Dune, written by Frank Herbert, is set in a feudal interstellar society where noble houses control planetary fiefs. The story follows Paul Atreides, whose family is tasked with ruling the inhospitable desert planet Arrakis, the sole source of melange, a substance crucial for extending life and enhancing mental abilities. The novel delves into the intricate politics, religion, ecology, and technology of this futuristic world, as various factions vie for control of Arrakis and its valuable spice. Paul, with his unique abilities and training by the Bene Gesserit, becomes a key figure in this struggle and eventually assumes the role of a messianic leader among the native Fremen people[2][5][4].
This graphic adaptation of Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time' presents the first volume, 'Swann's Way', in a compressed and visually engaging format. The adaptation, likened to a 'piano reduction of an orchestral score', retains the fundamental architecture and themes of Proust’s work, including time, art, and the elusiveness of memory. Stéphane Heuet's detailed illustrations bring to life the narrator Marcel's childhood memories in Combray, capturing the humor, wit, and memorable characters of Proust's original text. This adaptation is designed to make Proust's work more accessible while maintaining its essence and beauty[3][5][4].
F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is a short story that explores themes of time, aging, and the human condition. The story follows Benjamin Button, a man who ages backward. Fitzgerald's signature style, characterized by its lyrical prose and insightful character development, is on full display. The story's exploration of time and its portrayal of the complexities of human life make it a powerful and memorable work. It is considered one of Fitzgerald's finest short stories.
The novel tells the story of Oskar Schell, a nine-year-old boy who embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of his father's death in the 9/11 attacks. Oskar discovers a key in a vase that belonged to his father and sets out to find the lock it fits, meeting various people with the surname Black along the way. The narrative interweaves Oskar's story with his grandparents' experiences during the Dresden bombings, exploring themes of trauma, mourning, family, and the struggle between self-destruction and self-preservation. Through his journey, Oskar learns to cope with his grief and finds a deeper connection with his mother and his own sense of identity.
The Darwin Awards is a series of books that humorously document individuals who have supposedly contributed to human evolution by dying or becoming sterilized due to their own actions. The series, started by Wendy Northcutt, includes stories that are both entertaining and cautionary, highlighting the importance of common sense and safety.
Dune. Forrest Gump. Benjamin Button. Eric Roth wrote all of them. He’s been nominated for seven Oscars and won Best Adapted Screenplay for Forrest Gump. I got the chance to ask him about how you find a deeper theme in a story, what a writer can do to really move people, and what it’s actually like working with people like David Fincher, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese. Eric Roth is one of the greatest screenwriters of our time, hope you enjoy this one.
Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible.
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How I Write 
