Dune (Dune #1) in Overdue Podcast

Aug 17, 2017 Jason rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

To get a brief (and utterly incomplete) taste of the style and some of it's themes, how about a smattering of quotes:

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

Militant missionary religions can share this illusion of the "proud past," but To get a brief (and utterly incomplete) taste of the style and some of it's themes, how about a smattering of quotes:

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

Militant missionary religions can share this illusion of the "proud past," but
few understand the ultimate peril to humankind-that false sense of freedom from
responsibility for your own actions.

Anything outside yourself, this you can see and apply your logic to it. But it’s a human trait that when we encounter personal problems, these things most deeply personal are the most difficult to bring out for our logic to scan. We tend to flounder around, blaming everything but the actual, deep-seated thing that’s really chewing on us.

The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.

This, to many, is the preeminent high-octane, complex world-building, philosophically laced science fiction book and I am not going to argue with these people. This is one heck of a book, it does all of these aforementioned things well. This book has innumerable spectacular nuggets -quotes- to choose from and develops a unique universe with great depth. The action is excellent and often full of delightful twists. The antagonists are deliciously horrid and many of the protagonists enjoyably grey.

After having finished this book I am filled with a sense of a thin layer of controlled calmness overlaying constant peril (constant). This book is jam-packed with philosophy and dense world building that is tons of fun, and while at times stilted, the writing is still enjoyable - but for this reader all was a bit exhausting. Please do not get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the book, and I feel like if I take it apart it's pieces are spectacular, but as a whole it was too adrenaline laden and, dare I say, rushed. This was a book that simultaneously seemed both too long and too short. It is part of a series and as the book ended I feel compelled to read on, but not at this time - I need to leave the people of Arrakis where they are, in constant peril and high on both spice and demi-god/leader worship.

Much to love in this book, but like Asimov's Foundation trilogy, this sci-fi masterpiece didn't quite hit the sweet spot (or cinnamon-y, dry-mouthed spot, as it were) for this humble reader.

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Jul 25, 2020 tysephine rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, fiction, audiobooks

3.5 stars.

This one is hard to rate because it's a classic and a foundational scifi text. But there are enough things here that feel outdated that I can't give it a 4. It's a decent scifi book with fantasy elements and I'm glad I've read it, if only to have the knowledge of what it's about and how it fits into the larger scheme of the genre. ...more

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Mar 20, 2023 Jason rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

An epic, almost three books in one. So many of my other Sci-Fi fantasy authors owe a debt to Frank Herbert: Robert Jordan, Pierce Brown....

The story casts an eye towards several topics: conservation and the treatment of indigenous people among others.

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