Dune (Dune #1) in On Paths Unknown

Jul 14, 2008 Terry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, space-opera, favorites, sci-fi, desert-island-picks

Is it space opera? Is it political commentary? Is it philosophical exploration? Is it fantasy? _Dune_ is all of these things and possibly more. One thing I do know: it's a kick-ass read!

I've loved this book since I first plunged into it's mightily constructed, weird and obscure world. Of course it's hailed as a classic, and I am one of those that agrees. The sheer magnitude of Herbert's invention, his monumental world-building tied with an exciting story of betrayal, survival, rebellion and ulti Is it space opera? Is it political commentary? Is it philosophical exploration? Is it fantasy? _Dune_ is all of these things and possibly more. One thing I do know: it's a kick-ass read!

I've loved this book since I first plunged into it's mightily constructed, weird and obscure world. Of course it's hailed as a classic, and I am one of those that agrees. The sheer magnitude of Herbert's invention, his monumental world-building tied with an exciting story of betrayal, survival, rebellion and ultimate ascendance are more than enough to guarantee that.

His characters too, are worthy of note: Paul Atreides the young heir to not only a ducal throne, but the hopes and desires of the oppressed population of an entire planet and the strange otherworldly powers of prescience and command that are his unique birthright; his mother Jessica torn between devotion to her family and her pledge to a generations-long plan spawned by a secret order bent on controlling the universe from behing the scenes; Chani and Stilgar the wild yet honourable representatives of a dangerous people just waiting to burst their chains and explode onto an unsuspecting universe. Add to these heroes the malign Baron Harkonnen and his debased nephews Feyd Rautha and "the beast" Rabban, the spiteful and covetous Emperor Shaddam IV, masterminds of the fall of Paul's House, and we have the recipe for an exciting contest of wills with no less than the future of humanity at stake.

Even without an exciting story to drive it, the book is almost worth reading just to experience the world created by Herbert. 10,000 years in the future mankind has experience the "Butlerian Jihad" wherein all "thinking machines" were destroyed and the hatred of the technological has a religious conviction. In their place there are the Mentats, the "human computers" able to utilize the human mind to nearly it's full potential, drawing accurate inferences and conclusions with minimal data. There is the Sisterhood of the Bene Gesserit, a community of women who have honed their mental powers to the point of a near magical ability to coerce, tied with a training in politics and influence that would make Machiavelli proud. Finally is the Guild: a community of mutated humans, the sole "pilots" able to bend space and foresee their path amidst the void and thus keep interstellar trade and community together.

Both the Siterhood and the Guild owe their great powers to the mysterious spice Melange, the only product of the planet Arrakis (known colloquially as Dune) and the society of the Empire in general also depends on it for its "geriatric qualities". Dune is thus the linch-pin for all Imperial power. Without the spice, travel ceases, trade stops, life ends. He who controls the spice controls the universe.

Upon this stage is born Paul Atreides, the son of the Duke who is to take control of Arrakis as a fiefdom for the emperor. Paul is not merely the heir to political power though, for he is the last link in a chain of breeding that has been going on for generations, part of a plan created by the Bene Gesserit in the hopes of breeding a superhuman whom they could control. But Paul was born too early, his mother's rebellion against her orders have brought about an unforeseen occurrence. Now in the midst of political betrayal and the loss of all he has known Paul must also fight for survival amongst the most merciless tribe of humanity the universe has formed. Greater powers than any human before him has known will be thrust upon the young man, and the mantle of messiah will be his to accept or reject.

Did I mention that I love this book? Well I do. I highly recommend it to any and all. I must admit that there is the occasional infelicity in some of Herbert's prose (and a too-heavy reliance on inner monologues to either state the obvious or convey information to the reader), but overall I can forgive him this for having crafted such an excellent tale. Woven into the story of a tottering space empire are real questions about ecology, responsibility and human life that are well-worth thinking about. Politics is not just a veneer, but the lifeblood of this story and, to me at least, it makes it all the more exciting.

I'll admit right here that I am one of the few who actually likes all of the original Dune books, though I must admit that after the original trilogy Herbert seems to lose some of the strands of his narrative thread and my admiration is mostly due to the character of (view spoiler) and the world-building. (But please avoid the prequels and sequels written by Herbert's son and Kevin Anderson in an attempt to cash in on the franchise, they are worse than anathema.)

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Mar 26, 2008 Brad rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: about-family, read-in-2019, exceeded-my-expectations, ecological, about-power, sci-fi, better-every-time

Harkonnens, Corrinos, Atreides ... all are filth. Many would, of course, disagree with me, and put forth House Atreides as a shining beacon of honour and respectability, but on what is such an assessment based? Surely it is not because the Atreides abhor treachery because they don't ... they simply abhor certain sorts of treachery.

Paul Muad'Dib is more than willing to treacherously twist words and manipulate situations and fire off atomics. Yes he follows his own ethical code -- thus eschewing Harkonnens, Corrinos, Atreides ... all are filth. Many would, of course, disagree with me, and put forth House Atreides as a shining beacon of honour and respectability, but on what is such an assessment based? Surely it is not because the Atreides abhor treachery because they don't ... they simply abhor certain sorts of treachery.

Paul Muad'Dib is more than willing to treacherously twist words and manipulate situations and fire off atomics. Yes he follows his own ethical code -- thus eschewing poisons and Bene Gesserit words of power (occassionally) -- but that doesn't mean that he fights fairly, nor does it make him good and true (nor honourable and respectable). And this says nothing at all of his deep and utter ruthlessness (an inheritance from both his grandfathers).

And Duke Leto's plan for the Fremen? It is the a perfect reflection of Shaddam IV's making of the Sardaukar -- the fierce fighting body that empowers the Emperor. Leto plans to mimic his cousin-Emperor's power, thus embracing the horrendous imperial game playing that enslaves and exploits and debases all those who live beneath the Imperium and the Guild. He is playing his role in the status quo. Nothing more.

And what is it about Baron Harkonnen that makes him so despicable (he is, after all, seen as the most disgusting of villains in Dune? Neither his ambitions nor his tactics are really any worse than anyone else in the story. He uses the methods at his disposal, as do the others. Harkonnen's nastiness is his hedonism and perversion. It is because he is abhorrently gluttonous and is so fat he can only move using grav thrusters, and it is because he is gay (or possibly bi) and expresses leering interest in strong, hard, male bodies. This perception of Harkonnen says more about readers and our conceptions of evil than it says about Herbert's attitudes. If we are unable to see beyond the outward "signs" of depravity, then we are allowing ourselves to be blinded by appearances.

I suppose I could go on to the other Imperial players: Lady Jessica, Count Rabban, Count Fenring, Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, etc., etc., but there would be little point. It would be more of the same. A quick unlocking of why each of these people are equally dirty.

How on Arrakis am I giving this story five stars, then? After my diatribe about the universal shittiness of the protagonists and antagonists? Simple. It is brilliant and brave of Howard to do what he's done here. It is the anti-Tolkien route to world-(universe)building. He doesn't coddle his readers with long exposition about what our perspective should be. He drops us into the action, surrounds us in the Imperial muck, leaves us to suffocate in the sand of Arrakis, expects us to make our own connections and find our own way with these characters, all while he simply puts the political machinations (murders and rapes and thefts and betrayals and greeds and genocides) of the "great" on display for us to witness.

Dune is brilliant. It is the one truly epic piece of Sci-Fi literature and should rightfully sit comfortably alongside the greatest Sci-Fi novels ever written. I sure hope Denis Villeneuve gets the new screen adaptation of the book right, but if he doesn't I'll just come back and reread the book. Again. ...more

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Mar 08, 2015 Jonfaith rated it it was ok

Shelves: speculativelyspeaking

What has mood to do with it? You fight when the necessity arises—no matter the mood! Mood's a thing for cattle or making love or playing the baliset. It's not for fighting.

My problems with Dune are not issues with speculation. My disbelief is maintained through healthy exercise. Much as I am opposed to terms like world-building I can empathize and imagine. Pondering alternatives is a heady philosophical endeavor. That said, I do not like the insistence on the epic in SF/F. What I want is a Month ...more

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Apr 24, 2020 [Name Redacted] rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: society, sci-fi, politics, futurity, war, philosophy, religion, classics

Read for the first time while driving up and down the Baja California peninsula on a Spring Break camping trip. Most of my memories are thus associated with vast seemingly-uninhabited desert, rocky canyons, the inside of my tent, and the very back seat of the Dodge Ram van we were in.

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Jun 28, 2021 Terry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, sci-fi, space-opera

I don't have too much substantial to add to my original review aside from a few thoughts:

- I was rather struck this time around by the reluctance of Paul to embrace his ‘destiny’ until the final moments. His continuing desire to find a way to escape the fate that he sees barreling towards him makes him an attractive figure that steps a bit outside of the expected hero mould. Yet ultimately for all his struggle with accepting his destiny, he proves himself more than capable of stepping into the r ...more

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