Book Review: Frank Herbert's 'Dune'

Poster art from the 1984 film adaptation of 'Dune'

Dune is hailed by many as an unparalleled work of science fiction. I've recently finished reading the novel for the first time, and give my thoughts and observations about this epic story.

The novel, written in 1965,  is set some twenty-thousand years in the future in which space has been colonized, 'thinking machines' (computers) have been outlawed, and interstellar travel is monopolized by a powerful guild. Galactic civilization is governed by an Emperor and a number of Great Houses that battle for political power and control of individual words.

The novel centers around a royal family who is reassigned to the desert world of Arrikas, the only source of a highly sought-after spice that can extend life and give some great mental power. Paul Atreides, son of the Duke, soon finds himself in the middle of a battle for his new world, its people, and the secrets it possesses.

Dune is of a grand scale that is not often seen in science fiction. Let's face it: building an entire universe from the ground up is a major undertaking. Television and book franchises do it all the time, but often with the aid of many different writers, dozens of revisions, and perhaps years of development. Even then, they're often not as deep and fully developed as the universe of Dune. Frank Herbert manages to do this and more within the confines of 800+ pages while also weaving a complex tale of politics, religion, ecology and technology. The world he creates in both believable and vary alien.

One of the biggest 'omissions' from Dune is the lack of computer technology. It goes without saying that this is a central element of almost all sci-fi stories. Sci-fi shows such as the original Star Trek started off with the goal to limit the use of technology, but it was still an important background element that Trek couldn't exist without. In later incarnations of the franchise, technology often became more important than the characters. To create a universe where the focus has shifted from technology to people and mental power gives the novel a very different feel. Alongside mental power and in place of technology, religious mysticism becomes a major background element instead.

Dune was never intended to have sequels, but the slowly-rising popularity of the novel convinced the author to write another, and another, and another. Even after Herbert's death in 1986, new authors have continued to expand the Dune universe, effectively turning it into a franchise. Although not as popular in fandom as many other works, die-hard fans often argue that the sequels have damaged the power of the original novel and the author's intent to create a stand-alone work. Having only read the first novel so far, I can't speak for the others, but it's hard to imagine topping what Frank Herbert accomplished with the original Dune.

If you're looking for light reading, you may want to look elsewhere. Dune is a monster of a novel. If you're a fan of deep, complex, world-building stories, though, this is definitely worth checking out and should be considered essential reading for any serious sci-fi fan.