Book Review | Dune by Frank Herbert

Described by The Washington Post as, “An astonishing science fiction phenomenon”. After watching the new major motion picture, Dune, I had to read the book for myself.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”. Well this time I didn’t. Honest! I judged it by its movie. The brilliant new major motion picture was directed by Denis Villeneuve and starred Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and Jason Momoa just to name a few. Oh and Javier Bardem(He’s the best) The movie was so beautifully made, it captured my heart. I’d be crazy not to read the book that inspired such beauty.

Touching base on enemies both old and new, religion, politics, technology, and power, Dune possesses themes relevant to today’s society despite being written in 1965 with the intention of representing life way beyond our own future.

Synopsis:

Paul of House Atreides, is the son of very powerful people. His mother, Jessica, is a Bene Gesserit. Bene Gesserits are a powerful, religious group of females not to trifle with. Jessica has been training Paul behind closed doors in the ways of the Bene Gesserits, allowing his own powers to grow and manifest. Paul’s father, Duke Leto Atreides, has been ordered by the Emperor to govern over Arrakis and extract as much Melange (spice) from the desert planet.

“Arrakis - Dune - Desert planet”

Dune

Throughout the empire, spice is used to aid with space travel, extend one’s life expectancy, heal the ill, enhance mental keenness, and so much more. He who controls the spice, controls the empire.

The Fremen, natives to Dune, are capable of living on the harsh desert planet because of the spice power within them. When house Atreides arrives on Dune, the duke has plans to befriend the Fremen, have them help him collect spice, and fight along side him as allies. The Fremen believe Paul and Jessica to be prophecy holders. That they have been destined to travel to Arrakis as saviors here to help turn the Fremen’s dry living, into an oasis.

When the Duke is betrayed by a family friend, Paul and Jessica must use their powerful gifts and sharp wits to find back power, restore their name, and fulfill a prophecy.

I clearly knew what was going to happen in the book since I watched the movie beforehand. What I didn’t know was how mosaic and mind gripping the text was going to be.

I haven’t read a science fiction book in a while, but after watching the movie, I figured now was the time. I was completely unaware of how compelling the book was going to be. The characters are so good. I could feel myself living like the Fremen, imagining the the heat in the days, and the soft sound of sand sifting. The Bene Gesserits were my kinda ladies, and escaping great worms terrified me. I loved that Jessica is a of wife a Duke, and a mother, but that she also her own story and underlying goals. As the reader/viewer, we really get to feel that from her. I’m also a sucker for the classic hero story where the hero has a good juicy life going for him, but ends up going through trials, tribulations, and experiences in order to come out better than before. Language, diction, themes, setting, plot, and the characters should all be experienced. Now I’m trying to figure out if I should read the second book before or after watching Dune part 2.

I highly recommend this book. Even if you already saw the movie.