Sign in with Facebook
Adina (way behind)'s Reviews > Dune
Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1)
by
by
Update 2 March 2024
I saw Dune 2 and the first one is nothing compared with it. Actually, most movies are nothing compared to Dune 2. Maybe Villeneuve is the real Kwisatz Haderach.
Update! Just wanted to say how much I loved the movie. Go see it. It was probably good that there was a gap between the time I read this and the movie.
Read 2015
Amazing! A masterpiece of SF with which I will probably compare all SF books that I’ll read in the future. It goes in my favorites shelf.
This is my 3rd attempt to read Dune and I am really grateful that I did not succeed the first two times I tried as I was too young to understand all the subtleties. I would have probably enjoyed it as a very well written adventure novel but nothing more. That would have been a pity as Dune is so much more than a story about space travel and epic battles between good and evil. It presents complex philosophical ideas, explores ecological issues, cultural identity and differences. Also a major theme is represented by religion and religious leadership.
The disturbing part about this book, taken in the current political context, is how easily the Fremen can be identified with an Arab nation. The spice can be seen as “oil” and the Harkonnens as evil westerners/Russians that are exploiting the natural resources without thinking about the locals and the environment. I saw that others reviewers saw this as well.
I saw Dune 2 and the first one is nothing compared with it. Actually, most movies are nothing compared to Dune 2. Maybe Villeneuve is the real Kwisatz Haderach.
Update! Just wanted to say how much I loved the movie. Go see it. It was probably good that there was a gap between the time I read this and the movie.
Read 2015
Amazing! A masterpiece of SF with which I will probably compare all SF books that I’ll read in the future. It goes in my favorites shelf.
This is my 3rd attempt to read Dune and I am really grateful that I did not succeed the first two times I tried as I was too young to understand all the subtleties. I would have probably enjoyed it as a very well written adventure novel but nothing more. That would have been a pity as Dune is so much more than a story about space travel and epic battles between good and evil. It presents complex philosophical ideas, explores ecological issues, cultural identity and differences. Also a major theme is represented by religion and religious leadership.
The disturbing part about this book, taken in the current political context, is how easily the Fremen can be identified with an Arab nation. The spice can be seen as “oil” and the Harkonnens as evil westerners/Russians that are exploiting the natural resources without thinking about the locals and the environment. I saw that others reviewers saw this as well.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Dune.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
July 9, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 9, 2015
– Shelved
July 9, 2015
– Shelved as:
fantasy-sf
July 9, 2015
– Shelved as:
classics
July 21, 2015
–
Started Reading
August 4, 2015
–
48.53%
"Still loving it. However, it is quite a different experience to read the book now with all the IS problems. Reading about the word jihad in the book was a bit disturbing."
page
330
August 11, 2015
–
Finished Reading
October 29, 2018
– Shelved as:
1001
Comments Showing 1-50 of 62 (62 new)
message 1:
by
Joe
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Mar 18, 2017 02:26PM
Excellent review, Adina. I like the way you related the different characters to our current political environment. Anyone who thinks the current U.S. president would be the hero in this piece has been ingesting too much melange.
reply
|
flag
Joe wrote: "Excellent review, Adina. I like the way you related the different characters to our current political environment. Anyone who thinks the current U.S. president would be the hero in this piece has b..." Thank you. I cannot even see this face anymore, he definitely is no hero for anybody.
Glad to hear! I remember reading Dune as a teenager- it took a long time as I found it tough to keep up with the terminology and world-building but there were some great action and characters that made me stick it through. Looking forward to the new Dune movie too.
Dune is a classic. Herbert was also an early environmentalist. There is certainly a case for thinking that melange represented oil. It was also the first time I had heard the word "jihad", not so common back in 1981 when I read it, now unfortunately far more common. I think Herbert may have indulged in some melange himself, he was quite prescient!
Irene wrote: "Glad to hear! I remember reading Dune as a teenager- it took a long time as I found it tough to keep up with the terminology and world-building but there were some great action and characters that ..." There's going to be a new movie? Cool!
Nick wrote: "Dune is a classic. Herbert was also an early environmentalist. There is certainly a case for thinking that melange represented oil. It was also the first time I had heard the word "jihad", not so c..." I was surprised to read the word in this novel. I am sure that if he were to write it now he wouldn't have used the word but back then it did not have the disturbing resonance it has now. ha ha, he probably did try some melange himself.
Fran wrote: "Excellent review Adina." Thank you.
Gianfranco wrote: "Great review! :D" Thank you! So happy he approves :))
Iei, ma bucur ca ti-a placut! Cu toate ca a trecut ceva timp de cand am citit-o, "Dune" ramane preferata mea in domeniul science fiction... :)
Maria wrote: "Iei, ma bucur ca ti-a placut! Cu toate ca a trecut ceva timp de cand am citit-o, "Dune" ramane preferata mea in domeniul science fiction... :)" Desi am citit-o acum 2 ani mi-a ramas destul de vie in minte. Mi se pare o combinatie intre SF si Fantasy foarte reusita. Nu stiu de ce, dar nu ma atrage ideea de a citi si continuarile. Tu le-ai citit?
Am citit primele patru volume ale seriei, dar "Dune" mi-a placut cel mai mult... Eu as spune ca se merita, universul creat de Herbert e incredibil de complex; modul in care reuseste sa orchestreze actiunea seriei pe parcursul a mii de ani e pur si simplu genial.
Maria wrote: "Am citit primele patru volume ale seriei, dar "Dune" mi-a placut cel mai mult... Eu as spune ca se merita, universul creat de Herbert e incredibil de complex; modul in care reuseste sa orchestreze ..." O sa incerc. Dupa ce o sa citesc restul TBR, adica cam cand tejmina si Sanderson seria lui probabil :))
Imi place ca ai deja stabilita lista de lectura pentru urmatorii 20 de ani ;)) Mie imi ia o zi intreaga sa ma decid ce carte sa incep :))
Maria wrote: "Imi place ca ai deja stabilita lista de lectura pentru urmatorii 20 de ani ;)) Mie imi ia o zi intreaga sa ma decid ce carte sa incep :))" :)) Si mie imi ia mult. Am liste cu urmatoarele 5, 20 de carti pe care vreau sa le citesc si pe care le am in biblioteca/kindle dar de cele mai multe ori ajung sa ma cumpar una noua care ma inspira in momentul ala.
I liked the film too, though I have not read the book - despite it being a SF classic and having a great love for SF. I will look out for the book ..... and sequels and prequels in what feels like an embryonic film franchise
I loved the movie too. Especially once it got going. The first third felt perhaps a little derivative of the David Lynch movie (especially in regards to reworking dialogue). However, from the moment Paul was tested with the pain simulator, the film really found its own voice. I especially loved Jason Momoa as Duncan; Paul, Chani, and Vladimir Harkonnen were great too. All the action scenes were so ridiculously well choreographed and epic in scale.
With the new "Dune" I expected a instant classic and it was exactly that. Of all the found flaws most are just me nitpitcking and for the rest the fault lies with the source material. I hope there's going to be a trend of adapting SF classics for the big screen.
Part two of the Dune film arrives in 2023 with the same actors and director and much more action. I read the great book also and can imagine in the future they will both be shown back to back with a break between , 5 hours long ...we will need it. Always enjoy your reviews Adina.
I share your passion for this one, what a true sci-fi classic! I read it so many years ago that I've forgotten many details, and the movie is making me want to go back to read it again :)I have the physical edition of "The Great Dune Trilogy" with the blue cover, thick and gorgeous!
Ray wrote: "I liked the film too, though I have not read the book - despite it being a SF classic and having a great love for SF. I will look out for the book ..... and sequels and prequels in what feels like ..." I only read Dune and i have no idea if i should read the rest of the books. I do not want to be disappointed.
Charlie wrote: "I loved the movie too. Especially once it got going. The first third felt perhaps a little derivative of the David Lynch movie (especially in regards to reworking dialogue). However, from the momen..." i agree. I haven't seen Lynch movie though. I also loved the music and sound effects.
Claudiu wrote: "With the new "Dune" I expected a instant classic and it was exactly that. Of all the found flaws most are just me nitpitcking and for the rest the fault lies with the source material. I hope there'..." i hope so to and I see a trend towards that direction.
Henry wrote: "Part two of the Dune film arrives in 2023 with the same actors and director and much more action. I read the great book also and can imagine in the future they will both be shown back to back with ..." Thank you Hnery. Can't wait. i have to see Part 1 before part II, for sure.
Rita wrote: "I share your passion for this one, what a true sci-fi classic! I read it so many years ago that I've forgotten many details, and the movie is making me want to go back to read it again :)I have t..." The movie made me want to read the sequels. I am still undecided about that. Your edition sounds so good.
Warning: the sequels are poor in comparison with Dune. IMO, of course. Children of Dune is okay (it was in the early 1980’s when I read it), however, I lost interest when I began the fifth novel. I have (now old) first editions of the fourth and fifth Dune novels and a Folio Society edition of Dune - lovely! The Bruce Pennington cover art is worth looking out for. Bruce Pennington is a SF/fantasy artist, I love his work and he did covers for the first four Dune novels ... look out for “Eschatus”, his interpretation of Nostradamus through his art - it is wonderful. (Not into Nostradamus, but the art is stunning.) Rita - your edition sounds really interesting!
Nick wrote: "Warning: the sequels are poor in comparison with Dune. IMO, of course. Children of Dune is okay (it was in the early 1980’s when I read it), however, I lost interest when I began the fifth novel. I..." Thank you for the warning. I will not rush to continue with the series then.
Adina wrote: "Nick wrote: "Warning: the sequels are poor in comparison with Dune. IMO, of course. Children of Dune is okay (it was in the early 1980’s when I read it), however, I lost interest when I began the f..."Oh, you will have to make up your own mind, Adina! I will be interested in your views, I may be wrong, it was decades ago I read them.
Hehe, it was ABSOLUTELY done on purpose, and I think the author and his family have said this.I think the brilliance of the political metaphors is in how relevant it is even today. We have wars in the middle-east because of oil. We have religious extremism rising as a backlash against western colonialism.
As well the ecological and environmental questions asked. How relevant such questions are even today in 2022.
Abhirup wrote: "Hehe, it was ABSOLUTELY done on purpose, and I think the author and his family have said this.I think the brilliance of the political metaphors is in how relevant it is even today. We have wars i..." I agree it is still very much valid with the exception of the negatives you mentioned in your review.
I don't think this novel can be praised enough
James wrote: "I don't think this novel can be praised enough" I agree. And the new movie does it justice.
Happy to see someone who loves the novel and the movie same as me):
Iluvatar wrote: "Happy to see someone who loves the novel and the movie same as me):" I’ve seen the movie lots of times. I am not sure if I should read the follow ups though.
I liked the movie too, A! It'll be nice to watch the two together when the next part comes out in March! :)Have you thought of reading Messiah? I'll be going straight onto that with Nastya after I finish my reread of this.
Dune Messiah is pretty good. They go downhill from Children of Dune. The original is still the best and I would say you can pretend there's only one more book after that.
Jonathan wrote: "I liked the movie too, A! It'll be nice to watch the two together when the next part comes out in March! :)Have you thought of reading Messiah? I'll be going straight onto that with Nastya after I..." No, I haven't. I am planning to at some point. I can;t wait for the 2nd part of the movie. I think I've see the 1st one enough times already so i will probably go directly to the new one.
Charlie wrote: "Dune Messiah is pretty good. They go downhill from Children of Dune. The original is still the best and I would say you can pretend there's only one more book after that." Aha, ok. So i should stop after no.2 maybe.
"Maybe Villeneuve is the real Kwisatz Haderach." -> Well said! :)
Good to know that Dune 2 is that so good, since I watched the first one and I wasn't impressed but due to your positive comments about the movie sequel, I'll give it a chance. Thanks!
Sena wrote: ""Maybe Villeneuve is the real Kwisatz Haderach." -> Well said! :)" ;) I had a vision about it :))
Alejandro wrote: "Good to know that Dune 2 is that so good, since I watched the first one and I wasn't impressed but due to your positive comments about the movie sequel, I'll give it a chance. Thanks!" I liked the first one too so I am not sure we have similar tastes.
Will start that one soon! 2 more books before but I liked your review & I loved the movie! Very excited now for the book series
Couldn't agree more about the movie, and I thought the subtle changes that were made really helped elevate the plot, tension, character development, and themes from the written story. I just read a review that said that Dune is just "Lawrence of Arabia," which I now need to re-watch!
Haha, I see we thought the same about the film. :)
Hmmm, maybe I should actually watch that movie…
So many actors gave the performances of their lives in that movie. I have to say that Javier Bardem stood out especially for me. So fascinating to see someone go full fanatic. Austin Butler and Rebecca Ferguson were also epic. And the action set pieces were so stunningly beautiful, I found myself lost in an IMAX trance. I feel like Villeneuve really knew how to bring out the most interesting themes from the book in part 2.
Dune 2 was the best movie I’ve seen in a long time. Just got home from seeing it in IMAX.
