Wow, this is what it feels like to experience hate mail! I gotta say, I’m kind of flattered. It was in reference to my article “Dune and Its Descendents”, one of many in which I praised the late Frank Herbert for his amazing work over the years and bashed the work that has followed in his wake. Like many fans of the original books, my love for them is matched only by my disappointment with how the series ended.

Plenty of times I have encountered fans of the new books, and we’ve been able to have some spirited debate. Hell, I even conversed with Kevin J Anderson himself and managed to keep a civil tongue, partly out of sympathy because this guy gets TONS of hate mail! But this person, who goes by the name of Carlos, he really took the cake. Here’s what he said:

“Of course your the big idiot ever, since the creation of the universe. And you don’t understand the work of frank Herbert, or the deep: spiritual, scientific, artistic and philosophic work of this avatar, also the reality of science fiction (reality). Frank Herbert is a genius, like Tolkien, and if you don´t understand it, its because you don´t have brains or the intelligence needed to see it. Au dare you to say something so idiot from others work, in what brainless basis of yours? It makes no sense or logic, i only see envy, some ow, and a very small brain, even smaller than a desert rat.

Carlos”

How nice, he even signed his name. It’s like F*@@$% you, you unbelievable bastard! Sincerely, Troller. Well,  I would be inclined to reply to this… um … comment here, except for two things. One, the man’s name doesn’t provide a link that goes anywhere. And two, I don’t have the slightest freaking idea what the hell he’s on about.

Correct if I’m wrong but it sounds like he thinks I’m bashing Frank Herbert, not the work of Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert. And what the hell is this “avatar”, does he even know what that means? That would imply a stand in, which makes me think he IS defending these two authors. But their names never come up, and rarely do their works ever inspire such heartfelt defense of the words “genius” or “deep”. Mainly people just say that they’re alright and entertaining and not hurting anyone.

Ah well, I’m clearly over thinking this. Mainly, I’m just intrigued because this is the first hate mail I’ve ever received here, which makes me think I’m coming up in the world! And second, the vociferous and confused nature of it kind of amuses me. It’s good to believe that attacks against you are the result of misunderstandings and confused emotion, and not the result of disapproval you can actually understand and get behind.

Ah well, kudos Carlos. You will always be my first hater! I just wish I knew what the hell you were talking about.