DUNE | Frank Herbert
(Dune #1)
06.1965 | Ace Books
Rating: 4/5 stars
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.
I’ve always felt as though science fiction was a genre that was too complex for me to sit down and enjoy reading, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve started dabbling more and more in the genre. When I watched the recent adaptation for DUNE I knew I wanted to give not only the book, but the entire series a shot in 2022. While most people cringe at the idea of watching the movie before reading the book, I actually think in this case it helped me wrap my mind around Herbert’s worldbuilding.
DUNE is an epic tale that serves to launch a series. This first book truly lays the groundwork for the reader on who Paul Atreides is and the world he finds himself living in. I loved learning all about the complex hierarchy ruling over the planets and the Fremen inhabiting the planet Arrakis. At first I was worried that the story would be too complex, but Herbert does a nice job of slowly introducing new ideas and characters to the reader. All of the descriptions are vivid, which makes it easy to craft images of the story in your mind. There is a lot going on in DUNE, but even though I know I missed picking up on some things, I never felt any issues with understanding the progression of the story. I’m intrigued on where the second book takes readers and I’m committing to finishing the series this year.
This book is available to buy from: Amazon | Book Depository
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What Jess Reads 