I am a fan of sci-fi so I thought I should read Dune as it is one of the classics of science fiction and has influenced so many that have come since.
And for good reason, it's good.
Dune tells the story of warring houses battling for supremacy in space. But these battles aren't all guns and violence. There a intricate political games being played and religion is used just as much as money to control the empire. The book focuses on the rivalry between the House Atreides and the House Harkonnen.
The main characters in the story are the Duke Leto Arteides, his concubine Jessica and their son Paul who move to the desert planet Arrakis. Here they have to combat the elements, their rival house the Harkonnen and the giant sand worms that destroy the equipment needed to collect the only thing of value on the planet, spice. But things go from bad to worse as a traitor in the house causes the downfall of the Atreides and Paul and Jessica are forced to make a life for themselves in the desert among the nomadic natives the Fremen. But they have a secret weapon in that they are both quite psychic because of their Bene Gesserit training and Paul becomes the messiah the Fremen were expecting.
It would take me too long to explain all the intricacies of this 500 page book here so just take my word for it that they are there and they are really well crafted. The story is really compelling and the way it is told from a mix of character's perspectives means that the reader gets a lot of insights into the story but because no one knows exactly what's going on nothing is given away.
For me, the best bit in this book is Jessica. She is a great character who is clever and kick ass at the same time and all her semi-psychic powers make her so much cooler. She isn't the main character really but I found myself rooting for her more than anyone else.
It's a really good book if you like golden age sci-fi (which I do). The story is complex and well crafted and the characters act like real people with distinct personalities.
And for good reason, it's good.
Dune tells the story of warring houses battling for supremacy in space. But these battles aren't all guns and violence. There a intricate political games being played and religion is used just as much as money to control the empire. The book focuses on the rivalry between the House Atreides and the House Harkonnen.
The main characters in the story are the Duke Leto Arteides, his concubine Jessica and their son Paul who move to the desert planet Arrakis. Here they have to combat the elements, their rival house the Harkonnen and the giant sand worms that destroy the equipment needed to collect the only thing of value on the planet, spice. But things go from bad to worse as a traitor in the house causes the downfall of the Atreides and Paul and Jessica are forced to make a life for themselves in the desert among the nomadic natives the Fremen. But they have a secret weapon in that they are both quite psychic because of their Bene Gesserit training and Paul becomes the messiah the Fremen were expecting.
It would take me too long to explain all the intricacies of this 500 page book here so just take my word for it that they are there and they are really well crafted. The story is really compelling and the way it is told from a mix of character's perspectives means that the reader gets a lot of insights into the story but because no one knows exactly what's going on nothing is given away.
For me, the best bit in this book is Jessica. She is a great character who is clever and kick ass at the same time and all her semi-psychic powers make her so much cooler. She isn't the main character really but I found myself rooting for her more than anyone else.
It's a really good book if you like golden age sci-fi (which I do). The story is complex and well crafted and the characters act like real people with distinct personalities.
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