Herbert, Frank. Dune.The classic science fiction tome, Dune is the story of Paul Atreides, son of Duke Leto. When the House of Atreides is forced to leave Caladan and relocate on Arrakis, deceit and treachery result in the death of Duke Leto and young Paul and his mother must flee to safety with the desert tribe of Fremen in order to survive. And thereby hangs a tale...
The planet Arrakis (Dune) is a desert planet where water is of the highest priority; many of the details of the planet are fantastic indeed, but somehow Herbert brings it all together in a believable world. There is plenty of political corruption and intrigue, religious fervor, survival skills, myth, and battle strategy to go around.
I liked it and plan to continue the series. Better late than never.
Fiction. Science Fiction. 1965/1998. 517 pages.
I never had an interest in reading Dune until last summer when I met a teen who said it was the best book he'd ever read. He shared several suggestions, but Dune was his favorite.
ReplyDeleteEven though I love Science Fiction and Fantasy somehow the Dune series has passed me by. I shall have to think about getting them in for some Christmas reading. I'll start searching the secondhand shops now.
ReplyDeletebooklogged - I'm not sure why I never read Dune. For some reason, I didn't think I'd like it. Interesting to know that after 40 years or so, the book can still capture a teen with such intensity.
ReplyDeleteDune is certainly one of those seminal books and spawned a new generation of science fiction.
Ann - I'm sure there will be plenty of copies in second hand book stores. Mine is a library copy, and I'll be using the library for most of the series.
It's good, isn't it? I burned through the series my freshman year in college and I still remember the hours of intense pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous. I have this book but just haven't taken the plunge yet and I'm sure I'd enjoy it. I am not ashamed to admit that I love the heck out of the David Lynch movie and I've been told by many that the book is, unsurprisingly, much better and that I would enjoy it. Glad you liked it.
ReplyDeletestefanie - :) nice to have the rest of the series ahead and to know that you still remember the pleasure of reading it!
ReplyDeleteCarl - Funny how we sometimes don't get around to a book that we've always intended to read. I never saw the movie, so I don't know how they compare, but I'm glad to finally be able to say I've read Dune!
One of my favorite books and a terrific series. Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteAnnie - I do hope to get around to more of the series soon!
ReplyDeleteDune is excellent; it has been awarded -- quite correctly, I believe -- the distinction of being called the best science fiction novel ever written. None of the rest of the series, at least none of those by Herbert himself, hold up very well; God-Emperor of Dune, 4th in the series, may well be the worst science fiction novel ever written. I haven't attempted any of those by others, including his son.
ReplyDeleteHedgie - I think I'll read at least one more, if only to get a better feel for Paul's future. That is quite a distinction, though, to be classified as the author of both the best and the worst of science fiction. :)
ReplyDeletelove, love, loved dune... read it many, many years ago. I carried on with the series for a while. always thought dune was the best. (just read hedgie's comment and see that seems to be the consensus)
ReplyDeleteregarding sf....when it's great. and yes when it's bad, well, we won't go there...
have you read much of ursula le guin? some of her sf books are incredible! left hand of darkness and the dispossessed are perhaps two of my all time favorite sci-fi books.
kimy - I read some le guin years and years ago, but will add your suggestions to my list. Shame on me for my neglect!
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