Book Review: Dune

Plenty of people love cilantro, but I’m not one of them. I don’t hate it; it’s that when I do encounter it in a recipe, there’s usually too much of it. A little cilantro goes a long way for me.
That’s kind of how I feel about Frank Herbert’s Dune.  

If you are not familiar with the story, Dune follows the tale of Paul Atreides, the duke’s 15-year-old son, on the arid world of Arrakis. The planet is so devoid of surface water that its indigenous people wear stillsuits which capture the moisture from their own bodies and cleanses it so they can drink it. Arrakis is known for its mélange, a curious spice that augments mental capacities. 
After a political coup, Paul and his mother are abandoned on the surface of Arrakis. They are rescued by Fremen, one of the indigenous tribes. Paul, whose training has focused on both combat skills and mental computations, finds that the spice has enhanced his ability to foresee all possible futures. It is not long before the Fremen proclaim him their destined prophet, and Paul ascends to leadership of the tribe. His intention is to lead the Fremen in battle against the Emperor, as well as to exact revenge on Vladimir Harkonnen, who is responsible for the death of Paul’s father.
Dune is sci-fi’s answer to Tolkien. Frank Herbert has fashioned a world as detailed as Middle-Earth. The story addresses issues of philosophy, religion, mysticism, ecology, culture, and social hierarchy. The characters wrangle with deep spiritual issues and political machinations. 
I was going to call it
Spice World, but that title
was taken by a 1990's movieI can’t help but be impressed by what Herbert has crafted. Arrakis and its inhabitants are very real. The socio-political and ecological structures are nuanced. There is good and bad among its peoples, but also plenty of gray areas as well. Paul rises to power, but at what expense? Herbert layers his story so that the characters evolve, and no situation feels predestined, no matter how many futures Paul can imagine.
So, why is Dune like cilantro? 
I don’t fault Herbert’s imagined worlds; they are fascinating. I found the plot intriguing and compelling. I enjoyed how information was passed on to the reader, in particular how details unfolded. 
What I did have problem with was Frank Herbert’s writing style. It wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m not sure how to pinpoint the issues, other than to say that characters spoke in very portentous voices. All the individuals had a stiffness to them (except for Gurney Halleck). Their emotional reserve kept me, the reader, at a distance. Even though Herbert reveals the thoughts of individual characters, I never really felt any emotional connection with them. 
The story is written from an omniscient point-of-view: the author can reveal whoever’s POV that serves the purpose of the plot. You also get glimpses into their internal monologues. This happens so repeatedly that the story sometimes comes to a halt. Every conversation is analyzed by its participants. Everyone questions why someone said something and how they should respond. Every single conversation!
I appreciate character insight, but not at the expense of the pace. Dune is richly indulgent, and I am willing to sink into its tale. But I found myself getting bored by how long it took for events to unfold. By Part Three: “Prophet”, I was ready for the end. And yet it is in this section that all the pieces of the story come together in a masterful manner. Alas, Mr Herbert, I lost stamina to continue.
I’m glad I made it to the end, though I doubt I will continue with any of the sequels. The writing style of Dune is simply not to my taste, though I can fully appreciate why others adore it. It is a masterpiece, albeit comprised of cilantro (or mélange). May all the spice fans thoroughly enjoy it.