Dune by

30 July 2011


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The actual review

After three question and answer sessions I’m not sure how many of you want to read more about Dune, but I want to gether my thoughts after all the back and forth between peoples. Well done to Carl for coming up with this, and all the questioners for their questions which prompted all those answers.

Dune is one of those books that most people have heard of, or they have heard of the film, it is one of the classics of science fiction. I had the impression that this was a great and sprawling book, full of overly complicated ideas and strange notions. It isn’t. Well, maybe it does have some strange notions, but many of them are cool. And it certainly isn’t overly complicated, in fact it is quite a straight-forward action/adventure story. Mixed with just a hint of coming-of-age, all stirred together in a heap of sci-fi-ness.

Dune

I’m really glad that carl came up with this idea, because despite the fact that I didn’t fall in love with the book, I am glad that I’ve read Dune. It has a lot of problems, as was pointed out, there is a lot of dialogue used to tell the reader what is going on rather than showing us. And I felt a distance from most of the characters that was promlematical for me as a reader. But overall I did enjoy the book. I really liked the Freman, although I do think that their culture would be extremely hard to fit into, unless one was born into it.

I may have some interest in reading the follow on book Dune Messiah I think Carl mentioned it was called, but I certainly won’t be reading the whole series. I have heard nothing but negative things about the cash-cow it tried to turn into.

All in all I’d call Dune a solid sci-fi adventure with plenty of interesting ideas and plot developments. Well worth a read.

Other reviews: All consuming books ; The book nest ; As usual I need more bookshelves ; That’s what she read ; Only the best science fiction

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3 Responses

  1. redhead says:

    I'm happy you mostly enjoyed the book. I think classics like this (or, really, any classic) is much more easily read in fashion that we did with Dune, as a group read-along. that way you can get other people's points of view and have a discussion, instead of trying to slog through something that might not be your cup of tea all by yourself.

    re: the cash-cowness of this, I believe it's only the new "prequels" by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson that are the cash cows. Herbert the elder never made much money off Dune.
    redhead´s last blog post ..New arrivals

  2. Shelley says:

    I've had books like that too that I didn't love but I'm glad I read. I'm planning to read Dune Messiah, and I need to read it soon before I forget what happened in this one. I think doing the group read will help me to remember more though.
    Shelley´s last blog post ..Dune Readalong: Part Three

  3. Kathleen says:

    I've heard about this one for as long as I can remember. I've never been drawn to Science Fiction but this is one that is considered a classic so I will feel remiss if I don't read it.
    Kathleen´s last blog post ..Gone Phishin!