Slashdot Mirror


Coup in Arrakis Capitol Leaves Region in Flux

Rube_Goldberg_Mentat writes: The power struggles between rival houses Atreides and Harkonnen have come to a T. It was reported earlier today that a coup led by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen was staged in the capitol of Arrakis. The House Atreides, which had only recently taken command of the planet and of the spice trade, is reported to have no survivors, though this is yet to be confirmed.Naysayers fear a collapse of the spice economy as a result of the violence. A r presentative from House Harkonnen has shared with the press that though times ahead may be rocky, "the spice will still flow."

76 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. I, for one, by Overzeetop · · Score: 5, Insightful

    would prefer if we could just bring back OMG Ponies and call it a day.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    1. Re:I, for one, by damn_registrars · · Score: 1

      I would moderate you up if I could. This is worse than not doing anything.

      --
      Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    2. Re:I, for one, by dwillden · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And I for one, welcome our new Lame Aprils Fools day joke overlords!

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    3. Re:I, for one, by MiniMike · · Score: 2

      It's so bad today that people are actually asking for reposts...

    4. Re:I, for one, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I, for one, have precisely finished today the third book of Dune series(*). It's been kind a prescient event: perhaps I saw the news and then I read the books. It just I'm confused about the time span.

      (*) really!

    5. Re:I, for one, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Oh lighten up, people!

    6. Re:I, for one, by LaurenCates · · Score: 1

      Good on ya, mate. I got lost somewhere in the third and never picked it back up again.

      I consider hanging in there an achievement.

      --
      Some people don't believe in fairies. I don't believe in The Patriarchy.
    7. Re:I, for one, by AntiSol · · Score: 2

      You're missing out, IMHO books 4-6 are the best ones. My favourite is book 5 (Heretics).

      (In case you were wondering, there are only 6 Dune books. It's a pity it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it's probably better than the alternative of somebody screwing it up royally with hack writing and trying to tie it into their own series)

    8. Re:I, for one, by LaurenCates · · Score: 1

      I would agree that I'm probably missing out (I knew about the other three and the other books by Kevin J. Anderson, which killed any curiosity I had about those books). I don't really have the attention span for books anymore unless I have someone to discuss them with; kind of the same way many people have workout partners.

      The last book I read was "Song of Spider-Man" (about the backstage shenanigans with "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark"), because I knew it would get traction at dinner discussions with friends. But mostly, we talk TV and movies.

      I really need to start a sci-fi book club.

      --
      Some people don't believe in fairies. I don't believe in The Patriarchy.
    9. Re:I, for one, by AntiSol · · Score: 1

      I know what you mean, I'm in much the same situation - I read a whole lot less than I used to. My excuse is that I spend lots of time reading for work. But it is mostly just an excuse, truth is that re-watchinig Babylon 5 DVDs is easier. Luckily I got through the Dune series when I was young.

      I could talk at great length about books 4-6, and why they're better than books 1-3, but I would hate to spoil anything. All I will say is: don't expect book 4 to be set immediately after book 3, there's a 3500 year gap, and likewise a 1500 year gap between books 4 and 5. If book 4 is difficult, stick with it, it pays off IMHO. Though I have heard that some people despise it. It's a unique book, perhaps a love-it or hate-it affair. Apparently the first draft was written largely in the first person. I'm sure that book 4 was written in the period when Frank Herbert had a big stash of the best LSD ever. But book 5 is awesome and 6 is a worthy sequel to it. Don't mind the cliffhanger, it just gives you something to think about.

      I periodically think about joining a book club. This usually culminates in watching more B5. ;)

      I did manage to get totally sucked into Blindsight by Peter Watts (full text available free online) recently, based on a recommendation here on slashdot. Read it in one mammoth sitting. Hard sci-fi + vampires = win.

    10. Re:I, for one, by LaurenCates · · Score: 1

      Wow, thanks for the recommendation! I think I need to check that out.

      --
      Some people don't believe in fairies. I don't believe in The Patriarchy.
  2. I'll say it again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I knew this was going to happen. I've been telling my friends in the spice trade for years to get out before someone invades Arrakis. We have determine a new method of intersteller travel depending on a single planet for our primary source of fuel is a non sustainable solution which wil lead us to our doom.

    1. Re:I'll say it again by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Who knew that legalization in Colorado would cause a catastrophic drop in the spice price, condemning Arrakis to widespread terrorism and civil war?

    2. Re:I'll say it again by Sarius64 · · Score: 1

      Willie Nelson Spice. The brand that ignores taxes. :)

    3. Re:I'll say it again by guises · · Score: 1

      If you weren't already at +5 I'd have modded you up for being the only one posting something on-topic, as opposed to just more complaining.

  3. Not clever by INeededALogin · · Score: 1

    Taking fictional events and promoting them as real events hardly qualifies as a good joke.

    1. Re:Not clever by decipher_saint · · Score: 5, Funny

      Spoken by someone who isn't heavily invested in Spice commodities

      My question is will this have an impact on shipping immediately or do we have enough reserve to keep the navigators going?

      --
      crazy dynamite monkey
    2. Re:Not clever by Crashmarik · · Score: 3, Funny

      You're obviously a Harkonen fifth columnist.

    3. Re:Not clever by o'reor · · Score: 1

      Still makes him/her a columnist.

      --
      In Soviet Russia, our new overlords are belong to all your base.
    4. Re:Not clever by MachDelta · · Score: 1

      I forget... is that better or worse than a blogger?

  4. 13 prequels/sequels explain all in gory detail by peter303 · · Score: 2

    Son Brian Herbert and scifi hack Kevin Anderson wrote at least 10,000 pages filling in most of the gaps in the story, including the origins of the two families. Kind of takes the fun out of it when it is all explained to you.

    1. Re:13 prequels/sequels explain all in gory detail by xevioso · · Score: 1

      I tried reading one of these. They were horrible; I couldn't get through the first one.

    2. Re: 13 prequels/sequels explain all in gory detail by peter303 · · Score: 1

      I usually just read the sequels once. There is little clever subtly like in Frank's volumes which I have read several times.

  5. Give it up editors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The stories aren't funny. Notice how your traffic drops on April 1st?

  6. Jumping the Shark by borcharc · · Score: 1

    April fools jumped the shark years ago and hasn't figured it out. It is really sad to watch.

    1. Re:Jumping the Shark by r1348 · · Score: 1

      I'd say it rode the worm...

  7. Worse than Beta? by dstyle5 · · Score: 2

    Whoa, lets not get carried away now. ;) While this "joke" post is terrible, it probably won't make me consider never coming here again, which the Beta did.

  8. April Fools by DarkOx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have always enjoyed April fools on Slashdot. Many have complained but in past years at least some of the gags were plausible or at least clever, like the evil bit drafted up as an RFC etc.

    Today its basically bad fanfic, which does not really qualify as an April fool's prank. Its like watching a bunch of 3rd graders who think they have mastered stand up comedy tell fart jokes.

    --
    Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    1. Re:April Fools by americanpossum · · Score: 1

      Same here. I started reading Slashdot back when I was in high school back in the 90s, and I'm pretty sure that even back then, I could have come up with better gags then the ones that are being posted today.

      Oh well, I'll come back tomorrow for the reviews of all of the other tech sites' April Fool's jokes to see if there's anything that I missed...

  9. Request: enable april fools button in profile by CptJeanLuc · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Assuming Slashdot sees its target audience as on average at least moderately intelligent, it would be nice to give us a way to opt in (or at least opt out) to the whole April Fools mess. Some of us come here to browse some hopefully interesting stuff. If the reaction of your online audience is mainly "oh [insert favoured deity here], not those 2-3 days on Slashdot again", maybe you are going about this the wrong way.

  10. It occurs to me...it's ALMOST ponies by Overzeetop · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, they are beating a dead horse at this point. We can imagine that the horse is pink.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    1. Re:It occurs to me...it's ALMOST ponies by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 2

      And if the horse is part of the null set, I can say with confidence that it is also a pony and pink. Or at least that is what I was lead to believe by one of my math professors in college.

      --
      Time to offend someone
    2. Re:It occurs to me...it's ALMOST ponies by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2

      We can imagine that the horse is pink.

      It depends on how long you cook it. Horses ordered "rare" are still a bit bloody inside, "medium" are pink, but "well-done" are greyish.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  11. I wonder how badly their web traffic drops by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Seriously Slashdot. Give it up. You're not funny. If you want to keep this bullshit tradition going hire actual comedians or give us real news.

  12. Oh, right, they expect us to believe that? by pla · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pffft, Any fool can tell that Harkonnen doesn't have the cunning to pull this off on their own.

    Open your eyes, sheeple! This has the marks of those Bene Gesserit witches all over it!

    1. Re:Oh, right, they expect us to believe that? by Kabukiwookie · · Score: 1

      You tinfoil hatters disgust me. When something bad happens, it's always a Emperial plot here, Bene Gesserit there. Why don't you just accept that the most plausible reason for this can be explained with short term greed and house rivalry.

      --
      The mountains of madness have many little plateaus of sanity - Terry Pratchett.
    2. Re:Oh, right, they expect us to believe that? by Slizzo · · Score: 1

      Oh come on, this totally has the Emporer's grubby little fingers all over it. I mean, his Sardaukar have been spotted all over Arrakeen!

    3. Re:Oh, right, they expect us to believe that? by Sardaukar86 · · Score: 1

      No, no, those are Harkonnen soldiers, yes definitely Harkonnen, nothing to see here, please move along..

      --
      ..Mullah or Pope, Preacher or Poet, who was it wrote: "Give any one species too much rope and they'll fuck it up"?
  13. Time for a poll by rossdee · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you could remove a day from the calendar, which would it be?

    April 1st

    April 15th

    February 14th

    October 31st

    December 25th

    The 1st Tuesday in November on a leap year

    Your birthday

    Cowboy Neal's birthday

  14. Revered author Brian Herbert found dead. by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

    The revered author Brian Herbert has been found dead in his home.

    There are no plans for anybody to continue his writing projects.

  15. April Fools Whiners by Scottingham · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Bitching about how April fools this year is the WORST ever, and that it has jumped the shark has become a /. staple.

    Though, I don't think anything (not even OMG Ponies!) could top Beta as a joke.

    Seriously though people, who shat on your lawn this morning?

  16. Sardaukar Not Involved by blackfeltfedora · · Score: 3, Funny

    Imperial spokesman again denied that Sardaukar were involved in the upheaval on Arrakis. "This was a struggle between two competing Houses, we would never become involved in their internal disputes."

    1. Re:Sardaukar Not Involved by Newander · · Score: 1

      Arrakeen was an inside job!

      --

      Jesus saves and takes half damage.

  17. The Beer must flow by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

    Schmai-gunug be willing, steak for dinner sometime soon.

  18. Letter from the Spacing Guild by Rabbit327 · · Score: 2

    Just got this letter from my Guild representative: "Greetings investors and customers The Spacing Guild would like to inform our customers that due to the recent events on Arrakis there will be a 25% surcharge on all spice shipments and travel arrangements until the political stability on Arrakis has improved. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and would like to assure you that your shipments of spice will be on time. Our navigators are hard at work making sure that your intergalactic travel and shipping needs are met. Office of the Director of House Relations The Spacing Guild"

    --
    Never trust a bunny
  19. Re:this isnt even funny by ralphsiegler · · Score: 1

    Go ahead, but you know the Harkonnen's preferences yes?

  20. You almost had me! by sootman · · Score: 1

    They included a typo in the summary for extra authenticity. "A r presentative from..."

    But yeah, thanks for the reminder that it's "don't bother to visit Slashdot" day.

    --
    Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
    1. Re:You almost had me! by jeremyp · · Score: 2

      Two typos then. I'm pretty sure they meant the "capital of Arrakis".

      --
      All I want is a secure system where it's easy to do anything I want. Is that too much to ask ~~ Randall Munroe
  21. Re:Done. by almitydave · · Score: 1

    I'm done. I'll come back tomorrow. Laters...

    Yeah, me too - I'm so dune with this nonsense.

    --
    my, your, his/her/its, our, your, their
    I'm, you're, he's/she's/it's, we're, you're, they're
  22. Please get it right! by dpilot · · Score: 1

    If you're going do a nerd joke on April 1st, know your material even a little bit better. I read Dune over 30 years ago in college, and I can remember that the capitol of Arrakis is Arrakeen. Even 54 comments later that little factiod hasn't made it anywhere onto the page.

    --
    The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
  23. Imperial Announcement by Emperor+Shaddam+IV · · Score: 2

    I deny my Sardaukar legions had anything to do with this! This was an unsanctioned action by the Baron and I will personally visit Arrakis to take control!

    1. Re:Imperial Announcement by Sardaukar86 · · Score: 1

      The Emperor speaks the truth!

      (our weapons only make his words more truthy)

      --
      ..Mullah or Pope, Preacher or Poet, who was it wrote: "Give any one species too much rope and they'll fuck it up"?
  24. I really, really hate April Fool's day. by rnturn · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Everyone with access to the internet thinks they're a comedian. Now it looks like it's "Post Something Based On A Science Fiction Novel Day". Great...

    --
    CUR ALLOC 20195.....5804M
  25. spoiler alert by zenray · · Score: 1

    Damm it. Where is the spoiler alert when you need one! I just started re-reading the DUNE books and now the plot is ruined for me.

    zenray

    --
    zenray
  26. Re:Capitol? by jeremyp · · Score: 1

    I've noticed people making this spelling mistaek a lot recently. A capitol is a legislative building, frequently found in capital cities.

    --
    All I want is a secure system where it's easy to do anything I want. Is that too much to ask ~~ Randall Munroe
  27. One more thing... by redwraith94 · · Score: 1

    Now if someone would just upgrade our damn shields! These knife-wielding-terrorists are making it hard for us to spread peace, and harmony throughout the world *ahem* galaxy!

    --
    I art more snarky, and terse than thou. I art Slashdot!
  28. Re:Help House Atredies by redwraith94 · · Score: 1

    Why does he look like a Ferengi?

    --
    I art more snarky, and terse than thou. I art Slashdot!
  29. LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS! by Erbo · · Score: 1

    We will fight until no Harkonnen breathes Arrakeen air!

    --
    Be who you are...and be it in style!
  30. The Spice Drips Down by JimSadler · · Score: 1

    So that is what trickle down economics is all about. I'll stand in my lawn and wait for a 200 ton worm to pass over dripping spice and i must capture that falling spice and sell it elsewhere. Only in such a world could Ronald Raygun be right.

  31. Re:Never read the book, but by Blaskowicz · · Score: 1

    It is about impossible to condense a dense 700-something page book into a two hour movie.
    I started with the video game (which I played silent! VGA PC with PC speaker) and then the book, and saw the movie years later. The video game is somewhat more faithful, it takes you days/weeks to move the story through. (movie feels like Duke Leto gets killed right away)

    So, I'm not pissed at the movie like many people are.

  32. Re:Never read the book, but by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    If you, as a director and/or screenwriter, cannot get across the character's thoughts through action and expression, but have to resort to voice overs instead, you've really failed your medium.

    Why doesn't the same apply to the books? There are "voiceovers" throughout.

    I'd much rather have Dune's voiceovers that have to be subjected to an "as you know" speech.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  33. Bene Gesserit witches all over... ME! by Dareth · · Score: 1

    Hey, Bene Gesserit witches are so HOT!!!

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
  34. This sucks by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

    I'm not sure which is worse, stuff like this on Slashdot, or the fact that my workday is slow enough to drive me to Slashdot on the worst day of the year!

    --
    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
  35. Re:Never read the book, but by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

    Because books are a different medium. They're not visual like movies, except for what you picture in your head. Books lends themselves better to having characters' thoughts heard, because books can be written in third person or "God" mode, among others, but expressions and actions are only described, not seen.

    --

    Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
  36. Re:Never read the book, but by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

    You're going to miss some stuff, sure, but it's been done. A few of the Harry Potter movies did just that (several were over 700 pages) and they were pretty well done. Even Lord of the Rings, though okay, they were maybe shorter (I don't recall exactly). Gandalf, and Frodo and Boromir had things going through their heads, but they didn't require a voice over to get those across to the audience. That said, Gollum sort of cheated by being schizo and talking to himself, but that was excusable because he's stone freaking nuts.

    --

    Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
  37. WMD's by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    The're still looking for the house atomics...

    Meanwhile they'll take over spice production...

  38. Re:Never read the book, but by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    Because books are a different medium.

    That doesn't explain why you think* it's okay to present a person's inner thoughts on paper, but not on film.

    *not that there's anything wrong with thinking that, but your wording implies that you think it's an objective truth.

    because books can be written in third person or "God" mode

    And films are (usually) shot in third person or "God" mode, so what's the difference there?

    In case I wasn't clear (I hadn't realised you haven't read the books before) I was specifically talking about the Dune books when I mentioned literary inner thoughts. They're in there, just like they are in the film, and they're integral to understanding the characters. There's no way you could convey their meaning with a bit of "smell the fart" acting.

    but expressions and actions are only described, not seen.

    I don't see how that has any bearing on the portroyal of inner thoughts. In books, they're written down. In films, they're spoken. I don't see why one should be inherently better than the other.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  39. Re:Never read the book, but by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

    Well, name any other big ticket movie where you actually hear the character's thoughts as a voice over (disembodied ObiWan doesn't count, special circumstance there, he's a ghost) and constantly throughout the entire movie, at that. Not as narration either, that too is different, that's story telling, not actually hearing inside someone's head in real time. The only other place I ever see that happen is in comedy, like SNL.

    --

    Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
  40. Dune Remastered by ASimPerson · · Score: 1

    Here's a trailer for the upcoming remaster of the 80's Dune film, completely with a new soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B6jgkcANRE

    --
    In 3010, the potatoes triumphed
  41. Re:Never read the book, but by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    Well, name any other big ticket movie where you actually hear the character's thoughts as a voice over

    What would that prove, either way? Does that mean something like Memento (which, incidentally, opens with a scene "narrated" by the character's real-time inner thoughts) "fails the medium" because no other film shares its structure?

    Dune's quite a unique film.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  42. Re:Never read the book, but by Sardaukar86 · · Score: 1

    Fight Club springs to mind, but it's been a while so I may have misremembered.

    I am Jack's lack of surprise

    --
    ..Mullah or Pope, Preacher or Poet, who was it wrote: "Give any one species too much rope and they'll fuck it up"?
  43. Re:Never read the book, but by Sardaukar86 · · Score: 1

    Dune's quite a unique film.

    Not trying to stir trouble or take sides but I have to agree with you. I actually really liked the voiceovers! I know I'll be laughed off /. for saying so, but Lynch's Dune is still my favourite movie. :)

    --
    ..Mullah or Pope, Preacher or Poet, who was it wrote: "Give any one species too much rope and they'll fuck it up"?
  44. Re:Never read the book, but by AntiSol · · Score: 1

    I agree with you that there was nothing wrong with the voiceovers of those thoughts in the film. Just because it's seen of as tacky or whatever my many filmmakers doesn't mean it's not effective. Those thoughts are necessary to knowing the characters. And it should be noted that compared with the book, the voiceovers in the film are actually quite minimal - the books spend more time listening to people's inner thoughts than to what they say.

    You'll note, however, that I haven't said it was a good adaptation. I wonder if Jorodowsky's adaptation would have been better or worse. The sci-fi channel somehow managed to do both a better and worse job at it.

  45. Re:Never read the book, but by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    I never said I liked it...

    I do, though.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  46. Re:Never read the book, but by Sardaukar86 · · Score: 1

    Sorry, you're quite right, I really meant to say "I have to agree with you, it's a unique film alright". Didn't mean to put words in your mouth there good Sir. :)

    --
    ..Mullah or Pope, Preacher or Poet, who was it wrote: "Give any one species too much rope and they'll fuck it up"?