Dune

Rating:
Summary: Dune - Best Novel Ever
Review: Dune is easily the best novel that I have ever read. This book tops the Lord of the Rings like no other book has. Has no competition in greatness.

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Science Fiction Novel I've Read
Review: The first time reading this novel, I started with the historical appendix. I directed every single moment in my mind as if it was a cross between some great film and an alternate hyper-reality. Each conversation, action, and scene description played out in nearly real time. If a scene was set up incorrectly or otherwise did not play out exactly as it should, I'd reread and meditate over the passage or pages again until it was flawless. There were moments when the beauty and grandeur of a scene would bring tears to my eyes, such as when Doctor Yueh made his way along the path of burning palm trees to the ornithopter in one last redeeming gesture. There is no way a film could adequately capture the glory of this work of art. Even a 10 hour, $150 million HBO miniseries would only begin to do it justice. That first reading still stands as one of the greatest literary experiences of my life. I know most people don't have the time to experience it as I did, but Dune is a journey I highly recommend - even if it's by speed-reading.

Rating:
Summary: One of the few books that are better the second time
Review: Dune deserves every bit of its acclaim. This is what science fiction should be. It is hard to fathom the level of creativity needed to create this book, much less the series. Herbert successfully created another galaxy within the pages of these books.

I first read Dune (and the rest of the series) in middle school. Years later, half remembering the story, I read it again. This is one of the few books that I have read twice and gained more than just academic insight. Dune breathes wonder and emotion.

If you have never read Dune, read it. If you have read Dune, read it again.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good but not the greatest
Review: Dune was pretty good, but I don't think it is the greatest book I've ever read. It started off well, but it seemed like the last part of the book was rushed with the author jumping over large periods of time. I also had difficulty finding any characters that I could really like. They all seemed a little shifty. I will probably eventually read the rest of the books to see what happens, but I won't be rushing out to buy them.

Rating:
Summary: He who controls the Spice controls the Universe!
Review: Power! imagination! drama! a masterpiece!

Those are but a few of the superlatives that describe this book. Saying the least, Dune is the best si-fi book of all times. An unparalleled saga painted on the vast canvas of Herbert's imagination in vivid colors, but that metaphor is only a two-dimensional view of a manifold work. It's a complete Herbertian Universe with all the detail and intricacy of reality. No si-fi author gets close to the perfection he achieved here. The plot, or should I say plots, twist and turn in completely unpredictable ways, like the non-rhythmic dance of the Fremen. I am yet to see another author that eludes anticipation like Herbert.

The intrigue! The sophistication! So exquisite! The cast of larger-then-life figures in classical rolls, the Hero and the Villain, the Tragic and the Noble, Arch-typical yet not stereotypical. A unique writing style combining the broad objective view point of third person account, with the subjective "thoughts" of first person.

Not to mention the scope and the breath, Herbert plays out philosophical and political, environmental and religious themes with unmatched canny. He was a thinker way ahead of his time, way ahead of OUR time! Maybe future generations will appreciate his full genius. I can not think of any other Si-Fi book that surpasses Dune, with the possible exception of "God Emperor of Dune" on greater philosophical and political depth.

No si-fi fan that respects himself could miss reading this book, but it really is a classic for all to read.

"The truth carries the ambiguity of the word used to express it" (Frank Herbert -- 'God Emperor of Dune')

Rating:
Summary: Dune the book for the ages
Review: This book was the greatest most intricate novel I have ever read. Save "The Lord of The Rings". The book was not an overnight job. It had Tons of info to back up every event in the book. It is a whole world with a long history and a reason for every event. It shows what good and bad things can come from ultimate power. The Long animosity between House Aterdies and House Harkonnen came to a climax in the Harkonnen attack on the Atredies. Paul survives by falling in league with the fremen and comes back to defeat the Harkonnens and the Padish Emperor.

Rating:
Summary: Dune the book for the ages
Review: This book was the greates most intricate novel I have ever read. Save "The Lord of The Rings". The book was not an overnight job. It had Tons of info to back up every event in the book. It is a whole world with a long history and a reason for every event. It shows what good and bad things can come from ultimate power. The Long animosity between House Aterdies and House Harkonnen came to a climax in the Harkonnen attack on the Atredies. Paul survives by falling in league with the fremen and comes back to defeat the Harkonnens and the Padish Emperor.

Rating:
Summary: an incredible saga-spectacle....
Review: ...by the well-studied poet and ecologist, the DUNE books are unbelievably entertaining and philosophicall and psychologically provocative. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Beginning To One of the Best Sci-fi Series
Review: Dune is Frank Herbert's masterpiece about Paul Maud'Dib Atreides, descendants of the House Atreus of Homeric fame, and his battles with his arch-enemies, the Harkonnens and, eventually, with the combined forces of the galaxy. The first of six books in an unfinished series--Herbert died before he brought his series to a conclusion--this book is the best of the series.

Set far in the future, after humanity has not only left Earth, but humanity's origin is probably forgotten, the setting for this book is a neo-medieval world of strict castes, nobility and civilized warfare. The basic plot is rather standard: the young hero, Paul must come of age quickly when his father is treacherously killed by agents of the hated rivals. Since Paul loses his rightful throne, he must come of age among the violent indigenous population known as the Fremen.

Although Herbert does write the action scenes well, the plot is not the strong suit of the book--later books in the series have better plots. The strongest part of the book is the theme of religion and politics that runs through the book. Herbert combines many different religions in this future galaxy including Christianity, Islam and various eastern religions.

Herbert sets his hero, Paul, up as a messiah to the planetary population, the Fremen and possibly to the entire galaxy. This path may ultimately lead to a bloody jihad. However, Paul realizes that being a messiah is a dangerous path to take, ultimately ruinous to humanity as later books show. However, Paul's desire for power and the evilness of the alternate leaders, the corrupted by power emperor, the overly secretive female priesthood named the Bene Geserit, the no longer human Guild, and the entirely evil Harkonnens force Paul at every fork in the road to choose the path that leads to his anointing as messiah. Herbert thus creates a hero who is not as virtuous as he seems at first glance.

A final note: as with any good first book in a sci-fi/fantasy series, there is much that remains unexplained in this book. Anyone who says that they understand the entire book is either lying or missed something. Some of the mysteries in this book become explained in later books, and one--the reference to Richese--in the prequel recently co-written by Herbert's son. There is also a great deal of mysticism and musing on the general state of humanity, some of which was, frankly, over my head.

Therefore, if mysticism and unexplained mystery are not your cup of tea, then you should skip this book.

Rating:
Summary: Middle east nuances make it better !
Review: I rate this book (but not the sequel ! ) among the best SF I've ever red, along with Asimov's Foundation, Brin's Uplift series and Vernor Vinge. Although the author borrow some nuances from middle east culture/language into this book, but he had successfully using it to create his own believable fantasy world. The result is a live description and narative about the Arakis desert, the Fremen people or even the giant sand worm. The action is not a fast-pace one, but I don't think it is the main factor to judge a good SF book.