Science Fiction

Dune (Dune #1)

Author: Frank Hebert

Average Rating:   4.25 / 5

Trigger Warnings:

Unseen forces with dubious motivations are at work when the noble Atreides family is ordered to leave their lush, leafy home for the desert planet Arrakis. Covered in dunes, water is a highly prized commodity. Almost as highly prized as the spice melange, Dune’s single export. Melange causes intense psychotropic effects that can connect minds, access genetic memory, and heighten other abilities. The Atreides will have to satisfy the demand for the difficult to harvest drug, because it’s disruption will cause ripples across the known universe. And the potential riches that come from controlling the supply is worth killing for.

When betrayal strikes House Atreides, it will push Paul, the ducal heir, onto a path that will lead him towards a grand destiny. A destiny that he may not be able to avoid as he evolves into the foretold Maud’Dib, the fruition of generations of manipulation.

Corinna : 4/5

I was first introduced to this book by my younger brother, Matt. He often reads sci-fi books, and said this was a cult classic, the original sci-fi, if you will. I generally don’t enjoy sci-fi and lean more into fantasy, but thought I would give it a go, especially when I heard the movie was being redone. And then we also picked it for our book club! Dune is a large book and was overwhelming at first, but I really enjoyed it. Hebert does such a fantastic job of world building. The planet Dune has a unique history, culture, and traditions. He does a great job of really thinking out the implications of living on a planet with almost no water; the technology that the Fremen have created, and their expertise at living in the desert make sense. The characters are diverse and interesting. But the intricacies of the political storyline were a little difficult to follow sometimes, like how the Bene Gesserit influenced the Empire and the roles of the Atreides vs. Harkonnens, but I was still intrigued, even if I didn’t fully follow what was going on. I really want to know more about the all-female Bene Gesserit and their training, especially using The Voice to influence others! Paul’s growth throughout the story is captivating, while sometimes too mysterious to fully grasp. I didn’t give this a 5/5 because of my confusion at times with following exactly what was happening in the political game as well as Paul’s transformation. All-in-all a great book, and worth the read! Can’t wait to see the new movie!

Lydia : 5/5

I was extremely nervous about this book, in fact I expected to not finish it. As someone who typically does not like Sci-Fi / extreme fantasy, Dune was daunting. To our fellow readers and friends, PLEASE do yourself a favour and read this book. It was amazing. Every single character, every story line, was told perfectly. The only thing I had a slight issue with were the names of the main characters. I mean come on –  Jessica and Paul?! In a Sci-Fi book?! Super weird, or rather not weird at all. That is literally my only complaint. 

The world building for Arrakis was thoughtful and intentional, two things I look for in a good book. After all, you can’t go wrong with giant worms coming out of the sand. The depth of detail was like no other and I know you’ll fall in love with this world and the characters, just as I did. We cannot wait to see how the 2021 Dune movie compares.

Megan : 3/5

I love sci-fi/fantasy; those are my go-to genres which typically do not disappoint. So for Dune, I had quite high expectations for the story. How could I not with it being such an important book in the genre? Unfortunately, those high expectations worked against the story in my case. 

I enjoyed the world building; Arrakis was described beautifully and it was easy to imagine exactly what the characters were seeing. The inventions and the technology needed to survive in such a hostile world worked and didn’t seem outlandish. I’ve read other sci-fi books where the science behind the technology didn’t make sense. The characters were well written and I wish I had the abilities of the Bene Gesserit; the Voice would be such a cool ability to have! My reasons for not absolutely loving the book relate to the political aspect. Sometimes it was hard to follow along with what was happening: the tensions between the Atreides and the Harkonnens, the roles of the major houses, the Empire, and the trading guild, and even the Bene Gesserit prophecy and how that was told throughout the galaxy. 

I do have plans to continue with the series, because I’m intrigued with what’s going to happen next (gotta love those abrupt endings). I would still recommend that people read the book, it just did not quite live up to the hype for me.

Sharaya : 5/5

I was really looking forward to reading this book (finally) and it did not disappoint! Ya’ll know I’m a sucker for world-building, and it’s an extreme understatement to say that Hebert did his homework before writing this epic. Hebert may have created a barren desert planet, but Arrakis was rich in culture, history, and eco-system.  He had obviously spent a lot of time figuring out what would be necessary in a world with so little water.  The characters were just as thoughtfully crafted, and despite a wide cast, each character was well defined.  I will say that there were some sections that were a little hard to process because they were so abstract, specifically Paul’s mental capabilities.  But then again, that may have been the point.  They were beyond explanation and processing, sometimes even for Paul.  

This was definitely a masterpiece, and I can see why it has earned its place on so many “read before you die” and “top ___ books to read” lists.  I’m really looking forward to seeing the new movie and comparing it to the book and my imagination.  From the trailer, the sandworms look pretty awesome!

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