Dune

Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: Frank Herbert's richest, most complex work. This novel is simply a "must read" for any science fiction fan. I have read Dune several times and each time I come away with new insights into this complicated novel. Herbert weaves religion, politics, love, betrayal, commerce and military expertise into a spellbinding tale. Dune is a wonderful, epic adventure, the main reason it is one of the best-selling science fiction novels of all time.

Rating:
Summary: 300 pages too many
Review: What a disappointment! This book could have been so much better. I started reading it and was soon enthralled with the complex plots within the House Atreides and its many interesting characters. Then, 200 pages into the book, they were all killed off in an exciting climax, leaving the rest of the book to degrade into prophetic mumbo-jumbo. When the entire plot relies on fantastic psychic prophecies that no one can really understand (I doubt even Herbert knew what he was talking about), the story becomes unreadable. I don't know how anyone could read a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Human Imagination at its greatest
Review: Dune won the first Nebula award and shared the Hugo award and formed the basis for the greatest epic in science fiction. The desert planet Arrakis is awesome. The story of a great family's aspiration to bring to actuality the most ancient and unattainable dream... A stunning blend of environmentalism, politics, fact and fiction a book that is well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Not the same book that won the Hugo Award
Review: I first read an Ace printing from the late 60's early 70's., so many years ago. I just read a "newer" edition. They aren't the same book?! It's like someone came and changed Huck Finn... ha,ha... I know he tried to make it "better"... more literary, but he took out Paul's humanity and replaced it with a Messiah. It was more of a love story in a very strange culture with more mystical stuff about the spice and the second moon. There was a sound weapon that has disappeared completely as well. In my opinion he ruined it by messing with it? He lived too long and tried to make perfection better...

It reminds me of the pigs in animal farm who can in the night and changed the laws on the wall.

We should go back to that Ace edition.... the laws were better.

Rating:
Summary: Comparison of original Dune with 25th Anniversary Edition
Review: After reading both versions, one has to wonder why the 25th Anniversary rewrite was performed? Was it to produce more sales? Quite possibly. The 25th Ann edition looses significant character development and intensity from the original.

If it is the only version that can be found, by all means read it. I would though suggest that one look for Herbert's original version of Dune.

Rating:
Summary: A gateway to the genre
Review: If you have never read Dune, then use it as your gateway to the genre of Speculative Fiction. Once you pass through these portals you will never turn back, and you will never want to. Dune was one of the first SF novels I ever read and I can still remember it like a first kiss.

Rating:
Summary: In the beginning, there was...
Review: There are a few essential titles any self-respected science fiction aficionado ought to, if not hold in one's collection, at least read for the sheer pleasure such endeavor rewards the reader. This being said, I believe it is safe to say that Frank Herbert's brilliant "Dune" is one of such mentioned worthy books.

The distant beginning of a legendary saga spawning thousands upon thousands of years, "Dune" (along with many other worthy titles such as "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Stranger in a strange land", among many others) set the landmark for modern science fiction to follow its current course of action. It is not secure to say science fiction today would be like it currently is had "Dune" never been written. Even though the influence is not as direct as one might be tempted to believe, the influence is in there. Not only has "Dune" inspired science fiction on its literary form, but in entertainment as well. Videogames such as "Final Fantasy VII" and "Xenogears" (Both by Squaresoft) have plot elements straight from "Dune".

Set in the distant Arrakis, also known as Dune, this book tells the story of Paul Atreides, a young gifted boy destined to one day hold his father's position of Duke of House Atreides somewhere in the future on the planet Caladan. The apparent tranquility ruling upon House Atreides is disturbed when, by order of the Emperor, House Atreides is ordered to take ownership of Arrakis, a place once held by the dreaded Harkonens, mortal enemies of the Atreides for generations. Arrakis, the most precious and important place in the whole of the Universe, is the sole source of the awareness enhancement drug that enables space travel, and anyone who controls it, controls the entirety of the Galactic Civilization. But forces beyond the Atreides' control mark the terrible destiny of the House, setting its unavoidable demise. Paul soon discovers how these events might play a very significant role in his life and the fate of the entire Universe, a role so intrinsic and complex, that a complete religious/social movement was started generations before Paul's birth, all of it carefully planed for its day to come.

An amazing and complex story that is sure to glue you to your seat. Do not worry if you do not understand, or even like it the first time you read it; this book is of those you need to read again to fully appreciate it.

Rating:
Summary: Super!
Review: This was much better than I expected. Frank Herbert truly does create a very realistic world that does seem somewhat likely to be our future. Some of the characters do seem a little weird for their age (Paul, Chani, etc.), but this is all explained in later books. This is much more than a science fiction novel. Even someone who didn't like science fiction would like this book about polictics, religion, ecology, and people in general.

Rating:
Summary: Complex & Intruiging
Review: I don't think I need to give you a book sypnosis or anything like that - you can read the reviews from the publisher. Want to know why I liked and didn't like it? Read on.

I always like to start with the good - Dune is amazingly complex and the world is awesome and real. Herbert has a great political understanding of our own past and present, as well as a good grasp on what it takes to make a planet and people complete. Religion, custom, politics, enviroment, etc. There's a certian depth in the novel that makes it complicated and unexplained - but isn't that what the sequals are for?

What everyone wants to hear: The Bad - The characters are as flat as looseleaf. Paul, the main character, is like, what, fifteen at the start of the novel? He acts like a thirty-year old with as much confidence as a child. Sure, he was trained for that, but...it just makes him seem so unreal. Paul's mother? No devolpment. Duke Leto? Leto, who? There's also the seriosness level of the novel. Everyone is very grim and complex, when really, not all people are like that. It just doesn't work that way. Though you do have to be fairly interesting to associate with Paul and the House Atreides.

Looking for well devoloped characters and believable people? Throw the book in the trash. Want about a strong plot and amazingly complex world? Worth more money than the price. Dune is regarded a must-read science fiction - and for good reason. But there's a reason why people don't like it - there's not the edge of your seat suspense, or amazing characters that people can relate to. There's just a world that seems so real you almost forget about rather-be-dead Paul.

Rating:
Summary: ............................................................
Review: I was really, really intimitaded to read this book. I had heard a lot about it, how epic it was, and that scared me away from it. But, after being hounded by two best friends to read the damn thing, I did...AND I LOVED IT! It grabbed me about 30 pages in and after that I read it every moment I had, almost forgetting about my girlfriend in the process. So far to date I've gotten through 3 books in the series (which is sad, but I like to read a variety of books, so I've been book jumping--Now I'm back baby). Give it a try, and if you're intmitated by any book, read it, you may be missing out. P.S. you should get the Anniversary HardCover edition if you can, the print and production is a lot better. Now onto Crime and Punishment....