Set in a far future interstellar empire, 'Dune' by Frank Herbert follows young Paul Atreides as his family gains control of the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the valuable spice melange. The novel weaves a complex narrative touching on themes of ecology, capitalism, and power struggles among noble Houses, creating a rich and intricate world that blends science fiction and fantasy elements seamlessly.
The book delves into the intricate political landscape of the feudal interstellar empire, introducing readers to a world filled with betrayals, power struggles, and the importance of resources like water and the spice melange. Through the character of Paul Atreides, the narrative explores themes of prophecy, destiny, and the consequences of power, all set against the backdrop of a vividly imagined universe filled with unique cultures and traditions.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Dune includes medium content warnings for themes of violence, political manipulation, and minor references to sexual abuse.
From The Publisher:
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Chang Chen, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem.
Frank Herbert's classic masterpiece-a triumph of the imagination and one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time.
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the "spice" melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for….
When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul's family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.
Ratings (586)
Incredible (164) | |
Loved It (211) | |
Liked It (107) | |
It Was OK (65) | |
Did Not Like (30) | |
Hated It (9) |
Reader Stats (864):
Read It (589) | |
Currently Reading (16) | |
Want To Read (176) | |
Did Not Finish (19) | |
Not Interested (64) |
17 comment(s)
Everyone always tells me that they were interested in the beginning, but then couldn't finish the book because it got boring with the desert and political stuff. I feel the same way and would probably choose to watch the movies over the books anyways.
This was a reread. Been a lot of talk about Dune recently because of the movie. While I don't intend watching it I wanted to give this another go to see if I would enjoy it more a year after. However it still wasn't my cup of tea. But you never know with a reread, sometimes I've ended up loving the book the second or third time around and other times quite the opeset. But this rating stays firm on 3 stars for me
I didn't know anything about Dune going into it but I had hoped to love it due to the hype. While I enjoyed it and found it entertaining, I don't feel like it's more then a 3 stars for me, unfortunately.
A masterpiece.
I suffered from a book hangover through about half of this (thanks
Clash of Kings), so I don't think I fully appreciated it until I got over that.
There are some elements that are a little dated now--the Baron Harkonnen being a grossly fat pedophile is one. It's like, "How bad can we make him in the 1960s? I know, let's make him incredibly obese and into little boys! Sounds good to me!" A little bit of a groan factor there.
But overall, man, this book is wonderful. Longer than I remembered, though. XD I first read this over a decade ago and it's held up.
Dune is brimming with ideas: philosophy, ethics, ecology, genetics, warfare, time. It's one of the most amazing science fiction novels ever written. Weird, then, that the book it most reminds me of is
Lord of the Rings. Like Tolkien, Herbert created an incredibly dense world filled with complex cultures and characters. The politics alone could be their own novel. So could the science (fiction). So could just one of the multiple cultures.
Dune really is the tip of an epic iceberg.
I enjoyed the interplay of gender in the novel, even if the sexual politics aren't exactly progressive. I look forward to how this plays out in the rest of the books.
I don't like books where there is so much worldbuilding and backstory that everything has a weird name and has to be explained. It slows the story down and makes it so you need a character name list and glossary of terms and places just to follow along. It's part of why I'm not a fan of The Hobbit, Hyperion, The Fifth Season, and Dune.
5 stars
Fab
RTC
Dense and long, but such a cool story. I liked it even more this time than I did on my first read several years ago.
My experience of this books was interesting in that I was rapt for the first 3/4 or so, and then terribly bored for the remainder, having to force myself to finish.
It is really just an EPIC book. Frank Herbert builds up the characters in the first act, followed by building up the houses history (i.e. Atreides, Harkonen, the Fremen, Corrino). After that, we get the dabs of action - with trying to obtain spice, the attack on the Atreides. And from there it becomes and all out action-packed think-fest, where we see the start of a great hero/messiah rise.
I cannot wait to read Dune: Messiah
DNF but still counting for my reading challenges because I read more than half
What can you read after
Dune?
About the Author:
Frank Herbert is the bestselling author of the Dune saga. He was born in Tacoma, Washington, and educated at the University of Washington, Seattle. He worked a wide variety of jobs-including TV cameraman, radio commentator, oyster diver, jungle survival instructor, lay…
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