Today, we bring you another great website that helps make the Middle-Earth Network great.  Join me as we go outside the known universe, far into the future of the human race.   Join me as we travel to the sands of Arakis, better known to most as Dune.

Viking:  You’ve got the start of a very comprehensive site for the Dune universe. How did you get started in Herbert’s world? And what prompted you to start the website?

Beror:  My dad introduced me to the books about two years ago, I was looking for a book to use for a book report in 8th grade, and dad had suggested the books to me. It took me almost two years to read all the books, I had started to read them so much that it started to get boring, so I moved on to other series. When I did finish the books Brian and kevin went and wrote the first book to yet another prequal trilogy, which I still have yet to read. After I finished Sandworms of Dune I wanted to some how get Dune out there, very few teenagers have heard about the books and still hardley any about the mini series and/or movie. It started out as just an informational site, I realy had no idea what I wanted but so much could be done with Dune, ideas came nonstop. I want the site to be informational as well as fun, how its going to turn out is just a guess at this point.

Viking:  I’ve been curious about the novels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. Do you know anything about how they were originally conceived and developed?

Beror:  From what I can gather Brian and Kevin have been writing these books based on the notes of Frank. Frank had talked little about the Dune books that he wanted to write most specifically the Butlerian Jihad Era, which would be the first three books in chronological order. The last two books to the series, Hunters, and Sandworms of Dune, were written after notes that were hidden for two decades after Franks death, were found. It was sad when I found people unhappy with Brians and Kevins writting, they were unhappy with the “hackjob” they did with the Sandworms of Dune. I like both father and son but as a person who likes more action in the reading, Brians work is favored by me.

Viking:  Do you have a favorite novel from the series, or character?

Beror:  Uh, oh boy this question. With all books I have a favorite character, but deciding which one it is, is hard. I think it would have to be Xavier Harkonnen from the first two books, Butlerian Jihad and Machine Crusade. In the beginning of the first book hes pictured as this succesful, young, man who advances through military ranks quickley, who has a beautiful girlfriend. After an attack from the thinking machines, marries Serena Butler. When she goes missing he keeps looking for her, for about a year this search goes on. With the assumption of Serena being dead, out of distraught and as well as a politcal move marries Serenas younger sister Octa. Later after Serena comes home, Xavier finds his unknown son dead. In the Machine Crusade he is a colored veteran. Xavier after a quite a bit of a decision sacrifices his life and reputation to eliminate the corrupt Iblis Ginjo, the Grand Patriarch of the jihad. Iblis is revered as a martyr, and Xavier a traitor.
People are always suprised I chose a Harkonnen, because of the Atreides and Harkonnen fued, which started with Xaviers death. After his death his grandson, Abulurd, pleads Vorian Atreides, Xaviers closes friend, to help clear his name. After Abulurds act during operations is viewed as traitorous, Vorian does not help Abulurd clear Xaviers name, which stirs the hatred for their Atreides, although the reason for the fued is lost through the centuries the hatred between the two houses continues.

Viking:  What do you think of the different film interpretations of Dune?

Beror:  I never liked David Lynch’s version, even though I have never seen it, I can tell from what ive seen and from what ive heard it was not all that close to the book, which is why I cringed at the thought of it being redone, recent news had it that someone was going to do a redo of it for 2014 but was cancelled for reasons unkown to me. The 2000 mini series however were closer to the books. The Children of Dune which continued the Dune mini series was close to the books as well, except the fact that Leto and Gahnima were supposed to be 9 instead of 18. I think my favorite part of the mini series, was the interpretation of Gurney Halleck.

Viking:  You’ve mentioned the idea of forming a Landsraad. Have you formed any ideas of what this might entail?

Beror:  The idea of a Landsdraad is probably one of the best ideas ive had for the site. In the books the landsdraad is a political meeting of the houses, these happend during the Corrino empire as well as the Atreides but was less important when Paul came to rule the empire.
Anyhow back to the use of it for the site. It would be a time to discuss things for the site as well as debate and talk anything Dune. It would start in chat and could go farther later.

Viking:  Finally, have you given any thought to the possibility of creating a Dune centered podcast to compliment your blog?

Beror:  This would extend from your last question. I have thought about it, but as this would require a lot of research and time it wouldn’t happen for some time. School puts a halt on things, and with the death of my computer I have been using my moms which also makes things difficult. There is very little going on with Dune except maybe Brians next prequal trilogy so there would be very little news to report, but there would be plenty to debate about such as space travel before during and after the Butlerian Jihad. Although it would be hard to get together, its something that I still consider, it would certanly be something to contribute to My Middle-Earth.

I hope that you enjoyed getting to know Beror and his love of Dune as much as I did.  I you are interested in helping to make Dune accessible to future generations and to engage in discussion about the world Frank Herbert created please contact Beror and myself and help get the ball rolling.