Dune

The novel has been hailed for decades as "Science Fiction's Supreme Masterpiece," and to think, I hadn't even touched it until two weeks ago! Dune, by Frank Herbert, is about a young boy with special talents, destined for greatness on a mysterious desert planet which, as the story progresses, becomes the focal point of the most powerful people in the universe.
I went to the library on a whim and pulled it off the shelf, determined to quash my skepticism about the book. I had known about the novel for a while - how popular it was, something about a desert tribe and caves and sand worms - but never really heard what the book was actually about.

The Good

Right off the bat, the sentence level writing shows a practiced, blossoming hand. Herbert packs the lines with multiple meanings, depth, and value. After reading this novel, and then picking up another (lesser known) sci-fi author's work, the difference was clear. Frank Herbert wrote a book with rich substance where others just don't have the same chops. The story line is captivating, pulling the reader into a wonderfully multi-tiered political/religious/interpersonal plot. The background, the names, organizations, characters, and environments stand the test of authenticity. They've clearly been researched and refined so that every aspect of Dune seems as real as possible.

The Bad

The book demands, as many classics do, perseverance to read through the first sections. Herbert doesn't pull any punches. He doesn't allow the reader a gradual, friendly entry into the world of Dune. At its outset, this is a drop-you-in-the-jungle-(or should I say desert?)-and-see-if-you-survive type of book. The foreign names, places, and customs slow down reading comprehension. Also, the book is rather long. It includes a wealth of information that many "give me the action scene already" people would find irrelevant or annoying, but for any nerds out there, this book runneth over with science-y facts.

The Ugly (a.k.a. the book according to Wilson)


Despite my personal recognition early on that the book would require a large time investment to get comfortable with all the weird names of people and places, I could feel that the story wouldn't disappoint. Herbert takes a while to get where he goes in writing, but I hardly felt all the miles during the journey. The story shapes Paul, the main character, in a manner fascinating to watch. I may not have liked how his morality is transformed and somewhat twisted, but, in the end, I'm not too upset about it. The clashes between ruling monarchy, subjugated tribal minority, and secretive merchant class stir up delightful uncertainty throughout. Friends and family undergo the tension of war and betrayal. Every choice leads to a different future. Will it be all out galactic war, or a world of peace and prosperity? I'll let you find out.