Dune

Rating:
Summary: Stunning Literary Achievement!!!
Review: Dune, Frank Herbert's Masterpiece, is a Literary Achievment, and, in my opinion, the greatest Science Fiction Novel of all time. Set in the future, this novel covers themes ranging from politics to economics, religion and philosphy to environmentalism. In other words, Herbert is a genius and you will be able to tell this within the first few pages.

The central theme is that of messianic religions, and the effects of such. Because of the fact that Paul Attredies (the main character) is a messiah, we get to see his point of view on being one. Herbert deals extensively with the feelings such a person might feel about having a fate which is unaviodable.

The characters Herbert created are outstanding. You'll hate the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and love Paul. You'll be intrigued by the guildsmen and in awe of the Bene Geseritt.

If you like dense plots, this is the book for you. There are more layers to this novel than you can count on both hands. I should warn you that you will miss many many things after the first reading. I recently finished reading it for the third time and I was still discovering new themes,new ideas. IF you have not yet read it, Dune is a Masterpiece and should be a part of your collection.

Rating:
Summary: If I could bring one book to a desert island...
Review: This is a lousy sci-fi book. There is no space travel, no robots, practially no aliens, ray guns, space ports or any advanced technology whatsoever. However, it's essentially the best story to fit into just one book I've been fortunate enough to encounter. The plot takes you to a distant world, far separated from us in both time and space, to the home of the Atreides family. They are nobles of some sort and have been comissioned by the Emperor to govern the planet of Arrakis, home of the mysterious spice, a substance with many miraculous traits. From here the book brings you right into the intricate plots surrounding the family Atreides and their adversaries, all surrounded by an environment that speaks more of the middle ages than the future.

Well, I would be lying if I didn't admit that every now and then an ornithopter or a las-pistol enters the scene (alright, there _are_ ray guns), but this only serves as a backdrop to the vivid characters of the book, in my opinion the strongest side of the book. I grew attached to them from the first line they appeared and I felt close to them all the way through the story.

If you havn't read this book already, I suggest you pick it up right away. I've yet so talk with any litterate person who didn't at least think it a fair read. If you've read it before, Personally, I think I'll schedule it for another reading in a year or so.

Rating:
Summary: Science Fiction at Its Finest
Review: Science fiction combines adventure, fantasy, and horror into an imaginary world. Frank Herbert's Dune, set on the desert planet of Arrakis, is simply a science fiction masterpiece, setting itself apart from the typical novel by discussing themes that are uncommon in other genres. The style of writing and the language used in Dune can be difficult to understand and comprehend at times, but the storyline and the plot are quite easy to follow. The plot contains several issues, including the controversial topic of religion, that interest the reader and keep them reading on for more. For example, technology is a central theme. The reader can then relate to the book, since we live in a world that is dependent upon technology. Also, the characters are well developed and easy to relate to. Each character has their own place in the book; there are no characters that just suddenly appear, and then disappear. Overall, Dune appeals to the reader simply because it is easy to relate to.

Rating:
Summary: Review of Frank Herbert¿s Dune
Review: Frank Herbert's Dune describes a futuristic political power struggle with an underlying lesson that teaches us about the human condition of adaptation. The power struggle is centered on a need for a substance called "the spice" and involves several parties, including the Imperium, the Harkonnens, the Atreides and the Guild. This power struggle sends the main character, Paul Atreides, into the deep southern Arrakeen desert where he has to learn how to live on a dry, worm infested, desert. Dune demonstrates the idea that humans must adapt to their environments in order to survive. One of the earlier examples of adaptation is the use of still suits. Still suits are specially designed garments, made by Fremen (natives of Arrakis), which prevent the loss of bodily-water. These garments are essential in the deep desert because there are no water sources. Paul and his mother, Jessica, have never before used still suits on their home planet, Caladan, so they had to adapt to the desert and learn to use them. Without the still suits, the two would not have survived their escape to the south, and could not have found the Fremen. It is the Harkonnen's lack of quality still suits that kept them from exploring the deep desert. This adaptation is very essential to the plot because there would have been no story if they hadn't found the Fremen; Paul and Jessica would be dead. Paul had to learn the Fremen ways. Like how land, air and sea power are utilized on Earth, the Fremen utilize "desert power" on Arrakis. Desert power is more important that anything else on Arrakis because of the simple fact that Arrakis is all desert. Desert power involves the effective use of all desert resources; using worms for the water of life and transportation, sandstorms to knock out shields on an assault, and spice to enhance the mind. The Fremen taught Paul their religion, and all of the aspects of desert power. If he had not adapted to the desert by learning the Fremen ways, Paul would not have learned that the spice opened up his revelations and he would not have been able to mount the successful final assault on the Imperial city. Neither the Harkonnens nor the Sardaukar (Imperial forces) had desert power so they were massacred (3 dead Imperials to every 1 Fremen) when fighting in the desert. Learning the Fremen ways seems to be the most important adaptation in the novel; Paul couldn't have survived and taken back the Imperial city without it. Paul's adaptations through the novel were directly related to the plot. It shows that people cannot survive in an environment without adequately changing to meet that environment's requirements. Ultimately, the book shows how the better-adapted fremen with Paul beat the unready Imperial forces and Harkonnens. This novel very effectively combines great descriptions of the setting and characters, with an intricate plot that utilizes the thoroughness of its characters and setting. It is a masterpiece of science fiction and I recommend it to anyone who has to time to read a long novel.

Rating:
Summary: Amazingly Complex Novel
Review: "Dune." You've all heard the name echoed down the corriders of masterful science fiction. But have you read the book? Hopefully so - if not, the following review is geared to stear you in one direction or the other. This amazingly complex novel follows an all too infamous VERY intricate plotline. Keep reading to find out what it's all about.

Dune is set on the desert planet of Arakkis, where a precious spice is mined. This spice is the planet's main economic "cash crop". But there are those that will stop at nothing to retrieve the amazing spice and its incredible profits. Elsewhere, on the planet of Atriedes, Paul, young son of the Duke, travels to the planet of Arakkis with the royal house. There he finds that he is the Kwistatz Haderach (sorry about the spelling!) and much more.

Should you buy Dune? Is it worth your hard earned money? Take it from an avid and experienced reader of both science fiction and fantasy - YES. Never let the winds of change catch the classics, because very often they're the most valued. But I'm not going to stop here - what're the hard-core facts, you ask? Pros and cons?

THE PROS

A book well deserved of its famed name. It is indeed a science fiction masterpiece. Dune follows a complex plot, that although science fiction, capitvates the reader with extreme reality. It's been a long time since I've read a book - fantasy, science fiction, or otherwise - that relays such a believable message to the ever avid reader. But not ony the complexity of the plot attacted me to this novel. Dune is masterfully written. There's no other way to put it. The characters are so devoloped that the reader feels for them, hates them, and understands them. You can almost feel yourself in the neverending deserts of the planet Arakkis.

THE CONS

Ah, if the book is so well written, why do many people lack the heart to finish it? 1 - its complexity. While this also makes the book believable and striking, it also makes the book complicated. You need to be a dedicated reader to understand the topics presented in this book. I don't recommend it for children - some of the topics, though perfectly appropriate, are extremely hard to grasp. Many people may say the book is "boring" with long conversations and a plot going no where. This is only becuase a reader does not understand the situations presented. If you want to pick up this book, be ready to re-read a few sections, especially if you have trouble understanding the words between the lines.

Thanks for staying with me for so long! Those who skipped to the end, I'll sum it all up here: Dune's complexity makes it strikingly real and believavle, yet often times strict patience is required - as in real life. But if you're wondering whether to buy it - I didn't give it five stars for nothing. It's worth every penny, and more.

Rating:
Summary: Pay attention, George Lucas. THIS is how you make sci-fi
Review: Frank Herbert's science fiction epic Dune is considered the definitive science fiction/fantasy novel. After reading it, I felt the same. It has everything you've ever wanted in a sci-fi story and more. This book has plenty of characters, of whom nearly all are described in great detail or play major roles in the book. This book uses lots of very descriptive writing to describe alien environments and other cosmic locales, which are also quite abundant as well. This book has a simple name that can be shortened easily when writing book reports and not sound awkward in the least, unlike The House of Seven Gables or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Dune contains many fascinating aspects that present the book in a much more serious perspective than would had they not been used. For example, Herbert employs a type of narration that serves as a more strategic use of standard plot hopping. Herbert's writing style is one in which a writer will switch the plot over to different characters after nearly every other chapter. Whenever the plot line involving certain characters becomes tense, the reader will become anxious. The writer will then take this segment of the plot and continue on with it for a few chapters or so until the reader becomes so excited that he or she cannot hold the book steady any longer. As soon as the peak in these most gripping chapters is reached, the writer completely terminates your connection to that specific plot branch, and moves on to a different one. The writer will stay on this separate plot line and others until your interest in the previous one disappears, so by the time the writer gets back around to it, you won't care what happens to the characters in it. Although this writing style has been notorious for deterring readers the world over, Herbert's characters and environments are so unique and interesting that you'll want to continue reading despite the fidgety plot. Another one of Dune's trademark characteristics is Herbert's use of philosophy, which is used quite frequently in character dialogue. Because two of the major organizations in the Dune universe are intellectual schools, the people that act as representatives from these schools speak intellectually, using words as a weapon and making statements with hidden meanings. The members of the royal houses use these philosophical ideas and methods of speech as well, but they are much easier to understand, because Herbert wants to give you the idea that these people are distinguished. The philosophical dialogue used in Dune may be difficult to read at first, but by the end of the book, the language becomes tolerable, if not understandable. If you choose to read the rest of the books in the series, beware. Philosophical speech is used in all of the Dune books. The most important aspects of Dune are its characters and its setting. For the most part, the story takes place on a dry desert planet named Arrakis, also referred to as Dune by its inhabitants, and the main characters are Paul Atreides and his mother, the Lady Jessica. Dune represents desolation and desertion, and also stresses the fact that Paul and his mother are like fish out of water, because they came from a lush, earthlike planet, and are now on a planet where water equals power. Later in the novel, Paul and Jessica are given shelter by Stilgar, a Fremen. Fremen, by the way, are the people native to Arrakis. They have strict rules governing water distribution, and treat the desert-dwelling sandworm like a deity, among other things. Over a period of several years, Paul and his mother become Fremen. They adopt Fremen customs, act like Fremen, dress like Fremen, and obey all Fremen rules. They both go through a complete change of character. While they change, others remain the same. The Baron Harkonnen, for example, continues to live a gluttonous, decadent, and otherwise repellent lifestyle. But then again, that's just his character. Dune is very hard not to take seriously. People die, kill, betray, execute, plot, scheme, and ruin other people in an accurate representation of what life and human relations may be like in the future, eight thousand years from now. Situations like this are what attracts people to read Dune, and keeps fans coming back for more.

Rating:
Summary: I look forward to reading this book again.
Review: I first read this book about 14 years ago when I was in high school. Unfortunatly most of my junior high and high school years were spent reading sci/fi and fanasy books instead of living those wonder years. I wish that.....Oh Ok, lets get back to the book review. I probably read hundreds of book during those teen years. My favoriate place to go was the library. I couldn't tell what most of those books I read were about or the names of most of those book, but I do rememeber what Dune was about. This book is a epic story about religous beliefs, hallucinogenic visions, man overcoming nature, personal betrayal, and how the hardships of life and love make you stronger. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to look at life from a non-main stream cultural and religious prospective. I think this is the best book of the Dune series.

Rating:
Summary: It helps to be able to write
Review: Herbert is one of those people who have a great imagination, with beuatiful skills of creativity. These people can create amazing worlds in their head, with politics, culture, and a unique language. The only problem is, he can't write. I am an avid reader, and recently decided to pick up this renowned novel. I was sorely dissappointed. With such poor development( I do not mean an introduction-I hate introductions. I mean actual coherency), I could barely bring myself to finish this book. Don't waste your time. This so-called "Brilliant" sci-fi novel is nothing more that a pieced-together third-rate material. (By the way- anyone who wants to tell me that writing isn't as easy as it looks- I am a writer, and would be glad to email some of my stuff to anyone who contacts me.)

Rating:
Summary: just a few steps to total enlightenment
Review: 1. Read the book during the summer-time

2. Download the song "Final Dream" from the 80s movie "Dune"

3. Immerse yourself in water and/or listen to the song.

4. Break out in tears.

This book will change your life forever. :)

Rating:
Summary: what can i say, i like it
Review: First off, I have a slight phobia towards science fiction. I was left unimpressed by it when I was younger, too many corny aliens and spaceships. So that it is understood, I am not usually a big fan of Science Fiction genre. But, Dune is a fantastically written book. Frank Herbert certainly has a way of pulling the reader into the heart of the plot, which is most tense once it gets up to full speed. I felt as if I was a bystander watching everything that occurred and for me that style is fascinating. The first parts of the book are slow, not tedious, but it seemed to me as if I were moving at turtle speed-unusual since I normally read quickly. The read is only slow because Herbert is dishing out a lot of information that is quite helpful for understanding the rest of the novel. After I passed the thick reading, the whole book was very easy to speed through. I would have finished last week had it not been for the appendixes at the end of the book. I am even tempted to skip the last ten pages or so of appendix because it is starting to become the "tedious" that the beginning was not. This is why I decided not to give it five stars. I would recommend Dune to everyone. There are some higher level thinking topics, but even if one prefers not to ponder too deeply Dune is exciting on a less intense level, too. Frank Herbert did a spectacular job on this book. Next week I am going to pick up the sequels at the library. I wonder if they can measure up to the high standard set by Dune.