freeze92's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dune is one of the best science fiction books that I have ever read. Which is probably because it reads less like a science fiction novel and more like a classic piece of literature. The end of the first act had the feel of a Shakespearean tragedy. Frank Herbert’s writing style kept me engaged with the plot and characters throughout the book.
Unlike most science fiction or fantasy that I don’t enjoy, Dune doesn’t focus on world building at the expense of the plot and characters. With Dune, Frank Herbert immerses you into a new world immediately and expects you to catch up as you read. I think this is great because there isn’t a large amount of space dedicated to explaining or describing things within the world. Herbert builds with world in intense character driven scenes in the first act that explains the political, social, and economic situation in Arrakis and the wider galaxy.
It took me a while to fully connect with Paul and Jessica as both were icy and aloof throughout the first act of the book. But in the second act, watching both characters deal with the betrayal they experience and the death of almost everyone they love really resonated with me. You see both deal with emotions and unsureness that they seem incapable of experiencing in the first act. The famous “fear is the mind killer” quote that Paul tell himself as he gets unsure and nervous really spoke to me. That is what anxiety is, it is fear killing your ability to think rationally and understand situations that you are overthinking. The second act of Dune is the strongest potion of the book as you watch both characters grow and change in the deserts of Arrakis.
I think the biggest issues that I have with the book and why it isn’t 5-stars, is the time jump in the third act. It is probably necessary as Paul has already began transforming into the leader that would take Arrakis back for the Fremen and enact his revenge on this father’s traitor. But it just disconnected me from the story and made the third act feel like a slog to get through. But the end is still pretty good and the scene of Paul’s sister confronting the Emperor and Baron Harkonnen almost made the time skip worth it.
I know this book is the first in a long series of stories set in this universe, but I don't feel compelled to continue the series. Dune’s ending is satisfying, and I feel like Paul and Jessica’s stories are left in satisfying places.
Unlike most science fiction or fantasy that I don’t enjoy, Dune doesn’t focus on world building at the expense of the plot and characters. With Dune, Frank Herbert immerses you into a new world immediately and expects you to catch up as you read. I think this is great because there isn’t a large amount of space dedicated to explaining or describing things within the world. Herbert builds with world in intense character driven scenes in the first act that explains the political, social, and economic situation in Arrakis and the wider galaxy.
It took me a while to fully connect with Paul and Jessica as both were icy and aloof throughout the first act of the book. But in the second act, watching both characters deal with the betrayal they experience and the death of almost everyone they love really resonated with me. You see both deal with emotions and unsureness that they seem incapable of experiencing in the first act. The famous “fear is the mind killer” quote that Paul tell himself as he gets unsure and nervous really spoke to me. That is what anxiety is, it is fear killing your ability to think rationally and understand situations that you are overthinking. The second act of Dune is the strongest potion of the book as you watch both characters grow and change in the deserts of Arrakis.
I think the biggest issues that I have with the book and why it isn’t 5-stars, is the time jump in the third act. It is probably necessary as Paul has already began transforming into the leader that would take Arrakis back for the Fremen and enact his revenge on this father’s traitor. But it just disconnected me from the story and made the third act feel like a slog to get through. But the end is still pretty good and the scene of Paul’s sister confronting the Emperor and Baron Harkonnen almost made the time skip worth it.
I know this book is the first in a long series of stories set in this universe, but I don't feel compelled to continue the series. Dune’s ending is satisfying, and I feel like Paul and Jessica’s stories are left in satisfying places.
leic01's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
billyhopscotch's review against another edition
5.0
One of my all-time favorite sci-fi books, Dune introduced me to a world of greater complexity than the Jedi Academy books. I still love the intricacies of Herbert's world.
tallyvauthor's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, I've definitely read longer books than this one but this was PAINFUL. The story moved at a snail's pace and then took a break every couple pages for a coma. Overall, the story is great if you know what to pick out from it. I don't usually like third person but I have to at leaset acknowlegde the skill of creating a mostly unconfusing form of third person quasi-limited POV. That alone deserve a slow clap. I can't say I didn't like it, it just, unfortunately, wasn't really for me.
raenyreads's review against another edition
I've had this book for nearly two years and I never want to pick it up. I don't want to make myself read it anymore so this is where our journey ends. I'll just watch the films.
sarahsg's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sagelikesscats's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The world building is greatest of all time, plot is ok, and the characters are poorly written. Patriarchal, white savior trope, under developed female characters.
blackseptember's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Problematic, but compelling