Dune by Frank HerbertMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a spoiler laden reaction to the Dune series.
Frank Herbert's novel series Dune is a collection of seven books (six novels and an encyclopedia) written in a future so distant that it's impossible to imagine it. And yet he has imagined it. He imagines the different ways humanity may have used to explore the solar system. He imagined the wars that were fought and the agreements made to keep society cohesive. He imagined the different forms human evolution might take as we learned to survive beyond Earth, though still ever tethered to it by ancestor memory. He even imagined how the introduction of "alien" elements from these new planets might aid in our evolution as space dwelling beings.
The story of Paul Atreides starts well after all of the above is common knowledge written about in the historical texts of the fifteen year old protagonist. His world is both familiar and strange. The first two books tell Paul's story. We journey with Paul as he goes from being a beloved Prince on his home world, Caladan to a warrior God of a desert planet against his will. We watch his struggle to overcome his visions of the future.
Paul has unstable visions of the end of humanity. These spice dreams plague him throughout his life. He knows what must be done to save our species but he can't bring himself to follow that path. It's a burden he ultimately leaves up to his son, Leto the Second who takes on the role as God Emperor a.k.a. The Tyrant!
Leto goes on to out live everyone he's ever known and loved . . . well, almost everyone. In the end his actions set in motion a plan to save humanity. Save them from what? And did his plan every fully unfurled?
Unfortunately, we'll never know. Frank Herbert died before writing the final novel. But the premise he left hanging at the end of Chapterhouse Dune was so daunting that it left me shaken! He introduces us to the ultimate enemy then the curtain falls on the stage.
Even though I've summarized the general plot of all seven books I still hold that anyone who has not read the books is still completely unspoiled on the story line.
Frank Herberts writing is so rich and potent that I know what Arrakis smells like. I can hear the Baron in my head; I can see the spice on the wind and the worms cresting the sands.
And though the novel is heavy with thoughts, and plots, and details I never lost interest in where the story was going. I still cared about who and what and where and why. Conversations in this series were often so charged with tension and energy that I found my self holding my breath while people were just talking to each other. By conversations - I mean everything from a dinner with leaders of the world, to simple gestures between matrons and their servants. These moments are so consequential that to miss a well timed blink was to not understand why someone just died.
And I mean that! The fights are so quick - so sudden - that they often happen in a sentence or two. Two main characters are talking and just like that one of them is dead! Frank does not shed the blood of his characters lightly, though by Heretics of Dune it can feel that way.
I find myself considering the actions and motivations of people around me with more depth now. For months after finishing the series I find myself wondering about the plots within plots within plots of our politicians and the events happening on the news every day.
Big surprise but the women of Dune are my favorite characters. I supported Jessica's actions until "Children of Dune". I understood her wanting the best for her son and why she trained him the way she did. But I didn't like the way she treated her daughter. This is not a criticism of the writing - just saying.
I loved Chani - I mean who doesn't?
I also really enjoyed delving into the Bene Gesserit. They are not good people by any means but they are very interesting. They rule by being the second most important people in the universe with ultra-intelligence and keen physical abilities. Also by maintaining a strong loyalty to their sisterhood - all the while never fully understanding what they mean to each other. I love how they've turned "being women" into a super power.
I'm working on an essay right now that will explain how Octavia E. Butler's Parable series is a direct pre cursor to the Dune novels. There I will compare and contrast the two (very different) stories. I will attempt to explain how the Parable series ended exactly where it needed to for Dune to carry the torch further. I will explain how the Parable series fills in the gaps in the Dune universe.
Also I hope to give a little ray of hope that the torch is just waiting for a hand to take the baton.
Questions? Comments? Arguments! Participate down below!
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