Dune

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Summary: A brief guide to the philosophy of Dune.
Review: Frank Herbert's Nebula and Hugo award-winning "Dune" is widely acclaimed as the best science fiction work. And rightly so. As entertainment it's a suspenseful tale of adventure that sparkles with imaginative creativity. When the family of Paul Atreides arrives on the desert planet "Arrakis" or "Dune", they find that their goal to take over rule from the Harkonnen family is difficult to achieve. Paul faces treachery, murder, as well as the rigorous conditions of a dry and deadly planet where water is more precious than gold. It is only with the help of the mysterious battle-hardened desert tribe of Fremen, and his newly-discovered religious powers that Paul stands any chance of triumphing over the powers of evil. The plot has a complexity of layers reminiscent of Tolkien.

The sci-fi classification does not mean "Dune" is inaccessible to non-sci-fi fans, because most of the traditional sci-fi elements are either absent or mere background. Several remarkable scenes of hand to hand combat are more reminiscent of ancient Roman gladiators than of science fiction! There are weaknesses: mature themes (such as allusions to pedastry) make "Dune" unsuitable for children, and Herbert's use of language is not outstanding. But what especially makes "Dune" great is the complexity of ideas. Herbert has created not just a story, but a memorable world conveying an elaborate philosophy of ideas, with three outstanding themes:

1. ECOLOGY. Arrakis is a barren and bare planet of desert sands, with characters reminiscent of desert Arabs (Herbert studied Arabic extensively in researching for the novel). As well as hosting titanic deadly sandworms, the desert sands feature a mysterious and narcotic spice substance known as Melange, which is central to the diet of its inhabitants, heightens powers of awareness, and is a central part of the economy. The power and value of water in this hostile sandscape environment is manifested in that shedding tears is an expression of great devotion. It becomes evident that there is a plan to rescue this planet from its barrenness and turn it into a paradise. Significantly the book is dedicated to dry land ecologists. Herbert was an accomplished ecologist himself, and one wonders whether he is expressing his own vision of the possibility of a man-achieved paradise on earth.

2. POLITICS. There is a complex interplay of people, tribes, politics and economics, with constant scheming, plots and subterfuge revolving around personal and political ambitions. Herbert has created an intricate and plausible history of tribes and peoples, with unique languages (much originating from Arabic), names and ambitions. The lust for power and wealth is combined with a determination to succeed at all costs, stopping at nothing - even murder - to achieve it. The political corruption and chaos of Dune's world is analogous to our contemporary world, as Herbert once observed in an interview: "the scarce water of Dune is an exact analog of oil scarcity. CHOAM is OPEC." Paul's triumphant leadership is also thematic. In humanizing a messiah figure, Herbert raises an important question: why do people blindly follow leaders? "Dune" conveys his theory that "superheroes are disastrous for mankind" because even the greatest leaders are human. Despite their strengths, relying completely on them is fatal.

3. RELIGION. Religion is inter-woven with politics, and centers on women, such as the powerful matriarch, the Reverend Mother. Herbert at times seems to picture religion as the manipulation of the masses by the intelligent, since the Orthodox Catholic Bible functions as a human invention rather than divine revelation. The strong religious component especially comes to the fore with Paul, a Messiah figure who fulfils prophecies, the long awaited Kwisatz Haderach who is somehow both man and god, and from whom all blessings flow. These prophecies have their own pitfalls - and are used to show the paradox of a system of predistination. The religion is a mixture of Christianity, Islam (jihad and similar Arabic words are clearly borrowed), Buddhist philosophy, and a strong eastern mystical component. Strangely, there is no active involvement of the Creator, since "the most persistent principles of the universe are accident and error." The power of the divine resides instead within oneself, and there are definite occultic overtones, such as the mention of "wierding" (a form of witchcraft), and very obvious new age Eastern spiritualism and mysticism. Herbert also makes a profound connection between technology and religion. In light of the fact that this novel was written at the hey-day of space travel and lunar landings, it is remarkable that in an appendix Herbert observes that technology and space travel affects one's view of creation. In his opinion, the god of technology and machine-logic is destined to be dethroned, and replaced with a renewed realization of the significance of man. Instead of placing hope in machines, it is to be placed in mankind. Herbert optimism about mankind is evident: a self-made paradise is attainable.

In short, Herbert has created a plausible world, reflecting his multi-faceted interests in society, culture, environment, politics, religion and science. Dune's fictional cultures (Fremen), political parties (Harkonnen, Atreides), worlds (Dune), languages, religions, customs, geography, and ecology are imaginative, realistic, and function in a rich complexity that places him in the same league as Tolkien and similar eminent writers. Though written in the 1960s, the fact that Dune is still relevant, readable and in no way outdated is a testimony to its greatness. You will find that this book has so much depth that you will not just read it once, but many times, with increasing enjoyment. So, don't hesitate, head for the sands of Dune for an unforgettable adventure!

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Summary: Greatest SF of all time? I don't think so!
Review: I am a life-long SF fan and finally got around to reading Dune for the first time in my 31st year. I was very disappointed. I cannot come anywhere close to agreeing with its 'title' of SF's grand masterpiece. I found the writing unsatisfying and quite dated. Too much drug use stuff (boy, you can tell it was written in the sixties!), too much exposition, and too little character development (of everyone but Paul at least, who I really got too much of). Potentially interesting minor characters are introduced, only to be killed off in very vague ways before they can really be developed. The spacing Guild and how they use the spice is never really explained, nor is CHOAM and the endless, sketchy references to it. The Emperor (and the Guild for that matter), very important characters, are never even seen until the very end, and ALL the action takes place in the last 50 pages or so. However, the worst part is the ending; the one-on-one fight with Feyd is very predictable, and I was seriously expecting to turn the page to another chapter when it ended; terrible ending, quite a let down.

The bad stuff being said, the book does get progressively better as it goes along; or at least less boring. And it does paint an intriguing picture of Arrakis, I do now find myself interested in Dune itself, and that is a very original and interesting part of the story. I have been anxious to finish the book and watch the movies. I do find myself thinking about stuff from the book, so it does kindof 'get under your skin' I think, even if like me you don't think its very good.

I guess I was expecting it to be the Lord of the Rings of Sci-Fi, but it does not even come close. If you want a grand epic that is the pinnacle of its genre (fantasy, in that case) I recommend you stick with it. Dune is quite a let down by comparison.

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Summary: a great novel
Review: I have not finished the novel yet but I wish to do so very soon. Dune is a very good novel that I started reading for an english project I did not think I would like the novel but once I started reading it I started to like it a lot. The novel is very long and I did not think I would get done with it but once I started to read it I really started liking it and could not stop reading it. The novel has a lot of science fiction in it and I usually do not read science fiction novels but I thought I would give it a try and I am glad that I did. The planet arrakis sounds like it would be a good place to live but I am not sure if I would want to live there because of some of the stuff that happens. After I get done with this novel I may read some other novels by Frank Herbert because I am starting to like his work and he seems like a good author. If there is one novel that everyone should read it would have to be Frank Herberts Dune due to the great writing style and how interesting this novel is .

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Summary: This is THE book to start on science fiction.
Review: If you are looking for an excellent story constructed by flawless writing then this is the book for you.

You may have seen the movie, TV mini-series but let me tell you this: Nothing will ever come close to reading the book together with your own imagination.

This is one of those books not to be missed.

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Summary: A cult classic that set a standard for epic Science Fiction
Review: If you haven't read this because you were put off by the "cult" status of Dune, don't be. I delayed reading it for years because I usually avoid cult classics and overhyped books. But the moment I started reading Dune, I was captivated.

This book creates an entire world and society (what I love best about sci-fi, when done really well.) And this book has an epic struggle of Good and Evil. The bad guys are really BAD. The good guys are complex, heroic and vulnerable at times. There are plots, sub-plots and counter-plots.

Some fascinating concepts are introducted in Dune; an order of women who control breeding of superior human beings and influence politics--the Bene Gesserit, the Mentats, human savants who replaced computers when computers were banned from the universe for their "dehumanizing" effect. And the Fremen, a desert people who are fiercer than the trained killer army of the Padishah Emperor.

This is the most exciting science fiction book I ever read, and is one of my favorite books of all times. If you haven't read it, you are in for a treat. Dune is complicated at times, but always worthwhile.

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Summary: I will not fear. Fear is the mind-killer...
Review: If you are intimidated by what you've heard about Dune, pay it no mind. Never before, even in the works of Tolkien has such a detailed and intricate world been created within the pages of the book. Arrakis and the world surrounding it is as real as our own as told through the cryptic yet poetic words of author Frank Herbert.

So much can be said for what this book symbolizes. Not only does it take modern religions and translate them to the 110th century, not only does it argue philosophically with the nature of war, not only does it show fascism, communism, oligarchism and democracy in truly creative lights, but it also is one of the greatest adventure stories ever written. Paul and Jessica's journey through the desert (and eventually the Fremen way of life) will keep you interested the whole way through. It is a page turner until the very last page.

Pick up the original Dune - and when you're done with that, read the next two. The three after that aren't for all tastes, but they too enrich the original even further (as do the prequels). And whatever you do - DON'T watch that god-awful 1984 movie version. If you really must watch one before you read the book, pick up the DVD of the 2000 Sci-fi miniseries. It doesn't have fantastic production values (... for 4 1/2 hours doesn't look great) but it's heart is in the right place. But I'm wandering. Go by the bloody book.

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Summary: DUNE
Review: This book was ok! if you like fantasy fiction then you will probably like this book, and better yet after you read it you can watch the movie and see everything that happens or you can watch the movie and read the book . whatever that you choose it is your choice but i think you should read dune it is very good book.

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Summary: Land of Sand, Land of Sun, Land of Mystery
Review: Dune is one of those books that never gets old. I'm only fifteen but I've read it at least seven times front to back. I've written fan fiction for it (as well as some really strange Dune/Star Wars crossovers) and find it intriguing, confusing, and beautiful. When I first read the book I was about eleven, and have devoured the rest of the series in the time since.

If you enjoy an intellectually stimulating read, this is it.

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Summary: A Must Read
Review: In the early eighties I walked into the Grand Central Book Store in New York City and asked the salesperson for a recommendation for a "good" Sci-Fi book. He said that he was a fan and recommended a book and author that I was not familar with. Every since that day I was a Dune and Frank Herbert fan. I've read all the Dune books and enjoyed most of them but the orignal Dune is by far one of the best Science Fiction book to come along in a long time. VERY POWERFUL.

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Summary: A great read!
Review: Herbert's Dune is truly one of the best books I have ever read. It has everything in it that one could want: war, heroes, futuristic technology, villains, suspense, you name and Dune probably has it. I strongly recommend the book over the movie. There is far more detail in the novel and you gain a better understanding of who everyone is and what the different people are about. The copy of the book I have has a dictionary of words that you may not understand, and it has a map so you can see roughly where each scene takes place. Herbert was able to keep my attention throughout the whole book and the way it was written kept me glued to the book and it never seemed like it was as long as it really is, about 500 pages. I thought that it had strong similarities to a Star Wars type story; however, it was at the same time completely different. I would recommend this book and I plan on reading some of the others in the series.