Dune: Part Two is currently making its way to cinemas around the world. The film is repeatedly compared to the second Lord of the Rings film. Both sequels were enormously successful, maintained the quality of their celebrated predecessors, are based on literary epics and are said to be influential works that will shape an entire generation of film fans. Ironically, he was the creator of Middle-earth JRR Tolkien not a fan of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi series at all.
Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien found Dune unbearable
In Dune 2, Paul Atreides rebels against his planet’s oppressors and in the process gains the dangerous power of a dictator himself. Hobbit Frodo Baggins, on the other hand, is tempted by the mighty ring in the second Lord of the Rings part while his allies fight a battle against the evil forces of their world.
60 years ago, these two epic battles took place exclusively on the pages of two influential genre series. The Lord of the Rings book trilogy * was published in 1954/55, the first Dune novel * was published ten years later in 1965. As FandomWire pointed out, Tolkien didn’t have a good opinion of Frank Herbert’s Dune:
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In the 2019 book Tolkien’s Libary *, a footnote reveals: A fan named Sterling Lanier sent JRR Tolkien the book Dune in 1965 and the fantasy author decided to read the sci-fi novel on his next vacation. Tolkien wrote privately to his friend John Bush in 1966:
Thanks for sending me the copy of Dune. I already received one from Lanier last year, so I already know something about the book. It is impossible for a writer who is still writing to be fair to another writer who writes in the same style. At least that’s what I think.
In fact, I have an intense dislike for Dune. And in this unfortunate case, the best and fairest thing to do to another author is to remain silent and refuse to comment. Should I return the book since I already own one or pass it on?Lord of the Rings Similarities: Why Did Tolkien Hate Frank Herbert’s Dune?
JRR Tolkien acknowledged similarities between The Lord of the Rings and Dune by saying “in the same way” but did not want to make his dislike of Frank Herbert’s work public out of politeness. He didn’t write down exactly what his dissatisfaction with Dune was and that busy and frustrates fans for five years now.
Many speculate, for example on Reddit, that the two authors have completely different perspectives on religion had. It is quite possible that Herbert’s borrowings from Islam and Paul Atreides as a manipulative messiah figure displeased Tolkien as a devout Christian. While his own Gandalf resurrection brought a positive turn to the War of the Ring, Paul’s resurrection after drinking the Water of Life sows much suffering into his universe.
So that was what Tolkien and Herbert said Message of heroismmorals and hope one gloomy view of humanity opposite.
Podcast: The best sci-fi series
What were the best science fiction series since the beginning of the new millennium? In the podcast we present the 10 most brilliant genre representatives that every sci-fi fan should have seen.
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The 10 best sci-fi series of the last 24 years include brain-twisting time loops, oppressive dystopias, devastating robot wars and more than just a fantastic space epic.
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