Sandworms

Beetlejuice, Dune, and Tremors. What do these movies have in common? They are totally awesome? They are highly imaginative? Cult Classics? Well, yes to all those, but most importantly-- Sandworms. Although the sandworms from these amazing films vary greatly in habitat, appearance and diet, they are all fictional desert-dwelling subterranean beasts of mammoth proportions.

Sandworms are as diverse in appearance as they are in habitat. The worms of Tremors dubbed “Graboids” reside in the American West where they terrorize and destroy the small town of Perfection, Nevada. The ‘Shai-Hulud’ of Dune inhabit their own desert planet called ‘Arrakis.’ The Fremen of Dune worship these worms as gods because of their near indestructibility and indefinite lifespans. Consequently, they are also referred to as “old man of the desert,” “old father eternity,” and “grandfather of the desert.” Much less is known about the Beetlejuice worms, simply referred to as “sandworms,” besides that they dwell in an alternate world called ‘Saturn.’ To Adam and Barbara Maitland Saturn is the realm they enter when they leave their house, which is the physical boundary they cannot cross since the time of their death. These three very different behemoths can detect the slightest movement on the sands surface and can attack at lightning speed.

Both the Shai-Hulud and the Graboids have long tubular armored bodies of a muddy brown color, much like the hue of wet sand. Though both are eyeless, their head and mouth features set the two species apart. Based loosely on the Mongolian Death Worm, Graboids head’s have a large trout-like hooked nozzle that opens like a hideous three pedaled flower. It’s multiple tongues are long fleshy snake-like slimy sensors that flop around feeling for food. Though very comical, they are no joke. Perhaps the most grotesque sandworm is the Shai-Hulud. It’s body is similar to a Graboid but instead of a funny looking trout snout its head ends in a mouth like a giant sea lamprey with rows and rows of sharp circular grinding crystal teeth. On the other hand, Beetlejuice’s sandworm has a black and white striped body with a single shark-like dorsal fin protruding halfway down his back. His outer head with blazing red eyes, green snarling lips, and a row of striped teeth peels back to reveal an inner fleshy colored head with rows of jagged fangs and a striped snake shaped tongue. It is absolutely horrifying and definitely the most dazzling of the sandworm species.

Only the Graboids of Tremors have a known taste for blood. They begin terrorizing the small town by maiming sheep, cattle, and horses, but they quickly develop a taste for humans. In Dune, it is said the Shai-Hulud can devour anything with their powerful mouths, yet they prefer to dine on sand plankton. The Shai-Hulud are even credited for creating the sand on the surface of Arrakis by crushing large rocks into tiny dusty sand. It is unknown whether the sandworms of the Saturn realm actually prefer to eat people or if they are provoked by the dead souls wandering from their physical boundaries, though one worm does seem to develop a taste for Betelgeuse at the climax of the film.

So which is the superior sandworm film? Tremors and its Graboid antagonists, starring the Reba McEntire and Kevin Bacon? Dune? A David Lynch cult film based on a science fiction classic series by the legendary author Frank Herbert? Or Beetlejuice with its wonderfully imaginative and colorful worlds created by mastermind director Tim Burton?

Why don’t you decide? Check out Beetlejuice on DVD and read the classic Dune novels by Frank Herbert. Also coming soon, Tremors!! Get your name on the waiting list now!

Gardening Brown Bag Lunch This Friday

The Garland County Library will host a brown bag lunch presentation by Garland County Master Gardener Diane Daniel Friday, June 17th at 11:30 am. The focus of the talk will be on composting and container gardening.

Daniel is a member of the Master Gardeners’ External Education committee, which educates community groups and individuals on gardening topics.

“We had another presentation that Diane gave a couple of months ago and it was a great program,” Karen Covey of the library said. “ She really knows her gardening and presents the information in an entertaining manner. We’re all looking forward to finding out more about container gardening and composting.”

For more information on the Garland County Master Gardeners, email Diane Daniel at arhogfans@hotmail.com or call 501-922-1656. Registration is required for this event. Attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee and water will be provided. Call the library at 623-4161 or 922-4483 to reserve a seat.

Summer Reading Programs are here again

The mercury has hit triple digits, which means that the Garland County Library summer reading programs are starting up. Each and every summer, the library offers reading programs for children, young adults, and adults that encourage readers to read diligently during the dog days of summer by offering fabulous prizes for reading and writing reviews. While the rules for each program vary slightly, the spirit is the same.

For children, the program goes like this: starting June 13th, the children's library will have their big kick-off. At the kick-off, participants ages 12 and under will be given a reading log. For every hour that they read, are read to, or listen to an audiobook, they'll be entered into a weekly drawing for awesome prizes. When you register, you will also set a reading goal for total hours read. When you reach that goal, you win a free book. How cool is that!

The young adult and adult reading programs have already started. The set-up is a little different: in addition to reading, you'll have to write a review. The review must be 50 words or more, so you can't just say "I really, really, really, really, (etc) liked it." For every review you return, your name will be put in for a prize drawing. For the adult department, the prizes are e-book readers! They will be giving away 5 ebook readers, one for each category, to five lucky people. The young adult department's program is the same, except there will be prize packs awarded to a winner from each category (YA fiction, YA non-fiction, music, video game, DVD, and audiobook) and two grand prizes out of the remaining entries. The grand prizes are a NookColor and a Nintendo 3DS. It should go without saying that the more entries you do, the better your chances of winning are, but I'm going to say it anyway.

So, get your card, come down to the library, and get started. As you are reading this, others are hard at work reading and writing reviews, so time's a wastin'!