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Dune #1-3
The Great Dune Trilogy
Herbert's evocative, epic tales are set on the desert planet Arrakis, the focus for a complex political and military struggle with galaxy-wide repercussions. This volume includes the titles Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune.
912 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1979
About the author
Frank Herbert
490 books14.8k followersFranklin Patrick Herbert Jr. was an American science fiction author best known for the 1965 novel Dune and its five sequels. Though he became famous for his novels, he also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, photographer, book reviewer, ecological consultant, and lecturer.
The Dune saga, set in the distant future, and taking place over millennia, explores complex themes, such as the long-term survival of the human species, human evolution, planetary science and ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, economics and power in a future where humanity has long since developed interstellar travel and settled many thousands of worlds. Dune is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, and the entire series is considered to be among the classics of the genre.
The Dune saga, set in the distant future, and taking place over millennia, explores complex themes, such as the long-term survival of the human species, human evolution, planetary science and ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, economics and power in a future where humanity has long since developed interstellar travel and settled many thousands of worlds. Dune is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, and the entire series is considered to be among the classics of the genre.
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September 3, 2017Frank Herbert's Dune was in part inspired by his experience working in a research centre in California studying desertification. The realisation of the interrelationship of environment, people and culture coming out of that experience is a key feature of the series. At the centre of the first novel is a desert planet, Arrakis, and the secret desire of its inhabitants to transform it's ecology. It is a great science-fiction novel about systems of power and the role of ecology, although admittedly delivered in an accept it or loath it writing style and with various weird ideas including: Feudalism in space, a stress on lineages in which nonetheless many of the women seem to be mystic-concubines, homosexuality is shorthand for depraved evil, and space Arabs with blue eyes.
The sequels are not fascinating unlike the first novel. Full of enthusiasm after reading Dune I read Dune Messiah but it is one of those books that divides the fans from the readers I suppose.
In Children of Dune we see the surface of Arrakis beginning to change as the plans to transform the ecology of the plant are being put into effect, and some of the social implications of those changes beginning to emerge, but the book is not as packed with ideas as Dune. For something similarly ambitious yet more consistent in its delivery (& I lost interest in this series as it ran on and on) I personally prefer Brian Aldiss' Helliconia Trilogy.
The weigh of the ideas is really all placed in the first volume. The Feudal-Federalism of the Space-Empire, the breeding programme to create a Messiah figure who can guide humanity towards an unpredictable future, the land makes the people and the people make the land, the replacement of computers with specialised people. The subsequent books are really just the working through of the ideas set out there. It is all inevitable and the reading as a result is poorer.
Dune perhaps epitomises science-fiction. The willingness to embrace big ideas and show them playing out on a broad canvas married to uneven writing and a a certain 'what-the Hell-ness' as the author lays out their pet sociological/anthropological opinions. The David Lynch film, I feel, captures the oddness of the reading experience quite well and perhaps sets about chopping at the text with a brutality which oddly appropriate. Alternatively it offers a combination of the latter books of the Old Testament with a sensitivity towards the influence of the environment upon man and of man upon the environment. At points this works on its own terms, at others it rather strangles itself with its own pretensions. You have to read it to believe it.
The sequels are not fascinating unlike the first novel. Full of enthusiasm after reading Dune I read Dune Messiah but it is one of those books that divides the fans from the readers I suppose.
In Children of Dune we see the surface of Arrakis beginning to change as the plans to transform the ecology of the plant are being put into effect, and some of the social implications of those changes beginning to emerge, but the book is not as packed with ideas as Dune. For something similarly ambitious yet more consistent in its delivery (& I lost interest in this series as it ran on and on) I personally prefer Brian Aldiss' Helliconia Trilogy.
The weigh of the ideas is really all placed in the first volume. The Feudal-Federalism of the Space-Empire, the breeding programme to create a Messiah figure who can guide humanity towards an unpredictable future, the land makes the people and the people make the land, the replacement of computers with specialised people. The subsequent books are really just the working through of the ideas set out there. It is all inevitable and the reading as a result is poorer.
Dune perhaps epitomises science-fiction. The willingness to embrace big ideas and show them playing out on a broad canvas married to uneven writing and a a certain 'what-the Hell-ness' as the author lays out their pet sociological/anthropological opinions. The David Lynch film, I feel, captures the oddness of the reading experience quite well and perhaps sets about chopping at the text with a brutality which oddly appropriate. Alternatively it offers a combination of the latter books of the Old Testament with a sensitivity towards the influence of the environment upon man and of man upon the environment. At points this works on its own terms, at others it rather strangles itself with its own pretensions. You have to read it to believe it.
July 27, 2012
OK - let's cut through the BS.
This is - quite simply - the most magnificent Sci-Fi epic ever written.
The scope of Asimov's Foundation, the attention to detail and context of Tolkien's LotR, coupled with an unmatched visionary socio-ecological messianic narrative that is scarily relevant today.
Anyone who likes Sci-Fi and who hasn't read this needs to get a copy. And read it. Now.
This is - quite simply - the most magnificent Sci-Fi epic ever written.
The scope of Asimov's Foundation, the attention to detail and context of Tolkien's LotR, coupled with an unmatched visionary socio-ecological messianic narrative that is scarily relevant today.
Anyone who likes Sci-Fi and who hasn't read this needs to get a copy. And read it. Now.
October 10, 2015
A lot of people only read the first book, including people who seldom read sci-fi and people who only read just this one sci-fi book. The other two books are definitely worthwhile, especially the third volume (I have not read anything subsequent to the third book). If you are interested these are my reviews:
1. Dune
2. Dune Messiah
3. Children of Dune
1. Dune
2. Dune Messiah
3. Children of Dune
December 29, 2021
3.5-stars.
I have got to page 407 which is the end of the first book and I think that's enough for me for the time being. Though the author clearly had an incredible imagination I don't really understand why people are so excited about it being made as a film (for a second time). I will watch it if it ever makes its way onto terrestrial television but I found the writing style and language dated and hard to read.
1) A number of made-up words that I mostly skimmed.
2) A barren desert wasteland as a backdrop isn't all that inspiring.
3) A two-year-old with the knowledge and power of many adults?
I was actually very relieved that the author didn't try to keep describing the surroundings. I mean; what sort of world-building does anyone really need? It's a desert inhabited by giant worms.
The idea of water being the main commodity was good but obvious given the terrain of the world. I didn't really find that I became attached to any of the characters.
Many consider him to be the master of the Sci-fi genre, and I can't dispute that as I haven't read enough of the genre to be a judge. I still maintain that I prefer watching sci-fi to reading it. I'm glad that I gave it a try and that I forced myself to finish the first book.
Thanks for reading.
I have got to page 407 which is the end of the first book and I think that's enough for me for the time being. Though the author clearly had an incredible imagination I don't really understand why people are so excited about it being made as a film (for a second time). I will watch it if it ever makes its way onto terrestrial television but I found the writing style and language dated and hard to read.
1) A number of made-up words that I mostly skimmed.
2) A barren desert wasteland as a backdrop isn't all that inspiring.
3) A two-year-old with the knowledge and power of many adults?
I was actually very relieved that the author didn't try to keep describing the surroundings. I mean; what sort of world-building does anyone really need? It's a desert inhabited by giant worms.
The idea of water being the main commodity was good but obvious given the terrain of the world. I didn't really find that I became attached to any of the characters.
Many consider him to be the master of the Sci-fi genre, and I can't dispute that as I haven't read enough of the genre to be a judge. I still maintain that I prefer watching sci-fi to reading it. I'm glad that I gave it a try and that I forced myself to finish the first book.
Thanks for reading.
July 11, 2021
This is a difficult book to review. I had heard that Dune is great and its sequels get progressively worse, although people normally mean the sequels written by Brian Herbert after his father passed away.
I loved Dune - it's a great political thriller with a very epic scope, as well as being a prime example of ecofiction since the main driving force behind everyone's political maneuvers is keeping the right ecosystem intact to control the melange or spice. It's fun and deep and, while not exactly fast-paced, it's riveting and very easy to get through. I kept rooting for Duke Leto even though we knew from the start that he wasn't going to be around long. We're very rarely privy to the characters' inner voices, but characterisation is good enough that we get a strong sense of who's who and why they're doing what they're doing even though the exact steps of the plan might be a bit opaque to us. It also works as sci-fi in that it introduces a lot of concepts and slang without it ever feeling obtuse. I had some problems with it, mainly with how Herbert linked homosexuality and evil in the figure of Baron Harkonnen, but it was a couple of paragraphs that didn't really have an effect beyond painting the Harkonnen as depraved villains. A terrible choice but I figured it was 1965 and people were more openly bigoted, so yeah, wrong, but I could set it aside and not let it taint my views of Dune.
Then came Dune Messiah, much shorter than Dune and with a far narrower scope, but still pretty interesting. Herbert deconstructs the idea of heroes and chosen ones and it's great to see. Normally, stories finish just after the hero raises to power, but what happens when a so-called hero has to wage wars across planets and commit literal genocides to keep his throne? And what happens when everything gets bogged down in bureaucracy? The pacing was a bit off, as everything happens mainly in overlong secret council meetings and inside Paul's head. And everyone likes to wax political and philosophical. So it was a bit more tedious than Dune, but still a pretty strong sci-fi novel with some mysteries at its core and a fitting ending. I really enjoyed reading it.
But then I got to Children of Dune. It starts great. It reminded me of everything I had loved about Dune: the plots, the political intrigues, the ecological problems at its core. I could have read a novel about the life cycle of the worms and how interdependent it is with the surrounding desert. And on top of that it had House Corrino planning an assassination of the Royal Twins, Ghanima and Leto II. I suspected some things were wrong after Alia was done a disservice by being turned into Baron Harkonnen. No one really dies forever in Dune, it would seem, but when the antagonist is as cardboard villainy as Baron Harkonnen, do we really need to destroy a fascinating character such as Alia just to bring him back? It didn’t add anything new to the story; it was a literal replay of the events in Dune. And this time around I paid more attention to the philosophical garbage everyone was spouting – turns out Frank Herbert really liked Freudian and Jungian philosophy so I was quickly done with his supposedly deep tirades. His homophobia and sexism were also pretty overt by his third volume, to the point I dreaded reading the book. Not surprising for a Freud fan, but still. But what I really, really couldn’t stomach were those ramblings of someone who’s gone too far with magic mushrooms. If you enjoy shrooms, you do you, but please know that you haven’t made any breakthroughs about the Truths of the Universe just because you’re high. Herbert’s editor should have protected the Dune legacy by not letting him publish this drivel, but of course Herbert ended up banging his agent at Putnam, so probably the priorities weren’t in the right order.
My advice: stop at Dune or if you must, just after Dune Messiah. Remember, I made the mistake of continuing the series so you don’t have to.
I loved Dune - it's a great political thriller with a very epic scope, as well as being a prime example of ecofiction since the main driving force behind everyone's political maneuvers is keeping the right ecosystem intact to control the melange or spice. It's fun and deep and, while not exactly fast-paced, it's riveting and very easy to get through. I kept rooting for Duke Leto even though we knew from the start that he wasn't going to be around long. We're very rarely privy to the characters' inner voices, but characterisation is good enough that we get a strong sense of who's who and why they're doing what they're doing even though the exact steps of the plan might be a bit opaque to us. It also works as sci-fi in that it introduces a lot of concepts and slang without it ever feeling obtuse. I had some problems with it, mainly with how Herbert linked homosexuality and evil in the figure of Baron Harkonnen, but it was a couple of paragraphs that didn't really have an effect beyond painting the Harkonnen as depraved villains. A terrible choice but I figured it was 1965 and people were more openly bigoted, so yeah, wrong, but I could set it aside and not let it taint my views of Dune.
Then came Dune Messiah, much shorter than Dune and with a far narrower scope, but still pretty interesting. Herbert deconstructs the idea of heroes and chosen ones and it's great to see. Normally, stories finish just after the hero raises to power, but what happens when a so-called hero has to wage wars across planets and commit literal genocides to keep his throne? And what happens when everything gets bogged down in bureaucracy? The pacing was a bit off, as everything happens mainly in overlong secret council meetings and inside Paul's head. And everyone likes to wax political and philosophical. So it was a bit more tedious than Dune, but still a pretty strong sci-fi novel with some mysteries at its core and a fitting ending. I really enjoyed reading it.
But then I got to Children of Dune. It starts great. It reminded me of everything I had loved about Dune: the plots, the political intrigues, the ecological problems at its core. I could have read a novel about the life cycle of the worms and how interdependent it is with the surrounding desert. And on top of that it had House Corrino planning an assassination of the Royal Twins, Ghanima and Leto II. I suspected some things were wrong after Alia was done a disservice by being turned into Baron Harkonnen. No one really dies forever in Dune, it would seem, but when the antagonist is as cardboard villainy as Baron Harkonnen, do we really need to destroy a fascinating character such as Alia just to bring him back? It didn’t add anything new to the story; it was a literal replay of the events in Dune. And this time around I paid more attention to the philosophical garbage everyone was spouting – turns out Frank Herbert really liked Freudian and Jungian philosophy so I was quickly done with his supposedly deep tirades. His homophobia and sexism were also pretty overt by his third volume, to the point I dreaded reading the book. Not surprising for a Freud fan, but still. But what I really, really couldn’t stomach were those ramblings of someone who’s gone too far with magic mushrooms. If you enjoy shrooms, you do you, but please know that you haven’t made any breakthroughs about the Truths of the Universe just because you’re high. Herbert’s editor should have protected the Dune legacy by not letting him publish this drivel, but of course Herbert ended up banging his agent at Putnam, so probably the priorities weren’t in the right order.
My advice: stop at Dune or if you must, just after Dune Messiah. Remember, I made the mistake of continuing the series so you don’t have to.
October 10, 2021
8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Con Dune he roto una regla que me había autoimpuesto. Y es que entre libro y libro de grandes sagas suelo meter otras lecturas para no empalagarme. Pero el universo de Dune me ha creado una especie de adicción, como la "melange" se la crea a los habitantes de Arrakis, que me ha hecho leerme los tres primeros libros de Frank Herbert seguidos.
Recomiendo el primer libro (Dune 9/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) a todo el que le guste la ciencia ficción, porque es un clásico y los clásicos... tarde o temprano se acaban leyendo, bien por una reedición que llama tu atención o por el estreno de su versión en el cine, etc... Pero eso sí, no esperéis una prosa exquisita, ni siquiera en ocasiones fluida.
El segundo libro (El Mesías de Dune 7/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐) a pesar de ser solo 300 páginas se hace un poco "espeso". Pero aporta muchísimo a la trama en la parte final, y aparecen personajes nuevos muy interesantes.
Y el tercero (Hijos de Dune 8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐) se disfruta con la ventaja de que ya somos prácticamente fremen y nos desenvolvemos con naturalidad por el increíble universo de Dune, que en resumen es lo que hace tan grande a esta saga, ese universo tan maravilloso que crea Frank Hervet.
Con Dune he roto una regla que me había autoimpuesto. Y es que entre libro y libro de grandes sagas suelo meter otras lecturas para no empalagarme. Pero el universo de Dune me ha creado una especie de adicción, como la "melange" se la crea a los habitantes de Arrakis, que me ha hecho leerme los tres primeros libros de Frank Herbert seguidos.
Recomiendo el primer libro (Dune 9/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) a todo el que le guste la ciencia ficción, porque es un clásico y los clásicos... tarde o temprano se acaban leyendo, bien por una reedición que llama tu atención o por el estreno de su versión en el cine, etc... Pero eso sí, no esperéis una prosa exquisita, ni siquiera en ocasiones fluida.
El segundo libro (El Mesías de Dune 7/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐) a pesar de ser solo 300 páginas se hace un poco "espeso". Pero aporta muchísimo a la trama en la parte final, y aparecen personajes nuevos muy interesantes.
Y el tercero (Hijos de Dune 8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐) se disfruta con la ventaja de que ya somos prácticamente fremen y nos desenvolvemos con naturalidad por el increíble universo de Dune, que en resumen es lo que hace tan grande a esta saga, ese universo tan maravilloso que crea Frank Hervet.
January 3, 2022
Frank Herbert's immortal space opera that created many of the tropes we take for granted inside them is a book that doesn't need my endorsement. However, I thought I would share some thoughts on the book while thinking back on it. As such, its not really a traditional review as such. More just a series of observations.
For me, I always found it kind of interesting that Frank's main point is lost if you just read the main book but it's probably a more "satisfying" read if you just stop after the first book. Basically, the Epilogue in DUNE MESSIAH and CHILDREN OF DUNE are part of the original Dune manuscript. If you read them after reading DUNE, you come away with a very different perspective on the behavior of Paul Atreides as well as his actions.
The publishers, perhaps motivated by the size of the already lengthy book but also realizing that not many audiences wanted to see their hero unleash "mega-Hitlers" levels of awful on the universe, cut the book into multiple parts. As such, Dune by itself reads like a heroic tale of a boy who survives the murderous rampage of an absolutely evil bunch of scumbags (The Harkonnens) before returning with the local natives to liberate the galaxy from a tyrant. It's a good story, indeed a fantastic story, but it's not THE story.
Frank Herbert had a lot more going on in his universe and there have been many thesises written about his works and their handling of politics, religion, economics, as well as social satire. Paul Atreides is the Chosen One but he's a manufactured Chosen One both in terms of his genetics as well as seeding the galaxy's religions with stories about how a great conqueror was going to come to kick the galaxy in the butt.
Paul is absolutely using the Fremen and yet they are willing to allow themselves to be used. He also loses control over them (a fact that is lost without all three novels) and can come off as a bit Mighty Whitey alone. Except, well, Paul becomes of their culture rather than they of his--indeed, the nobility is some of the most decadent and depraved in fiction. Frank Herbert would tackle some of these issues in other works and I recommend them to, though this is justifiably the best.
Everything is smoke and mirrors in the Duneverse and it's kind of fascinating how, if you do a deep dive, how much of the book is about taking the [blank] out of epic heroism tropes. Even the fact the galaxy is ruled by Barons, Lords, and Ladies is deconstructed. They're not really Dukes and Duchesses but shareholders in the galaxy's biggest monopoly that have given themselves titles to feed good about themselves. They just enforce their pedigrees with armies they've hired. But, really, is that different from history?
It's a fantastic book, amazing story, and yet if you read all three books that is the "original" Dune then you might come away hating the protagonist--which, well, Frank Herbert would argue is entirely justified. Because he'd be the first to ask, "Why do you want a messiah and God King?"
For me, I always found it kind of interesting that Frank's main point is lost if you just read the main book but it's probably a more "satisfying" read if you just stop after the first book. Basically, the Epilogue in DUNE MESSIAH and CHILDREN OF DUNE are part of the original Dune manuscript. If you read them after reading DUNE, you come away with a very different perspective on the behavior of Paul Atreides as well as his actions.
The publishers, perhaps motivated by the size of the already lengthy book but also realizing that not many audiences wanted to see their hero unleash "mega-Hitlers" levels of awful on the universe, cut the book into multiple parts. As such, Dune by itself reads like a heroic tale of a boy who survives the murderous rampage of an absolutely evil bunch of scumbags (The Harkonnens) before returning with the local natives to liberate the galaxy from a tyrant. It's a good story, indeed a fantastic story, but it's not THE story.
Frank Herbert had a lot more going on in his universe and there have been many thesises written about his works and their handling of politics, religion, economics, as well as social satire. Paul Atreides is the Chosen One but he's a manufactured Chosen One both in terms of his genetics as well as seeding the galaxy's religions with stories about how a great conqueror was going to come to kick the galaxy in the butt.
Paul is absolutely using the Fremen and yet they are willing to allow themselves to be used. He also loses control over them (a fact that is lost without all three novels) and can come off as a bit Mighty Whitey alone. Except, well, Paul becomes of their culture rather than they of his--indeed, the nobility is some of the most decadent and depraved in fiction. Frank Herbert would tackle some of these issues in other works and I recommend them to, though this is justifiably the best.
Everything is smoke and mirrors in the Duneverse and it's kind of fascinating how, if you do a deep dive, how much of the book is about taking the [blank] out of epic heroism tropes. Even the fact the galaxy is ruled by Barons, Lords, and Ladies is deconstructed. They're not really Dukes and Duchesses but shareholders in the galaxy's biggest monopoly that have given themselves titles to feed good about themselves. They just enforce their pedigrees with armies they've hired. But, really, is that different from history?
It's a fantastic book, amazing story, and yet if you read all three books that is the "original" Dune then you might come away hating the protagonist--which, well, Frank Herbert would argue is entirely justified. Because he'd be the first to ask, "Why do you want a messiah and God King?"
July 25, 2021
‘In the week before their departure to Arrakis, when all the final scurrying about had reached a nearly unbearable frenzy, an old crone came to visit the mother of the boy, Paul.’
When I first read this sentence, over fifty years ago, I could not envisage that I would be drawn into a world which could hold my attention for so long. I’ve just reread the trilogy and it still holds much of its initial appeal.
The trilogy is set in the distant future on the desert planet of Arrakis. Arrakis is the source of spice (melange), the most valuable substance in the galaxy. Why? Spice is a mind enhancing drug which enables interstellar travel. Control of the trade is critical. The first novel opens as Duke Leto Atreides, his concubine the Lady Jessica and son Paul are about to travel to Arrakis (Dune). Not long after they arrive, the Duke is poisoned but Lady Jessica and Paul manage to escape into the desert. What follows (in the trilogy) is a multi-generational story of prophecy, adaptation, and survival.
One of the most important features of the trilogy is the interrelationship between the people and the environment. Dune was not always a desert, and some would like to see the desertification reversed. Is it possible? And at what cost? Moving from ecology to people: lineage is critical. Paul Atreides and his descendants are key.
The first book in the trilogy provides the world, the foundation for the remaining two books. While there is an inevitability in what follows, those books are important. Mysticism, a Messiah, and (naturally) self-interest all have a part to play.
I finished the trilogy and will start the second Dune trilogy soon.
‘You wonder how one could presume to educate such a person as yourself? You, with the knowledge of a multitude held there in your memories? That’s just it, you see! You think yourself educated, but all you are is a repository of dead lives. You don’t yet have a life of your own. You’re just a walking surfeit of others, all with one goal—to seek death.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
When I first read this sentence, over fifty years ago, I could not envisage that I would be drawn into a world which could hold my attention for so long. I’ve just reread the trilogy and it still holds much of its initial appeal.
The trilogy is set in the distant future on the desert planet of Arrakis. Arrakis is the source of spice (melange), the most valuable substance in the galaxy. Why? Spice is a mind enhancing drug which enables interstellar travel. Control of the trade is critical. The first novel opens as Duke Leto Atreides, his concubine the Lady Jessica and son Paul are about to travel to Arrakis (Dune). Not long after they arrive, the Duke is poisoned but Lady Jessica and Paul manage to escape into the desert. What follows (in the trilogy) is a multi-generational story of prophecy, adaptation, and survival.
One of the most important features of the trilogy is the interrelationship between the people and the environment. Dune was not always a desert, and some would like to see the desertification reversed. Is it possible? And at what cost? Moving from ecology to people: lineage is critical. Paul Atreides and his descendants are key.
The first book in the trilogy provides the world, the foundation for the remaining two books. While there is an inevitability in what follows, those books are important. Mysticism, a Messiah, and (naturally) self-interest all have a part to play.
I finished the trilogy and will start the second Dune trilogy soon.
‘You wonder how one could presume to educate such a person as yourself? You, with the knowledge of a multitude held there in your memories? That’s just it, you see! You think yourself educated, but all you are is a repository of dead lives. You don’t yet have a life of your own. You’re just a walking surfeit of others, all with one goal—to seek death.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
August 7, 2019
Although this is the first half of the Dune series, personally I think books 1-4 constitute a proper story arc, But heck, I recommend the whole series, not just the first three books :)
September 13, 2016
The Dune series by Frank, not the son, form one of the pillars of my dreams over the decades since I read the first book. Somehow the imagery plays out in my mind far better than the attempts made by Hollywood.
Unfortunately, I donated my original set, with the original covers, when I moved a few years ago - the new books don't smell the same and don't have the familiar paper feel I grew accustomed to while reading them during finals week year after year.
The blend of science-aversion, exploitation of the naive by systematic manipulation of religion and witchcraft, and the harsh realities of life in a barren and mineral depleted desert is astounding.
I love these books!
Unfortunately, I donated my original set, with the original covers, when I moved a few years ago - the new books don't smell the same and don't have the familiar paper feel I grew accustomed to while reading them during finals week year after year.
The blend of science-aversion, exploitation of the naive by systematic manipulation of religion and witchcraft, and the harsh realities of life in a barren and mineral depleted desert is astounding.
I love these books!
December 27, 2018
This is such a magical book for me. I’m not even going to attempt to write an objective review. I simply don’t have the words.
Yes, this rating is based on emotion and on how this book affected me and my reading evolution over the years. And, frankly, that’s the best way to gauge it, anyway.
Long live the King!
January 4, 2022
Inspired by the recent movie release I gave the Dune series a try and, despite all the (immediately) obvious flaws – the verbose vernacular, the stuffy writing, the bigotry and in the later books the increasingly eye-roll inducing repetitive plot twists, the – this series was highly addictive.
At least until book three, after that I signed off. I felt, at that point the melodrama took over to a degree that was just too much for me and began to retroactively taint the sense of genuine wonder the first two books occasionally gave me.
There are brilliant passages in the first and second book – the Bene Gesserit litany against fear, powerful, goose-bump inducing imagery, uniquely grounded and persuasive world building, inspiring philosophical treatises that are eerily contemporary and, most importantly, complex, deliciously painful interpersonal psychology.
Thinking about it, this last point is exactly what is missing starting in book 3.
At least until book three, after that I signed off. I felt, at that point the melodrama took over to a degree that was just too much for me and began to retroactively taint the sense of genuine wonder the first two books occasionally gave me.
There are brilliant passages in the first and second book – the Bene Gesserit litany against fear, powerful, goose-bump inducing imagery, uniquely grounded and persuasive world building, inspiring philosophical treatises that are eerily contemporary and, most importantly, complex, deliciously painful interpersonal psychology.
Thinking about it, this last point is exactly what is missing starting in book 3.
July 24, 2021
مراجعة عامة لـ DUNE :
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تُقدّم سلسلة DUNE (ست روايات)، تحليلًا لأنظمة الحكم، والثقافة، والقوة، والدين، والسُلطة، وسيطرة "الشركات الكبرى" وفنون التلاعب والإرادة الحرة.
تجري أحداث الرواية في "إمبراطورية" تُحكم سُلطَتها على كلِّ أرجاء "المجرّة"، وحيث تتنافس "العائلات" النبيلة على أغلى مادة معروفة للإنسان:
(The Spice | البهار).
إنَّها مادّة مُهمة لـ السفر عبر الفضاء، وتطيل العمر، وتعزز نمو قدرات عقلية خارقة للبشر.
يجدُ القارئ نفسه وقد أُلقي فجأة في عالم في المستقبل البعيد، بسياساته ودينه وتقنياته وتاريخه ومؤامراته ومجتمعاته وأساليب حياته، لا شيء غير ضروري في الكتاب، كل كلمة مهمة وفي مكانها الصحيح، من وجهة نظري الشخصية؛ إنها سلسلة مذهلة ومكتوبة بلغة مباشرة قد يجدها البعض جافّة.
والسلسلة أيضًا عمل من الأعمال المؤسسة لملاحم الفضاء والخيال العلمي مع الفانتازيا وخلق عوالم من الصفر وعمل مؤثر وأساسي للمؤلفين اللاحقين. ولا ننسى أنه كُتب قبل أكثر من 55 عامًا، وعلى الرغم من ذلك بعض الموضوعات مناسبة تمامًا لعالم اليوم.
أكثر ما لفت انتباهي أنّ السلسلة تطرح بشكل عام كيف يمكن أن تتفاعل المكونات والعلاقات الاجتماعية والبيئية التي نميل إلى اعتبارها أمرًا مفروغًا منه ومسيطرًا عليه بالقوة والتقنيّة، وكيف يمكن أن تتغيّر الأمور وتنقلب بين ليلة وضحاها.
تناقش السلسلة أيضًا، معضلة انتظار المخلّص، أسطورة البطل المنقذ للأمة والشعب، الأسطورة التي تنشأ في لحظة يأس وتتشبث بها الجموع لعدّة أجيال.. مما يفاقم المشاكل بدلًا من حلّها، ويؤدي إلى انقسامات أعمق (طبقيًا وعرقيًا) وتتسبب في تخلخل لبنية المجتمع ككل وانعدام المساواة بين الجنسين.
ترددت طويلًا قبلَ إضافة هذا الجزء للمراجعة :
يتحدث السكان في آراكيس اللغة العربية (نوعًا ما) وتتناثر الكلمات العربية في كل الأجزاء التي قرأتها حتى الآن وتستخدم استخدامًا صحيحًا وبشكل تلقائي وعفوي، لا أدعي أنني أفهمها كلها خاصة تلك التي من صميم ثقافة شعب الفريمن لكن أحاول تخمين االمعنى
-ربما عليّ إضافة مثال هنا: |Shai-Hulud|
وهو مصطلح مقدس لدى شعب الفريمن (الأحرار أو البدو) فكرت كثيرًا لأفهم الكلمة واستنتجت أخيرًا أنها: "شيء خالد"-،
ولذا أتوق لأعرف مدى معرفة فرانك هيربرت باللغة العربية والثقافة العربية والدين لأن الدين هناك هو نوعًا ما، نسخة مستقبلية من الإسلام "السني" مختلطًا بدين/ثقافة شرقيّة أخرى.
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أحتاج لقراءة مزيد من المراجع والمقالات عن الرواية والموسوعة الكبيرة التي تتحدث بالتفصيل عن العائلات والكواكب واللغة والطبيعة الجغرافية..إلخ لعالم الروايات.
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تُقدّم سلسلة DUNE (ست روايات)، تحليلًا لأنظمة الحكم، والثقافة، والقوة، والدين، والسُلطة، وسيطرة "الشركات الكبرى" وفنون التلاعب والإرادة الحرة.
تجري أحداث الرواية في "إمبراطورية" تُحكم سُلطَتها على كلِّ أرجاء "المجرّة"، وحيث تتنافس "العائلات" النبيلة على أغلى مادة معروفة للإنسان:
(The Spice | البهار).
إنَّها مادّة مُهمة لـ السفر عبر الفضاء، وتطيل العمر، وتعزز نمو قدرات عقلية خارقة للبشر.
يجدُ القارئ نفسه وقد أُلقي فجأة في عالم في المستقبل البعيد، بسياساته ودينه وتقنياته وتاريخه ومؤامراته ومجتمعاته وأساليب حياته، لا شيء غير ضروري في الكتاب، كل كلمة مهمة وفي مكانها الصحيح، من وجهة نظري الشخصية؛ إنها سلسلة مذهلة ومكتوبة بلغة مباشرة قد يجدها البعض جافّة.
والسلسلة أيضًا عمل من الأعمال المؤسسة لملاحم الفضاء والخيال العلمي مع الفانتازيا وخلق عوالم من الصفر وعمل مؤثر وأساسي للمؤلفين اللاحقين. ولا ننسى أنه كُتب قبل أكثر من 55 عامًا، وعلى الرغم من ذلك بعض الموضوعات مناسبة تمامًا لعالم اليوم.
أكثر ما لفت انتباهي أنّ السلسلة تطرح بشكل عام كيف يمكن أن تتفاعل المكونات والعلاقات الاجتماعية والبيئية التي نميل إلى اعتبارها أمرًا مفروغًا منه ومسيطرًا عليه بالقوة والتقنيّة، وكيف يمكن أن تتغيّر الأمور وتنقلب بين ليلة وضحاها.
تناقش السلسلة أيضًا، معضلة انتظار المخلّص، أسطورة البطل المنقذ للأمة والشعب، الأسطورة التي تنشأ في لحظة يأس وتتشبث بها الجموع لعدّة أجيال.. مما يفاقم المشاكل بدلًا من حلّها، ويؤدي إلى انقسامات أعمق (طبقيًا وعرقيًا) وتتسبب في تخلخل لبنية المجتمع ككل وانعدام المساواة بين الجنسين.
ترددت طويلًا قبلَ إضافة هذا الجزء للمراجعة :
يتحدث السكان في آراكيس اللغة العربية (نوعًا ما) وتتناثر الكلمات العربية في كل الأجزاء التي قرأتها حتى الآن وتستخدم استخدامًا صحيحًا وبشكل تلقائي وعفوي، لا أدعي أنني أفهمها كلها خاصة تلك التي من صميم ثقافة شعب الفريمن لكن أحاول تخمين االمعنى
-ربما عليّ إضافة مثال هنا: |Shai-Hulud|
وهو مصطلح مقدس لدى شعب الفريمن (الأحرار أو البدو) فكرت كثيرًا لأفهم الكلمة واستنتجت أخيرًا أنها: "شيء خالد"-،
ولذا أتوق لأعرف مدى معرفة فرانك هيربرت باللغة العربية والثقافة العربية والدين لأن الدين هناك هو نوعًا ما، نسخة مستقبلية من الإسلام "السني" مختلطًا بدين/ثقافة شرقيّة أخرى.
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أحتاج لقراءة مزيد من المراجع والمقالات عن الرواية والموسوعة الكبيرة التي تتحدث بالتفصيل عن العائلات والكواكب واللغة والطبيعة الجغرافية..إلخ لعالم الروايات.
June 4, 2024
I'd argue that God Emperor of Dune belongs here since these first three books ultimately lead into the fourth
Dune and Dune: Messiah follows Paul Atreides as his family gains control over the planet Arrakis (Dune).
Dune follows Paul in his youth as his family leaves their home planet to become the new leaders of Arrakis. There is a load of corruption taking place, and tragic backstabbing events lead to the death of Paul's father. Dune wonderfully leads into Dune: Messiah and follows Paul in his adult years. For books that rely heavily on the focus of politics, I found them to be a very captivating and fast-paced book which I loved. If you didn't already know that Paul wasn't a good guy in the first book you will definitely see it in Messiah.
Then at the end of Messiah we meet his newly born children. Due to Chani ingesting so much Melange while pregnant, Paul's children are born with the intellect of a Reverend Mother. Both of them communicate telepathically, and they get looked down upon by many around them. Ultimately, they are a product of their upbringing...
I think these books do such a great job of showcasing politics, corruption, and the impacts of such things on youth into their adulthood. Highly recommend.
Alia ultimately becomes a mother figure to her niece and nephew in Children of Dune and we heavily follow Alia and Leto II as they narrate. Alia ultimately loses herself to the spice and her grandfather Baron corrupts her mind from the afterlife, which causes Jessica to return to Dune.
Dune and Dune: Messiah follows Paul Atreides as his family gains control over the planet Arrakis (Dune).
Dune follows Paul in his youth as his family leaves their home planet to become the new leaders of Arrakis. There is a load of corruption taking place, and tragic backstabbing events lead to the death of Paul's father. Dune wonderfully leads into Dune: Messiah and follows Paul in his adult years. For books that rely heavily on the focus of politics, I found them to be a very captivating and fast-paced book which I loved. If you didn't already know that Paul wasn't a good guy in the first book you will definitely see it in Messiah.
Then at the end of Messiah we meet his newly born children. Due to Chani ingesting so much Melange while pregnant, Paul's children are born with the intellect of a Reverend Mother. Both of them communicate telepathically, and they get looked down upon by many around them. Ultimately, they are a product of their upbringing...
I think these books do such a great job of showcasing politics, corruption, and the impacts of such things on youth into their adulthood. Highly recommend.
Alia ultimately becomes a mother figure to her niece and nephew in Children of Dune and we heavily follow Alia and Leto II as they narrate. Alia ultimately loses herself to the spice and her grandfather Baron corrupts her mind from the afterlife, which causes Jessica to return to Dune.
March 25, 2018
After hearing so many times that Dune was the masterpiece of Science Fiction literature, and seeing a new edition in the store where before I had seen none, I decided to pick this up. This took me some months to read, specially because it is very dense and in other editions just the first book is 900-ish pages. But it was absolutely worth it, entrancing and mind-blowing! Herbert succeeds at juxtaposing so many different elements: ecology, religion, consciousness, feudalism, space travel... gawsh, I could go on! He delivers lessons on all of these, and I couldn't help but save so many quotes. The fact that he has as the epicentre of the story an entheogen is... just amazing. Hardly anyone writes about that because they either have no experience in psychoactive substances, or they are too afraid of the negative connotations it might carry. But not Herbert. He would be the kind of person I'd love to have a chat with. The fabric he's woven with these books is just incredible.
It is a mainly character-driven plot, with the three books in this trilogy focusing on the Atreides family on Dune. Conversations leave you in suspense because there are so many hidden motivations, giving you an exaggerated perspective on human nature. That being said, I sometimes had a hard time to follow Herbert's writing and dialogues. I suspect that is partly why this trilogy took me so long to complete, I need to be really focused and in the mood to dive into such a complex world.
Also, my order of preference is: (1) Dune; (2) Dune Messiah and (3) Children of Dune. There were some plot decisions in the last book that just left me baffled, and I was wondering why the characters would decide to act that way. Dune just had a hold on me from start to finish, and I was finding it hard to put it down, already thinking of the fun I would have in rereading it. Dune Messiah just focused so much more on Paul's struggles in his new found role, I felt much closer to him, and the whole book just had a poetic justice undertone that I really liked.
Even though there were some low points, I can't help giving this trilogy a 5* rating! Simply because I think everyone should delve into this world, let themselves be absorbed by it. It makes you question your reality, your choices, your relationships and the impact you have on the world, or the impact the world has on you. I cannot recommend it enough, and believe me, I can't shut up about it. I will definitely continue with the the sequels!
It is a mainly character-driven plot, with the three books in this trilogy focusing on the Atreides family on Dune. Conversations leave you in suspense because there are so many hidden motivations, giving you an exaggerated perspective on human nature. That being said, I sometimes had a hard time to follow Herbert's writing and dialogues. I suspect that is partly why this trilogy took me so long to complete, I need to be really focused and in the mood to dive into such a complex world.
Also, my order of preference is: (1) Dune; (2) Dune Messiah and (3) Children of Dune. There were some plot decisions in the last book that just left me baffled, and I was wondering why the characters would decide to act that way. Dune just had a hold on me from start to finish, and I was finding it hard to put it down, already thinking of the fun I would have in rereading it. Dune Messiah just focused so much more on Paul's struggles in his new found role, I felt much closer to him, and the whole book just had a poetic justice undertone that I really liked.
Even though there were some low points, I can't help giving this trilogy a 5* rating! Simply because I think everyone should delve into this world, let themselves be absorbed by it. It makes you question your reality, your choices, your relationships and the impact you have on the world, or the impact the world has on you. I cannot recommend it enough, and believe me, I can't shut up about it. I will definitely continue with the the sequels!
May 16, 2020
Это было - в е л и к о л е п н о .
Мне сложно подобрать правильные слова, чтобы описать мои чувства после прочтения.
Говорят, Френк Герберт вдохновился созданием Дюны благодаря опыту работы в Исследовательском центре в Калифорнии, который специализировался на исследовании опустынивании.
Мне не с чем сравнивать Дюну. Я впервые познакомилась с этим жанром и опыт был - блистательный.
Фрэнк Герберт вдавался в скрупулезные подробности жизни на Арракисе. Герберт уделяет равное внимание характеристике, сюжету и повествованию. Книга полна незабываемых персонажей от задиристой Леди Джессики, до Пола Атрейдеса, который начинается как довольно общий Люк Скайуокерский ” избранный " ребенок до мессианской фигуры, всегда готовой с мудрым комментарием для каждого случая. Злодеи еще более красочны, особенно сверхразмерный барон Владимир Харконнен, настолько толстый, что ему нужны антигравитационные устройства, чтобы помочь поддержать его обхват. И его психованный племянник Фейд-Раута, который является безжалостным прирожденным убийцей и по какой-то причине, показался мне геем.
Я боялась читать эту книгу, потому что она - большая. Я боялась, что начав ее я заскучаю от огромного количества воды в ней. И как же я была приятна удивлена, что ошибаюсь!
Я захлебывалась от событий, добавляя все новые закладки. Я переживала вместе с героями и когда книга закончилась, что я - опустошена. Опустошена как сосуд для воды.
Если вы еще так же как и я , не знакомы с данным жанром - обязательно читайте Дюну. Френк удивит вам многим.
Мне сложно подобрать правильные слова, чтобы описать мои чувства после прочтения.
Говорят, Френк Герберт вдохновился созданием Дюны благодаря опыту работы в Исследовательском центре в Калифорнии, который специализировался на исследовании опустынивании.
Мне не с чем сравнивать Дюну. Я впервые познакомилась с этим жанром и опыт был - блистательный.
Фрэнк Герберт вдавался в скрупулезные подробности жизни на Арракисе. Герберт уделяет равное внимание характеристике, сюжету и повествованию. Книга полна незабываемых персонажей от задиристой Леди Джессики, до Пола Атрейдеса, который начинается как довольно общий Люк Скайуокерский ” избранный " ребенок до мессианской фигуры, всегда готовой с мудрым комментарием для каждого случая. Злодеи еще более красочны, особенно сверхразмерный барон Владимир Харконнен, настолько толстый, что ему нужны антигравитационные устройства, чтобы помочь поддержать его обхват. И его психованный племянник Фейд-Раута, который является безжалостным прирожденным убийцей и по какой-то причине, показался мне геем.
Я боялась читать эту книгу, потому что она - большая. Я боялась, что начав ее я заскучаю от огромного количества воды в ней. И как же я была приятна удивлена, что ошибаюсь!
Я захлебывалась от событий, добавляя все новые закладки. Я переживала вместе с героями и когда книга закончилась, что я - опустошена. Опустошена как сосуд для воды.
Если вы еще так же как и я , не знакомы с данным жанром - обязательно читайте Дюну. Френк удивит вам многим.
January 6, 2022
Dune: 5
Dune Messiah: 3
Children of Dune: 3.5
Average of the three in one: 3.8 (4)
Anyway, I think Dune really is the shining jewel here with an appealing political plot, planetary awareness with an awesome dedication to all ecologists, various cultural influences, and relatable characters despite it playing eons in the future.
The second and third book break a bit with this, removing the human out of the story a bit. It all becomes more abstract and pseudo-philosophical at times. Nevertheless there is a nice overarching story about certainty, ambition, flawed leadership, and the dangers of totalitarian powers. The great variety of cultural influences is still neatly shown.
Overall, I especially recommend the first book. If the writing style and universe appeals to you, then the second and third ones are a neat addition.
Dune Messiah: 3
Children of Dune: 3.5
Average of the three in one: 3.8 (4)
Anyway, I think Dune really is the shining jewel here with an appealing political plot, planetary awareness with an awesome dedication to all ecologists, various cultural influences, and relatable characters despite it playing eons in the future.
The second and third book break a bit with this, removing the human out of the story a bit. It all becomes more abstract and pseudo-philosophical at times. Nevertheless there is a nice overarching story about certainty, ambition, flawed leadership, and the dangers of totalitarian powers. The great variety of cultural influences is still neatly shown.
Overall, I especially recommend the first book. If the writing style and universe appeals to you, then the second and third ones are a neat addition.
April 21, 2024
This is my second read-through of the trilogy. Having previously gone through the entire series many years ago, I decided to limit it to three books this time around. I belong to the camp of ‘it gets a bit too crazy for my liking from book four.’ ‘Dune Messiah’ has the perfect ending (in my opinion). That said, for a first-time reader, definitely delve into all the weirdness. It’s what makes it unforgettable. There isn’t much more to say. Even with its rough edges, this trilogy is a classic and demands to be read.
May Shai-Hulud forever guide your footsteps.
May Shai-Hulud forever guide your footsteps.
May 25, 2022
"He who controls the spice controls the universe."
Een van de meest vermaarde scifi reeksen - en terecht! De invloed van Dune op alles wat erop volgde kan niet overschat worden. Verschillende filosofische, religieuze, en sociologische thema's worden besproken in een messianistisch kaderverhaal met een grondig en min of meer realistisch uitgebouwde, maar toch atypische wereld; het typische motief van een doorgedreven computermaatschappij is vervangen door een feodaal systeem met een achterdocht voor 'denkende' technologie en een focus op mysticisme en individuen gespecialiseerd voor een bepaalde functie.
Sommige hoofdstukken voelen eerder langdradig aan, en de flow versnelt drastisch naar het einde van het eerste van het derde boek toe.
" 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."
Een van de meest vermaarde scifi reeksen - en terecht! De invloed van Dune op alles wat erop volgde kan niet overschat worden. Verschillende filosofische, religieuze, en sociologische thema's worden besproken in een messianistisch kaderverhaal met een grondig en min of meer realistisch uitgebouwde, maar toch atypische wereld; het typische motief van een doorgedreven computermaatschappij is vervangen door een feodaal systeem met een achterdocht voor 'denkende' technologie en een focus op mysticisme en individuen gespecialiseerd voor een bepaalde functie.
Sommige hoofdstukken voelen eerder langdradig aan, en de flow versnelt drastisch naar het einde van het eerste van het derde boek toe.
" 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."
May 2, 2020
The mythos the late Mr Herbert Has bequeathed to us either soaring eloquence of vision or just leaves the reader bored. I am of the former. This is mature, intellectual, dramatic science fiction,that still resonates as a warning about power and its dangers. I seem to read this every few years, and never tire, nor fail to gain a new insight. Simply put, glorious.
August 23, 2018
With this latest addition to the so-called Gollancz "Black Library", another classic has been immortalised. If you're looking for a lovely copy to keep, or for a gift, this one has much to like. The black faux-leather has writing imprinted in gold, and it is a nice looking copy. The print type however seems to be of old stock, and a little worn in terms of type - none of that precise digital typography here!
In term of the content, there's nothing too exciting. There are the three books of the original trilogy, of course (Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune) with the Glossary and the maps as found in the original copies of Dune. There's enough been said in other reviews about the content, so I'll say little here other than Dune is great, the others are more demanding (although, admittedly, not as demanding as the so-called "Second Trilogy", published a decade or so later than these novels.)
However, it is the basic text - there's no added introduction or gilt edges (as in the 1987 Easton Press edition of Dune), there's none of the lovely John Schoenherr artwork (recommended by Frank Herbert himself) that was added to the 1999 edition of the Dune Gollancz hardback. It is about half the price of the Folio Press edition of Dune, though, and here you get the other two books as well.
But it gives you what you're expecting - a lovely edition of the basic books to keep, and a worthy addition to the Black Library.
In term of the content, there's nothing too exciting. There are the three books of the original trilogy, of course (Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune) with the Glossary and the maps as found in the original copies of Dune. There's enough been said in other reviews about the content, so I'll say little here other than Dune is great, the others are more demanding (although, admittedly, not as demanding as the so-called "Second Trilogy", published a decade or so later than these novels.)
However, it is the basic text - there's no added introduction or gilt edges (as in the 1987 Easton Press edition of Dune), there's none of the lovely John Schoenherr artwork (recommended by Frank Herbert himself) that was added to the 1999 edition of the Dune Gollancz hardback. It is about half the price of the Folio Press edition of Dune, though, and here you get the other two books as well.
But it gives you what you're expecting - a lovely edition of the basic books to keep, and a worthy addition to the Black Library.
January 8, 2019
I was on the fence about going into to this. It started a little slow the writting was difficult to get by but then suddenly i couldn't stop reading. I was submerged in the story and invested in the characters. I only read the first three books of the series and honestly don't know if i will ever read the rest but even if i don't i still feel i the real masterpiece is these three of the series.
January 17, 2016
First book (loosely based on story of Mohammed) is second best SF ever written. Books two and three, inevitably, fall off.
March 21, 2021
I remember reading Dune before David Lynch's movie came out, because I wanted to read the book before watching the movie. That must have been in 1983 or 1984, so I must have been 12 or 13.
A few years later I reread it, together with Dune Messiah and the first half of Children of Dune. I didn't read English yet, and the Danish translation of Children of Dune was split into two volumes. I never managed to get my hands on the second volume, so I was left more than thirty years with a cliffhanger.
Truth be told, I'd completely forgotten the plot of both Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, while the story of Dune stood clearer to me. After all, I'd read it twice, as well as watched both the David Lynch movie and the 2000 miniseries.
In preparation for Denis Villeneuve's up-coming movie, I decided to reread all three, since my wife had brought this omnibus edition into the marriage.
It's with some trepidation I pick up a book I haven't read since my teens. For instance, I didn't have much luck rereading the Foundation trilogy some years ago.
With Dune, I was pleasantly surprised. While its omniscient narrator, who jumps from one character's head to another repeatedly on the same page, seems dated, the story actually moves at a satisfactory pace. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I found the conclusion thrilling.
Dune Messiah takes a bit of time to get going, but ultimately produces a few surprising twists. It's a much different book, but it also left me satisfied.
Children of Dune, unfortunately, was harder to get through. There's too much metaphysics and badly explained prophesies, and it seems to basically devolve into the kind of fantasy that I don't much care for. Magic without clear rules.
In all, I'm happy that I've now read all three books. I know that Herbert wrote three more, but at the moment, I feel no urge to read them.
A few years later I reread it, together with Dune Messiah and the first half of Children of Dune. I didn't read English yet, and the Danish translation of Children of Dune was split into two volumes. I never managed to get my hands on the second volume, so I was left more than thirty years with a cliffhanger.
Truth be told, I'd completely forgotten the plot of both Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, while the story of Dune stood clearer to me. After all, I'd read it twice, as well as watched both the David Lynch movie and the 2000 miniseries.
In preparation for Denis Villeneuve's up-coming movie, I decided to reread all three, since my wife had brought this omnibus edition into the marriage.
It's with some trepidation I pick up a book I haven't read since my teens. For instance, I didn't have much luck rereading the Foundation trilogy some years ago.
With Dune, I was pleasantly surprised. While its omniscient narrator, who jumps from one character's head to another repeatedly on the same page, seems dated, the story actually moves at a satisfactory pace. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I found the conclusion thrilling.
Dune Messiah takes a bit of time to get going, but ultimately produces a few surprising twists. It's a much different book, but it also left me satisfied.
Children of Dune, unfortunately, was harder to get through. There's too much metaphysics and badly explained prophesies, and it seems to basically devolve into the kind of fantasy that I don't much care for. Magic without clear rules.
In all, I'm happy that I've now read all three books. I know that Herbert wrote three more, but at the moment, I feel no urge to read them.
August 16, 2021
I'm pleased to write that I have finally completed the great Dune trilogy. And it was great. REALLY great. So much so actually, that I can explicitly and categorically confirm that it is the most plagerised book I've ever read. Okay, "plagerised" is a strong word. But I couldn't help but feel familiarised with a lot of the scenes in the story.
When reading this book, it was impossible for me to ignore the similarities between it and just about every science fiction movie I've ever seen! Okay, I may be slightly over exaggerating again.
Classic Sci-fi films like Star Wars, The Matrix and Avatar all display some Frank Herbert undertones. Even books like Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn saga seem to have taken ideas from the late author.
I dunno, maybe I'm overreacting, or perhaps there is a very fine line between inspiration and just plain old theft.
In closing: Dune is a book every avid reader should indulge in at least once. It truly is the holy grail of science fiction. And I am personally grateful to the Gods for blessing the universe with the incredible and brilliant mind of Frank Herbert.
And now I look forward to returning to the dry, barren and unforgiving planet of Arrakis when I read God Emperor.
"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."
When reading this book, it was impossible for me to ignore the similarities between it and just about every science fiction movie I've ever seen! Okay, I may be slightly over exaggerating again.
Classic Sci-fi films like Star Wars, The Matrix and Avatar all display some Frank Herbert undertones. Even books like Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn saga seem to have taken ideas from the late author.
I dunno, maybe I'm overreacting, or perhaps there is a very fine line between inspiration and just plain old theft.
In closing: Dune is a book every avid reader should indulge in at least once. It truly is the holy grail of science fiction. And I am personally grateful to the Gods for blessing the universe with the incredible and brilliant mind of Frank Herbert.
And now I look forward to returning to the dry, barren and unforgiving planet of Arrakis when I read God Emperor.
"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."
June 30, 2022
I’ve been through some SHIT reading this book and it did not help me with said shit. Sorry to this man Herbert. You probably will like this book if any of the following pertain to you: you run marathons or do long distance biking. You are vegan but only for health reasons. You have a soul sucking job that makes a ton of money. You drink coffee black and in the evenings because “caffeine doesn’t affect me.” You can possess these qualities and not enjoy the book, or you cannot possess these qualities and enjoy the book. Correlation is not causation. You will also like the book if you like really dense sci fi and politics. I’m just saying there’s a reason it took me 5 months to read it and all I’m left with is the sense of being better than everyone else who quit after the first 10 pages. The writing is very beautiful, but so is the movie! Feel free to just watch the movie if you find the book intimidating.
December 26, 2021
Yes, if you're not sure, I can confirm it's a good idea to read the whole trilogy. Dune is a fantastic book and has aged quite well for sci-fi. Many years ago I read the first book when English was still a bit of a challenge for me and loved it despite its complexity. Now I can appreciate the added value of the other two parts.
They answer the question of what happens after the hero wins and becomes the ruler. We rarely get more than an implied 'and they lived happily ever after'. Dune Messiah and Children of Dune pick up where Dune ended and describe the murkiness of trying to rule justly and do right by everyone. And, as the best sci-fi does, the books make you think about our own society in the here and now.
For full disclosure, I do think the second book is a bit less engaging, as it is not as fast-paced (and they're not all that quick to begin with), but I still finished the trilogy in record time.
Immerse yourself and enjoy, I'm off to see the 2021 movie!
They answer the question of what happens after the hero wins and becomes the ruler. We rarely get more than an implied 'and they lived happily ever after'. Dune Messiah and Children of Dune pick up where Dune ended and describe the murkiness of trying to rule justly and do right by everyone. And, as the best sci-fi does, the books make you think about our own society in the here and now.
For full disclosure, I do think the second book is a bit less engaging, as it is not as fast-paced (and they're not all that quick to begin with), but I still finished the trilogy in record time.
Immerse yourself and enjoy, I'm off to see the 2021 movie!
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October 5, 2021Як я могла пропустити цей шедевр наукової фантастики! Відчула себе у свиті герцога Літо і відправилась на нову планету.... Арракіс притягує та відштовхує одночасно. Поринула з головою у політику, інтриги, тайни...Мандрую Дюною, зачарована пустелею та двома Місяцями,які мені уже сняться
April 21, 2024
4.7 ⭐
Impeccable world building in part one. Bit of an extended epilog to the first part in part two. Ending in an awesome part three. Will definitely continue the series past the great trilogy of this iconic sci-fi classic.
Impeccable world building in part one. Bit of an extended epilog to the first part in part two. Ending in an awesome part three. Will definitely continue the series past the great trilogy of this iconic sci-fi classic.
February 6, 2024
My thoughts on Dune as a series are quite conflicting. I find this first book to be almost as perfect of a story as you could imagine. Incredible depth and world building that draws you in completely.
The following books are quite different for me though, I found both 'Dune Messiah' and 'Children of Dune' to be interesting books and they certainly held my attention but they have to be some of the most complicated stories I've ever read. Constantly losing track of who is allied with who and what word means what I found myself not picking the book up for days and days at a time.
The first book is SOOOOO good that it compelled me to continue reading the series despite how confusing and complicated the other books became.
The following books are quite different for me though, I found both 'Dune Messiah' and 'Children of Dune' to be interesting books and they certainly held my attention but they have to be some of the most complicated stories I've ever read. Constantly losing track of who is allied with who and what word means what I found myself not picking the book up for days and days at a time.
The first book is SOOOOO good that it compelled me to continue reading the series despite how confusing and complicated the other books became.
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