 See also section 5.2
  for how to get it.
  -----------------------------
 5.1.3 "Dune - The Banquet Scene" by Frank Herbert.  Mono lp.
  Approx 60 minutes.  Read by the author.  late 1970's.
  -----------------------------
 5.1.4 "Battles of Dune" by Frank Herbert.  Mono lp, cassette.
  Approx 60 minutes.  Read by the author. Harper
  Classics. 1979, 1994.
  -----------------------------
 5.1.5 "God Emperor of Dune" by Frank Herbert. Cassette. Approx
  60 minutes. Read by the author. Harper Classics. 1994.
  -----------------------------
 5.1.6 "Heretics of Dune" by Frank Herbert. Cassette. Approx 60
  minutes. Read by the author. Harper Classics. 1994.
  -----------------------------
 5.1.7 "Exxos - Dune a Spice Opera" by CRYO Interactive.
  Published by Virgin Records Ltd. Disc contains some
  songs not in the game (total tracks=13, tracks in
  game=8, one game song has two versions, the Dune
  theme). Apparently deleted in July, 1994. Write to:
  EXXOS: CRYO Interactive, Exxos, 43, Rue de Rich-elieu, 
  75001, PARIS, FRANCE.
  -----------------------------
 5.1.8 "The DUNE Audio Collection" by Frank Herbert. 4
  Cassettes. Read by the author. Caedmon, an Imprint of
  Harper Audio. 1995. Contains "Battles of Dune",
  "Sandworms of Dune", "Dune: The Banquet Scene", and
  "The Truths of Dune: Fear is the Mind Killer". ISBN
  1-55994-957-0. Retails $25 U.S./$33.50 Canada.

---------------------------------------------

5.2 How can I get the movie soundtrack?

The soundtrack is now widely available in the US. Most, if not all,
resellers should be able to order the CD if it is not already on the
shelves. The distributor is the Collector's Pipeline.

 The elusive Dune CD is now available as an import CD from Germany.
 I got my copy from:
  Sound Track Album Retailers
  P.O. Box 487
  New Holland, PA  17557
  (717) 656-0121
 The cost is $20 (but this includes shipping).  Give 'em a
        call, they have plenty of copies.

The soundtrack has also been re-released in Canada:

Manufactured for PolyGram Records and distributed by PolyGram
Distribution, 6000 Cote de Le Liesse, St.Laurent, Quebec HAT 1E3.
Divisions of PolyGram Group Canada Inc.  It sells for about 16.99$
(Canadian dollars), so they say.


                                    
