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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
This starts out pretty slow, and it was a bit confusing for me because there were so many Dune terms that weren't explained and I at first didn't realise that there were appendices at the end that expounded on Arrakis, the Fremen, the Bene Gesserit, as well as a whole glossary of terms. Pretty insane world-building, if you ask me. It makes your head swirl with how much information there is - not just about Arrakis, but this whole solar system of different planets and races (and races within races) and cultures and environments - which is basically the Imperium.
But to be honest, even without all of these, it's a pretty addictive read, all the confusion adding to the mystery of the thing. And then there's all the politics and secrecy and feints within feints within feints and all the /danger/ - so subtly woven into the Duke's story that his end is completely inevitable. I'm obsessed with the Fremen. Are they overpowered? But Paul's tribe was overpowered by /them/. But the Saurdaukar, which /they/ fear, are seen as inconveniences by the Fremen? What? Is this a plot hole? My brain hurts. How did Frank Herbert write all this? It's insane.
Then about halfway through the book, everything just kind of explodes on you and you flip page after page after page and the action doesn't stop. I read a review that this book starts boring but ends blowing your mind, and - well I could agree a little on it being a bit slow, but it was hardly boring. The first half was one of the best ways I'd gotten introduced into a fictional universe, and it made the second half so addicting because you've already got a sort of solid foundation? And yet it doesn't take away from all the new things - Alia, for example, in all her wonder - but makes your mind more open to understanding. I might not be making sense. I /must/ watch the movie as well. And then read the sequels.
But to be honest, even without all of these, it's a pretty addictive read, all the confusion adding to the mystery of the thing. And then there's all the politics and secrecy and feints within feints within feints and all the /danger/ - so subtly woven into the Duke's story that his end is completely inevitable. I'm obsessed with the Fremen. Are they overpowered? But Paul's tribe was overpowered by /them/. But the Saurdaukar, which /they/ fear, are seen as inconveniences by the Fremen? What? Is this a plot hole? My brain hurts. How did Frank Herbert write all this? It's insane.
Then about halfway through the book, everything just kind of explodes on you and you flip page after page after page and the action doesn't stop. I read a review that this book starts boring but ends blowing your mind, and - well I could agree a little on it being a bit slow, but it was hardly boring. The first half was one of the best ways I'd gotten introduced into a fictional universe, and it made the second half so addicting because you've already got a sort of solid foundation? And yet it doesn't take away from all the new things - Alia, for example, in all her wonder - but makes your mind more open to understanding. I might not be making sense. I /must/ watch the movie as well. And then read the sequels.
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
A very slow start but it builds up to a point where you get pretty invested.
I really enjoyed the world building, politics, religions, emotions, relationships and most characters in the end.
The final 1/5th of book felt a bit weird and rushed but also some of the choices didn't make sense to me, revolving Paul's son and Paul's sister Alia. The movie did a better job at some things. Mainly the fact that the Baron gets merc'd by Paul.
But regardless of some poor narrative choices I enjoyed it.
Solid 3.75/5
I really enjoyed the world building, politics, religions, emotions, relationships and most characters in the end.
The final 1/5th of book felt a bit weird and rushed but also some of the choices didn't make sense to me, revolving Paul's son and Paul's sister Alia. The movie did a better job at some things. Mainly the fact that the Baron gets merc'd by Paul.
But regardless of some poor narrative choices I enjoyed it.
Solid 3.75/5
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
first 100 pages are so slow but then after that it all comes together and makes you wanna keep reading to know whats gonna happen next
favorite quote from da book
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
favorite quote from da book
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I cannot believe it took me this long to read this book this is literally everything I love - a stupid amount of worldbuilding. This was much less character-driven than I tend to prefer but who cares!!! Loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Gaslighting, War
I mean, yeah.
To elaborate; this book, turns out, pretty good. The reading process took me quite awhile, possibly because the book is quite dense, I'm not sure.
After I finished, I found myself thinking about the importance of genre when it comes to attempting to apply a rating to a book. My first instinct was to compare it to other books I've rated 5 stars, but that was immediately a foolhardy path as I looked around at the middle grade fiction and fantasy parody books that populated my highest ranked reads.
I just really enjoyed it, I enjoyed seeing the world take shape, I enjoyed the pacing and the process of the read, though I would've liked to have found out about the glossary of terms before literally finishing the book. It's just really solid storytelling, and I have to say that my affection for this book was significantly raised when it was revealed, somewhat offhandedly as an unimportant musing I believe, that the reason behind theIt's not key to the current story being told, but again, I enjoyed it.
I'm not sure about the necessity of the Appendixes. I admit I'm not even sure whether they were included in the original printing, as I'm reading the unabridged 25th anniversary edition. The glossary and perhaps map would have been useful had I known about them, but the rest seemed superfluous.
To elaborate; this book, turns out, pretty good. The reading process took me quite awhile, possibly because the book is quite dense, I'm not sure.
After I finished, I found myself thinking about the importance of genre when it comes to attempting to apply a rating to a book. My first instinct was to compare it to other books I've rated 5 stars, but that was immediately a foolhardy path as I looked around at the middle grade fiction and fantasy parody books that populated my highest ranked reads.
I just really enjoyed it, I enjoyed seeing the world take shape, I enjoyed the pacing and the process of the read, though I would've liked to have found out about the glossary of terms before literally finishing the book. It's just really solid storytelling, and I have to say that my affection for this book was significantly raised when it was revealed, somewhat offhandedly as an unimportant musing I believe, that the reason behind the
Spoiler
Butlerian Jihad was to, essentially in modern terms, revolt against artificial intelligence. I find that extremely prescient, likely due to the time and place that I'm reading, but it is refreshing to read an older book and not to have the enemy be the USSR or atomic bombs or the Cold War or whatever represents the fear of the time the author is writing, and instead to be something relevant. I know that the Great Revolt happened in the history of the characters about which we read, but that places it closer in time to this book's version of our Earth.I'm not sure about the necessity of the Appendixes. I admit I'm not even sure whether they were included in the original printing, as I'm reading the unabridged 25th anniversary edition. The glossary and perhaps map would have been useful had I known about them, but the rest seemed superfluous.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
While the style can be heavy, there's no denying Herbert's world-building abilities. At his best, the author can make Arrakis feel as a character in book. The characters are best thought of as archetypes than actual persons that you get attached to.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes