communication breakdown

Book Review: Dune (1965)

[ 7 / 10 ] Frank Herbert's groundbreaking science-fiction masterpiece presents itself as an enigma to me. I tend to be pretty opinionated on things, but with this novel, I find it hard to express my thoughts. Dune is undoubtedly grand in scope, almost impossibly so - evidenced by the fact that it is the initial offering in a 10+ book series. Its influence is evident in countless novels and films, including the Star Wars series. The story, set over 20,000 years in the future, centers around a royal family struggling against political and environmental obstacles, and details the origin of a young boy destined to change the world forever...

The story begins in the midst of a tenuous time for the Atreides family, the Royal House of planet Caladan. They have been ordered by the Emperor to move to planet Arrakis, known commonly as Dune due to its brutal desert landscape. We soon learn, however, that there are more sinister forces in play. Baron Harkonnen, arch-enemy of the Atreides family, seems to be involved somehow, and a trap seems likely. But the Atreides have little choice in the matter, so the Duke Leto, his concubine Jessica, and son Paul prepare for the long and likely dangerous journey.

It does not take long to see that there is something special about Jessica and her son Paul. She is regal and elegant, possessing special mental and physical faculties provided by her training at the hands of a mysterious order known as the Bene Gesserit. Paul has inherited much of her skill, and has refined these gifts under her personal training. But she suspects that there might be something else: and there is, for it soon becomes apparent that Paul is the Kwisatz Haderach, a powerful figure who is destined to fulfill a legendary prophecy by leading his chosen people to freedom. But it is not until he arrives on Dune, surrounded by an environment that could kill him and dangerous enemies who are actively trying to do the same, that the prophecy begins to take shape.

After finishing Dune, I was reminded of a quote that Peter Jackson (director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy) said regarding the novels which he adapted: "it is as if Tolkien found some secret scroll about the real history of earth". This is how I feel about Frank Herbert's creation - it only takes reading a few pages of this novel to understand what a marvelously complex and rich world he has created. It feels so massive and well-constructed that it is hard to believe that it is not a real story in some distant land or future universe. Herbert only hints at the depth of character and history in this novel, all of which is expanded upon in later novels.

But a novel must stand on its own, and for that purpose, I review Dune here as an independent work, not as the first offering in a large and successful series. The novel is a rich blend of political intrigue, apocalyptic battles, environmental science and ethics, and spiritual mythos. However, I found that the novel's depth was often its undoing - I had a hard time following some of Herbert's storylines, particularly the political and spiritual overtones that are prevalent throughout Paul's rise to prominence. There are many things which are hinted at, or briefly discussed, which only serve to broaden the scope of the novel without adequate explanation. Certainly these side-topics are explored in other novels in the series, but they serve to make Dune a confusing storyline at times. It is almost as if the author had so many different things he wanted to cover, that he did not have adequate time or enough pages to do so.

But make no mistake, Dune is a fun and important read, an absolute must for sci-fi enthusiasts, or for anyone else who enjoys a good story. There are enough disparate things about this novel to make a fan out of anyone. Paul is an honest, inspiring, and wonderfully confident protagonist, and his story is sure to keep you intrigued. Despite the fact that some parts of the book kind of lost me, and that I'm unlikely to read any of his subsequent offerings in the series, I am glad that I took the time to step into Herbert's fascinating futuristic universe, even if only for a short while.