What do you think?
Rate this book
Dune Time
Isolated in the desert with his brother, Hasan learns that there is more to the legends of the dunes than he initially believed.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
25 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2016
16 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 27, 2017
"Dune Time" refers to the lapses in time travelers sometimes experience in the desert. The desert makes you see things – djinns and miracles. We meet two very different brothers – Hasan, who has accepted a job as a desert photographer for the money, but who can appreciate the majesty of the desert, and Tariq, a passionate revolutionary who is staying low after trouble with the police, and who suffers from being disconnected from the rest of the world. A nice mix of magical realism, mythology, religion, and modern technology, in which each brother learns something unexpected.
January 30, 2020
Awesome short story of a young Muslim, Hasan, who goes to the desert in order to avoid political troubles in the city (think Arab Spring) and join his brother Tariq as he photographs the desert for some BBC documentary. The story is atmospheric and magical, ancient and modern and religious all at the same time. It's very well done, and recommended.
November 6, 2016
3.0/5 stars
This short story has a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic ambiance to it, and it drew me in immediately. He did a great job at giving a strong sense of foreboding throughout the story, that something was wrong or out of place. I love it when the author is able to express that feeling without the reader being able to put a finger on it. Only later, when something happens, does the reason become clear.
However, where the author excels in atmosphere, he lacks in dialogue. Sometimes, the characters' conversations seemed awkward, and almost even forced. This may be due to the cadence of the native language they are used to speaking in and how it translates into the English language. Nonetheless, I still was a bit weirded out by the sense that I couldn't really connect exactly HOW the character was talking/acting during the dialogue. This made the dialogue a bit more unnatural/disconnected , and it did ruin my reading experience a little bit.
The author also explored the effects of technology/connectedness to current events. I think he also tried to show how taking away that connection can affect an individual, but I feel as though this topic was only briefly touched upon throughout the story, and could've been woven in a bit better into the story itself. Sometimes, it seemed as though it was slapped on last minute, and although I gave it a A- for effort, I feel as though some parts (especially the parts that had nothing to do with the story) didn't need to be there.
Lastly, the ending was a bit of a draw for me. Understandably, since it's a short story, the author can only do so much, and I'm usually left with wanting more. However, at the end of this story, I was kind of over the characters, they want to help the community, etc etc etc, sure, but I was more interested in the desert and what made the previous events happen rather than the characters themselves. This was also when I realized that this story had a bit of magical realism in it, and I wanted MORE.
All in all, it seemed as if the author was putting all his chips into making the reader interested in the desert than the characters, and I would love to read more about the desert/magical realism.
This short story has a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic ambiance to it, and it drew me in immediately. He did a great job at giving a strong sense of foreboding throughout the story, that something was wrong or out of place. I love it when the author is able to express that feeling without the reader being able to put a finger on it. Only later, when something happens, does the reason become clear.
However, where the author excels in atmosphere, he lacks in dialogue. Sometimes, the characters' conversations seemed awkward, and almost even forced. This may be due to the cadence of the native language they are used to speaking in and how it translates into the English language. Nonetheless, I still was a bit weirded out by the sense that I couldn't really connect exactly HOW the character was talking/acting during the dialogue. This made the dialogue a bit more unnatural/disconnected , and it did ruin my reading experience a little bit.
The author also explored the effects of technology/connectedness to current events. I think he also tried to show how taking away that connection can affect an individual, but I feel as though this topic was only briefly touched upon throughout the story, and could've been woven in a bit better into the story itself. Sometimes, it seemed as though it was slapped on last minute, and although I gave it a A- for effort, I feel as though some parts (especially the parts that had nothing to do with the story) didn't need to be there.
Lastly, the ending was a bit of a draw for me. Understandably, since it's a short story, the author can only do so much, and I'm usually left with wanting more. However, at the end of this story, I was kind of over the characters, they want to help the community, etc etc etc, sure, but I was more interested in the desert and what made the previous events happen rather than the characters themselves. This was also when I realized that this story had a bit of magical realism in it, and I wanted MORE.
All in all, it seemed as if the author was putting all his chips into making the reader interested in the desert than the characters, and I would love to read more about the desert/magical realism.
October 22, 2016
A very interesting short story, that mixes very modern elements (technology, and unrest in the Middle East and Northern Africa), with traditional ones (Islamic lore, legends and folk-tales) with quite interesting results. This is the story of Hasan, that is sent to help his brother in a remote area by the desert, to stay low and avoid the police. The brother is working on a filming project for BBC, that requires patience and time. During this time the two brothers discuss politics, religion, and old legends that may turn out to not be just old folks tales.
May 5, 2016
This was a very understated but atmospheric piece. The "Dune Time" time slips the characters experienced heightened tension wonderfully. The isolation of the brothers at the desert's edge and their experiences brought to mind the classic science fiction space madness stories.
*Diversity highlight- MC's are Muslim
*Diversity highlight- MC's are Muslim
January 19, 2021
Esse é um daqueles casos em que o autor acabou querendo mais do que o necessário para a sua história. Todos nós já ouvimos falar, seja no cinema, em séries ou documentários, que o deserto esconde muitos segredos. Inclusive os beduínos representam um dos povos mais intrigantes existentes ainda hoje. É nessa linha que Nicholls cria a história de dois irmãos que precisam permanecer isolados por algumas semanas no deserto de forma a conseguir filmagens das dunas a fim de criar um documentário para uma grande rede de televisão. Eles contam com um baita aparato de filmagem e sobrevivência, mas existem alguns mistérios que apenas aqueles que são originários do deserto conseguem enxergar.
Até aí parece uma história simples e bem legal. Só que o autor aproveita o espaço para tocar em outros temas. Por exemplo, Tariq é um homem idealista que vê na luta contra a opressão um meio de vida. Ele acha absurdo Hasan viver uma vida simples, quase nômade enquanto ele é um verdadeiro patriota. Temos essa diferença de ideias entre os dois, sendo que Hasan acusa Tariq de ter abandonado a essência de sua comunidade em prol de lutas que não vão trazer benefícios para aqueles que vivem vidas simples. Okay, eu acho um debate interessante colocando os irmãos em polos opostos e trabalhando as diferenças e similaridades. Mas, no caso deste conto em particular, isso serviu mais para desviar a concentração do leitor em relação ao que realmente estava sendo trabalhado. Um debate como esse merecia uma atenção maior com um espaço maior. Entenderia um subplot de discussão sobre o avanço do homem em direção a áreas antes inexploradas ou a destruição selvagem de redutos naturais, colocando a natureza como uma entidade repleta ainda de segredos a serem descobertos.
Uma coisa que eu curti bastante na história é a insinuação do medo. É como o autor vai fazendo um crescendo no suspense e provocando no leitor uma sensação de temor. Gosto desse estilo de terror, onde você não causa medo pelo shock value, por mostrar subitamente uma cena horrível, mas por trabalhar o psicológico. E este conto tem toda a vibe de terror psicológico. Aliás, o que é o dune time? O tempo das dunas seria uma espécie de passagem onírica do tempo em que a pessoa afetada tem sua percepção sobre a passagem do tempo dobrada. Criaturas misteriosas habitam esse tempo das dunas e podem levar os incautos à destruição. Tem um momento mais à frente onde os irmãos se perdem um do outro que é assustador. De ficar com os cabelos em pé sem saber o que fazer. O que imaginar quando você desconhece o perigo que o cerca?
Dune Time é uma boa história curta que trabalha lendas dos beduínos e até apresenta alguns mitos bem antigos da região árabe. Sim, aquilo que aparece no final do conto pertence ao período antes da chegada de Maomé. Lembrando que o Islã pegou bastante coisa daquilo que já existia na cultura beduína e incorporou para si. Gostei dessa retomada de ideias, mostrando para o leitor que existe muito ainda a ser explorado por aqueles cantos. Mas, não posso deixar de criticar o excesso de temáticas presentes na história que poderia ter sido perfeita se tivesse mantido o foco e a simplicidade.
Até aí parece uma história simples e bem legal. Só que o autor aproveita o espaço para tocar em outros temas. Por exemplo, Tariq é um homem idealista que vê na luta contra a opressão um meio de vida. Ele acha absurdo Hasan viver uma vida simples, quase nômade enquanto ele é um verdadeiro patriota. Temos essa diferença de ideias entre os dois, sendo que Hasan acusa Tariq de ter abandonado a essência de sua comunidade em prol de lutas que não vão trazer benefícios para aqueles que vivem vidas simples. Okay, eu acho um debate interessante colocando os irmãos em polos opostos e trabalhando as diferenças e similaridades. Mas, no caso deste conto em particular, isso serviu mais para desviar a concentração do leitor em relação ao que realmente estava sendo trabalhado. Um debate como esse merecia uma atenção maior com um espaço maior. Entenderia um subplot de discussão sobre o avanço do homem em direção a áreas antes inexploradas ou a destruição selvagem de redutos naturais, colocando a natureza como uma entidade repleta ainda de segredos a serem descobertos.
Uma coisa que eu curti bastante na história é a insinuação do medo. É como o autor vai fazendo um crescendo no suspense e provocando no leitor uma sensação de temor. Gosto desse estilo de terror, onde você não causa medo pelo shock value, por mostrar subitamente uma cena horrível, mas por trabalhar o psicológico. E este conto tem toda a vibe de terror psicológico. Aliás, o que é o dune time? O tempo das dunas seria uma espécie de passagem onírica do tempo em que a pessoa afetada tem sua percepção sobre a passagem do tempo dobrada. Criaturas misteriosas habitam esse tempo das dunas e podem levar os incautos à destruição. Tem um momento mais à frente onde os irmãos se perdem um do outro que é assustador. De ficar com os cabelos em pé sem saber o que fazer. O que imaginar quando você desconhece o perigo que o cerca?
Dune Time é uma boa história curta que trabalha lendas dos beduínos e até apresenta alguns mitos bem antigos da região árabe. Sim, aquilo que aparece no final do conto pertence ao período antes da chegada de Maomé. Lembrando que o Islã pegou bastante coisa daquilo que já existia na cultura beduína e incorporou para si. Gostei dessa retomada de ideias, mostrando para o leitor que existe muito ainda a ser explorado por aqueles cantos. Mas, não posso deixar de criticar o excesso de temáticas presentes na história que poderia ter sido perfeita se tivesse mantido o foco e a simplicidade.
September 21, 2017
Photography at the dune side where the guy from BBC will come later and take whatever they (Tariq and Hasan, two brother) captured with their camera. It was where somehow Tariq something disturbing that cost himself to get the attention of Police. Though they couldn't reach him but warned his father keep his son on the right track. Actually I didn't get the theme of it. What kind of message that the tale want to say. Anyway nothing much interested, but anyhow I read it...
Better try next time for me...
Better try next time for me...
December 9, 2020
I'm not sure why so many people didn't like this story but I loved it. There is a sort of mysticism to it and I think anyone who has read American Gods by Neil Gaiman and enjoyed it would like this short story.
January 30, 2017
The story looks at different perceptions of the passage of time, but I don't really know what it was trying to say about it.
September 24, 2018
Kõrbkõrbkõrb.
June 7, 2021
Nice little bit of modern dark fantasy, bordering on horror. I could definitely see how the endless dunes could be ripe for unnatural occurrences.
July 5, 2023
"The land is haunted by the Gahaib, the Unseen".
A time-lapse video for a BBC documentary ends up revealing mystical and supernatural desert occurances.
Vividly written and cinematic in scope.
A time-lapse video for a BBC documentary ends up revealing mystical and supernatural desert occurances.
Vividly written and cinematic in scope.
April 22, 2016
Deserts make for great settings if you want a place that is unsettling. Dune Time is a story about two brothers mixed up in very different beliefs. The elder brother was taking care of a camera for a TV crew that was shooting beautiful images of the dunes. His family sent his younger brother to join him to get him away from the other rebellious youth in the city. The two brothers argue about responsibilities and beliefs, but in the end they save one another. There are also djinns. It's a simple, but creepy tale. If it was fleshed out a bit more it would be more satisfying, but there are some pretty deep emotions to experience from it as it is.
Read
July 22, 2016The quietism of faith and of nature photography contrasted with the urgency of the Arab Spring; the timelessness of the sands expressed as the lure of the djinn. Plus, it really captures the experience of going from taking connectivity for granted to being out of signal range, as when one of the two brothers finally gets a bar - "he could finally reach the life-giving waters of the information sea".
Read
November 6, 2016This book is an entry in the Aurealis Awards for 2016, for which I am a judge. Any review will be withheld until the results of the awards are announced.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews