The 1st three books of Dune.

A must read.

Легенда! Затянуло с первой страницы, и до последней. Слушал аудиокнигу в машине, радовался пробкам, что можно подольше послушать:)

First one 5 stars. Second book 3 stars. 3 book 2 stars.

My overall impression of the trilogy: it´s a very interesting story with many interesting subjects (Bene Gesserit, prescience and the traps of seeing the future, terraforming of the planet Dune and many others).
The first book was much easier to read. It contains more action and all introduced parts (Bene Gesserit, Atreides, Harkonnen, Emperor) are active on the stage and it is a pleasure to see, how complicated the Dune politic is. Two following books have more philosophical and religious considerations, esspecially the third one. Some thought of the author are difficult to follow. In the end there were some themes and characters that weren't followed up and didn't come into play.
Stil, I enjoyed it very much. The whole idea of the Dune Universe, terraforming and goverment problems is very exciting.

The spice must flow.

The latter novels did not have the clarity of vision and meaning that the first does

I plan on reviewing Dune Messiah, not this edition.

I don't normally indulge in saga-fiction like this, but if you're going to dive into one this is the one you should take the time to understand. Unreal and unpredictable (b/c the cultures are complex), it is amazing that the author could foresee how computers would evolve and influence humanity.

To the uninitiated the Dune universe and its characters, plots and intrigues might seem inaccessible. And perhaps that is fair comment. The continuously shifting allegiances, uncovering of secrets and see-sawing fulcrum of power can be intimidating. Accompanied by Herbert's rather staid prose, Dune is not recommended as a primer for the novice or the curious, however, those willing to persist will be rewarded many-fold. That is not to say that Dune is difficult to read - it isn't. Dune is the reason why Sci-fi exists. It is the most magnificent theatre of the fantastic, the grandiose and the epic, whilst still retaining it's integrity.

Sci-fi is also a potent vehicle for social commentary. Not bound by the constraints of other forms of fiction, Sci-fi has a virtual blank canvas upon which to paint its social allegory, allowing it unprecedented scope and accuracy. Frank Herbert makes full use of these faculties and delivers a typically honest interrogation of both temporal and existential issues such as imperialism, globalisation (universalisation?), organised religion, free will vs predestination, and fundamentalism, amongst others. Not only that but Herbert pioneered planetary ecology in creating an ecosystem for Arrakis, an ecosystem that undergoes some drastic transformations during the course of the book, with remarkable accuracy have reported many ecologists.

But most incredibly of all, Herbert somehow created an allegory that pre-dated its subject by almost three decades, an allegory that is still as pertinent now as it was 20 years ago. Without giving too much away, the world of Dune (trilogy) and everything that takes place in it can be viewed as a direct analogy for Western, specifically US, involvement in the Middle East from Gulf War I hence, with particular reference to the conquest for oil (melange/spice). The Fremen culture is closely modelled on Arab culture, even speaking practically pure Arabic.

But what freaks me out, and many Arab readers, is that some of the Arabic words and concepts employed by Herbert in Dune did not become part of mainstream Arabic culture until the 21st century (the first book was published in 1965)!

Obviously I am a big fan - Dune was the book that eventually tilted me towards the Sci-fi windmill - but I believe this book deserves recognition as a great work of fiction, not just Science Fiction.

Прослушал на фоне шума вокруг фильма (еще не смотрел). Начало показалось немного резким, без подводок. Местами очень детально, местами резкие переходы. Сергей Чонишвили хорош. Понравилось.

4.7 ⭐

Impeccable world building in part one. Bit of an extended epilog to the first part in part two. Ending in an awesome part three. Will definitely continue the series past the great trilogy of this iconic sci-fi classic.

DUNE (rating 5/5)
I always assumed this would be the one ‘must read’ novel that I’d have to consider ‘aint got time fo dat.’ But the 2021 movie prompted an interest.
My wife and I read copies of tis simultaneously. It is such a good story (it goes further than the 2021 film. Do NOT watch the 1984 version!)

•t"Does the prophet see the future or does he see a weakness, a fault or cleavage that he may shatter with words or decisions as a diamond-cutter shatters his gem with a blow of a knife?"
•t"Beginnings are such delicate times.”
•tis shocking to find how many people do not believe they can learn, and how many more believe learning to be difficult."
•t“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. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” - This iconic quote is the Litany Against Fear
•t"Survival is the ability to swim in strange water."
•tGlossary of terms: Dar al-hikman ~ a School of religious translation or interpretation.
….


DUNE MESSIAH (rating 5/5)
This sequel is better than the first. Plot moves faster and had all the spiciness that GRRM uses to flavour his ASOIAF.
•t“I told him that to endure oneself may be the hardest task in the universe.” – Hayt/Duncan, the ghola.
•t“I’ve heard enough sad histories of gods and messiahs.” – Paul
.. also..
•t“Truth suffers from too much analysis. -Ancient Fremen Saying”
“Empires do not suffer emptiness of purpose at the time of their creation. It is when they have become established that aims are lost and replaced by vague ritual.” -Words of Muad'dib by Princess Irulan.”
•t“If you need something to worship, then worship life - all life, every last crawling bit of it! We're all in this beauty together!”
“Constitutions become the ultimate tyranny," Paul said. "They’re organized power on such a scale as to be overwhelming. The constitution is social power mobilized and it has no conscience. It can crush the highest and the lowest, removing all dignity and individuality. It has an unstable balance point and no limitations.”

…

CHILDREN OF DUNE (rating 4/5)
There is plenty of weirdness in this novel. As readers we get attached to, or repulsed by, the characters we encounter. So there is always a sense of disappointment when they do not meet up to expectations.
The plot is much slower, and the internal monologues of philosophy or calculated manoeuvring fill most of the novel.
Herbert’s descriptions of the dunes is captivating: “It was difficult to take his gaze away from the sands, the dunes—the great emptiness. Here at the edge of the sand lay a few rocks, but they led the imagination outward into the winds, the dust, the sparse and lonely plants and animals, dune merging into dune, desert into desert.”
Good story, but I am just wondering if I should proceed with the fourth book if the quality begins to diminish.

Cool quotes:
•t“He possessed inherited memories which could inflict him with profound nostalgia for that beautiful planet where House Atreides had ruled.” (p29)
•t“Beyond the oasis, he could see in this failing light the land Fremen called "The Emptiness" – the land where nothing grows, the land never fertile.” (p31)
•t“Ignorance has its advantages. A universe of surprises is what I pray for!” – Leto II (p97)
•t“Good government never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those who administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders.” (p154)
•t“There’s no real mystery about this at the moment. This is what we want now. It may prove wrong later, but we’ll correct that when we come to it.” The full quote is: “Above all else, the mentat must be a generalist, not a specialist. It is wise to have decisions of great moment monitored by generalists. Experts and specialists lead you quickly into chaos. They are a source of useless nit-picking, the ferocious quibble over a comma. The mentat-generalist, on the other hand, should bring to decision-making a healthy common sense. He must not cut himself off from the broad sweep of what is happening in his universe. He must remain capable of saying: “There’s no real mystery about this at the moment. This is what we want now. It may prove wrong later, but we’ll correct that when we come to it.” The mentat-generalist must understand that anything which we can identify as our universe is merely part of larger phenomena. But the expert looks backward; he looks into the narrow standards of his own specialty. The generalist looks outward; he looks for living principles, knowing full well that such principles change, that they develop.” (p232)
•t“Is your religion real when it costs you nothing and carries no risk? Is your religion real when you fatten upon it? Is your religion real when you commit atrocities in its name?” – The Preacher (p236)
•t“There’s no mystery about a human life. It’s not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” – Leto II (p.282)
•t“The spirit of Muad'Dib is more than words, more than the letter of the law which arises in his name. Muad'Dib must always be that inner outrage against the complacently powerful, against the charlatans and the dogmatic fanatics. It is that inner outrage which must have its say because Muad'Dib taught us above all others, that humans can endure only in a fraternity of social justice. -- The Fedaykin Compact” (p.338)