Great book interesting story good read well worth the money

This book truly is remarkable and deserves every bit of praise it gets. There’s so much depth to the story, the characters, and the world itself. I wasn’t sure what to make of the writing style at first with the epigraphs between chapters that in some instances give events away before they happen or at times can be slightly confusing, but the more I read the more I feel they add to the story as they provide a prophetic edge to the chapter before you get into the narrative of how everything unfolds. The story has so many twists and turns with a constant sense of suspense and wonder that keeps you gripped despite the fact that, at times, you know exactly how things will unfold. The mind-games that play out throughout the story and the complexities of the events unfolding while the story arcs connect together is just such a pleasure to read. I’m a science-fiction fan but I avoided this book for a while, worrying about being disappointed or potentially overwhelmed; I’ve also seen some mixed reviews from science-fiction fans that added to my hesitation. Now having read the book I wish I’d read it so much sooner, I really can not recommend this book enough. It truly is an epic story and there’s an added warmth to reading the book in my opinion as you feel the influential nature of this true classic. It has immediately become one of my favourite books of all time.

George Lucas owes a lot to Dune which, in many ways, is a more fleshed out, thoughtful and grown up Star Wars. Herbert’s world-building is fantastic, and his exploration of the interrelation between politics, religion, economics and ecology permeates a fast-paced, compelling adventure. Full of big ideas, the book still has plenty of quality heroes and villains and all the appeal of the best high fantasy and sci-fi.

Science fiction novels are not normally my cup of tea. However, I found Dune to be an amazingly well written, well thought out book that keeps you interested and emotionally connected to the characters to the end. Herbert has imagined a completely new, and plausible, world. His attention to detail and descriptive techniques are so effective that at times I could even feel and smell parts of his planet Arrakis, particularly in his account of the smell and taste of the most valuable substance in the universe "melange". Well recommended.

The influence of this seminal sixties novel is evident in works as diverse as Star Wars and Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. Herbert has penned a convincing futuristic feudal intergalactic empire, replete with themes that have dominated humankind since the rise of our sentience: politics, philosophy, religion, greed and war. Particularly prescient are the themes of conservation, water shortage the role of Artificial Intelligence and jihad. So rich is the world the author creates with its own compelling history, social structure, competing belief systems and values that it requires a detailed glossary which forms a substantial appendix to this work. The verisimilitude is further developed in appendices which further develop some of the key themes of the novel. In creating this believable future world, Herbert draws significantly on biblical themes and Middle Eastern philosophy as well as more modern notions such as plutocracy, economic monopolies and trade. Rather like Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama, Dune stands alone as a significant work of imagination as well as part of a series of novels.