Dune (Frank Herbert)

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Dune
by Frank Herbert

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No doubt one of the classics of science fiction, Dune is adventure on a grand scale, but endowed with enough political insight and symbolic layering to raise the eyebrows of the most literary of individuals. And it's one of those few books where many of those outside of the sci-fi/fantasy community have readily embraced. So why not the full rating? It didn't do as much for me as it has for others, that's all. But I wouldn't call it overrated. In my opinion, it well deserves its status.

The story revolves around the fierce conflict between two great families, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, over the vast spice resources of the planet Arrakis. When the evil Harkonnens lay unexpected ambush upon the Atreides family, fifteen-year old Paul and his mother Jessica flee into the desert, where they form an alliance with a desert people known as the Fremen. Together, they seek to destroy the Harkonnens and reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

What makes this book such a triumph is the incorporation of many realistic themes and concepts into the narrative, leaving us with an awe-inspiring window into Frank Herbert's vision. Herbert will explore internal politics at one point, mesmerizing the reader with complex, well-contrived interactions between the Houses, the Imperials, the space guild and the spice companies. He then proceeds to portray the dune planet's ecology, depicting the inhabitants' and colonists' lifestyles with incredible realism. (The desert folk have to wear special suits in order to recycle all the moisture in their sweat for consumption...youch....) He provides brilliant descriptions of vehicles (including the flying machines), weaponry (the crys-knives), Fremen culture (the blue eyes which evolved in accordance with the world's harsh environment) and the planet's other indigenous life (the jaw-dropping sandworms.) Herbert also delves into mystic teachings, religious psychology, and how the good intentions of one can still lead to destruction (ie. we get a fleeting glimpse of a devoted following, destroying everything in the name of the Messiah.) To top it off, he colours his characters with ambiguous shades of grey, blurring the lines between good and evil. All this makes for fabulous reading; and while many of the aforementioned topics are, to me, as dry as a desert planet, they are well integrated into the story, one which still manages to be action-packed despite the weight of challenging ideas upon its shoulders.

My main personal problem with this book dealt with the characters. I didn't like any them. I felt that the main characters all lacked a certain compassion, a certain humanity, to make me connect with them. Their conversations are often so highbrow they're difficult to follow, and there's not much comic relief or even casual repose; instead, Herbert's dialogue is stiff and unyielding. And I could never relate to Paul, who is simply too perfect a person for comfort. I had other small, personal quibbles as well—such as the book's shocking, abrupt ending (which I didn't like) and the fact that the whole book takes place in a desert. Yes, I realize that setting is central to the novel's heart, but every time I picked up this book read I would get thirsty!....as much as one might think this is a good thing, it got rather annoying....

Little things aside, I'm glad I read it. I think, in fact, that it would benefit me greatly to read Dune a second time, at some later point in time. I feel as though I may learn to enjoy it more if I read it with more life experience behind me. For now, it isn't among my favourites, but still a must-read for sci-fi fans.

Buy Dune at Barnesandnoble.com