Dune and psychedelic desert messiahs

[Joseph Tracy]

Went to see Dune last night, mostly Williams College kids attending, needed some escapist nonsense. It was well done I thought, good acting, good music and sound effects if slightly over the top with the big drums. Visually severe, engaging, ominous in story-appropriateriate ways. I wondered if the whole heroic desert freedom fighters with Islamic style might shake up the imagination of young watchers shaped by anti-Muslim cultural atmosphere. Stayed quite close to the book, more condensed. Not sure visionary psychedelic messiahs leading desert rebels against the exploitation of a cruel empire has serious relevance, but it could be a lot worse. It is only half the first book. 
  I thought Herbert made a big mistake killing off the ecologist when I re read the book most of a year ago. I still think so, too central as a redeeming theme. 

I have an increasingly hard time with big Iron machines traveling light years through space while people fight with swords.  We are so fucking far from real space travel.