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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"Hwi, would I still love you if I were a worm?"
This is really the Pinnacle of Dune: in all it's pretentions of grandeur, Herbert's sophomoric philosophizing is unleashed without much care for the constraints of story structure. While you would expect the divine grandeur of the God Emperor to be concealed from the reader, almost every chapter consists of Leto hanging out in a room and just chatting with various underlings. Despite taking place three millennia after the previous installment, almost no attention is paid to building the world- almost nothing is described other than unchanging, static repetitions of the past. That being said, Dune has never been weirder- the awkward fixations on sexuality here are notorious (the climactic rock climbing scene) and everything is stupid in a pretty fun way.
This is really the Pinnacle of Dune: in all it's pretentions of grandeur, Herbert's sophomoric philosophizing is unleashed without much care for the constraints of story structure. While you would expect the divine grandeur of the God Emperor to be concealed from the reader, almost every chapter consists of Leto hanging out in a room and just chatting with various underlings. Despite taking place three millennia after the previous installment, almost no attention is paid to building the world- almost nothing is described other than unchanging, static repetitions of the past. That being said, Dune has never been weirder- the awkward fixations on sexuality here are notorious (the climactic rock climbing scene) and everything is stupid in a pretty fun way.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In regards to the writing style, I think it is an amazingly written book, a true work of art; the prose is very captivating. However, there are a lot of weird moments in the narrative, mainly sexual content and certain homophobic references, that I actually found unnecessary for the plot.
I found the pacing very unstable, with a slow start and development, and a fast and abrupt ending. I still thoroughly enjoyed where the story goes, but could not connect as well with the new characters: some are more developed, while others start being interesting and suddenly they are mentioned to be dead. The ideas brought to light in this book are what make it solid, despite some weirdness.
I'm curious to see how much more wierdness there is in the remaining 2 books.
I found the pacing very unstable, with a slow start and development, and a fast and abrupt ending. I still thoroughly enjoyed where the story goes, but could not connect as well with the new characters: some are more developed, while others start being interesting and suddenly they are mentioned to be dead. The ideas brought to light in this book are what make it solid, despite some weirdness.
I'm curious to see how much more wierdness there is in the remaining 2 books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content
Part man, part worm explains his deranged political philosophy and schemes and gets horny for the first time in over a thousand years but he doesn't have a penis.
He lived. He served cunt (as a worm), then died.
Poor Duncan though, man has suffered enough.
He lived. He served cunt (as a worm), then died.
Poor Duncan though, man has suffered enough.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book more than the previous ones definitely shows Herbert's strengths and weaknesses. His strengths in presenting interesting reflections on ecology, sociology, religion, and humanity's relationship to tech. His weaknesses in building real characters, in engaging storytelling, in the weird sexual stuff that permeates his work and certainly other things.
Ultimately, I was just interested in Leto II and the Golden Path. I have zero interest in reading further though, especially since it only gets weirder from here and I feel this book was the thesis of the series. A lot had to be ignored in this book to enjoy it.
Ultimately, I was just interested in Leto II and the Golden Path. I have zero interest in reading further though, especially since it only gets weirder from here and I feel this book was the thesis of the series. A lot had to be ignored in this book to enjoy it.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes