I don't read as much as I would like -- the occasional book, Entertainment Weekly, Worst Beach Bodies Star, etc.

Have always been intrigued with mind-warping myself and trying to read the Herbert Dune series (REALLY enjoyed the sheety version) but the RR Martin 'A Song of Fire and Ice' seems like it might be popular choice.

Either way, we're looking at 12 years for me to get through -- and I'm up to date on Game of Thrones TV episodes.

What say you, Fanboys?

Interesting question. I'm a fan of both series, especially Dune. Let me give it some thought...

I've read all the original Dune books, and the first four are some of my favorite books. I'm almost done with the second Song of Fire and Ice books. Hard to compare the two I think. Different genres, different story telling.
SoF&I are fantasy books, not too much magic or creatures, but getting more as I progress in the books. I think the level of magic and creature is pretty similar to Lord of the Rings. SoF&I follows many characters across the land and switches between each character in each chapter. It has medieval type battles.
Both books contain a lot of political intrigue, crazy religious wars, sex, and plots withing plots. This is probably where they are most similar. If you like this stuff, I would recommend reading both. In SoF&I everyone if fighting for control of the kingdom, and in Dune everyone if fighting for control of one planet.
Dune is human civilization way far out in the future, after a war against machines has ended. Probably the most complete other world books I've read. Herbert set up completely different religions, worlds, ideas, governments and has them fully fleshed out. Dune has more sci-fi elements like space travel, crazy drugs, and weapons. A big thing in the books is that because humans don't rely on machines any more and they have pushed the human body to its limits. Some humans are able to perform huge calculations in the heads, and others have developed a martial art where they control every part of their body fully that pretty much gives them super powers. Dune also switches between different character on different planets, but not as often, and not as many characters as SoF&I.
HTH

[This message has been edited by Quad Dog (edited 6/14/2012 8:12a).]

I haven't read SoFI, just been watching the show. However, I have read "DUNE" multiple times. The original is one of my favorite books of any genre. I wrote a paper on it for my AP English class in high school.

quote:

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Herbert set up completely different religions, worlds, ideas, governments and has them fully fleshed out.

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He actually did not set up different religions, but researched the way existing religions have evolved through recorded history and predicted the evolution of those religions in to the future. The Fremen are largely Islamic. He was also big into ecology and used Arrakis as a platform to explore the interaction of an ecosystem. It also follows the hero/messiah archetype.

Deep thoughts aside, it is an excellent novel, and I highly recommend it. You don't have to read the whole series, though. The original book is pretty well contained.

[This message has been edited by kgirlatl (edited 6/14/2012 12:22p).]

I am a big fan of both series. Dune is probably my favorite speculative fiction book. The derivative novels from Herbert's son and Kevin J. Anderson are complete bullsheet.

Both series have taken real world ideas and spun very awesome tales out of them.

Dune is one of the greatest books ever written regardless of genre. It isn't really a scifi book as it is a political thriller set in the very distant future.

Even if you don't like SciFi you will like Dune.

Dune messiah was good
Children of Dune was good
God emperor of Dune was good
Hertics started getting a little long in the tooth
Chapterhouse was a struggle to get through

The books co-written by his kid suck. They do give some back story but if you just read the wiki entries on them, you will save yourself the trouble of reading them.

Man, they're just two completely different types of stories.

I'd go with Song of Ice and Fire just because I lost interest in Dune after God Emperor because it was just wearing me out after awhile.

I love the first book Dune and everyone should read it at least once, I think.

[This message has been edited by bendover (edited 6/14/2012 12:57p).]

I would start with Dune just because the first book is a complete enough story that you don't need to read the rest of the series. You will get 90% of the cultural references and enjoyment of the series from that one book.

Then I would switch over to the other series.

The first book in ASOIF isn't a satisfying stopping point.

I never finished the Dune series but if we are comparing games, ASOIAF has plenty of room to catch up to.

to be clear on my last post.

1) Read Dune
2) Read Game of Thrones
3) Continue until you finish ASOIAF series
4) re-evaluate options at that point.

[This message has been edited by Duncan Idaho (edited 6/14/2012 1:21p).]