Melange, is a spice grown only on the desert terrain of Arrakis, a hot, barren planet, known to it's inhabitants as Dune. It is a harsh, unforgiving place to live, with vicious, giant sandworms living under the sand, that guard the precious spice, and no water at all.
Melange has special ... Read review
This Hugo and Nebula Award winner tells the sweeping tale of a desert planet called ... more
Arrakis, the focus of an intricate power struggle in a byzantine interstellar empire. Arrakis is the sole source of Melange, the "spice of spices". Melange is necessa...
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This Hugo and Nebula Award winner tells the sweeping tale of a desert planet called ... more
Arrakis, the focus of an intricate power struggle in a byzantine interstellar empire. Arrakis is the sole source of Melange, the "spice of spices". Melange is necessa...
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...read it, because I believe Dune is the epitome of philosophy and politics in the world of SciFi. With just a slight overdosing on Melange, the hip drug to be taking if you are anybody, or aspire to be anybody, in the world of Dune. Dune is just the right blend of SciFi and fantasy. It is a story about how the desire for power, wealth and knowledge destroys lives.
Frank Herbert created an artistic vision, a story connecting fantastic ... ...properly called. Make no mistake, Dune isn't for everyone. Once you go through around 50 pages, you will either love or hate it. I am not sure there is any middle line. This story is aimed at a particular type of reader. Someone who likes deep, meaningful and philosophical plots will love it, someone that likes a light and easy read, probably won't. You are not going to pick up this book for an odd ten minute time filler. You are going to pick up ... more
Melange, is a spice grown only on the desert terrain of Arrakis, a hot, barren planet, known to it's inhabitants as Dune. It is a harsh, unforgiving place to live, with vicious, giant sandworms living under the sand, that guard the precious spice, and no water at all.
Melange has special properties, allowing pilots to see into the future, helping them with their space travel. Without the spice, they would not be able to travel. The spice also prolongs the life of those that use it, and is highly addictive.
Duke Leto is given the planet Arrakis to look after and control, he is a gentle and kind man, with many good qualities, considering the harsh world they live in. Herbert develops the character of a compassionate man, who, even though water is non existent on Arrakis, will spare water for beggars. Who makes the decision to save the workers when the sand worms attack the mining area. In the end, his kindness is his downfall, as the Harkonnen's have him killed, so they can take control of Arrakis back. Lady Jessica and Paul flee for their lives and seek the help of the Bedouin type natives, where Jessica becomes a reverend Mother and a very important religious figure.
Lady Jessica, Duke Leto's wife, is a member of the secret Bene Gesserit society, and is supposed to produce a daughter for the Bene Gesserit breeding programme, but she has a son, Paul instead. At first this is frowned upon, But, due to the nature of the spice, females using the spice, have a weakness, in not being able to see a certain part of the future, the Bene Gesserit,discover that Paul could be the missing link. He has the ultimate power to see all the future, and it comes to pass, that they see him as the saviour, the Messiah, a male Bene Gesserit with super human powers. Paul knows the value placed on the spice (it is their currency, their livelihood, their very existence) yet with that very knowledge, he also knows, the only way forward is to stop the spice trade. Paul is more than just an ordinary boy, and is possibly the one who will put everything right. Paul, is known as Maud'Dib (Little Kangaroo)by the Fremen, the Bedouin warrior people, who dream of free running water and green plants in their barren, sand locked world.
In my opinion, if you have never read the book, Dune, by Frank Herbert, then you can't really call yourself a SciFi reader. Whether you like it or not, that's another matter, and a matter of taste. But you should have at least tried to read it, because I believe Dune is the epitome of philosophy and politics in the world of SciFi. With just a slight overdosing on Melange, the hip drug to be taking if you are anybody, or aspire to be anybody, in the world of Dune. Dune is just the right blend of SciFi and fantasy. It is a story about how the desire for power, wealth and knowledge destroys lives.
Frank Herbert created an artistic vision, a story connecting fantastic worlds, and his visions of genetics seemed far fetched and were way ahead of the time. But Herbert liked to confuse and challenge his readers. Dune, set 8,000 years in the future, is an extremely well written book, but takes a little time to work out the plot lines, once you have that under your belt, you will really enjoy the world of Dune, or Arrakis, as the planet is properly called. Make no mistake, Dune isn't for everyone. Once you go through around 50 pages, you will either love or hate it. I am not sure there is any middle line. This story is aimed at a particular type of reader. Someone who likes deep, meaningful and philosophical plots will love it, someone that likes a light and easy read, probably won't. You are not going to pick up this book for an odd ten minute time filler. You are going to pick up this book and become involved, for this is the nature of Dune. This is a book that grabs you, shakes you, and demands your full attention, if you don't give it, you won't get into it.
This Hugo and Nebula award winning book, is very creative, a great example of world building. Not too many books manage to succeed in this goal. It is a masterpiece, describing the noble, honest, upstanding House of Atreides and it's move onto the barren planet of Arrakis, with issues covering the ecology, religion and politics. The Altreides feudal disputes with the cruel and evil Harkonnens is the meat of this book, and proves to be a web of intrigue. A lot of this story is told as a narrative, and it works very well this way. An observer that can see both sides of the conflict, both the evil and the good houses that are opposed to each other. What I like about the book, apart from the good plot, and rich panoramas, and in depth characters, is how easy it is to identify with the characters, especially Paul Atreides, whom you instantly feel compassion for. He has a huge responsibility heaped onto his young shoulders, and in building up for his destiny as a super being, he loses his real identity.
Originally, Dune was part of a trilogy, with, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune as the second and third, but as you may already know, there are many more books in the saga, and when Herbert died in 1986, his son Brian Herbert took the reigns, and continued the saga with two more books. I particularly like Dune, it is a very pleasant read, with a deep, strong unusual story line, with many sub plots, and enough nuances to keep you interested.
If you have never been tempted to read this wonderful book about the importance of water to life on Arrakis, and are intrigued with the religious and political turmoil, then go pick up a copy. Buy it or borrow it, but read it. It is a must!
Advantages: Brilliant plot and characterisation, a gripping read Disadvantages: The sequels
Dune is a book that I think is brilliant. I watched the film of Dune, though I missed the first few minutes (probably a good thing), and thought it was really interesting, so I decided to read the book. I had thought parts of the film's plot were confusing until I read this! There are a lot of nuances and subtleties that are never explored in the film and, as well as being an exciting story, delves into realms of politics and and religion. ~~~ The ... ...of Dune should be obvious as soon as you notice the glossary at the back of the book, explaining the terms used and the history of the worlds. This is great because it means there is no annoying exposition cutting into the plot, but you'll probably find yourself flicking to the back when things get too confusing. The story is set thousands of years in the future. Guild Navigators can make their way through space through the use of a spice called ...
87degrees 14.01.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dune - Frank Herbert
Advantages: deep, well written, ease of reading Disadvantages: none i can think of
This was one of the very very first books i remeber reading and reading again, and still being surprised evrytime i read it, with the richness of the universe it created.
Set in a mostly technologically regressed universe, where the feudal system is in great effect.
The universe is Ruled by the Paradisha Emperor,and ther are houses that make up his court.
Of the houses that make up the Emperors court are two important houses,
House Atreides and ... ...where everyone is treated alike, and all men are equal.
While the House Harkonnen are brutal murderous villains that would sell their Grandmother if it meant that a few Grammes of Melange would grease his palms, and this Story is all about that spice...Melange.
Melange is only found on one planet in the known Universe, a Desert planet called Arrakis , or Dune.
The story follows a boy to be man, called Paul Atreides, who has been taught special ...
dizzybummer 15.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dune - Frank Herbert
Advantages: Massive scope, gripping story line Disadvantages: Complex plots that require concentration
...advancing.
Synopsis.
The Dune universe is ultimately influenced on three levels; political, economic and religious.
The political infrastructure closely mirrors that of Japan in the days of the Samurai. An Emperor, who has ultimate power, and the provinces controlled by Warlords. In this case, it is groups of planets controlled by Great Houses. The three Houses we concern ourselves with, in Dune, are House Corrino, who hold the Imperial line, ... ...Control of the spice. Dune is basically a conflict between good and evil. At the start of the book, the 'good' House Atreides have been granted control of the only plant that can produce Melange, Arrakis. The Emperor has decreed that they replace the 'evil' House Harkonnen as custodians of the planet. House Atreides and House Harkonnen are feuding. Why the Emperor should choose this path is a main plot line of the book.
Then religion comes into ...
usul_of_arakis 04.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dune - Frank Herbert
Advantages: Wonderful and exciting read Disadvantages: The book is long and you need an interest in sci-fi
...before it was finally approved.
Dune is huge in scope and huge in concept. When reading this book you are dropped into the future of an intricately defined interplanetary civilization. Written in in the late 1950s I understand the idea came from a study of sand dunes on the American West Coast. In Dune the reader meets Paul Atreides, whose adventures demonstrate that natural ability can triumph over ostracism and an extremely hostile environment. ... ...kind of god.
I found Dune a compelling read and can see why it is considered one of the greatest Science Fiction novels of all time and why it won a Hugo award. Because it is so big in concept the book doesn’t really date and the political and religious undertones give it a clever link to reality. This is reinforced by the use of nomads in the desert of Dune that have remarkable similarities to desert dwellers in our own world.
I don’t want to ...
LJOne 27.05.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dune - Frank Herbert
Advantages: 6 pefectly written tomes to read ! Disadvantages: If you like it, you will have to read all the saga
...the magnificence of Arrakis named Dune by the Fremens.
You will be submerge by the might of Shaï-Hulud, the great Worm of sands which travels along the neverending desert of Arrakis.
The struggle between the different religions, the Emperor's conspiracies or the old same fight between dark Harkonnens and noble Atreïdes are the back drop of a humanist vision of humanity.
If yo saw the film, you will be surprised when you will rtead the book.
So ...
Scifi 10.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dune - Frank Herbert
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Advantages: Immense scale, very well written, accessable, exciting Disadvantages: Immense scale, very well written, accessable, exciting
species control the Towers between them and cooperate with one another, but remain ranked in terms of power and technological ability, with the aquatic Morthanveld at the top, the Nariscene in the middle and the obtuse and insectile Oct, who claim descendancy from the Shell World builders the Involucra, at the bottom, though even the Oct's powers seem godlike in comparison to the Sarl, who are only just making the transition from swords and crossbows to steam-powered trains and carbines. Banks combines the sci-fi theme with strong fantasy elements, including dragon-liked winged beasts that the Sarl use for transport and air-attacks, and 'Matter' is similar to FrankHerbert's classic Dune novel in its combination of the themes of space opera and medieval/feudalist political intrigue.
The Sarl are at war with the Deldeyn, a similarly advanced ...
Advantages: Answers many question arising from Dune Disadvantages: Leaves many questions unanswered, but that is for the next novels
For all those science fiction fans that thought FrankHerbert’s books had finished with his death, think again! Prelude to Dune could be said to be a book from the grave. It is one book in three parts, House Atreides, House Harkonnen and (soon to be published in the UK in 2001 [I hope] House Corrino, originally to be The Spice War.
Written by sci-fi writer Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert (Frank’s son). The story lines were taken from notes and preliminary writings of FrankHerbert, which he made prior to his death. The work provides answers to many questions about the politics of the ‘Great Houses’ in the Dune series, prior to the events in original book Dune.
House Atreides sets the scene for the prelude, primarily from the Atreides family’s perspective. Scenes of treachery, as in the deaths ...
Advantages: A nice read, more action than in the original series. Disadvantages: Definately not the same style as the original.
This book is the first in the trilogy "Prelude to Dune", a prequel series to the original Dune Series by FrankHerbert. Written by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson.
It takes the readers back to a generation before the events of the original series, when Leto was young and Arrakis was still ruled by Harkonnens. A lot of the origins of the characters in the original series are explained, such as Duncan Idaho (of course I won't actually tell you what happens).
The storyline is action filled and the book is on the whole very easy to read. Herbert and Anderson are very talented writers and describe the different settings and characters very well. This is in fact a very good book by itself.
Where it fails is trying to be just like the original series of Dune. The authors have even done the occasional quote just like in Dune ...
