Science fiction has struggled to find the respect that it deserves. Often science fiction novel is considered a success only if it is turned into a movie franchise. Dune has been made into movie(s) but that is not what its reputation is built on.
I don’t know what Frank Herbert thought he was creating when he wrote Dune, but he changed science fiction forever. Dune is not like any other novel. Yes it has a hero on a far off planet with a love interest, but is far more than that.
The story is mainly about Paul Atreides, the teenage son of Duke Leto. They are sent by the Emperor to take over the desert planet Arrakis, the source of spice. This is not spice in the sense of thyme or cinnamon. It is a spice that not only turns eyes completely blue, it altars states of consciousness.
Everyone knows that this is a trap by the evil Baron Harkonnen but no one knows how it will happen. Finally the trap is sprung, Leto is killed and Paul and his mother are forced to flee into the desert.
It is in the desert that they encounter the Fremen, people who have adapted to the desert in some incredible ways. They are brought into the community and soon the Fremen suspect that Paul is the fulfillment of ancient prophecies.
Paul becomes the leader of the Fremen, but also something more. He becomes their prophet and messiah. He leads them against the Harkonnens, retakes the Dukedom of his father and even overthrows the Emperor.
If you have seen the 1984 Dune movie, as fun as the movie was, they took some liberties. That blowing up of stuff with their voices (the weirding way), that’s not in the book. That dramatic rain at the very end with Paul’s victory? That’s not there either.
What is amazing about this book is that Herbert writes a book that is about economics, genetics, philosophy and religion and he makes it interesting. The book is not for everyone. Much of it is Paul’s inner dialogue as he tries to discern what is happening and sorts through the various futures ahead of him.
I happened to have loved this book. Dune is definitely in my top ten of all science fiction novels.
