Book Review: Dune by Frank Herbert

Book Review: Dune by Frank Herbert

Originally Published in 1965


Dune is the story of a family, a family caught up in plots and machinations older than they are.

Dune is the story of Paul Atreides, heir to Duke Leto Atreides, son of the Duke and Jessica of the Bene Gesserit. He is trained in the subtle arts needed to rule in his time, by the Mentat Assasin Thufir Hawat, Master Swordsmen Duncan Idado and . His mother, the Lady Jessica, has broken with the traditions of her guild, the Bene Gesserit, and also trained him in the ways of her kind, how to read people, manipulate them with voice and body language, as well as opening his mind to deeper possibilities.

With the Guild of Navigators on one side with CHOAM and the Imperial House, and their mortal foes House Harkonnene on the other, the story of Dune is the story of how House Atredies, in the shape of Paul, will rise up to challenge their universe.

This is one of the great classics of Science Fiction. It is a political commentary, an ecological treatise, a study in manipulation along with warnings on eugenics and the pitfalls of politics. It is as well a coming of age story for the young Paul Atredies, as events beyond control conspire against him and his family.

The Dune Series originally consisted of the Dune Trilogy

Dune

Dune Messiah

Children of Dune

The 4th book was God Emperor of Dune, taking place thousands of years after the end of Children of Dune.

The reviewer is not enamored of any books published past God Emperor of Dune, and admits to a bias against them. The original book has been adapted to the big screen, the tv, a role playing game and collectible card game, along with fanfic and prequels and sequels written by members of the Herbert household and licensed others.



It is one of the great novels in Science Fiction, and in this reviewers opinion deserves a place in the annals of great literature, where it should be required reading in high schools at least.

The first movie adaptation, while lush in the sets and a wonderful portrayal of St Alia of the Knife and the Reverend Mother and the Gom Jabbar, the rest of it could be edited out.



The TV miniseries for the SciFi channel is a stronger, more accurate depiction of the novel than the movie was. This reviewer has not had a chance to get the Roleplaying Game book yet, and the Collectible Card Game version attempts to straddle the book and the first movie in look and feel.

Dune should be read by everyone. There is something there for all readers.


http://www.dunenovels.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_%28novel%29