Dune by Frank Herbert is set in a dangerous, beautiful, deeply interesting world and is a hugely influential book in the history of sci-fi. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have some pretty serious flaws.
It was published in 1965 and won both the Hugo and Nebula awards.
Brent: 3 stars. The setting is incredible, and Herbert achieved a lot by building one of the earliest fully fleshed-out science fiction worlds, but other than that it is a tough read for the modern reader.
Cody: 3.5 stars. Dune is absolutely science fiction canon. It has inspired so much of what the genre has become, but as is often the case with such central works, it feels flat compared to so many of the stories that have learned from and been inspired by its ideas.
Here's the setup:
Dune is set in the far-future, long after humanity has spread across the Galaxy. Human space is organized as a feudal Empire, under which there are fiefdoms controlled by various “houses,” or families; and guilds. It tells the story of Paul Atreides, whose family is assigned by the Emperor to take control of the desert planet Arakkis. Arakkis is responsible for the production of “spice,” the most valuable resource in the Galaxy; a narcotic that allows heightened mental states, and is critical for starship navigation.
As the Atreides take over control of Arakkis from the conniving House Harkonnen, it becomes clear Baron Harkonnen will not give up the planet without a fight. But how, and where, will the blow fall?
The book is dense, with a plot spanning many years and a multitude of central characters. Herbert’s world of Arakkis is explored in exquisite detail, from its social structures, to the survival practices of its peoples, and even the details of its ecology.
Hugonauts' Thoughts:
After both of our rereads, we can't help but feel like the book is...not as great as it gets credit for. Iconic and trendsetting for sure, but on its own merits, it definitely has some problems.
The prose can be challenging and dull. The thoughts in italics are really clunky and awkward, and the dialogue is Anakin-saying-he-doesn't-like-sand levels of horrible. The first 2/3 (pre-Harkonnen plot) is super repetitive, and every move is telegraphed twenty times before it happens (through Paul’s dreams and otherwise). Then the second half of the novel completely shifts in tone and pacing. Characters who had a long time to naturally develop in the first half changed swiftly and sometimes incongruously, and new characters spring up in an instant and play central roles in the end of the novel.
Its density is both its downfall and its value. There is a lot that doesn’t particularly need to be included, and occasionally makes reading a chore, but that depth and complexity is also what makes Arakkis feel like such a complex, dangerous, and beautiful world.
We’re incredibly thankful this book was written though, because of how much it inspired those who come after, while also improving sci-fi’s literary side. If you want to explore Arakkis and the history of sci-fi and are willing to look past a few shortcomings, this one’s for you.
Related Books
If you loved this one, you might also like:
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
A classic hero's journey with what is probably the biggest twist in the history of sci-fi, and an incredible underlying theme about the power of empathy.
The Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Like Dune, this is a series centered on a family who are part of the feudal leadership of a space-faring civilization. The main characters are also incredibly likeable and fun to spend time with.
The Void Trilogy - Peter F. Hamilton
A huge space opera with an alternate dimension and, like Dune, lots of fantasy elements.
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