An Epic Evolution! (Dune - Frank Herbert)

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Product:	Dune - Frank Herbert
Date:	12/02/01 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: More than a novel, this is an epic. Will not disappoint!

Disadvantages: The initial scene-setting is a little laborious, but not a major problem.

Frank Herbert’s classic is not told, nor is it read.

“Dune” evolves, unfolds, and is “experienced”.

A truly magical tale, which is so vast in scope, it will leave you overwhelmed: an adventure of epic proportions.

Set in a world, which is so far in the future most of it is unrecognisable, it is as exciting as it is philosophical. The story incorporates betrayal, change, evolution, growth, hatred, love, politics, revenge, revolution, war … the list goes on. Truly there is something here for everyone!

A hint of fantasy intertwined with science fiction, the scene set by Herbert is nothing short of exquisite – imagine future societies banning computer technology because it mimics the human brain, a future where the known universe is governed dictatorially, and a future in which human beings have evolved into different sub-species. It is a future where a clash of families and political ideologies bring about a rebellion and change, and the search for the Universe’s “Super Being” unwittingly commences.

Paul Atreides, son of the ill-fated Duke Leto Atreides, is our hero; along with his mother and a number of allies he attempts to topple the family which rules the known universe, and avenge the affront to his own family and people. On the desert planet Arrakis he finds love, and his destiny, and ultimately becomes the leader of people.

This is not merely a science fiction classic, indeed its recognition has ensured it crosses many genre-related boundaries and it is, in my opinion, a modern literary classic in its own right. Although set far in the unforeseeable future where names and terms are foreign to the reader, Herbert still manages to provide us with modern philosophy, political intrigue, and the evolution of a people and their culture. This gives “Dune” all the ingredients of a “Times Literary Review” bestseller, but in
fact it is so much more inspirational and far-reaching.

Herbert’s style is easily read despite the exceedingly profound philosophical nuggets and the depth of his subject matters. His ideas blend seamlessly into one another so that the novel is never disjointed, and he easily moves from one landscape to another transferring his reader from dreamscape to dreamscape with ease, making this more of a journey rather than a book!

Perhaps the only fault I found was how the story builds up, the initial pace is incredibly slow, and this scene-setting is a little frustrating. However, “Dune” soon builds up momentum and holds the reader captivated through the characters’ many vicissitudes right to the tremendous ending.

There are several sequels and the two which directly follow “Dune” are the most noteworthy. The remaining four or five seem to go on too long – this is my opinion and is probably not subscribed to by other fans. However, “Dune” can be read as a single entity and finishes without any real cliff-hangers, it is a complete novel and requires no additions.

In final analysis, I highly recommend this to all, even to those who abhor science fiction. Reading “Dune” is the literary equivalent of surfing a tidal wave and will excite.

Summary: