Dune

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Summary: Fear is the Mind Killer.
Review: Frank Herbert built three dynasties inside a galactic empire that is based on melange, a drug that was available on one planet only -- Arrakis, also known as Dune. Using melange, navigators have the power to fold space, which allows space travel.

In spite of a blood feud that was more deadly than Romeo and Juliet's Montagues and Capulets, Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV takes the rule of Dune away from the Harkonnens and gives it to the House Atreides. He has his reasons. The scene is set for political intrigue, sabotage, subterfuge, war, romance, survival, revolt, and revenge.

Dune is a masterpiece. It was the first novel to win the Nebula Award (1965), and it shared the Hugo Award in the following year (1966). Not only are the plots and characters intricate, but also the political, financial, religions, lifestyles, military, and honor structures are created. Dune is like no place on Earth.

This book is written from multiple points of view (POV), and you know every main character in the book because you are privy to their thoughts. The abundant use of Italics is unacceptable in today's market, yet it is one of the most effective aspects of Dune.

The effect of knowing what someone thinks while they say or do something else is an ability most people would like to have. Jessica, concubine to Duke Atreides, a Bene Gesserit witch, and Paul's mother trains him, against the wishes of the witches, to use his mind for control. The most powerful Bene Gesserit tests Paul Atreides, as she holds his mind captive she wonders if "he is the one." Fremen believe he is Muad'Dib, the messiah who will deliver them, even as they challenge him in a fight to the death.

I have read this book and the sequels several times. Like Paul Atreides, I dreamt of new philosophies and awakenings. Dune is required reading for anyone who loves Science Fiction.

Victoria Tarrani

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Summary: A Unique Outlook on an Alien Society
Review: In the first novel of his entrancing saga, Frank Herbert takes his audiences captive with the haunting epic of the desert planet, Arrakis. Herbert displays his unique capability for blending the elements of religion, politics, culture and nature perfectly to form a society that is, though alien, slightly reminiscent of the world today. Though fantastical and outlandish, Arrakis is very realistic and believable world.
The novel takes place primarily on Arrakis, also known as Dune. A place where water is a luxury and the sun is the ultimate enemy of a man. Many secrets are buried within Dune's sands, many of which only its natives, the Fremen, are aware of. One mystery that the government has still not reasoned out is the spice, melange. The addictive spice practically runs the universe, giving the Guild navigators their enhanced navigational skills and Muad'Dib his prescience. Strangely, though, the spice is only found on Arrakis, and quite abundantly. All of this Paul Atreides must encounter when his father, Duke Leto, accepts the fief of Arrakis. However, through a series of events involving the Atreides' arch rival, the Harkonnens, Paul and his mother, Jessica, must flee to the desert, leaving behind Paul's inheritance as Duke. When Paul encounters the spice-filled desert, the prescience that he always possessed is enhanced to the point of sensing truth and predicting the future. Hiding in the cover of the desert, Paul and Jessica are taken in by the Fremen and accepted into their religion. It is through the Fremen that Paul becomes the notorious Muad'Dib, and the long awaited Messiah of the Fremen, destined to lead them in battle. However, the battle is not only with the Harkonnens, but the Bene Gesserit also. The Bene Gesserit are the founders of a human breeding program to reach the goal of creating a Kwistatz Haderach, the ultimate human.
Soon, the man known as Muad'Dib must fight the battle with his old enemies, the Harkonnens and his own future.
This book is a classic science fiction masterpiece that displays the immense talent and imagination of its author, Frank Herbert. It challenges the imagination, inspires the mind, and fills the senses until you feel you can taste the melange on your tongue and feel the desert sand of Arrakis on beneath your feet. If you appreciate intelligent literature, this book will not disappoint you.

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Summary: Astonishing
Review: This book is completely amazing. I can't say much more then that. Every bit of it made me want more. The best way I've heard it put is by Arthur C. Clarke who stated: "I know of nothing comparable but 'The Lord of the Rings'". That's all that is close. Every book in the series is as good or better then a book in "The Lord of the Rings".

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Summary: An insightfull book
Review: Many will find Dune dull, hard to read, pretentious etc. The book is however one of the greatest novels ever made. It is not a light read. It is not meant to taken lightly. An understanding of the author, his intentions and the overall messianical pattern that is interwoven in the novel is truely needed to comprehend the book.

Readers of the book often focus soley on the plot line of the novel. Though they may think it simplistic and predictable, it is not. Though Dune can be read without having to read the other novels they truely should be read together. They work together and create a larger storyline. When I first finished reading Dune I had the distinct feeling of missing something, or that the novel was not really finished. It wasn't. The other Dune books contribute to build an understanding of the underlying motives of the books characters and orginazations.

The book does at time seem simplistic due to the somewhat static characters. Many are archetypal, however I would bring your attention to Dr. Yueh. He was not just a simple traitor. He loved house Atriedes but he hated the Harkonnens even more so that he would betray the Atreides. He is not just a simple traitor acting for his own greed or vice. Stilgar as well is a dynamic character. He goes from a great leader to a worshiper of Muad'Dib. I find that a reduction of his character. Paul himself goes from a rather mouthy boy to a leader of the imperium. Anyone can seee how Paul is a very multidimensional character. He is Paul Atriedes, Duke of Arrakis. He is Usul, the lover of his Fremen concubine Chani. He is the religious icon Muad'Dib leader of the Fremen and the new order of the Universe. There are of course the single dimensional characters who are unchanging who function as a sounding board for the more dynamic charcters. Gurney Halleck is one. An idealist who serves as a control from which one can measure the change in Paul. He also represents the concepts of idealism.

Ultimatly this book is not to be simply glanced over. It should be read more then once to gain a true appreciation. It is not a simple story but almost an exposition on concepts of destiny, agency, and struggle. If all of those things are taken into account and carfully pondered over then the true beauty of the book can be seen.

Some complain that upon detailed scrutiny of the novel that the book falls apart. Not so. Everything is accounted for. Sometimes the premises for those reasons are all of one sentence and can be easily missed. Read carefully.

The book is also full of underlying patterns. Compare the novel to the Greek Tragedy of Agemenon and his house from who the Atriedes descend. One can see the repitition of that storyline with a twist. All the biblical, and religious references. The book is full of such allusions.

This edition has some typos, font changes, repeated lines, extra spaces. It was not proof read well if at all. The publishers should really do a better job.

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Summary: Herbert Rules Sci Fi While Tolkien Diminishes
Review: Dune is, without a doubt, the best Sci Fi book ever written, if not the best BOOK ever written. Every page I finished pulled me into the next one. It is an inspiring and well-done story that should keep any reader captivated until the last page. The Dune series easily dominates the Lord of the Rings and other critically acclaimed Science Fiction novels. I just can't understand why some people found it to be a bad book. Over and over, their reason for not liking it is: Boring. If anyone thinks this is boring, they must have the attention span of a 5 year old with ADD. Buy Dune now.

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Summary: A fairy tale for our time
Review: This book is not the best book ever written. Nor is it the most exciting or intriguing story. It is however a modern classic that envelops the reader in a different universe where the problems we have today -- politics, business evils and shortage of natural resources -- are mirrored in a fantastical realm.

The main character is good. The antagonists are bad. For the most part, there is not much "gray". Like a western of old, the hats are easy to recognize. I read this book twenty years ago and recently picked it up again from the local used book store. I found that it was still as fun to read as it was long ago.

Read this book because it is a modern classic. Enjoy the ride.

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Summary: Good idea, but bad book...
Review: I know this is considered a classic and one of the supreme Sci-Fi novels of all time and that's why I was excited to read it. However, I found it boring and disjointed. Some of the characters are interesting and the story has it's moments but it's not worth the time it takes to read it. The story spends too much time building up to events which are either unsatisfying or over the top. The main character was extremely shallow and what personality he did have was still obscure. I didn't care for him at all. He seemed to be as bored as I was with the things going on around him. The book had good concepts but they were never really put to good use. I really wanted this book to be good. I was on it's side to begin with, but now I can see why Herbert had such a hard time finding someone to publish it.

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Summary: Best ever
Review: I originally read _Dune_ as a serial in the old Analog magazine (in the '60s I think). It was then and, after 40 years as an SF reader, it still remains the single greatest SF novel I have ever read. I am not as impressed by the author's sequels, and even less so by son Brian's prequels of recent years (though I have read them all because I cannot get enough of the world Mr. Herbert created for us.) If you will read only one SF novel, this is the one to read.

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Summary: The best book!
Review: This book was amazing. Don't be discouraged by the length of the book because this is one of the best books I've ever read. If you know Hebrew or Arabic, some of the words might make more sense. If you don't, there's an appendix in the back.

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Summary: How can you not like this book?
Review: Are you people nuts? This movie has got it all mystery, suspense, plenty of action and even some humor.

Overall-
For those of you who like to see a WELL THOUGHTOUT scifi book read this
For those of you who like to study islamic culture and see what such a culture could be like in the year 26,000 read this book
For those of you who like everthing good and decent about literature buy this book. I do however advise you to stay away from the "prequels" of the 90s that lack both the depth and scope of the original. I would say more but I like this book so much I would use up my alloted space. For now I will leave you to discover the mysteries of Arakias(also known as "Dune") for yourself.