Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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“Observe the plans within plans within plans.”

Dune by Frank Herbert

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For some reason, I’d never gotten around to reading Dune before now, in spite of it being wildly popular when I was in high school, a time when I was more inclined to read sci-fi/fantasy. Part of that popularity had to do with the release of the 1984 film starring Kyle McLachlan; in fact, I even have a personal story. When I was a freshman, I won third place in a Dune poster contest sponsored by Universal Pictures. The third-place prize was a t-shirt and a copy […]

Children of Dune – a worthy successor to the original novel

Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

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It has been probably over 30 years since I last read Children of Dune and I did not remember it being this complex or political. Of the first 3 books in the series, it is the one that is most focused on politics (yes, even more than Dune). The intrigues between Jessica and Duncan, between Alia and the twins, between the Preacher and Alia, basically everyone is scheming against everyone else. The religious subtext takes a backseat, with one notable exception, to the plotting of […]

Once, twice, and then I gave up

Dune by Frank Herbert

Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross

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I’ve watched the newest version of Dune a couple of times now and, so far, I’m enjoying it. I contemplated going back and finishing the book but, considering it has been years since I started reading it, it would make the most sense to start again from the beginning. If you have to talk yourself into reading something just to convince yourself “but this time, it will be worth it,” then maybe this book isn’t for you. Along with Dune, I’ve listed a few other […]

Like Everyone Else, I Read Dune

Dune by Frank Herbert

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Dune is the type of book that I appreciate more than I enjoy. I am glad I read it, certainly, and in many ways it exceeded my expectations. It is wildly inventive, and I was immersed in the interplanetary worlds Herbert creates. For a reader in 2021, Dune covers somewhat familiar ground with its narrative of a “chosen one” who undergoes training in order to take up leadership in a fight larger than he (or she) imagined. With a book this influential, it was difficult for […]

Late October

Empire of Necessity by Greg Grandin

Friday by Robert A Heinlein

The Late Mattia Pascal by Luigi Pirandello

Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

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Empire of Necessity – 5/5 Stars Grandin begins his book with a short retelling of the Herman Melville novella “Benito Cereno” about a slave rebellion on slaving vessel in 1799. In the novella, the ship is happened upon by another trade vessel where the captain Delano talks with Benito Cereno, the one surviving former crewmate, now held hostage in order to assure safe passage. Delano, not really seeing the Black crew and imprisoned slaves as capable of such a subterfuge, never really understands he’s being […]

Dune Messiah – a worthy successor to Dune

Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

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What happens after you conquer everything? This is a question i have always wondered about after hearing the story of Alexander the Great. Paul Atreides has won his war against the Harkonnens & the Emperor & his Fremen have brought their jihad to every corner of the known universe. Yet Paul is miserable.  This is partly due to his prescience which traps him as he sees the future unfold & he cannot see any way to escape it. He also sees his beloved Fremen move […]



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