(Revised April 7, 2005)

            I find it highly unlikely that anyone read my previous review for this book, but nevertheless I am revising it based on a later reading. I am doing this because I came to realize that I horribly undermined the book and it took a class on it and a re-read to make me see it.

            First of all I want to revise my earlier description. While none of it was particularly incorrect, I completely glazed over whole messiah aspect of the book, which makes up 80% of it.

            It remains true that Paul Atreides is the main character, though his family moves to Arrakis because the emperor commanded it. Arrakis, also called Dune, is the one and only planet that produces “Spice.” This spice is crucial to any and everyone, for not only is it addictive but it allows people who use it to expand their mind, as well as permit space travel between worlds. As a result the spice is viewed as the most precious commodity in the universe and Paul’s father, the Duke Leto Atredies has been assigned to govern the planet it rests on. This isn’t a vote of confidence either, in fact it’s putting Paul’s entire family in the cross hairs of every house in the galactic empire, most importantly the Harkonnens, the previous rulers of Arrakis.

            Now where I stumbled in my earlier review was in my lack of description about what Paul was, or what Paul became. This boy, who has received extensive training in mind, body, and soul, is essentially a super being. His mother, Jessica, is a Bene Gesserit, which is a sort of wizard like group of women whose goal is to breed the ultimate human, or what they call the Kwizach Haderach. Jessica believed she could bring this about in having Paul, even though she was strictly told to have a girl.

            Well Paul is something alright, and when he and his mother escape the downfall of Leto’s reign on Arrakis, they must fit into a Fremen (the native people) legend of a messiah. Paul of course fits this build and over time truly becomes it. In fact, near the end of the book, he is almost god like in his abilities.

            Okay well I have gone pretty in depth here, more so than any other reviews and this is precisely why I saw the need to revise my original. This book is such a wonderful combination of themes and story that no review can do it justice. Even now I could go on and on about the story and interwoven themes, but that is probably because I took a class that had it as required reading. Discussing a book openly really makes you see what is there.

            I must also admit that the book was beyond me the first time I read it, and it was filled with constant interruptions. In my original review I said the political scenes were confusing and boring, and yet this time through I was riveted and followed almost every word the Baron Harkonnen said. It is kind of ironic because I clearly stated that I didn’t think a re-read would help me understand anything better, well it did. It helped immensely. In fact, it would probably be wise to go back and read a lot of those books I reviewed, but unfortunately I just don’t have time or motivation for that.

            However that won’t stop me from revising this review. Dune is truly a classic and after this reread I can see why it is so well recommended and loved. It is true that for casual readers much of the inner workings and deeper themes may be non existent, but if you put your time and effort into Dune, you will find an experience unlike any other.

(Original September 28, 2004)

            Ah yes Dune, no doubt you have heard of it; most fans of Science Fiction have. But back before I read this book, I pretty much had no interest in it at all. I saw clips from the movies and thought the sand worms looked neat, but I never really took interest in the series.

            So how did I end up with this book? It was a gift to me from a teacher who I aided for in high school. I am still unsure why she bought me a book, I was doing the work for credits and there was no real reason to present me with anything else. But I can’t deny it was a nice thought (I would always read when she didn’t need my help).

            And so it took me a year or more to finally open the book up and I am pretty glad I did.

            Dune follows, for the most part, a young man named Paul Atreides. His family is moving off of their planet in hopes of harvesting a special spice on a desert planet for more profit.

            Paul isn’t happy about leaving, and for good reason. When he finally arrives he finds treachery, political scandals, and an environment that will kill you five times before it even looks at you.

            Early on an assassination attempt is made at Paul and his father, but unfortunately only Paul escapes with his life. As his family’s government is overthrown, Paul and his mother escape to the vast open desert. It would seem at this point that they would die in a matter of time from either the heat, starvation, or the giant sand worms that dwell beneath the surface.

            However Paul is resourceful, and after long travels they discover a clan of people who actually live in the desert and value water as more than gold. In order to survive, Paul must befriend the people and invariably regain what was taken from his family.

            Let me just say right off the bat that if you are expecting this book to be about fighting giant sand worms then you will be disappointed. I myself wondered how large of a role the sand worms would play in the book, but in reality they serve as more of a looming presence than the center of action packed battles.

            However what is here is good. I found that I didn’t mind that these worms weren’t taking center stage because the story as it is; is worth telling and reading. I especially enjoyed following Paul and his mother through the desert and their trials with the Fremen.

            A few problems do arise though. I noticed that a lot of events take place that really don’t make any sense. For example I remember a scene in the beginning of the book where Paul’s mother meets with one of the locals and the woman shows respect, or loyalty (I can’t remember why) by cutting her chest with a knife.

            I would be willing to admit that maybe I read this wrong, but it sure seemed like that, and didn’t make a lick of sense.

            There are a few places like this, and I also found the chapters where we saw through the eyes of the Baron Harkonnen to be rather on the boring side. This was due to the emphasis on the political portion of the book, and if you are like me, you want to see action, not political dialogue.

            But overall this book is worth reading for science fiction fans and fiction fans in general. Though I don’t quite understand why it is as highly regarded as it is; perhaps it could have something to do with breaking new ground, something a person from this day and age wouldn’t be able to appreciate as much as one from when it was released.