Book Review - Dune

[theradicalchild]

Dune by Frank Herbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first written installment of the late author Frank Herbert’s Dune franchise opens with Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam visiting Jessica on the Atreides homeworld of Caladan. Her son Paul is the prophesized Kwisatz Haderach, with the Reverend Mother upset Jessica didn’t birth a girl, and she tests Paul with the gom jabbar, a needle with poison on its tip. The Houses of Atreides and Harkonnen have been bitter enemies for generations, with the latter holding the desert world of Arrakis in fiefdom for fourscore. Family patriarch Baron Vladimir Harkonnen plots with his nephews to lure the Atreides into a trap in the desert world.

The Atreides prepare to move to Arrakis, with an assassination attempt upon Paul. His father, Duke Leto, informs his son of a plot by the Harkonnens to have Paul distrust his mother. The Atreides are targeted by the Harkonnens on Arrakis, with Paul ultimately discovering his true lineage. The spice melange, found exclusively on Arrakis, is considered valuable as water and key to defeating the Harkonnens. Paul and Jessica ultimately take refuge with the world’s native inhabitants, the Fremen, with the Atreides son learning skills like how to ride sandworms.

The Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, Shaddam IV, is eventually involved in the plot against House Atreides, shortly after which the narrative ends. Herbert follows the main text with appendices explaining things such as the ecology and religion of Arrakis. He also includes a helpful dictionary on terminology exclusive to his Duniverse, with newer incarnations of the novel adding an afterword by his son Brian Herbert. Overall, the first written tale of the Duniverse is enjoyable, with good action and its influence on future science-fiction franchises such as Star Wars, even if it sometimes delves into human interest.

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Reposted since I recently finished Dune Messiah. I want to rewatch David Lynch's adaptation and the original miniseries, as well as both parts of the recent film. Christopher Walken as the emperor--more melange, the cowbell must flow, heh.