Dune (1965)

Author: Frank Herbert
Publisher: Ace

Synopsis:
A young man with the power of prescience enlists a tribe of desert nomads to challenge the forces of the Imperium and his family's mortal enemies to avenge the murder of his father.

Impressions:
There are some who have likened the impact and influence of Dune on science fiction to that of The Lord of the Rings on fantasy. In many respects, this is a fair statement to make. This book in particular and the series as a whole is certainly a landmark in the genre and Frank Herbert provides one of the best examples of fully fleshed worldbuilding in fiction. Besides the worldbuilding, two things that really stand out for me is the portrayal of political intrigue—the wheels within wheels and plans within plans—and the conceptualization of prescience as Paul develops his powers and expands his consciousness. Speaking of expanding consciousness, the mark of the 60s is rather clear, particularly with the spice as an analog for the drugs in use at the time. The sense of tension in the first arc of the story is particularly strong, with some rather effective use of dramatic irony. The characters are quite memorable and will leave a lasting impression.

The writing itself can be a little clunky at times and not everyone may be fond of the heavy reliance on internal monologuing. All the specialized jargon will be immersive for some, but others might find it distracting. (There is a helpful glossary, though.) I don't think this takes away too much of the luster. The writing style is a large part of what makes it so distinctive.

Any serious SF fan should at least give this a read if not add it to their collection. It truly stands out as one of the juggernauts in the genre.

Rating:
Own It