Will I love Dune?

I first read Dune decades ago, reread it again this past summer. I was told that the first third of the book was slow but to stick with it. I didn't think it was slow at all, rather did a great job at world building. It also meant that the rest of the book really took off. Dune has always been my favorite book.

This entire series was amazing. Okay, a few of the books were a bit slow, but overall, it was great. The new worlds, the political intrigue, everything about this story was great. There were histories that drove the characters that were only hinted at or mentioned in passing, but they brought life to them. Just like we are all shaped by our past, our countries, and our places in society, so are all the characters in this book.

My favorite character wasn’t Paul, though; it was Duncan Idaho. I was so sad when he was killed, but I was fascinated… show more.

I like books that are about something. Frank Herbert created a sweeping world that uses religion, politics and personal relationships to build his story.

I love the diversity of the characters and the unusual places he creates. But ultimately, the book is about building a society and personal redemption. I like the way he weaves the social issues into a compelling narrative that makes us re-examine our worldview.

Epic, in every sense of the word. A masterwork, speaking to the topics of religion, politics, relationships, poverty, exclusion, and so forth. A phenomenal best-seller, widely regarded as the most ambitious Science Fiction novel of all time.

As such, it is a hefty tome at 892 pages. It is a costume-and-culture movie-in-your-head, immersive, with a large cast and intricate plot twists, set in another world in another time—an experience that demands the audience pay attention.

When I read it in 1967, I had a wealth of esoteric SF under my belt and all the likes of Ayn Rand and Simone… show more.

Like The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Frank Herbert’s book tells the story of a man who could be the villain or the hero, depending on who you ask. I love watching how an intelligent yet malleable person can be swept up in feelings of duty, responsibility, and leadership only to make highly questionable decisions.

Paul Atreides’ moral ambiguity is undeniably engineered by the shifting and slimy political landscape of the Dune universe, driving home the idea in my mind that good worldbuilding can set the stage for truly complicated characters.

I sometimes encounter people who haven't read this book, and it’s always shocking to me. I think I had read it five times by age twenty. For me, although I do love the characters, it’s the story world that grips me and fuels my imagination.

For one, the scale is vast. Imagine what our future might look like ten thousand years after we’ve moved into the universe. There are so many fascinating and intricately imagined layers to the story world: how trade works when the Spacing Guild has a monopoly on interstellar travel, how politics in the far future could… show more.

This has been one of my favorite books since I was a kid. I love it for two main reasons: The first is that I’m a fiend for exploring the real limits of ability (which the Bene Gesserit and Fremen do). The second is that as fantastical as the world is, it’s grounded in real science. 

There are no giant sandworts on my own planet, but I completely believe why and how they’d exist on Arrakis. Herbert even includes an appendix to explain how it works, called “The Ecology of Dune.” 

Fiction requires a leap of faith, but the real-science… show more.

This book is probably the best I have ever read. The way characters think and feel is expressed magnificently, and the subtle ‘awe’ moments drive the plot forward.

I have never felt more attached to characters and their magic. Paul’s journey is believable and incredibly crafted. World-building is effortless, and I was never bored at any point while listening to the book.

I fear reading more in the series because this book is so good. I don’t want anything to spoil its perfection. 

I was a young teenager the first time I read this book. At the time, I didn’t understand all that was going on, but I knew I liked the story and the world. But as an adult, all the underlying tensions and the deeper story touched something deep within me. I think it has to do with the struggle to survive and how to cope in a hostile environment–man and planet alike.

The idea that something so simple as a worm on a seemingly insignificant desert planet affected the whole universe fascinated me. If I had the power Paul Atreides… show more.

I can't have a sci-fi list without this book. Once more, I saw the movie first. I didn't find out it was a book until I was in high school. While I have not read it since, I do recall loving every minute of it. I never could tell if it was meant to be allegorical, given its religious implications, politics, and possibly a reference to both past and future generations.

This is one I may add to my list of summer reading. I want to see how it has evolved over time. This time, I'll read the books before… show more.