This is not the first time I've read Dune, but I haven't read any of the other books in the series. One interesting thing is that the author, Frank Herbert was a speechwriter in the '50s, so you see the behind the scene workings in the running of governments of the Dune universe. Herbert won a Hugo award and the first Nebula award with Dune.
Dune is about a boy named Paul that is a son of Duke Leto Atreides, starting when the Duke is sent from his world of comfort to the barren desert world Arrakis, known for its melange, or spice, a drug that is coveted by the entire known kingdom of planets overseen by the Emperor Shaddam. The spice is what makes the governments run and is what the Spacing Guild's navigators to safely route faster-than-light travel between planets. It is said that "he that controls the spice controls the universe" and that is the aim of Duke Atreides.
With Herbert's political knowledge he writes a book about deceit, upheaval, sinister plots, and deal makings, sort of a futuristic "Game of Thrones". Dune follows young Paul as a fifteen-year-old son of a Duke to an exiled Duke believed to be dead, to a Freman tribe member and then his rise to the fight for the throne.
I really liked this book. Sometimes it gets a little long-winded but all in all, it is a good story that has held its greatness over time, with one movie, one mini-series, and a movie in planning stages if not yet already started filming. If you love science fiction then this is a must read, but I imagine since it is almost 55 years old most science fiction readers have read it since it's been said this is the best selling science fiction novel in history.
I rate this a 9 of 10.
Dune by Frank Herbert
Book 1 in Dune Saga & the Dune Franchise
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