Review: Dune by Frank Herbert

I think as with any major franchise, people fall into two categories: those who read Herbert’s books then watched the films, and those who watched the movies and wanted to try the books. I’m in the latter camp.

I’m going to start this by saying it took me ages to get into the films – it was only some time mid-second movie that I really felt I’d caught on and enjoyed them. So much so that I immediately bought the first book for myself and my dad. You see, we’ve been long-time scifi fans (yes, you can like Victorian literature and science fiction.) My dad has hundreds if not thousands of early Perry Rhodan zines, and we’ve both enjoyed a wide selection of scifi from retro classics like ‘Raumschiff Orion’ (thank my German roots here) to Stargate and Independence Day.

Anyway, Dune by Frank Herbert intrigued me because some of the philosophical aspects were so… strange, yet interesting. I’ve found myself using one of the quotes when I’ve felt particularly anxious lately. We all know the one, but it’s a bit longer in the book:

“Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn to see fear’s path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

Some of the Bene Gesserit philosophies are particularly interesting. I’m purposely not judging them, because I still haven’t made up my mind what I actually think, and I’m not done with the books yet. This, for instance:

“How the mind gears itself for its environment, she thought. And she recalled a Bene Gesserit axiom: “The mind can go either direction under stress—toward positive or toward negative: on or off. Think of it as a spectrum whose extremes are unconsciousness at the negative end and hyperconsciousness at the positive end. The way the mind will lean under stress is strongly influenced by training.””

I think that’s true for anyone, it’s just easier said than done. Besides the interesting themes, I personally also liked looking at the way the book was written. I always find different authors’ voices particularly intriguing, because some of the most prominent ones are so easily identifiable. I feel like I’d probably recognise Frank Herbert’s voice again amongst other writers. I mean, obviously amongst the ones I usually read.

“The Baron Vladimir Harkonnen sat up in the sleep suspensors of his private quarters. Beyond these quarters and enclosing him like a multishelled egg stretched the space frigate he had grounded on Arrakis. Here in his quarters, though, the ship’s harsh metal was disguised with draperies, with fabric paddings and rare art objects.”

This stuck out to me because it was, in my eyes, a sort of purposely described setting. It didn’t feel natural, which was maybe intentional because nothing about the Harkonnens is natural. What I mean is, it doesn’t appear like a sort of painting but more like a theatre set, and not as immersive.

The storyline is fascinating, and one to look into if you’re into sort of fantastical political scifis. I’d describe it as hopeful dystopia with a critical but not completely negative look at organised religion. What do you think? Will you be reading it or have you read it already?

“A thought spread across his mind—clear, distinct: The real wealth of a planet is in its landscape, how we take part in that basic source of civilization—agriculture.”