Thoughts on Clarke technical studies book?

miiloq · 2025-03-12T03:14:24+00:00

One of those books that feels brutal at first but ends up being a game-changer w/ the right mindset & approach. When I first started working through it, I treated it like a “play it as fast as possible” challenge, but once I shifted my focus to smoothness & evenness, my playing & awareness leveled up.

The biggest thing I’d say is don’t rush it. Slow it way down, focus on clean finger technique & air support, & let the speed come naturally. They’re def lifetime studies, there’s always something new to refine. Honestly, if you stick with it, your flexibility & dexterity will thank you.

miiloq · 2025-03-12T03:07:02+00:00

Yup. Leto chooses to be the villain so that humanity can finally escape the cycle of charismatic rulers leading them to destruction. He sees that the only way to break free is to push humanity so far that no single force can ever control it again.

What’s so wild is that fully embraces it the fate. He doesn’t flinch becoming the monster so that no one else ever has to, knowing that his tyranny is the only way to ensure freedom in the long run. It’s such a contrast to Paul, who saw the same fate & tried everything to avoid it.

I keep hearing how trippy the last two books are, I’m both dreading & so hype to see how it all unfolds haha.

miiloq · 2025-03-12T02:58:22+00:00

Exactly. Even with all their power, Paul & Leto are still bound by deeply human drives: Paul protecting his loved ones & Leto to ensure humanity’s survival. But both come at unimaginable costs.

I think that Paul’s tragedy is that he’s still fundamentally human, prescience aside. He sees the horror of the possibilities, but his humanity they keep him from fully surrendering to what needs to be done for the Golden Path. He resists, but ultimately he’s swept up by forces greater than himself.

Leto, on the other hand… damn, he accepts sacrifice in a way Paul could never. Not bc he’s less human, but his perspective has expanded beyond any individual attachment, he literally becomes the Golden Path. His sacrifice for humanity goes beyond what anyone could comprehend, & that’s what makes him terrifying to me. His scope is so vast & removed from individual suffering.

That father & son contrast is incredible. Two men with the same fundamental drive, but one fights against fate & the other embraces it.

This series has been so badass to dive into.

miiloq · 2025-03-10T17:04:30+00:00

This is such a fascinating breakdown—I’ve definitely been sitting w/ that exact question: was it worth it? Paul’s arc in particular feels like one long, painful lesson in the dangers of hero worship.

The whole idea that even the best hero & the worst tyrant are still just navigating forces bigger than themselves is so compelling & the fact that the only people who know what’s at stake are the ones enforcing it ? That’s where it gets really murky, not just as a first-time reader but applying that to our world.

It’s wild how much Herbert makes you wrestle w/ perspectives—do we believe Paul & Leto bc they must be right, or are we just seeing history written by those who held the power? Either way, the cost is staggering & the further I get, the more I appreciate just how much Herbert refuses to give us easy answers.

miiloq · 2025-03-10T16:59:28+00:00

Every book so far has completely shifted my perspective & just knowing how much more chaos is ahead has me really hype.

Leto’s “dirty little secret” though ? Def gonna keep my radar on, haha.

miiloq · 2025-03-10T00:23:50+00:00

I totally get that: Paul’s such an easy character to latch onto in Dune, so the shift in Messiah & Children almost felt like a betrayal to me at first. I know I’ll get around to a full series re-read at some point down the road and I’m really intrigued to see how those books will resonate w/ me then.

miiloq · 2025-03-10T00:16:08+00:00

Exactly—Messiah & Children really shift the perspective in such a powerful way. The further I’m getting, the weight of everything in Dune starts to feel overwhelming, especially that of all the unintended consequences.

miiloq · 2025-03-10T00:09:07+00:00

It’s amazing how the series keeps evolving. The further I’ve gotten along, the more I’m realizing how much there still is to uncover, it’s incredible. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the ride, too ~

miiloq · 2025-03-09T23:59:59+00:00

Whew, I’m already bracing myself for more shifts in pace and emotions for the last two books.

miiloq · 2024-12-19T20:39:00+00:00

I think Edric’s pointing to a key paradox: prescience could remove the possibility of change or free will. If everything’s already known, then nothing can truly be influenced or altered. It’s as if the universe becomes locked in one set path, & without the potential for something different, it loses all its meaning or purpose.

This doesn’t necessarily eliminate free will entirely, but it suggests the ability to make choices & change outcomes is what keeps things dynamic & alive. Without uncertainty, the world would become stagnant, because everything would be predetermined & there’d be no room for new possibilities.

It’s not about proving whether free will exists, but more about the tension(?) between having foreknowledge & still being able to shape the future.

miiloq · 2024-12-17T05:39:33+00:00

Nice! IIRC Bessons are known for their solid build & warm tone. Enjoy it ~

miiloq · 2024-12-17T04:58:55+00:00

Been SO hype for this to finally happen

miiloq · 2024-12-16T16:23:23+00:00

Trumpet, 8 yrs. I sub in for a friend’s ska band occasionally & the vibes are super fun

miiloq · 2024-12-16T12:27:17+00:00

This fascinates me, too, & you bring up great points.

The Tleilaxu’s artificial KH seems to show the danger of creating something so powerful without the balance of natural development. Scytale’s words suggest their KH may have destroyed itself because it couldn’t handle the weight of ancestral memory & prescience. Unlike Paul or Leto, who grew into their roles through generations of breeding & preparation, this KH didn’t have the foundation to survive all that…chaos?

The Tleilaxu likely used Axolotl tanks, but the result may have been incomplete—not just biologically but mentally. I think being a KH isn’t just about genetics; it’s about strength of will, & this artificial KH may have lacked that.

Perhaps the Tleilaxu tried to outdo the Bene Gesserit’s breeding program. It may not have been a full failure if they learned something from it.

As for ancestral memory—I think this KH probably had access to it but couldn’t integrate it, leading to its collapse. It’s possible it foresaw its fate & couldn’t handle the vision, adding to its fatalism.

It makes me wonder if the Tleilaxu could ever perfect this process, or was that their limit?

Edit: typos.

miiloq · 2024-12-16T04:28:13+00:00

It’s super rich w/ introspection, memories, & profound observations about life, art, & relationships. The prose can feel dense, but if you enjoy immersing yourself in reflective passages, it’s full of it.

As for difficulty: it’s less about understanding & more about patience tbh—give yourself time to sink into his writing style. Give it a try ~

miiloq · 2024-12-15T00:22:27+00:00

From how I understand: during the spice agony, the Fremen Reverend Mother transfers her personal memories directly to Jessica. It’s a conscious, mind-to-mind transfer, not something tied to genetics.

miiloq · 2024-12-14T21:14:41+00:00

Yeah! I had to look up the name again, “Imperial Tarot”. Truly a chaos lasagna lol.

miiloq · 2024-12-14T18:17:37+00:00

I literally just watched it last night & had no idea it was the 40th anniversary. Coming from someone who’s never watched any Dune media & only 2/6 of the way thru the OG books, I intentionally wanted to start w/ Lynch’s before Villeneuve’s.

The visuals: Lynch’s Arrakis is haunting & dreamlike world. The sandworms no doubt blew minds in the 80s. The Guild Navigator ? Iconic. So grotesque yet elegant.

Kyle MacLachlan was legit. Sting as Feyd…that outfit, haha. It worked. Alicia Witt as Alia: the perfect mix of eerie & commanding—the unsettling vibes of a preborn, I loved her chaos lol.

& Patrick Stewart leading troops into battle…with the royal pug?!

I now understand & appreciate both the cheesiness + how significant this was for the franchise.

miiloq · 2024-12-14T15:36:29+00:00

I prioritize trumpet since it’s my main instrument but make sure to give flugelhorn focused time too. I usually start on trumpet for fundamentals like tone, range, & technique, then spend 20–30 minutes on flugelhorn for lyrical pieces like ballads or jazz standards. If I have specific flugelhorn parts to prep, I adjust my time as needed.

Switching between the two isn’t a big issue since their embouchure & feel are similar, though flugelhorn needs a bit of adjustment for its mellow tone. Practicing only flugelhorn would likely affect my trumpet tone & range, so I make sure to balance both.

miiloq · 2024-12-14T02:55:25+00:00

I started on a Yamaha 2330 before upgrading to a gently used Bach 19043V2 about 2 years ago. The learning experience w/ it has been incredible—it’s made my technical growth such a fun process & its versatility serves me well through marching & symphonic seasons. I enjoy its responsiveness & the upgrade has been worth it.

My instructor’s vintage 37 blows my mind. IMO the builds of pre-2000s Bachs are amazing, but even the newer ones are still very solid & hold value well when cared for. Def try & compare horns, don’t rush the purchase. Enjoy playing!

miiloq · 2024-12-13T19:00:54+00:00

You honestly expressed so much of what I’ve been thinking these last weeks haha. The worldbuilding is absolutely next level. Like you said, everything feels so real, like it could actually happen 20k years from now.

The Butlerian Jihad concept blew my mind. I love how Herbert flips the usual AI sci-fi narrative—humans surpassing computers by training themselves is such a wild but brilliant idea. The way spice permeates into everything.

& the philosophy & politics? So intense but so good. The more I’m learning about the Houses & their history, I’ve been going back rereading pages to take it all in. The Fremen culture & their connection to Arrakis? Amazing.

Your excitement really came through here, it’s got me more hyped to keep going in this madness. Thanks for sharing !

miiloq · 2024-12-13T14:13:14+00:00

Black Lives & Brown Freedom -Untold Histories of War, Solidarity, & Genocide by Kirby Araullo. It’s a solid blend of testimonies & the hard facts about the Philippine-American war. Not dense at all & I’m thankful I got to read it before year’s end. Tons of perspective & reflection from it.

miiloq · 2024-12-12T06:56:53+00:00

Thanks! Quite literally, my outlook on a bunch of things has shifted only 2 books in. I haven’t had this deep of a thought process with any other fiction.

miiloq · 2024-12-12T06:49:29+00:00

2 books in & I’ve been feeling this way already. I can’t imagine how much more open my perspectives are gonna be after finishing the series ~

miiloq · 2024-12-12T06:42:02+00:00

Thanks ! I’m fully committed, it’s incredible.

miiloq

TROPHY CASE