Duna

by Frank Herbert Dost Korpe, Herbert Frank, Frank Herbert

544 pages

Portuguese language

Published April 4, 2010 by Editora Aleph.

ISBN:: 978-85-7657-101-8
OCLC Number:: 931487572

(227 reviews)

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the "spice" melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for...

When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul's family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib, he will 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 the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.

57 editions

📖 Leo reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune (1))

Ciencia ficción de altísima calidad filosófica

5 stars

¡Ah qué agradable es volver a leer con expectativas moderadas que terminan siendo ampliamente rebasadas! Iniciaré con una descripción muy sintetizada: Dune dice grandes verdades sobre la condición humana y las civilizaciones que resultan de ella, recurriendo a una ficción que se siente como exquisito relato histórico. Es un libro que atrapa, de esos que te obligan a buscar momentos, por pequeños que sean, para saber qué más ocurrirá en la trama. Frank Herbert despliega un estilo narrativo con altísima precisión para conseguir que las descripciones a detalle de ambientes, objetos, personas y personalidades, no interfieran con el flujo de la historia, sino que lo nutran y lo hagan disfrutable. Pocos libros me han hecho sentir tan adentrado en sus ambientes. Frank eligió muy bien las dos características esenciales de Arrakis: carencia extrema de agua y presencia en abundancia de un recurso menos útil para sobrevivir, pero que despierta mayor ambición. Esa combinación es uno de los ganchos que jalan al lector a las profundidades del planeta en el que ocurren los sucesos de esta narración. Pero lo que me pareció más asombroso de Dune, es la maestría con la que el escritor construye los lenguajes, los utensilios, las tradiciones, las costumbres y los ritos que proyectan la obra como un genuino libro de geografía política, haciendo que el lector se sienta como un historiador leyendo la "Brevísima relación de la destrucción de las Indias" de Bartolomé de las Casas (1552). He tenido la fortuna de leer "El Príncipe" de Maquiavelo, "El arte de la guerra" de Sun Tzu, una fracción mayoritaria del Antiguo y del Nuevo Testamento en la "Biblia Católica", muchísimas citas del "Corán", otras tantas del "Canon Pali", varias de las obras de Issac Asimov... Y no estoy seguro si esas lecturas me prepararon para disfrutar mejor Dune, o si es que Dune las supo sintetizar todas de una forma tan exquisita que me ha hecho revalorarlas. Sí, recomiendo leer Dune.

joelchrono reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune Chronicles, #1)

Dune is Dune

4 stars

Since I watched the movies first, I was happy to have one of my main fears dissapear completely during the first couple chapters. Many of the plot twists present on both movies are actually things the reader just knows from the start. The betrayal and the plot against House Atreides, the people behind it and the reason for it can be inferred quickly enough.

Herbert’s confidence in the world he wrote can end up being too much to a lot of people. From the beginning of the novel, characters throw around a lot of made up terms that can be confusing, and in a setting where Dukes, Counts and Emperors, Great Houses and Cults are still a thing, alongside intergalactic travel and human calculators, the politics and relationships of it all are quite complex.

The book doesn’t hold your hand at all. There are references and intriguing events from long …

The book doesn’t hold your hand at all. There are references and intriguing events from long ago that came and went and help give you an idea of the state of affairs, such as the interesting computers, for example, but a lot is left for the reader to figure out and fill the gaps as they keep reading. I think the movies helped me get through this much quicker too.

The story begins after House Atreides is put in charge of Arrakis, a planet with the most valuable substance in the galaxy, the spice melange. A drug that is essential for space travel, can improve the user’s life-span, awareness and many other things.

The planet is a huge desert, making for a harsh environment nobody would bother to live on, where water is scarce and as valued as spice. Despite this, it is inhabited by the Fremen, people who have managed to tame the desert, and resist the heavy rule of the Harkonnens, who up until then had been the House harvesting the planet’s resources for the Empire.

Our protagonist, Paul Atreides is the son of Duke Leto and Lady Jessica; and he'll finds himself entangled in the middle of prophecies, visions and politics in a path that would lead him to do what he thinks is right, but at what cost?

The novel deals with many different topics, such as the fight over natural resources, the dangers of organized religion, capitalism and freedom and things.

Some people might not like the politics at the start, others will not enjoy the spirituality later on, and a few will find everything weird and confusing and with cringy prose. I kind of loved it, I can see why this novel is among the greats, and how it has served as the inspiration of tons of different works over the decades, and it will keep on giving for years to come.

Every character has their motivations, their perspectives and interactions. There is conflict even between allies, family and friends, and it is simply so intriguing and it all feels like a big disaster and a terrible tragedy, but that is still the best possible outcome of it all.

It was a cool read, I am considering reading the next books by Frank, but we’ll see, I kind of want to read a ton of different authors, which I’ve been doing since the year begun, so maybe next year will be the year of reading full book series for a change.

Arrakis teaches the attitude of the knife - chopping off what’s incomplete and saying: “Now, it’s complete because it’s ended here.” — from “Collected Sayings of Maud’Dib’’ by the Princess Irulan

VITI reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune (1))

Una relectura como si hubiera sido la primera

5 stars

Me he dado cuenta que la primera lectura de este libro, durante la ida y vuelta en transporte público al trabajo, no he retenido casi ninguna información de este libro. Así que esta lectura, más calmada, me ha hecho disfrutarla mucho.

Herbert no describe mucho sobre los mundos, palacios, indumentaria o personajes. Unas pinceladas y a volar tu imaginación, es una novela política, de poderes tanto a nivel personal como global, y una buena cantidad de facciones con diferentes intereses. Unas civilizaciones y religiones que te dan ganas de querer saber más sobre ellas. Cuando el manejo de ese trasfondo genera ese interés me engancha.

Los personajes principales son desiguales, los protagonistas creo que tienen una buena evolución, y fuertes puntos de inflexión para culiminar en situaciones inevitables. Sin embargo, hay otros secundarios importantes que tienen un buen potencial inicial pero no parece que supiera darle el autor un cierre …

Ciencia-Ficción, un mundo medieval-feudal espacial, guerras fratricidas, enemistades milenarias, religión, gusanos de arena, especia y ojos azules.

Como leí por las redes ¿Qué pasa si el mundo, en vez de moverlo el petróleo, lo moviera una droga adictiva? Y con eso se exprime a un pueblo y no lo dejas avanzar.

Alguna decisión de facciones puede parecer ingenua o infantil, sin saber las consecuencias colosales que conllevan, supongo que es un contrapunto para llevar a la vorágine que se va a enfrentar ese mundo en el futuro.

Me lo he vuelto a pasar genial leyéndolo.

Este primer libro tiene un buen cierre, en el caso que alguien no prefiera continuar con la saga.

Categulario reviewed Dune: Now a Major New Film from the Director of Blade Runner 2049 by Frank Herbert

Excelentísimo trabajo de ciencia ficción

5 stars

El universo de Dune que aquí comienza tiene muchos detalles notables, como las Bene Gesserit, la especia (un tipo de droga con cualidades premonitorias), y la organización política. En este libro la aventura y la tensión están siempre presentes en un ritmo entretenido.

Archbishop reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert

Review of 'Dune' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

crazy

Now We Try It My Way reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune Chronicles, #1)

Incredible

5 stars

There is a good reason why it is one of the measuring sticks other science fiction stories are measured against.

Sycamore reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune Chronicles, #1)

The most fun epic I've ever read

5 stars

What could I say about this book that hasn't already been said? It took awhile to hook me, but by about halfway through the first of three parts I was fully engrossed. It's like if Tolkien wrote Star Wars, and I mean that in the best way possible. Honestly, after reading Dune, I now see Star Wars as a watered-down facsimile at best. It doesn't even come close.

Dune has aged remarkably well for sci-fi from the '60s. The vast majority of characters (aside from the caricatured evil of the bad guys) are exceptionally complex and nuanced, and Herbert doesn't spare us from the dark and sometimes disturbing things that the "good" guys must do for the sake of their cause. The worst thing about this book is that it ends! I'm looking forward to picking up the next one in the series soon.

Löhwe reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune (1))

A whole universe in one book

5 stars

Published first in 1965(!) Frank Herbert's masterpiece is still one of the best Science Fiction novels ever written. And unlike other works of its era it has aged really well, Dune is still as timeless and relevant today as when it was first published more than 50 years ago.

The term "universe" has been strained pretty hard by using it for loose collections of superhero movies based on DC or Marvel characters, but Herbert really creates a whole universe in one book, or at least a considerable part of a galaxy, making Dune a must read for every Science Fiction fan.

It's also the first part of a series, but later additions by Frank Herbert are not as compelling to me as the original work (especially after part 4, "God Emperor of Dune") and the even later prequels and sequels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, while not …

ridel reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert

Review of 'Dune' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Incredible. Plots within Plots. There are stories that age poorly over time, but this maintains its complexity and depth and avoids dating itself. I have been exposed to so much of Dune that I thought I had read the novels when I was younger, but as I started my ‘re-read’ after watching Dune 2021, I realized this is my first read!

The world-building is phenomenal - where we are shown but not told about the impacts of the past, with hints about Spice, the Guild, Mentats, the Great Convention, stagnation, the Bene Gesserit and more. The novel definitely skips over scenes that I think should have existed, but given how long it already is, I understand why we have major time skips and clever little scenes that imply what has happened to the many characters.

So much of Dune has become basis of modern science-fiction that there are ‘twists’ that …

k1dokuu reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert

Review of 'Dune' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Muad'dib, Lisan al Gaib, Kwisatz Haderach, Prophet. Paul Atreides has many names and I have just as much love for this book.

I was a little afraid to plunge into the world of Frank Herbert's Dune because many warned about the complex worldbuilding. However, after seeing Denis Villeneuve's extraordinary film last year, it was easy for me to immerse myself in this story.

The way the inner monologues were woven into the dialogue sequences is fantastic.

All in all, a terrific political sci-fi epic that feels bigger than almost any other book in its impact on the underlying world.

emmecola reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert

Review of 'Dune' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

La trama non mi ha entusiasmato, ma l'ambientazione affascinante vale da sola il mio giudizio positivo su questo grande classico della fantascienza.

Max reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert

Review of 'Dune' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

favourite book of all time. the world and characters are vibrant and interesting, the history really makes it feel like an actual universe. a lot of motifs and themes are explored.

Lily reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert

Review of 'Dune' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

The book becomes more fragmented as it goes on due to time jumps--an unfortunate flaw in an otherwise extremely strong genre title.

isabel reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune Chronicles, #1)

expansive universe, exhausting writing style

4 stars

it took me ages to get through this. not because it's bad, probably mostly because i repaired my computer and had.. other things on my mind. but also partly because herbert's style reminds me of tolkien. like, a lot. at least in the sense that herbert really wants you to read his mediocre poetry too.

this isn't bad by any means, and i will surely read on in the future. probably around the time the second movie hits. the characters are fleshed-out and there's surprisingly little overt misogyny for a science fiction book that is, at this point, positively ancient. it's just the constant internal monologuing and then rushing through the actual happenings that gets exhausting after a while.

moving to outside.ofa.dog reviewed Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune #1)

Dune and the suck fairy (spoilers)

2 stars

Content warning spoilers, though, you know, it's a book older than me

I first read Dune when I was about 11 or 12, and I absolutely adored it. This year's movie was excellent, and it made me want to reread the book, albeit with trepidation from all the critiques I've heard as an adult.

Re-reading as an adult was kind of painful. The elements I liked were all still there, but there's so much about the book that is just horrible. A few:

The intense homophobia, fatphobia and just outright fucking Puritan pleasure-negativity in the portrayal of Baron Harkonnen.
The cartoonish evil of the Harkonnens, which seems intended to make the reader take the Atreides' side, but...
The Atreides just being colonisers obsessed with their own position and legacy, but somehow the author wants us to see them as Teh Good Guyz because they're not the Harkonnens.
Herbert's weird feudalism fixation while he's ostensibly writing about an amazing future.
How deeply orientalist his portrayal of the Fremen is, when they're potentially his most interesting invention but he won't quite let them be.

I love the Fremen and the ideas about geoengineering the desert planet, but by the end they were just barely enough to keep me reading.

I don't think I've ever said this about any book before, but I strongly recommend just watching the movie and forgetting about the book.