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muriel_r's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: War
samdalefox's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The word that comes to mind is Epic. Epic in length, complexity, world building, and social commentary, that to be brutally honest is still extremely revelant to today. The only other comparable work of fiction I would describe as epic in this sense is The Lord of The Rings. I am definitely going to continue reading the series.
For such a famous and epic book there are plenty of detailed reviews for you to peruse. I'll only highlight the themes I identified and top line likes and dislikes about the book.
Themes
For such a famous and epic book there are plenty of detailed reviews for you to peruse. I'll only highlight the themes I identified and top line likes and dislikes about the book.
Themes
- Commentary on ecology and Earth's environmental crises
- Investigation into different sorts of power e.g. resource control (spice production, a clear metaphor to oil in the Middle East), 'soft' political control (bene gesserit and other religious sects), 'hard' militarised imperial political control (classism with the Landsraad, Emperor, salusa secundus, and racism against the Freman).
- Eugenics lack of morality e.g. the bene gesserit breeding program, and 'race conciousness'. I can see why the fascists love it so much. I read the book as criticising rather than advocating this point though.
- Beware of 'heroes'/'Messiahs/Leaders - Keynes's last words were explicitly that Dune did not need Paul the Hero. The Freman would have been better liberating themselves on their own terms with their own ecology and power plan.
- Investigation into the powers of the mind, mental capacities, and different ways of seeing. Perhaps influenced/inspired by 60s psychodelic drugs?
Likes
- I enjoyed this as an opposition to Assimov's Foundation series where everything is determined by computers and tehcnology and statistics etc. Dune felt like the mirror image demonstrated in the powers of the mentat and the butlerian jihad.
- Finally, women power! The bene gesserit. The Fremen women. Even Princess Irulan to a degree. Ok, they're not morally 'good' and don't have a lot of power, but women, with some agency, in a book from the 60s!
- The whole world building was beautiful and swept me up. Though detailed, long, and written a long time ago, I found it very easy to read.
- The three appendices: ecology of Dune, religion of Dune, Bene Gesserit motives and purposes.
Dislikes
- Alia. Just weird. I suppose that's the point of her, but, just nope.
- I find it difficult to believe that the missionaria protectivia planted the religious seed of The Prophet. Although reasonable (and possibly a shrewd criticism of religion in general), I get the niggly sense that this may have some unconcious bias or tinged racism to it. The fact that an entire people (brown, Islamic inspired people) so easily adopted this narrative of an outsider arriving to be their saviour... just I don't know, it was the only thing I thought hmmm really, sounds a bit off? I'd like to read reviews from Middle Eastern people to hear their opinions about whether Dune is racist or not.
- Outdated homophobia painting Baron Harkonnen as a depraved homosexual. The film made a good call in updating this aspect. On this point, the film adapted the book brilliantly. It was largely true to the source material and anything it left out or embellished was to enhance the core story and update the text beyond homophobia, sexism, racism etc. So, bravo! I look forward to watching part II at the cinema when it's released.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Colonisation
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
nicolepaul_ine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Slavery, Torture, and Murder
paigesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Addiction and Slavery
kaadee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I finished, but it took me forever. I REALLY liked how in depth the political system, ecology and economic system blended together to make the perfect world. A masterpiece of world building, truly amazing. I wasn’t a huge fan of Paul as a character, I felt like he didn’t have much personality. Maybe because of the writing style you didn’t really get that personal detail. But I felt like he was a complex/deep character just not very likeable. I love the Bene Gessirit, I think the organization is very interesting specifically the Missionaria Protectiva. The mix of spirituality and politics just makes my little heart happy. ALSO?? The quotes in this book are very well written, and has some of my favorite quotes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Murder, and War
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
mirroball's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Pedophilia, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Murder
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"Fear is the mind killer." Although this is not my "normal" type of book, I HAD to give the novel a read after enjoying the movie. This book definitely took some brain power to get through, especially in the beginning. The world-building is complex and there are a lot of unique-to-the-book terms that take some time to become acclimated with. I really appreciated, in my edition, that there was a glossary in the back of the book to help me grow familiar with everything. This novel has immense political undertones and creates tension that can easily be seen in certain political climates today. A LOT happens in this first book, and I am intrigued to see where the rest of the series goes from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and War
serafinam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Dune follows Paul Atreides, heir to his father's title, as his family moves to the planet Arrakis and is plunged into chaos.
My biggest complaints about the novel come from how minority characters are depicted and treated. Women in Dune are subservient to men, very manipulative, and are often depicted as slightly less intelligent than their male counterparts. While some of this can be explained by Paul's youth and the wickedness of some characters, none of the female characters are treated as equal and it does make the book harder to enjoy as a woman. The Fremen are more often that not depicted as mystical fanatics with outdated, or even primitive ways of living. Without their existence the entire plot would fall apart, and yet they are not treated with the respect they deserve, both as fictional people and as those based on an actual minority group. My final, and perhaps greatest issue, is with the Baron Harkonnen. It cannot be denied that he is a wicked, evil man--facts easily gleaned from his attempts to exterminate the House Atreides and his treatment of other characters. the inclusion of his penchant for young boys is wholy unnecessary to show just how evil he is. This is especially compounded by the fact that he is the only character we see to have same sex attraction.
I have a love/hate relationship with this book, though it does lean more towards love. I found the politics of the novel to be fascinating and the character motivations keep me guessing at who to trust at every turn. While the style of writing, lore introduced, and involved of the spice lends itself more similarly to high fantasy, it thrives as a solid science fiction novel. The time jumps and perspective changes could be a bit confusing at times, and I often found myself a little perplexed as to the importance of some characters, but I would still recommend this to anyone who loves works like Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, or Brian Sanderson.
My biggest complaints about the novel come from how minority characters are depicted and treated. Women in Dune are subservient to men, very manipulative, and are often depicted as slightly less intelligent than their male counterparts. While some of this can be explained by Paul's youth and the wickedness of some characters, none of the female characters are treated as equal and it does make the book harder to enjoy as a woman. The Fremen are more often that not depicted as mystical fanatics with outdated, or even primitive ways of living. Without their existence the entire plot would fall apart, and yet they are not treated with the respect they deserve, both as fictional people and as those based on an actual minority group. My final, and perhaps greatest issue, is with the Baron Harkonnen. It cannot be denied that he is a wicked, evil man--facts easily gleaned from his attempts to exterminate the House Atreides and his treatment of other characters. the inclusion of his penchant for young boys is wholy unnecessary to show just how evil he is. This is especially compounded by the fact that he is the only character we see to have same sex attraction.
I have a love/hate relationship with this book, though it does lean more towards love. I found the politics of the novel to be fascinating and the character motivations keep me guessing at who to trust at every turn. While the style of writing, lore introduced, and involved of the spice lends itself more similarly to high fantasy, it thrives as a solid science fiction novel. The time jumps and perspective changes could be a bit confusing at times, and I often found myself a little perplexed as to the importance of some characters, but I would still recommend this to anyone who loves works like Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, or Brian Sanderson.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and War
Minor: Gore, Incest, and Grief
help_i_cant_read's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Challenging read at times for various reasons: beginning of the book felt quite slow, lots of new terminology used.
Worth sticking with, because at certain points the book totally hooked me with the story. The scene setting is excellent too. Definitely planning on reading the next book in the series.
Am I supposed to like Paul? Because I found him annoying by the end.
Worth sticking with, because at certain points the book totally hooked me with the story. The scene setting is excellent too. Definitely planning on reading the next book in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Child death
ivana's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape