"One of the monuments of modern science fiction."--Chicago Tribune
"A portrayal of an alien society more complete and deeply detailed that any other author in the field has managed...a story absorbing equally for its action and philosophical vistas."--The Washing Post Book World
DUNE
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family--and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism, and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed thebasis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction. Frank Herbert's death in 1986 was a tragic loss, yet the astounding legacy of his visionary …
"One of the monuments of modern science fiction."--Chicago Tribune
"A portrayal of an alien society more complete and deeply detailed that any other author in the field has managed...a story absorbing equally for its action and philosophical vistas."--The Washing Post Book World
DUNE
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family--and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism, and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed thebasis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction. Frank Herbert's death in 1986 was a tragic loss, yet the astounding legacy of his visionary fiction will live forever.
Loved the desert descriptions, meh about the messiah.
4 stars
Listened to the audio book after watching the first film (having not ever read the books before). I loved the world building in the first half, and the dynamic between Paul and his dad the duke. The second half dragged a bit with the mystic politics, and the messianic theme. Would have loved more consistency in characters and strategic gain of power rather than magic, but I guess that’s the guts of sci-fantasy. Not sure about what almost sounds like appropriation of Islamic terms to describe foreign culture but overall some beautiful descriptions and I enjoyed listening. Not sure whether I want to read/listen to more though.
Frank Herberts Dune var nåt annat. Nåt nytt. Det var en läsupplevelse i tiden. Religion och droger. Miljö, ekologi och social kamp. Motstånd och diktatur. Urfolk som kämpar, frälsare och banditer. Goda och onda. Imperialism och uppror. Precis vad mycket i slutet av 1960-talet och början av 1970-talet handlade om.
Dune est sans le meilleur et le plus beau livre de science-fiction à mes yeux, avec son récit quasi-mythique qui sait nous parler intelligemment de politique et d'écologie.
Barone Harkonnen: Ascolta, mi dispiace, io non ho capito il tuo nome, ho capito il tuo, Gurney, ma non ho capito il tuo... Stilgar: Mi chiamo Jerda e non e' con le chiacchere che uscirai da questa merda Barone Harkonnen: Voglio solo dire quanto ci dispiace che le cose siano andate a puttane tra noi e il signor Atreides, noi ci siamo messi in questo affare con le migliori intenzioni, davvero.. Stilgar: (sparando al Na-Barone sdraiato sul divano)oh, scusami, ho spezzato la tua concentrazione.. non volevo farlo.. per favore, continua.. dicevi qualcosa a proposito.. delle migliori intenzioni.. Barone Harkonnen: ... Stilgar: ma che ti prende.. avevi finito?.. interessante, ma non mi hai convinto, sai?..Di' un po', Paul Atreides che aspetto ha? Barone Harkonnen: Cosa? Stilgar: (rivoltando il tavolo) da che paese vieni? Barone Harkonnen: cosa? Stilgar: cosa e' un paese che non ho mai sentito nominare.. li' parlano la mia …
Barone Harkonnen: Ascolta, mi dispiace, io non ho capito il tuo nome, ho capito il tuo, Gurney, ma non ho capito il tuo... Stilgar: Mi chiamo Jerda e non e' con le chiacchere che uscirai da questa merda Barone Harkonnen: Voglio solo dire quanto ci dispiace che le cose siano andate a puttane tra noi e il signor Atreides, noi ci siamo messi in questo affare con le migliori intenzioni, davvero.. Stilgar: (sparando al Na-Barone sdraiato sul divano)oh, scusami, ho spezzato la tua concentrazione.. non volevo farlo.. per favore, continua.. dicevi qualcosa a proposito.. delle migliori intenzioni.. Barone Harkonnen: ... Stilgar: ma che ti prende.. avevi finito?.. interessante, ma non mi hai convinto, sai?..Di' un po', Paul Atreides che aspetto ha? Barone Harkonnen: Cosa? Stilgar: (rivoltando il tavolo) da che paese vieni? Barone Harkonnen: cosa? Stilgar: cosa e' un paese che non ho mai sentito nominare.. li' parlano la mia lingua?.. Barone Harkonnen: cosa? Stilgar: la mia lingua, figlio di puttana, tu la sai parlare? Barone Harkonnen: siii siii Stilgar: allora capisci quello che dico.. Barone Harkonnen: siiii si si Stilgar: descrivimi percio' Paul Atreides, che aspetto ha Barone Harkonnen: cosa? Stilgar: di cosa un altra volta, di cosa un altra volta, ti sfido, 2 volte, ti sfido, figlio di puttana, di cosa un altra maledettissima volta Barone Harkonnen: e' magro... Stilgar: vai avanti Barone Harkonnen: Ha una tuta distillante.. Stilgar: secondo te sembra una puttana? Barone Harkonnen: cosa? Stilgar: (facendo fuoco sulla spalla del ragazzo)Secondo te...lui...ha l'aspetto d'una puttana? Barone Harkonnen: nooooo Stilgar: perche' allora hai cercato di fotterlo come una puttana Barone Harkonnen: non l'ho fatto.. Stilgar: si tu l'hai fatto...si tu l'hai fatto, Barone, hai cercato di fotterlo, ma a Paul Atreides non piace farsi fottere da anima viva tranne che dalle signore Atreides: Chani o la Principessa Irulan ... leggi la Bibbia Cattolico Orangista, Vladimir? Barone Harkonnen: si Stilgar: e allora ascolta questo passo che conosco a memoria, e' perfetto per l'occasione: Ezechiele 25:17...Il cammino dell'uomo timorato e'minacciato da ogni parte dalle iniquita' degli esseri egoisti e dalla tirannia degli uomini malvagi. Benedetto sia colui che nel nome della carita' e della buona volonta' conduce i deboli attraverso la valle delle tenebre perche' egli e' in verita' il pastore di suo fratello e il ricercatore dei figli smarriti. E la mia giustizia calera' sopra di loro con grandissima vendetta e furiosissimo sdegno, su coloro che proveranno ad ammorbare ed infine a distruggere i miei fratelli. E tu saprai che il mio nome e' quello di Muad'Dib quando faro' calare la mia vendetta sopra di te...(molteplici colpi di pistola)
Review of 'Dune (40Th Anniversary Edition).' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Very good dialogue and of course the world building is great. The ending felt rushed and could have been better, but I enjoyed it overall, and I'm very excited for the next ones.
This is a book I would have struggled to read in my late teens, when most of my reading was just for school. So it's good that I picked it up during a time when I was growing as a reader and had experience powering through cringe. Because there is a lot of cringe in this story.
This book is labeled as one of science fiction's greatest masterpieces - it is a label well deserved. Frank Herbert's tale of revenge, politics, culture, ecology and religion is of a caliber that hasn't been seen in a long time.
The most notable evidence for this book's classic nature is how it reads - though it was published many decades ago, the language and settings read as though they were invented just last week. The characters are powerful and moving while still maintaining a healthy sense of reality; the locales are presented in a manner that easily depicts them in the mind's eye; and though the story can be a tad confusing at times, the overall theme of love, revenge, and fulfilled prophecy is staggeringly good.
Review of 'Dune (40Th Anniversary Edition).' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
It has been decades since I read this series. I had forgotten how excellent it is/ was. The depth of the characters, intrigues, and plot complexity are all exceptional. If your only contact with the Dune tales is via movies, you really ought to explore the novels. They stand head & shoulders above Hollywood's efforts.
Great world-building, great story, but only "okay" story telling. Despite being a long book, the ending feels like it rushes to a conclusion.
Important characters are introduced out of whole cloth, familiar characters from the beginning of the book are changed, but in ways that don't feel authentic. The emotional dynamics in this book have potential, but are never explored, because of the need for the characters to be superhumans with exquisite control of their minds and bodies.
The uberman thing is fun for a while, but story lines with them are always limited to "he gains control" or "he wasn't really an uberman." This book has a reputation for being a more "mature" sci-fi book with political machinations and backroom deals, but it didn't seem to follow the rules of politics or human motivation that exist in our world. I think Gordon R Dickson's "Tactics of Mistake" in his …
Great world-building, great story, but only "okay" story telling. Despite being a long book, the ending feels like it rushes to a conclusion.
Important characters are introduced out of whole cloth, familiar characters from the beginning of the book are changed, but in ways that don't feel authentic. The emotional dynamics in this book have potential, but are never explored, because of the need for the characters to be superhumans with exquisite control of their minds and bodies.
The uberman thing is fun for a while, but story lines with them are always limited to "he gains control" or "he wasn't really an uberman." This book has a reputation for being a more "mature" sci-fi book with political machinations and backroom deals, but it didn't seem to follow the rules of politics or human motivation that exist in our world. I think Gordon R Dickson's "Tactics of Mistake" in his Dorsai series paints a more realistic picture. The characters in this book openly scorn the 3 branches of power in their government and do little to offer systemic solutions other than to say with subtext that it'll all be better when our uberman is in control.
Still, I'm looking forward to rewatching the movie and seeing the TV miniseries, now that I have some background, and look forward to reading more stories from this universe... particularly what happened to the machines made with the image of man's mind.
I really enjoyed this book. Lots intrigue and action. The very beginning of the book was difficult as Herbert throws a lot of names and terminology at you with little explanation, but the story picks up pace very quickly.