Dune

Rating:
Summary: Great book, poor publisher
Review: As stated in most of the reviews, Dune is a must read for sci-fi fans. I don't want to comment on the story as much as the publisher of this specific book. I purchased a hardcover because I can usually count on a higher quality printing. However, I was discouraged by this book's lack of quality. There were many misspelled words and the printing of letters was incomplete, leaving the bottom portion of a letter but not the top. Overall, I would recommend purchasing Dune, but not from this publisher.

Rating:
Summary: one of the best
Review: Dune is a classic on so many levels. There's not much I can say that hasn't been said by other reveiwers, but I wanted a chance to throw my five stars in.

If you haven't read this sci fi masterpiece, pick it up (or check it out of the library or borrow it from a friend) and give it a look. It will take you to another world, as the best fiction always does.

Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: Dune has one of the most intricately complex worlds I've seen in any book. The characters are richly detailed, and you can almost see the desert landscape. Herbert does an excellent job of describing the characters feelings and motivations, and whether you know of his writing this as an allegory or not, it's still an incredible book. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: Dune is one of the best, if not THE best book I have ever read. Frank Herbert does a great job explaining the characteres and all their fealings through italics, which lets you have a insight that you wouldn't usually get in novels. The book is packed with tense scenes that are good even if you re-read them several times. The only problem I had with this book, is that it is not divided into chapters, which makes it EVEN harder to put down, so it's not really a problem I guess. It definitely scores a 5.

Thanks, John Horsley

Rating:
Summary: The SUPREME masterpiece?
Review: Dune...Arrakis...Desert Planet...A global atmosphere of no precipitation, yet the planet is the most significant and important of them all. Why? Because it has spice, the most valuable substance in existence. House Atreides is assigned to take over rule of Dune to replace the Harkonnens. The book is filled with excellent dialogue, fine word choice, and excellent atmosphere. However, I don't consider it "Science Fiction's Supreme Masterpiece" as the cover says. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book, but I've read better. And after all, this rating system is relative. (Besides, it's not like my opinion will change anything). Frank Herbert had a knack for putting catchy phrases and captivating fight scenes, but essentially, it could have been been better.

Rating:
Summary: A dream to be reflected upon
Review: For many reading this, I assure you that Dune is not the book for you. The prose is often weak, there are several sci-fi cliches (though I'm sure they are only cliches because of Dune's influence), and some expanses could even be described as 'tedious'. Yet, regardless of this, I still find this book to be the best sci-fi I've ever read. Like Lynch's movie, it is not designed for those just looking for a quick, 'easy' form of entertainment. It requires that you interact with it, use your own imagination to expand upon the concepts Herbert presents, and ultimatly, realize the complete world he has constructed. Dune flows like a dream. It can confuse you, it can draw you in, it can overwhelm you, but overall, if you read the novel correctly, it will leave you in a haze as if you had taken the Water of Life yourself. Within 530 pages, Frank Herbert has created a complete world nearly amazing as our own, and if you are prepared and willing to take this journey, this world will consume you for many enjoyable nights.

Rating:
Summary: Great science fiction for the non-science fiction fan
Review: Don't get me wrong - I like science fiction as a genre, but some of it is just too technical and unbelievable. I'm more of a history fan. And I guess that's why Dune is so appealing - it is a very well crafted science fiction novel, but because of the concept of the family histories, the trade wars and other issues it has the feel of a historical saga as well.

In addition there are great characters, inhospitable deserts, evil bad guys and giant worms. What more could a person want? But all in all its a real saga - a great book and a great read. Science fiction fans rejoice, and those who wouldn't normally consider such a book will also enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Dune was one of the most intreving books (excuse my spelling) I have ever read. Its sort of Machavillian in a sense with spies, assassins, and so fourth. It has very rich layered plots that take alot of understanding to really get the FULL meaning of the book, and lots of new words you need to know (The Imperial Dictonary in the front helps ALOT) I recommend this book to anyone interested in reading how politics, mystisysm, and religion all play a single role in the Epic adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Could not put it down!
Review: This book has got to be the absolute best science fiction book of all time! When reading this masterpiece, I was lost in time and reality. I felt emotional yet it was subtle. All characters were intricately detailed and believable. I am reading the 4th book as we speak and will attempt to continue on with Brian Herbert's sequels. Although no one could mimic Frank Herbert's style!

Rating:
Summary: An exellent sci-fi book that will apeal to everyone.
Review: Book Review

I usually do not consider literature as a favorite pass-time but sometimes there are books that cannot be put down until you your eyes are sore tired, and Frank Herbert's Dune is one of them. Although the book is in the science fiction genre, it is a great pick for anyone who appreciates a good story, and the book also includes quit a bit of mystery and romance which fits in perfectly in the world that grips you in and does not let go even after you are done with the book. I am a big fan of the science fiction genre, especially the Start Trek and Star Wars series. Actually most of my reading revolved around those two names, so when I stumbled upon Dune, I was not very enthusiastic to say the least. The book was large and very long (almost made turn away right there), complicated, and dated, but since I did not find anything new in the two categories mentioned above, I picked it up to pass my time during the holidays, and because I like to spend my free tome in front of my computer I though that I might not even start on the book, boy was I wrong. I started reading during the second week of the not so long holiday. I was instantly possessed by the storyline, which was impossible to predict but satisfied with what it revealed to you. The story is a bout a Royal Family Atreides who has to leave their paradise of a planet to govern a desert planet, which is full of the most valuable substances in galaxy. The story twist from there on into betrayals, mystery, romance and finally revenge. I finished the book in less than three days, and the book was almost five hundred pages long. I had little time to do anything during those three days, and I must admit I was never that devoted to a book before. The best part about is the ending. It ends the story in passion able way, and although one can draw a conclusion with it, it acts a lot better as an opener to the continuation of the saga. In fact the book created four sequels (I am already into the second book in the serious) and prequel. The reason for all deviation/continuations is due to a very high critical success of the book and enormous sales that it generated, in fact all of the sequel and the recent prequel have scored very well with the fan base. Due to the big popularity of the book, there was a motion picture created based on the book back 1989, and featured some big stars such Sting himself (I did not know that he acted either), but did not do the book justice and failed in the box office, and it was very recently recreated a six hour special edition show on the Sci-Fi channel, and although a much better than the first was still somewhat out of place. I guess some things have to be left to your imagination.