Comments on: Norstrilia and Dune http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/norstrilia-and-dune.html About his science fiction and his life, run by his daughter Rosana Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: B. D. L. http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/norstrilia-and-dune.html/comment-page-1#comment-770 B. D. L. Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:56:39 +0000 http://cordwainer.your-kitchen-shop.com/blog/?p=34#comment-770 The similarities between the two authors seems more than a coincidence. You have ornithopters, giant, mutated animals that create an immorality drug, an elite group trying to plan humanities’ destiny, coming of age ritualized tests, genetically engineered “people”, space pilots who navigate through other dimensions with their minds, ancient machines that try to destroy men. . . . And I could continue. I can’t believe that Herbert was not knowingly drawing from Smith. Alan C. Elms’ statement about the second part of Nostrilia not being published until after Dune is not particularly telling since Smith mentioned Stroon and the sheep in earlier stories. It is interesting that Herbert complained about Star Wars robbing story elements from Dune. I don’t mind that Herbert took key elements from Smith, but I think fans of both authors need to be honest about it. The similarities between the two authors seems more than a coincidence. You have ornithopters, giant, mutated animals that create an immorality drug, an elite group trying to plan humanities’ destiny, coming of age ritualized tests, genetically engineered “people”, space pilots who navigate through other dimensions with their minds, ancient machines that try to destroy men. . . . And I could continue. I can’t believe that Herbert was not knowingly drawing from Smith. Alan C. Elms’ statement about the second part of Nostrilia not being published until after Dune is not particularly telling since Smith mentioned Stroon and the sheep in earlier stories. It is interesting that Herbert complained about Star Wars robbing story elements from Dune. I don’t mind that Herbert took key elements from Smith, but I think fans of both authors need to be honest about it.

]]> By: Omphalos http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/norstrilia-and-dune.html/comment-page-1#comment-226 Omphalos Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:08:44 +0000 http://cordwainer.your-kitchen-shop.com/blog/?p=34#comment-226 I have always seen a pretty striking similarity. Here is a link to a review I wrote of Norstrilia I wrote some time ago. I comment on the similarity in the first paragraph: http://www.omphalosbookreviews.com/index.php/reviews/info/35 I have always seen a pretty striking similarity. Here is a link to a review I wrote of Norstrilia I wrote some time ago. I comment on the similarity in the first paragraph:

http://www.omphalosbookreviews.com/index.php/reviews/info/35

]]> By: Robert W. Franson http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/norstrilia-and-dune.html/comment-page-1#comment-46 Robert W. Franson Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:32:06 +0000 http://cordwainer.your-kitchen-shop.com/blog/?p=34#comment-46 Yes the similarities between Norstrilia and Dune are striking; but perhaps the differences are more illuminating. Dune seems a far-future version of the desert-prophet religious revolutions, whereas Norstrilia seems based on extrapolations from today's world. Thus Dune is striking through its stark setting and harsh politics; but Norstrilia is striking through the daring reasonableness of its extrapolations. For all its weirdness, Norstrilia feels more real and more likely. Yes the similarities between Norstrilia and Dune are striking; but perhaps the differences are more illuminating. Dune seems a far-future version of the desert-prophet religious revolutions, whereas Norstrilia seems based on extrapolations from today’s world. Thus Dune is striking through its stark setting and harsh politics; but Norstrilia is striking through the daring reasonableness of its extrapolations. For all its weirdness, Norstrilia feels more real and more likely.

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