From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

Dune (Dune #1)

Frank Herbert

Start date: May 1, 2018

Finish date: May 31, 2018

Discussion: Science Fiction and Fantasy

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Science Fiction and Fantasy

* 2025 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Schedule
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2025 September - The Inverted World by Christopher Priest
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What Members Thought

Sep 15, 2020 Karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Still a great read.

5 likes · Like · see review

May 20, 2021 Barb rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, series, favorites, fantasy, library-audio, young-adult, classic

I reread Dune, and ended up enjoying it so much more. I got more parts than I did last time!!

2 likes · Like · see review

May 27, 2018 Brianna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-reading-list, 2018-reading-challenge, greek-mythology, 2020-reading-challenge

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 'You've shelved multiple editions of this book.' Oh, I know, GoodReads. I know. That's because there are multiple editions on my shelves. Obviously. Well done noticing.

I have tried (and failed) so many times to write a review of this tome or any of its sequels. You’d think after reading it four times I could come up with something. Nope. But here’s me trying again anyway. It’s only a bit of fun, a joke, a mess of frogs’ guts, and decidedly unhelpful. Don’t bother to read on. Instead, just go re 'You've shelved multiple editions of this book.' Oh, I know, GoodReads. I know. That's because there are multiple editions on my shelves. Obviously. Well done noticing.

I have tried (and failed) so many times to write a review of this tome or any of its sequels. You’d think after reading it four times I could come up with something. Nope. But here’s me trying again anyway. It’s only a bit of fun, a joke, a mess of frogs’ guts, and decidedly unhelpful. Don’t bother to read on. Instead, just go read Dune. This here is for my own amusement. You’ve been warned.

Dune is such a cruel trick. You think you’re getting a straightforward, coming-of-age SciFi. Boy with strange powers loses father at young age. Boy has to grow up quickly. Boy experiences much pain and suffering. Boy learns many lessons along the way. Boy grows older and stronger. Boy returns to avenge father and claim inheritance. Boy defeats enemies. Good guys win. Bad guys lose. Joy and jubilation. Right? Wrong.

Boy defeats enemies. Bad guys lose. Good guys become new bad guys. Boy becomes new Big Bad Guy. Wait. What? Yep. All in the name of stopping some Impending Doom in the future (*1984 Irulan voice* Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you. Boy can see future.) which is impossible to stop (and everyone knows trying to stop Impending Doom will actually cause Impending Doom, come on). And the worst of it is, he knows.

“And Paul saw how futile were any efforts of his to change any smallest bit of this.”

There you have it. Dune is a Tragedy. The boy Paul dies and is reborn a monster. Someday someone shall compose an Opera adaptation and it will never be published because Brian Herbert would never agree. His loss. Arrakis: The Fall of Paul. People would love it. Big money. Just imagine that First Worm Ride scene. Shai-Hulud would join the ranks of Greatest Set Pieces of All Time, right up there with the Chandelier, the Barricade, the Helicopter…which others am I forgetting…

…And this is why I can never write a proper review of Dune.

I hate and love this book as much as Gollum hates and loves the Ring and himself.

Should you read it? Absolutely. Read it a half dozen times, read the entire series, read it again and again. Why should I have to suffer alone?

No, really. It’s brilliant. Read it. Read. It. ...more

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