archduke reviewed Dune (Dune Chronicles (Berkley Paperback)) by Frank Herbert (Dune (1))
Good page turner
4 stars
Maybe not the end-all, be-all of science fiction but interesting for what it tries to do with strong world building
Hardcover, 720 pages
English language
Published Feb. 14, 1987 by Berkley.
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.
Maybe not the end-all, be-all of science fiction but interesting for what it tries to do with strong world building
The whole story and world is such a vast and complex system. It often felt like some kind of bible story, which is very much on purpose, especially with those intro texts to every chapter. I did enjoy reading it, though it didn't pull me in as much as other books did. I'm not going to read the other books though, that's just too much for me.
It feels wrong, but that's kinda it. There's not much else to say there for me, I'm content with what I read and that's it. Nothing stuck in my mind, the protagonist felt a bit too predictable for my taste. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's just like those epic stories about this hero and his adventures.
I would recommend this one though, I think it had a nice pacing, twists, character development and rich personalities. I get why some would …
The whole story and world is such a vast and complex system. It often felt like some kind of bible story, which is very much on purpose, especially with those intro texts to every chapter. I did enjoy reading it, though it didn't pull me in as much as other books did. I'm not going to read the other books though, that's just too much for me.
It feels wrong, but that's kinda it. There's not much else to say there for me, I'm content with what I read and that's it. Nothing stuck in my mind, the protagonist felt a bit too predictable for my taste. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's just like those epic stories about this hero and his adventures.
I would recommend this one though, I think it had a nice pacing, twists, character development and rich personalities. I get why some would have the urge to read every single book and why this is one of the classics, but I'm just okay with this one and watching the movies.
Still superb. It is completely coincidence that I began re-reading this book on September 11. The re-read was triggered by the trailer for the upcoming new movie dropping. However, now, having finished, I cannot help but ponder the theme of "religious fanatics from the desert striking out against the presumably unbeatable empire". Some 5 and a half decades after it was written, this book is still both a feat of complex world-building and a relevant commentary on human nature. Seems poignant is a particular way, with the anniversary of September 11 just passing.