From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

Dune (Dune #1)

Frank Herbert

Start date: April 1, 2012

Finish date: May 1, 2012

Discussion: Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: April 2012 Group Read
Hugo Award 1966 (tie)
Nebula Award Winner 1966 (tie)
#4 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels o…more
[close] April 2012 Group Read
Hugo Award 1966 (tie)
Nebula Award Winner 1966 (tie)
#4 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
#1 on Locus Magazines Best SciFi novels of the 20th century http://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCentu...

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What Members Thought

Sep 14, 2012 Trice rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, audio, scifi-fantasy

ahhh...2nd time through at least 18 years after my first read through. I'm sure I remembered the first movie version better than the book and I remember finding the Baron both really horrible and really boring. This time I was listening to the audio, but I think the big difference was, dare I say it, a difference in age and experience. The Baron is no less horrible, but his scenes were as gripping as any other. Add to that finally getting around to some of Herbert's non-Dune series books (check ...more

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Aug 15, 2017 Tania rated it it was ok

I had looked forward to reading this book for years, so I feel rather let down by it.
First, what Dune did well - weave interesting philosophies in the story, tight plot line especially in the first part of the novel, interesting ecology for the world.
What I hated: the characters!! This has been a classic complaint for me in the sci-fi genre. I found the protagonist to be uninspiring and even somewhat predictable. May be I have read too many ideal hero arc stories. I want my hero/heroine to be s I had looked forward to reading this book for years, so I feel rather let down by it.
First, what Dune did well - weave interesting philosophies in the story, tight plot line especially in the first part of the novel, interesting ecology for the world.
What I hated: the characters!! This has been a classic complaint for me in the sci-fi genre. I found the protagonist to be uninspiring and even somewhat predictable. May be I have read too many ideal hero arc stories. I want my hero/heroine to be somewhat believable, have a few culpabilities, and I want to see some genuine struggles in their development. It's no fun seeing someone born with "freak" genes simply dominate everyone around them. Among all these lowly, unenlightened tribal Fremen, the hero is the only man whose drug induced trip makes him a mystic. May be if the science of genetic selection was better explained I could believe this is possible. I also found the portrayal of Fremen abysmal. They are described as a tribe that WANTS to ONLY follow blindly and that engages in violence just out of habit. This makes no sense to me. I wish the story had explained these characteristics about them from their own perspective. Quite a few chapters delve into Paul winning over the tribe, but most of it is like a show he is staging to fit himself into their ideal savior so that he can exploit them later. Yet NONE of his tribal friends suspect this about him! Why would the Fremen be so gullible? Is it not expected that there would be at least a few skeptics in that group to oppose this new wannabe leader?
And the female characters in this novel are plain terrible. I want to be none of these women!! They are ALL subservient by choice. Some of them are trained by a secret cult and can do far more than just defend themselves. Yet they are NEVER shown with the intention to grab power for themselves - this is just unrealistic in a feudalistic society even if they accept themselves as lesser beings than men.
Overall, a disappointing read for me. ...more

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