- THE STORY:
- In a fictional universe, various noble houses are at war over the valuable substance called melange located on Arrakis, the desert planet known as Dune, home to the Fremen. The Harkonens attack the House of Atreides, whose Duke and the family are on Arrakis. Paul Atreides, son of the Duke, escapes and flees across the desert to meet with the Fremen. The destiny of this young man is to bring peace and prosperity to the planet.
- 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.”
- “The mind commands the body and it obeys. The mind orders itself and meets resistance.”
- “But it’s well known that repression makes a religion flourish.”
- “Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.”
- MY THOUGHTS:
- Epic in its scope, this story is set in a brilliantly imagined world. There is an originality and thoroughness in the way this world is portrayed, making it wholly believable. Themes of ecology and religion tempt comparisons within our own world, and thus provide plenty of food for thought. A long and complex book, this one requires commitment and concentration. Plenty of action and drama keep the plot moving, but the writing can be quite monotonous and uninspiring at times, with some very mundane dialogue. The internal monologues of the main characters feel overdone and repetitive. However, there is no doubt it deserves its status as the best-selling Science Fiction book ever. Highly recommended for true Science Fiction fans.
- BOOK REVIEWS:
- The New Yorker: “Set on a desert planet named Arrakis that is the sole source of the universe’s most valued substance, “Dune” is an epic of political betrayal, ecological brinkmanship, and messianic deliverance. It won science fiction’s highest awards—the Hugo and the Nebula—and went on to sell more than twelve million copies during Herbert’s lifetime.”
- The Guardian: “It has sold millions of copies, is perhaps the greatest novel in the science-fiction canon and Star Wars wouldn’t have existed without it. Frank Herbert’s Dune should endure as a politically relevant fantasy from the Age of Aquarius… Its concerns – environmental stress, human potential, altered states of consciousness and the developing countries’ revolution against imperialism – are blended together into an era-defining vision of personal and cosmic transformation.“
- Kirkus: “Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi series has since become one of the greatest of all time, frequently ranked at the top of popularity lists throughout the genre. Its detailed and complicated story defied expectations and influenced millions of readers throughout its half-century life. The series continues forward with new sequels, adaptations and documentaries, and it’s unlikely to slow down at any point in the near future. Dune novels written by his son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson appear through today.”
- ADAPTATIONS:
- “Dune” is a 1984 American science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch and starring Kyle MacLachlan.
- “Dune” is a three-part science fiction television miniseries written and directed by John Harrison, and starring Alec Newman, William Hurt , and Saskia Reeves. It was first broadcast in the United States in 2000.
- “Dune” is a 2021 film to be released October 2021, starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa.
- THE SERIES:
- #1. Dune #2. Dune Messiah #3. Children of Dune #4. God Emperor of Dune #5. Heretics of Dune #6. Chapterhouse: Dune
BOOK SNAPS - for readers 
[…] by Frank Herbert. First published 1965. MacmillanBlog post here. “A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are […]
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