DUNE by Frank Herbert (Ace Book, July 2026) Deluxe trade paperback, 704 pages. ISBN # 9798217192205. ASIN # B0GPCV2XWZ
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for...
When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.
My Five-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
This is one of those novels that I deliberately read at a slower pace, often stopping for days between sections of the book. I remember reading this for the first time during high school and being affectively and effectively impressed.
Upon re-reading this almost 60 years later - I was amazed at how much of this story still holds up, and actually seems timely considering current global concerns. Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS had a dramatic impact on the fantasy novel, and became the standard/template for many fantasy epics to follow. DUNE has the same impact on science fiction, and imaginative world-building. It's a template in the same way.
As I read through the novel, many sections stood out to me and sparked my memory of the first time reading this. I realized how much of an impact and how influential this novel was on my developing world view and values/principles in my teen years.
I read this with the LIbrarian's Husband's Book Club community for the August 2026 Worlds Of Wonder exploration. Some of my progress notes are below . . . . .
NOTES
August 16, 2026
I recall this being among the small handful of science-fiction novels that left a big impression on me when I first read them in my middle school and high school years.
I do recall that this was the novel that made me environmentally aware during high school, and may have prompted my writing a term paper about chemical/biological warfare. I'm anxious to see if on a re-read those prompts still come through for me.
AUGUST 17
I read the first chapter yesterday and was immediately transported back to my younger years with vivid recall of how this affected me the first time I read it. I was completely drawn in once again and captivated by the world-building and Herbert's wonderful imagination just within sixteen pages.
I remember on that first reading many decades back how I would discover new wonders in each succeeding chapter. Wow. The various movies and graphic novels did not have this same impact on me. I guess it's a combination of nostalgia and Herbert's writing skills that have me engaged once again.
Chapter 1, Paul Atreide's thoughts:
"I must not fear. 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 I will turn the inner eye to see its path. When the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." Not a bad passage to internalize.
Chapter 1, the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother speaking to Paul:
"Once, men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslaves them."
"Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a man's mind," Paul quoted.
"Right out of the Butlerian Jihad and the Orange Catholic Bible," she said. "But what the O.C. Bible should've said is: 'Thou shalt not make a machine to counterfeit a human mind.' "
Written in 1965 -- but a very timely warning and quite on the nose!
AUGUST 21
I believe Herbert used the reliance on spice/melange and its importance in the overall economy of the galactic union as a metaphor for increasing concerns (in 1965) of our dependence on a single resource. Re-reading this in 2026 it is just as timely and relevant.
Duke Leto to Paul: " . . . But all fades before melange. A handful of spice will buy a home on Tupile. It cannot be manufactured, it must be mined on Arrakis. It is unique and it has true geriatric properties."
"Whoever had stockpiled melange could make a killing," Paul said. "Others would be out in the cold."
September 06
I'm now at page 459, the beginning of Part 3 (The Prophet).
I'm taking a pause to start on some other books I earmarked for September.
More review to follow, probably next week (September 27+)
Reading Dune brought back some good memories. The world building is incredible. I'm loving the words to live by that Paul recalls from his teachings when he needs some inspiration or guidance. I remember reading this for the first time when I was 13 years old and taking many of those words to heart. I guess it helped to form my own personal worldview.
September 25
Memorable paragraph:
She had quoted a Bene Dessert proverb to him: "When religion and politics travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way. Their movement becomes headlong - - faster and faster and faster. They put aside all thought of obstacles and forget that a precipice does not show itself to the man in a blind rush until it's too late."
