Dune Book Review

Dune Book Review Jon Young

Dune, by Frank Herbert, is set in a futuristic time in which the most important and most widely used form of currency in the universe is a substance called spice. Spice is a renewable resource that exists on only one single planet, a planet called Arrakis.
The story begins on a planet called Caladan, a planet abundant in all things, water included. The main character is a young man of about 15 years old named Paul Atriedes, son of the Duke Leto Atriedes. At this point in Dune, the emperor of the universe has recently asked Duke Leto to take up the fiefdom of the planet Arrakis.
Arrakis is a harsh planet whose most valuable resource is water. Water is everything on Arrakis, and the inhabitants of this harsh and desolate world learn to conserve all water possible. The natives of Arrakis, known as the Fremen, have lived in the deserts for millennia and have created many things to aid in one’s survival in the severe climate. One such creation is known as a stillsuit which is a suit that reclaims the body’s excreted waters for reingestion; everyone on Arrakis has one and must wear it out in the desert if the wish to survive.
The antagonists in Dune are the Harkonnens, a ruthless family lead by the Baron, a terrifyingly obese man who wishes the emperorship and the rule of the universe for his family. They are the ones who founded and “tamed” Arrakis in the beginning for no other reason than the extraction of the spice. The Baron plans to remove the Atriedes family with help from the Emperor’s Sardaukar. His plans take effect as the Atriedes settle into their new home on Arrakis. This plot has many twists and turns and makes it an exceptionally good book; I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As the book progressed from beginning to end, the necessity of water became an all too pressing matter. The entire planet of Arrakis is desert and thus no visible water to be seen. Yet the author, Frank Herbert, expertly added in many many images of water in a place where none existed. As with the worms below the sand, the way the sand crested over them as they swam beneath the surface, “It reminded Paul of the way a big fish disturbed the water when swimming just under the surface.” (Dune 118)
I believe that this book is one of excellence and I definitely recommend it to fantasy and non-fantasy lovers alike. The imagery and storytelling are wonderful. The way it is written in the third person gives you the ability to understand more of the basics in a more definite light. I really liked the book and you should read it.