Reviews

Dune by Frank Herbert

hathaway115's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

zpuppy's review against another edition

3.0

A beast!!! Had to switch to audio book to finish, but really enjoyed my listen.

skinnercolin221's review against another edition

5.0

I debated between a 4 and a 5. I didn’t really appreciate the spoilers from the character, Princess Irulan, but it did make for a cool connection later on. (See how I didn’t spoil anything there princess?). It could also feel dry and prolonged at times. I think the real gold of this book is the wisdom and thought provoking quotes that are wielded by the characters as tools for growth.

Obviously, it was famous for its pioneering work (1960s) in science fiction world building. I also enjoyed the treatment of religion since it had a nice balance of respect and critique.

I’ll just say I land on a 5 for an exciting last third of the book that gave me chills multiple times!

david_during's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

joshuabushen's review against another edition

4.0

8.5/10

arae0311's review against another edition

5.0

I'll preface this by saying I usually don't like sci-fi (I didn't like the original Star Wars trio), but I was captivated by Dune. Scarily relevant to today, I feel like the movie toned down the themes of the book to make it more digestible. Reading the appendix first, using the glossary, and annotating helped me not get confused and made the reading experience actually fun, for those who are intimidated by it.

saluki's review against another edition

5.0

My yellow-paged copy of Dune was bought in the mid eighties and I'm kicking myself for only reading it now, thirty years later!

This political space opera is EPIC in scale. It's not just imperial intrigue and battles though. There are so many complex issues to think about on every page; spirituality, religion, philosophy, politics, culture, biology, ecology, technology, sociology and psychology... it's all there and more. But, the use or misuse of power is the overriding theme.

Irrakis - Dune - Desert Planet is the main setting that gives rise to a legendary prophet that the native Fremen desert tribes have awaited and named Muad'Dib.

Paul Atreides is son to Duke Leto Atreides of Caladan whose House is relocated to Irrakis, previous fiefdom of House Harkonnen. Irrakis is barren but has one unique valuable commodity in spice melange. The main obstacle for official sandcrawlers to hunt for and mine spice is sandworms, deadly and fascinating creatures that thrive in this hostile environment, yet the unofficial sandworm riders show true Fremen metal in their secretive rite-of-passage.

Spice controls the imperial market. It allows guild pilots to fold space, enabling space travel faster than the speed of light, so the drug is integral for CHOAM directors of the universal development corporation. Importantly, all Houses depend on CHOAM profits. Evil Baron Harkonnen had fattened his literal girth as well as his personal assets during his directorship, and by extension the imperial treasury, by misusing the native tribes and his own men while stockpiling spice. It's obvious to Leto that there will be costly perils for the new Duke of Irrakis.

I wish I'd noticed the twenty pages of terminology at the back of the book before reading! Still, I managed to put most things in context without it. The appendices include sections on ecology, religion, and a report on the Bene Gesserit motives and purposes and I'll get around to reading them once my brain has calmed down. Herbert was clearly concerned about environmental issues and I was also intrigued by his gender politics, especially the role of the Bene Gesserit mystic school controlled by the Reverend Mother who is privy to a centuries long female mating index and breeding programme with the goal of producing a super-Mentat (human computer with prescient abilities) female to place on the throne. This is established at the beginning of the book through conversation with Paul's mother, concubine Lady Jessica. Power is patient as well as far-reaching in Herbert's worlds. So many ruthless characters... reminds me of the feuding Starks and Lannisters!

I'm brain-fried just thinking about the basic elements of this mammoth epic but in the best possible way. This is one of those books that benefit from a second read after a healthy distance of time. I could see myself rereading this a few years from now and loving it even more.

Simply stunning!

timothylyons's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

ticanthunder's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

ayshin's review against another edition

2.0

I have nothing against the writing style. What was a struggle for me as a reader was connecting to the story and to the characters. I just felt like I don't want to read this anymore. I was hoping to finish reading it prior to the 2021 film came out but nope, I couldn't. I get that some people enjoy it thoroughly. I'm content with not being one of them.