Dune

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Dune, by Frank Herbert

I hadn't gotten around to reading Dune before.  I've seen two film versions, though (the one with Sting and the SciFi Channel's miniseries).  I guess it was high time I read the real thing.

In the very far future, there is a galactic empire--but an empire without computers or artificial intelligence.  Instead, certain people are trained to calculate.  Mentats are coldly logical and concentrate on math; the Bene Gesserit learn to manipulate emotion and influence politics, using religion as their tool.  The desert planet of Arrakis produces one of the most valuable substances in the galaxy, and it is therefore exploited and oppressed--but the desert people of Arrakis are waiting for their savior.  He is Paul Atreides, and he's going to change everything.

The setting is clearly based on the politics of the Middle East.  Spice is oil, the Fremen are probably Bedouin, and much of the vocabulary is based on Arabic.  The Arabic borrowings were probably less obvious 40+ years ago, when hajj wasn't a word that everyone knew.

It's a good story, very complicated and well-done.  There's some great stuff, and the Fremen culture is neat to read about. I'm not sure it's really "the bestselling SF adventure of all time!" like the cover says, but it's one of the big SF classics.  I've heard that the sequels are all less good, though, so I think I'll stop while I'm ahead.

This was going to be my final post for Vintage SF Month...but then I found something pretty great!  Stay tuned to see if I can get in under the wire.

Comments

  1. ArenelJanuary 28, 2014 at 11:36 PM

    I'm so glad you liked it! I have also stopped after the first book in order not to spoil the impression. But this first book is just awesome!

    I hope you'll manage the "pretty great" thing too :))

    ReplyDelete
  2. jrleekJanuary 29, 2014 at 9:00 AM

    Oh, was the SF stuff this month only? Darn, I was looking forward to a whole year of classic SF posts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JeanJanuary 29, 2014 at 10:19 AM

    There is another year-long SF event, but so far I'm just doing this. I might read some Simak though...

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 29, 2014 at 11:38 AM

    I'm afraid I didn't get all the way through Dune, let alone any of its sequels. I was enjoying it enormously until about halfway through, and then I got bored and couldn't go on. :/

    ReplyDelete
  5. BronaMay 29, 2014 at 4:36 AM

    A read a few of these books in my early twenties. I remember loving them...but 20 yrs later, I can recall nothing except sand worms!!

    ReplyDelete

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