Rating: 
Summary: How I imagine Islam to be...
Review: That may seem like a strange heading but the more I read through the book and the more the Fremen characters became important and the saviors of the Dune universe the more I realized that Herbert tapped into the mystique of Islam from a Western vantage point. His use of Islamic/Arabic terms is obvious and intentional and to an untrained ear it adds to the mystique. But behind the terms is a theology that is rooted in Islam. We cheer for the Fremen. From the point of view of Islam, even though Dune's theology is syncretistic and a bit suspect, this is why this faith holds such an appeal. Again, this may sound a bit strange but this was the impression the book left on me.As for the sci-fi component, the universe Mr. Herbert has created is brilliant. It is not grounded in this world or space but is a universe unto itself. His knowledge of desert and the importance of water makes for engaging reading and one imagines the world as quite real and believable. But ultimately I was more drawn to the philosophy/spiritual component and the interest in the Messianic figure as such a figure can be found in all religions and the Islamic view of such a figure matches the Messianic figure here more than it does a Christian, even Jewish, type of figure. This is not an Islamic theology book but this book opened my eyes a bit as to how the early Islamic community may have succeeded and why it has the appeal it does even today. And, it seems to me, Mr. Herbert used this story as a launching pad to insert his idyllic worldview. Why not five stars? It (or I) just ran out of steam at the end. But still one of the best fiction books I have ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: This Is As Good As Science Fiction Gets
Review: You may want to wait to read this book towards the end of your life because there is no better. Oh yeah, and there probably never will be. It's that good. The complex and intricate world created by Frank Herbert will blow your mind with its creativity and uniqueness. I can only think of one other book that exceeds it for the detailed creation of another world's political and social structure, and that is the fantasy novel Maia by Richard Adams (Watership Down). While the entire series is interesting, Dune is by far the best. A rich, compelling and thrilling story of House Atreides and its struggles with House Harkonnen for control of the desert planet Arrakis. Please ignore the two utterly disastrous attempts to bring this story to the screen and read this book. You will be amazed!
Rating:
Summary: ENTERING THE WASTELAND
Review: The novel Dune is one of those works that you hear of by reputation as being a classic and which you always see in the bookstore but never seem to pick up to read. I had seen the David Lynch film when I was younger and was confused and bored by it. I borrowed a copy of the Dune tv mini-series recently, and after watching one episode I found the story intriguing but the special effects lacking. So I decided to read the book in order to experience a better effects company, my imagination. To me, one of the things that makes Dune unique is its glimpse of what the future holds for the human race. It isnt a future controlled by machines and dominated by technology as so many science fiction worlds are. The universe that Frank Herbert creates here is a humanistic one, almost a mideval renaissance world. Going along with that thought, this universe is filled with court intrigue. The known universe is loosely ruled by an emperor named Padashan IV who keeps his rule going with the threat of his imperial guard, elite fighting units called Sardaukar. He also keeps his noblemen in suspicion of each other and sometimes helps bring about actual wars between them if it suits his purpose. As the book opens, one of his most respected noblemen, Duke Atreides, is sent to the desert planet of Arrakis (Dune) to take over spice production. Spice is the most important product in the universe and whoever controls it, controls power, and brings danger on themselves. One of the sources of conflict is that the Atreides have replaced the House Harkonnen, their bitter enemies, on Arrakis, so the whole place smells like a trap waiting to spring. The Harkonnens have sworn eternal war, called "kanly" with the Atreides and it is only a question of when and how they will strike. In addition to this, there are mysterious native inhabitants on Dune, known as Fremen, whose allegience is unknown, and the Duke also has to deal with giant sandworms who can swallow ships whole. The main character of the book is Paul Atreides, son of the duke, a fifteen year old boy trained by the best fighters in the galaxy and also learned in the ways of his Bene Gesserit mother. The Bene Gesserits remind me of the Jedi in Star Wars. They are trained psychics who have strange powers feared and respected among the general populace, such as future vision, and can sometimes control weak minds and sorta steer the galaxy. Some say that Paul is destined for some terrible purpose that will lead the human race to a new destiny. This is a great book. Like the Lord of the Rings, you can tell that Herbert not only wrote this book, but in the process developed and shaped his world with legends and past histories that are only hinted at in this work. There is lots of action and adventure and also religious questions and philsophy, almost a little for every kind of ruler. It does have its dull moments, especially after Paul meets his destiny, but you have to expect that anytime you have a work that is an "epic". There's so much information that not all of it can be interesting. There is a large cast of characters, so I would maybe suggest watching the first episode of the tv series like I did because it gives you a visual reference for most of the main characters. I'm going to start the next book, Dune Messiah, today.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic Imagination, Lackluster Technique
Review: I hate to use the word "technique" in reference to creative writing since it seems so pretentious--and it reminds me unfourtunately of the contrived prose of some victorian novel of manners. However here i'm referring to plain and simple dramatic and structure and description of character and event. That out of the way... I must say Dune is a fantastically intricate, well researched and thought-out novel. I know of no work of fiction with such a thick mantle of believable fictive elements from ecology, politics, and sociology to mysticism and space travel, that all fit together perfectly and rely on and react to eachother in such a logical way. But this is clearly a product of its time period--here's another word i hate to use-- "dated." Not in its forward thinking ideas and execution, but in lackluster prose and two dimensional characters. I don't know how herbert can bring us through so many events with the protagonists and still manage to allow them to be pale and flat. And even if you disagree in this respect, even if you think they are fully fleshed out, i still found it nearly impossible to relate to or empathize with any of the characters. Perhaps it was herbert's point to make these royal and hierarchical characters seem unlikable--maybe it was his social commentary, but it left me feeling indifferent to the story. And while Herbert seems to give his audience ample credit to decipher a lot of the complex political and ecological schema with minimal implication... he HAMMERS other elements of the universe into you as though you were completely ignorant. For instance... every time paul or his mother performs ANY kind of skilled action, it is always due to bene gesserit training, and for some reason the character is always consciously addressing it. "Paul knew without his bene gesserit training it would have taken him much longer to wipe his nose, possibly altering an entire universe of events." Ok, so i made that up, but that was one of the most annoying quirks about the writing here that i noted. All in all its a book that deserves a LOT of credit for being leagues above most science fiction, even most prose, but its not what i would call an all around classic, especially with its abrupt, unsatisfying ending. But all interested in science fiction should still read it, notice i say all interested in science fiction, that is why it gets 3 stars, it is not a book i think everyone should read, only those with an appreciation of the effort involved in "world creation." Truly great books should appeal to the spirit as well as the intellect, and i think this book is just too heavily weighted on the intellectual side, unless you consider "adventure" an emotion.
Rating:
Summary: Epic
Review: For me, finishing Dune was like walking out of a great movie with a smile on my face thinking, "Damn, that was good." I'm not a regular reader of science fiction, but I can see why the cover proclaims it "Science Fiction's Supreme Masterpiece." Herbert combines politics, religion, strategy, psychology, intelligence, and emotion inside an incredibly detailed and seemingly tangible universe. Despite the alien environment, Dune is a book that drew me in instantly, and didn't let me go until the end. Herbert's writing style was a joy to read, as he managed to find the delicate balance between detail and brevity, resulting in a fluid tale with both depth and raw emotion. What makes books like Dune and the Lord of the Rings series so great is that their respective worlds seem completely natural and real to the reader. Add some great action, plot twists, and wonderfully fleshed out characters, and you have a masterpiece of not just science fiction, but modern literature as well. The incredible epic of the Muad'Dib, the deadly beauty of Arrakis and its inhabitants ... Dune is a novel I will never forget.
Rating:
Summary: My most enjoyable read to date
Review: I won't waste your time with a long review. This is the most engaging novel I have ever read. Read it!
Rating:
Summary: Model for other SF Epics
Review: OK, if you actually needed to read a review of Tolkien's books about Middle Earth, you probably won't be convinced by this or any other reviews of Dune. That being said, if SF epics are your cup of tea, read on. First, Dune is a the first of a series. In this first novel, you are introduced to characters, politics, groups that will inhabit the remaining books. Paul Atreides is the son of a Duke, a minor royal house. Duke Atreides, his father, has been asked by the Emperor to take over production of spice on a planet called Arrakis, or Dune. This planet is a wasteland filled with sand, horrible storms, gigantic worms and a people called the Fremen, who live on Dune because they have been persecuted everywhere else. If this sounds like Palestinean pathos, you're not too far off. The plot of the book thickens as many other groups with an interest in the planet plot their plots and make their plays for power. I read this book for the first time in high school and picked up about one-tenth of the vast content of this great novel. Subsequent readings have added layers of meaning and detail that made the effort of a re-read more than worthwhile. Dune is full of religion, culture, politics, power, poison and mysticism. Highly recommended from my big list of favorites.
Rating:
Summary: Hard to put down.
Review: An introduction by the author in my edition indicates his goals: to explore the messiah myth, to examine the relationship between politics and economics, to explore the consequence of the control of a limited resource, i.e., water as an analog of oil. The novel does this so admirably and a great deal more. Overlayed are a gripping story and some really big issues: loyalty vs. betrayal, love vs. obligation, nature vs. nurture. Strikingly, these inevitable conflicts are subjected to tension and resolution. Sure, this is space opera at its best, but it is a wonderfully written novel that can stand on its own beside traditional literature. Don't let the detractors keep you from this; they simply don't get the point. It is a big, well written book that will enrich you whether or not you proceed on to the rest of the series.
Rating: 
Summary: zzzzzzzzz
Review: How can anyone find Dune to be entertaining. Frank Herbert rambles on incessantly about politics, religion, and society. There is little action and Herbert never goes into detail about the technologies of his universe. However, he never seems to shut up about his philosophy either. This is a VERY tedious book. The concept is quite fascinating, but the book itself lacks the entertainment factor.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: This is a great book, and I watched the movies several times.
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