Dune by Frank Herbert

I stumbled upon Dune completely by accident. A beautiful occasion, worthy of celebration. For some time, I was interested in stars until I almost enrolled to Astronomy. I was always tried - only tried, mind you - to memorize the name of the constellations and the stars that form them. I didn't succeed very well, though. But I can only remember the names, I cannot actually point to the sky and say, there, there the Ursa Major lies or something like that. My love to memorize those names is an extension of my fascination to mythologies. Some constellations are named with the characters from Greek mythology. For example, Cassiopeia and Andromeda. And then, I kept digging and found that the stars that form those constellations are named equally beautifully. To name few, Benetnash (the bleary-eyed one), Mekbuda, Diphda (the meaning, unfortunately, is not so pretty), and Arrakis. Arrakis is my personal favorite. I like it so much I named my Gardevoir Arrakis.

She is worthy of the name Arrakis!

And during Arrakis-Googling, I stumbled upon a Wikipedia page about Arrakis that is a fictional planet in Dune universe. I was like, "Oh, yeah, interesting" that time and filed it away for future use. Then, I got and started reading the first book in Dune series, titled Dune.

And holyshititisawesome!

Dune is an enthralling blend of science and the occult. The most impressive example of that is Bene Gesserit, a pseudo-religious order of women who have lots of magnificent and useful skills, such as modulating their tone to control others, regulate their metabolism, decide the sex of their children and whether they are conceive or not conceive - awesome! And the best skill of all - ability to detox any toxin that enters their bodies. CRAZY. They achieve those skills by disciplined hard training. The Bene Gesserit even planted seeds of pseudo-religion, a strategy they call as Missionaria Protectiva, to ensure that any Bene Gesserit can survive in even the most hostile of environment by exploiting the mythology and superstition planted there. It also has a record of their secret breeding program - something that every single Bene Gesserit invests their body and mind in. The series adaptations so far don't give the Bene Gesserit justice.

The David Lynch adaptation...

Sorry, but the Bene Gesserits are supposed to be educated and highly skilled courtesans! I am pretty sure that the target scope for bald, creepy-looking women in black is... quite... narrow. Ahem. And the TV series is equally awful as well...

OH MY GOD. The hat.

One glance at the parabola-like hat is enough to send anyone scurrying away, I guess. 

The best way to clothe the Bene Gesserits are, well... clothe them real glamorously, gorgeously, goddess-like! 

OK. Back to the track.

Herbert tried to make a believable theory of the melange (geriatric spice) production. He introduced a new life form, the most disgusting and terrifying creature ever that is possible to exist.

*traumatized for life

GOD. So... loathsome. So... bizarre. Yet, this creature holds a huge role in Dune universe. Herbert created a life cycle that is a bit messy for Dune sandworm (sometimes known as Shaitan, Maker, Shai-hulud). It, admittedly, makes sense and works well.

We have touched the nature aspect of Dune, and a bit of socio-political and religious aspect in the Bene Gesserit section. We shall delve further into the socio-politic and religion bit. 

It never ceases to wonder and confuse me that the movies set in the future mostly feature monarchy government system. In Star Wars, we have Emperor Palpatine. In Dune, we have the Padishah Emperor of the Golden Lion Throne. Padishah sounds badass, Golden Lion Throne? Kicking ass. I thought we view monarchy as lesser system than democracy, yet apparently we will institute it in the future. I wonder why. 

The oddest aspect in Dune is that no old religion left over. None. The existing ones are syncretic religion, such as Zensunni. One of the holy books is Orange Catholic Bible, the other one Book of Azhar. Herbert took a bit from every religion and incorporate them in his story. He borrowed very heavily from Islam. Examples? Book of Azhar, Shaitan, and Jihad. From Buddhism, he used the wise sayings and principles, while from Catholicism he borrowed and applied the structure of holy order to Bene Gesserit. He used some Jewish-sounding words as well, one of the example is Kwisatz Haderach. 

Herbert painted a cynical picture about messianism. He pointed out in Dune that a messiah can be prepared and messianism can be manipulated. 

...
A not so calming picture.

Luckily, Paul Atreides, the male protagonist of Dune, is capable to fulfill all the messianic checkpoints pretty well, thanks to rigorous Bene Gesserit training he had received since his childhood, the fighting and fencing training, and the story spread by the Missionaria Protectiva. Herbert tells us that a messiah can happen without any godly interference. A correct person in a correct place in a correct time can be a messiah, a savior. A concept that is a bit, well, worrying. 

Overall, Dune is a magnificent book with fine storytelling and meticulously constructed world. And I think the adaptation by David Lynch is a must watch since it has...

The creepiest kid. Ever. Yet she is soooo cute!

Meet St. Alia of the Knife, Paul Atreides' sister. Her birth is predicted accurately by Paul, her conception was out of love of Lady Jessica, their mother to her husband, Duke Leto Atreides. She has the MOST BADASS name. Separately, St. as a title is nice and comforting since it promises a place in heaven, while Alia is a beautiful name, and knife is, well... useful, tops. Combined? Total, pure badassery.

And it also has...

*choke on Coca Cola

How often can you see Sting in loincloth? 

じゃ、I really like Dune. Seven stars for it. Dune has many quote-worthy sentences, such as the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear. 

"I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing....only I will remain"

And some conversations are not meant to interpret just the way it is, a good example is when Paul is tested by Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam. I highly recommend Dune for sci-fi lover or anybody who likes reading a bit complicated story.

Source of pictures:

• http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff362/TheScoreBlogger/PDVD_405.jpg
• http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iqPAEGdVESw/maxresdefault.jpg 

Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen

The first Mick Stranahan book! Well... who is Mick Stranahan?
Mick Stranahan is an Irish ex-cop, ex-District-Attorney-employee, veteran of five marriages (all to waitresses) and numerous romances. After leading such turbulent and tumultuous life, it is no wonder that he wants a little peace at his very rustic house in a secluded area near the sea which is famously called Stiltsville Village.
But, one day, the peace was suddenly shattered when a hit man attacked Stranahan at his own house. A very unwelcome act, not to mention life-threatening, which was quickly remedied with a quick wit and reflexes and a cooperative marlin wall mount... Days after the incident, Stranahan's life quickly became more interesting with amazing speed.

I read this book after I read its sequel, Skinny Dip. It affects my enjoyment of the book only a little. This book is funny and hilarious too, with Hiaasen's standard fare - the environmentalists, nature's enemies, and a criminal case that pits those opposing sides against one another.

A very refreshing read. I recommend this book for the ones who want or need hearty laugh or just light reading.

A Red Herring Without Mustard

Seri/ Standalone? Buku ketiga dalam seri Flavia de Luce
Wujud buku: mass paperback
Dibeli di Periplus
Harga: Rp 17.500,00 (kalau tidak salah)

Ringkasan dari Amazon:

In the hamlet of Bishop’s Lacey, the insidiously clever and unflappable eleven-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce had asked a Gypsy woman to tell her fortune—never expecting to later stumble across the poor soul, bludgeoned almost to death in the wee hours in her own caravan. Was this an act of retribution by those convinced that the soothsayer abducted a local child years ago? Certainly Flavia understands the bliss of settling scores; revenge is a delightful pastime when one has two odious older sisters. But how could this crime be connected to the missing baby? As the red herrings pile up, Flavia must sort through clues fishy and foul to untangle dark deeds and dangerous secrets.

Finally, ada buku yang saya sukai yang didiskon (biasanya yang dibanting murahrahrah itu selalu buku yang tidak diminati >.<)
Saya sukaaa sekali seri Flavia de Luce karangan Alan Bradley. Kenapa? Karena heroine-nya, Flavia Sabina de Luce, yang tidak biasa dan setting-nya (Inggris pasca PD II - mirip buku Agatha Christie). 

Flavia Sabina de Luce. Namanya keren banget, nama yang sangat anggun untuk anak umur 11 tahun dan pemiliknya juga bisa membawakan diri sesuai dengan namanya. Flavia adalah anak yang tidak biasa karena hobinya adalah melakukan eksperimen kimia. Dia juga hafal reaksi-reaksi yang diperlukan untuk mensintesis sesuatu. Buat kita itu pembawa stres, buat dia itu pelepas stres. Really, the most unusual heroine. Hal lain yang saya senangi dari dia adalah kemampuannya menyembunyikan emosi.

Saya membaca buku ini dengan urutan yang salah, buku pertama dalam seri ini (The Sweetness at the Bottom of The Pie) saya baca pertama kali dengan sepintas, lalu langsung loncat ke buku ketiga yang sedang saya review ini, dan baru buku kedua (The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag). Hal ini sedikit berpengaruh pada kenikmatan membaca.

Cerita ini menarik dibaca sampai akhir, tidak menggoda saya buat langsung lompat dan melihat konklusinya. Ada sedikit sentuhan gipsi, tapi hal itu hanya sepintas saja, tidak diperdalam. Saya semakin kesal pada kedua kakak Flavia, Ophelia dan Daphne, yang terus-terusan membully Flavia. Di dalam buku ini, lagi-lagi kita disuguhi kecerdikan Flavia dalam mengorek informasi.

Di buku ini juga ada lagi aspek tentang Harriet, almarhumah ibu Flavia, yang dipaparkan kepada pembaca. Sebenarnya saya sampai sekarang masih bingung. Ayah Flavia bernama Haviland de Luce. Tarquin de Luce yang sebelumnya tinggal di kediaman keluarga de Luce adalah paman Harriet. Kediaman itu juga resminya milik Harriet. Jadi ayah dan ibu Flavia masih famili? Sama-sama de Luce? 

Yah, intinya ini buku yang worth it. Saya tidak menyesali waktu dan dana yang terbuang untuk membeli dan membacanya. 

Rating akhir 7/10

The picture

Sumber (semuanya diakses 8 Januari 2013):

• Gambar sampul: http://www.flaviadeluce.com/wpcms/wp-content/gallery/other/a-red-herring-without-mustard.jpg
• Gambar bola kristal: http://www.xconomy.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/2008/11/crystal-ball.jpg

Indulgence in Death

Judul: Indulgence in Death
Pengarang: J.D. Robb
Bahasa: Inggris
Tebal: 352 halaman
Format: paperback
Penerbit: Berkley
Seri/ standalone?: buku ke-31 dalam seri In Death
Harga: Rp30.000,00 (bekas)


Buku ke-31 dalam seri In Death ini seru >_<
Mengapa? Karena kasus pembunuhannya yang tidak biasa. Tidak biasa di mananya? Di metode pemilihan korban, karena korban sepertinya tidak memiliki kesamaan apapun. Begitulah.

Eve Dallas dan suaminya, Roarke, tetap menjadi satu tim yang solid. Dalam buku ini, pengarang seperti berusaha 'membela' Eve yang dikritisi karena pernikahannya dengan Roarke. Eh... Memang harus diakui kalau mereka jatuh cinta terlalu cepat dan terlalu mudah. Dalam kehidupan pernikahan juga Eve lebih banyak dibantu oleh Roarke. Eve itu lama-kelamaan jadi makin bergantung pada Roarke, sedangkan Roarke ya tetap Roarke. Kesannya, Eve memanfaatkan Roarke dan uangnya. Intinya, kalau Eve pergi Roarke tidak akan terlalu 'jatuh', sebaliknya dengan Eve. Pengarang berusaha menjelaskan bahwa Eve tidak pernah memanfaatkan Roarke dan hartanya. Eve mencintai Roarke apa adanya. Tetapi tetap saja harus diakui bahwa: 1.) Eve memang terasa memanfaatkan Roarke, harta, keterampilan, dan koneksinya dan 2.)Eve yang sekarang akan sangat kacau jika Roarke tidak ada, karena dia bergantung banyak pada suaminya itu. Tetapi. Eve tidak memanfaatkan dalam arti jelek seperti orang memanfaatkan orang lain yang habis manis sepah dibuang atau untuk keuntungannya sendiri. Eve itu meminta tolong, dan memang benar sih, kalau sumber daya yang ada tidak dimanfaatkan, kan sia-sia.

Dalam buku ini, kita diajak melihat mentalitas orang kaya yang sudah 'kelenger'. Sudah ngawur. Saking ngawurnya, manusia yang tidak sederajat dengannya alias tidak berdarah biru dianggap tidak pantas untuk diperhatikan. Apa sih maksudnya berdarah biru di Amerika? Maksudnya adalah turunan 'old money', pewaris usaha yang sudah berjalan turun-temurun. Hal yang mereka rasakan dan praktikkan itu jelas salah. Sangat salah. Kita harus selalu menganggap manusia sebagai manusia, bukan benda, seperti yang dikatakan oleh Nanny Ogg atau Esme Weatherwax dalam salah satu buku Discworld. Saat kita berhenti melihat manusia sebagai orang, melainkan sebagai barang, saat itulah kita harus waspada. 

Aspek psikologis dirajut J.D. Robb dengan baik. Motif masuk akal. Mengapa terjawab dengan baik. Bagaimana juga terjelaskan dengan sempurna. No plotholes, dan itu membuat saya senang :)

Interaksi Eve dengan aide-nya yang setia, Peabody, selalu menyenangkan untuk dibaca, seperti biasa. Interaksi Eve dengan Roarke yang penuh ejekan sayang dan ungkapan sayang yang eksplisit juga OK. Tapi ungkapan sayang atau ekspresi yang dipakai pengarang kadang-kadang terlalu romantis. Euh. Euh. Saya lebih suka baca saat mereka lagi lempar ejekan deh. 

Saya juga jadi mengerti bahwa tidak semua orang yang sama-sama berasal dari keluarga old money sama. Ada yang gila seperti yang tadi saya bahas. Ada yang menganggap housekeeper-nya sebagai saudara. Pada akhirnya, semua bergantung pada pribadi masing-masing. Terkadang, sifat orang tidak bisa diprediksi dari latar belakang dan didikannya.

Satu hal yang Eve - dan pada akhirnya, saya - pahami adalah pernikahan, atau hubungan romantis antar dua orang itu berbeda-beda. Ada aspek yang workable dalam satu hubungan yang tidak workable pada pasangan lain. Contoh ekstrim adalah pernikahan antara Louise DiMatto (dokter, old money sehingga berdarah biru) dengan Charles Monroe (mantan licensed companion). Eve yang awalnya selalu bingung bagaimana Louise dapat menerima profesi masa lalu Charles, akhirnya mengerti bahwa satu hal yang bisa menghancurkan satu pernikahan adakalanya dapat ditanggung oleh pernikahan lainnya. Saya kurang bisa menjelaskannya. Intinya, hal itu terangkum dalam kutipan ini

"A marriage is a private thing. It has its own wild laws, and secret histories, and savage acts, and what passes between married people is incomprehensible to outsiders." - Marya Morevna, Deathless 

Kita layak meluangkan sedikit waktu untuk membaca buku ini. 7/10 :)

And here is the relevant picture

Sumber gambar:
http://diesel-ebooks-cdn.make-a-store.com/mas_assets/image_cache/2/d/e/e/500x500_3010104_file.jpeg
http://storiesbywilliams.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/m9_bayonet.jpg