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This is great . As there are so many editions, does the one you're using start with "A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. This every sister of the Bene Gesserit knows. To begin your study of the life of Muad’Dib, then, take care that you first place him in his time: born in the 57th year of the Padishah Emperor, Shaddam IV. And take the most special care that you locate Muad’Dib in his place: the planet Arrakis. Do not be deceived by the fact that he was born on Caladan and lived his first fifteen years there. Arrakis, the planet known as Dune, is forever his place." ?

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Yes, my copy starts like this. Also posted on notes a while ago: https://substack.com/profile/132160690-alexander-ipfelkofer/note/c-40892855?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=26onua

Which of course is impossible to find, blasted Notes...

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I don't like the idea of tiny print

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Which is why my Kindle gets more and more use these days. Although, I love the smell of books in the morning, or any time of day!

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

There are far too many editions. There are also countless typos littering my 50th Anniversary Edition book, which is quite baffling. It's as though no-one actually proof read it.

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QA these days is a waste of money in the profit geared minds of the powers to be... let's see where that will get them... probably to the Bahamas! :-S

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Thank Shai Hulud for AI, it will set writing straight (again)!

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More than likely

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

How is that possible? What is happening to our culture? Even book publishers are illiterate!

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Oh well I shall buy one and hope for the best

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

You're gonna join us? We're not gonna read YOUR version. Just saying!

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Are u saying that your version does NOT start like that?😱

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author

I wager all editions start with the epigraph "A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. ..." Would be drastic to delete/omit them... then again. Who knows!

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Why does that sentence sound like I'm reading The Hobbit? What have you done to me?

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I feel like I have entered a borgesian labrynth

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

I'm reading Frank's version. Who's version are you reading?

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Nobody's. I downloaded a kindle sample of dune by Frank Herbert. I checked with Alexander if his one had the same beginning as mine, cos there are, at a rough estimate, 16 to the power of 719 versions out there. He said yes, and when I went to buy it it had disappeared. It's a scandal

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If I can find my copy!

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Ask Nathan, he wrote something about immersing it in the sand...

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He has Terry's copy? Maybe? Maybe not!

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Fingers crossed!!

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

I didn't know this version. Where did you find it, Terry? Should we contact Denis for his next film?

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It's irrelevant cos I haven't been able to find it again!

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

This was our chance to get discovered...

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By whom?👀

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author

Everyone! @Substack 😅

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Well I publicised it and you lot on my latest magnum opus, which was unleashed on the world 20minutes ago. But I could only include a link to Nathan's blurb cos the formatting kept going nuts

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

👇

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Just awoken from inside my stilltent to emerge from the sand. Great to see all of these sync-posted (<that's clearly a term Frank would have added to the appendix had Substack and email etc existed in his time).

Presently, the spice must flow. (And by spice, I mean some form of caffeine.)

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Presently! :) It is indeed a treat to see all four posts lined up in my what-to-read next feed! A quadfecta!

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Are you drinking coffee again? 😱

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

No, no, hehe. Still drinking matcha in the morning, which contains a morsel of caffeine.

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You didn't have Javanese coffee while in Bali either? 😯

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Nope. Long story.

Well, we did go on one trip that including a coffee plantation and I allowed myself a few sips of some. Very good.

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😲 yep veery good. Wife brought back some superb beans. Hence my per day melange consumption is higher than usual 🫘

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Nov 13, 2023·edited Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

I long for such comsumption and the induced creativity 😋

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Nov 13, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Make it two morsels. It's strong. But well done starting the day with greens.

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Tried to read Dune many moons ago but struggled with it and gave up. This might give me the impetus to give it another go 🤔

However, it should be noted, I am a notoriously slow reader, so in two weeks I might get to about 20 pages rather than 200 😳

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There's also the audiobook. I did record the first chapter, too but... haven't edited it. Do join us anyway, no matter the speed. More people, more spice! 😁

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

I'm also very slow, but I feel it helps me if I know there's a defined goal and target.

But no worries if you don't make it through to that point. The posts will always be there to come back to. There's also always the audiobook, as mentioned.

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I remember the first time I read Lord of the Rings, I figured to save time I didn’t have to read Fellowship as I’d already watched the Ralph Bakshi cartoon. I soon learned from that mistake 😁

Despite watching both the 84 and 2021 movies, I’m certainly interested in giving the book another shot. Going to get my copy tomorrow and will see how it goes 👍🏼

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Awesome! So glad you join us. And I, too, saw the Ralph Bakshi LotR film but at that point I had already read the book. I think The Hobbit is the book I have re´read the most, mostly aloud, for my son. :D

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The Hobbit is great. It’s still my go to book when things are grim and it always cheers me up 🙂

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And to think he only wrote it for his kids initially! :)

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Fantastic! Happy to hear.

Whilst I'm here, your latest post is lined up for a read very soon :) I always feel a bit bad when something goes out from my Substack before I've gotten to all the reads in my inbox from the authors I follow. Which all is to say: I savour reading your posts, David, and look forward to doing so when I know I have some uninterrupted time.

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No problem at all, Nathan. I always really appreciate you taking the time to read my posts so look forward to hearing your thoughts when you get the chance 👍🏼

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Same goes for me! I can be a slowpoke. But I have it saved! No big Iron Maiden fan, though.

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No worries, Alexander. Maiden get a brief mention, but too much 😁

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

You have 4 weeks. Just saying.

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40 pages it is then! 😁

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

😅 You're going to be behind your melange quota and master Alexander will get upset.

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Once started, I wager the Spice will flow fast! 😁 Even faster!

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Bahaha. What virtual punishment will Alexander enact?!

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I shall expose non-compliant eyeballs to nonstop Prince of Space screening! >|->

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Nov 12, 2023·edited Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Why did you have to ask? Now he has a punishment prepared... 👇

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

😅😅

(I've never heard of Prince of Space. I'm not going to go out of my way to find out how bad it is...)

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Dune is a Sci-Fi novel of its time, and a massively great taking the tropes of that era and spinning the off to its own universe. I am interested to see what you do with it.

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Thanks, Stirling! Yes, indeed. It will be an exciting challenge and all four of us have a different focus, which hopefully will make for an interesting and fun read!

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

So excited, Alexander, to fulfil my melange quota on this collaboration!

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Oh, I am sure you will do so much more! Sooooo much more! The path is set, we must walk it. The Spice Must Flow. 😁

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

I'm getting scared!

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House Atreides always pays its debts... no wait... wrong page. ;)

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Alexander Ipfelkofer

Lolol, you know ... I do think there's quite a few points where I've thought "Oh, George certainly took a little bit of this for ASoIaF" 😅

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Intertextually :) Yes, all texts are created from the same soup!

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