Dune (Dune Chronicles #1)

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Author(s)

Frank Herbert

Publisher

Ace Books

Genre(s)

Science Fiction

Age Range

14+

Release Date

January 01, 1965

ISBN

044100590X

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Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family - and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.

A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, share the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science-fiction.

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2 reviews

One of the greatest science fiction stories told

October 02, 2000

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5.0

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Frank Herbert's Dune has been translated into many different languages, made into a movie and even made into different games (including versions for the computer and Sega). His son, Brian, is now continuing the series with three prequels (a la The Phantom Menace). The first two are called House Atreides and House Harkonnen.

Dune is actually only the first book in the Dune Chronicles series. Many people refer to the first book as the best book, though I would have to say that you should read them yourself before you decide. The other books in the series are Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, Chapterhouse: Dune.

Dune is classic science fiction with all the elements for a rousing story. It covers everything, including power, love, war, religion...all the big topics. It is the story of Paul Atreides, known as Maud'dib on the planet Arrakis. It is also the story of his family and their quest for greatness.

One of the elements that sets this book apart from other science fiction novels of the time is that it deals very convincingly and forcefully with religion as a powerful element within society. The Fremen who live on Arrakis follow Maud'dib not just as a political leader, but as a religious leader.

The book won both the Nebula and Hugo awards and was even voted "Greatest Novel Ever" in a poll of Locus readers. You might think that, after all this time, the furor over the book might have died down. In fact, the opposite is true.

The Science Fiction channel is televising a miniseries in December 2000. Fan sites are still going strong. The newsgroup alt.fan.dune is also very active.

Teens of high school age will get the most out of this book, though they will find things they missed when they read it again in later years.

Kimberly Pauley Top 50 Reviewer 393 reviews

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8 reviews

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4.9(8)

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Its a classic

November 18, 2017

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5.0

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Its a classic. Not much more I can add.

Good Points

Characters, plots.

Megan King Top 1000 Reviewer 2 reviews

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Dune -- a must read for sharp high school readers

January 24, 2010

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by leebase

Dune -- my favorite book of all time. Dune is a rich and complex book with religious, political, social themes. It's sci fi, and there is action -- but it is not Star Trek or Star Wars, it's far deeper and more rich than that.

I wouldn't recommend this book until high school and for advanced readers with a bent for sci fi or books that provoke thought. This is no "Harry Potter" that is merely long. Frank Herbet creates a whole universe filled with wonder, power, intrigue.

Paul Atriedes is the main character, a boy who is the result of hundreds of generations of a secret breeding project designed to create a "Kwisacs Haderac" -- someone who can see into the future. But Paul arrives earlier than expected and falls outside the control of the "Bene Geserrets" the society of women that know all the past but not the future.

This book is about character, honor and so much more. Originally designed as a trilogy, it has sense spanned into a whole series of books in the "Duniverse".

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Excellent!!

November 23, 2008

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Maggie

I thought the book Dune, by Frank Herbert, was one of the best science fiction books I've ever read (and trust me-I'm a sci-fi/fantasy junkie). This book is about a boy named Paul, or Paul Atreides to be exact. Paul is 15 years old and small for his age at the beginning of the book, but it spans several years.

Paul is the son of the Duke Leto Atreides, duke of Caladan. However, the emperor transfers their fief to Arrakis, a desert planet rich in the drug called 'spice'. This appears to be a victory for the Atreides, but everyone knows better. It is actually a trap devised by the evil House Harkonnen, who have an old grudge against the Atreides. The emperor goes along with the plan because he wants the Atreides, along with their dangerous and sizable military force, eliminated.

So, the Duke is betrayed and killed -- by whom I'll leave you to find out.

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Still the best Sci-Fi book ever

August 20, 2007

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Paul P. Mealing

I remember DUNE as the first sci-fi book I read, and certainly it was the book that turned me on to Science Fiction. I think it influenced Star Wars: the use of religion, Luke Skywalker's home planet itself, and in the first movie there is even a reference to spice traders by Hans Solo (deliberate or not, I don't know).

David Lynch's movie is probably the best attempt to bring it to screen, yet none of the film versions I've seen have captured the book's depth and scope. Frank Herbert was the first to combine Sci-fi with fantasy elements in this unique way: another forerunner to Lucas's epic saga.

Duke Atreides family forced exile onto a hostile water-starved planet, which led to their unlikely renaissance, made me think of Australia's early colonial history, though our treatment of the indigenous inhabitants could have learned a lot from Paul Muad'Dib's example.

It was published in 1965, yet I don't believe it has dated. Arthur C. Clarke compared it to Lord of the Rings, and I would include them both in my top 10 books of fiction.

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To Ride the Worm

February 22, 2005

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by breathemoonlite

Ok, so maybe you have seen this Sci-Fi Classic on video. The book blows the film right out of the sand! The detail is so intense it will blow your mind. Follow the adventures of this brave off-worlder family as they try to survive not only the deadly planet, but their arch-rivals the Harkonins.
Dune, desert planet, the spice, Muah-Dib, all come to life in this epic.

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Give this a try

March 05, 2003

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4.0

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Reader reviewed by book lover

Sinse I need a challenge in reading, and the school library was almost all pre-school books, my Grandma and my Mom suggested Dune. Ok, so at first I thought it was going to too hard for a 12 year-old and would have about the interest level of the movie Artificial Intelligence (A.I.). But after about the first 50 pages, I was hooked with the actions of Paul and his family moving to practically a waste planet. I have two words of advice for anyone around my age or older who loves Star Wars or really any space or sci-fi books: read it!

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This book surprised me

March 07, 2002

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Robbert-Jan

The first book of the series, this book surprised me with many very original ideas. I especially like the different schools (Guild, Bene Gesserit, Mentat), the taboo on thinking machines and of course the spice and the neverending striving of the different factions to lay their hands on it. Frank Herbert is a very innovative sf writer, imo.

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A masterpiece

March 07, 2002

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Anthony Davidson

Dune is, in my opinion, truly a masterpiece... it exemplifies the limitless possibilities of the human imagination, and it is more than merely a typical science fiction novel. I've read it nearly a half a dozen times since I first picked it up a year and a half ago, and there's always some new aspect, some new point of view that I had never seen before.

Herbert expanded the science fiction boundaries to more than just a time or a place, more than just cool wristwatch gadgets and advanced supercomputers; the Atreides and the Harkonnens illustrate a depth of plot that may never again be matched.

He was able to create an entire working universe, complete in detail and theory, that so immerses the reader in political, religious, and ecological intrigue that it is possible to feel more an active participant than a distant observer. Without the slightest amount of hesitation, I would proclaim that Dune is the greatest work of fiction to ever be conceived, and anyone who has not read it should do so immediately.

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