The Reading Challenge Group discussion

For May's Genre of Fantasy/Science-Fiction, we'll be reading Dune by Frank Herbert

(The tie-break in the polls has lead to The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood to be a buddy read this month, which can find here. I'd definitely recommend it!)

DUUUUUUUUUNE!

*hearts*

It's always seemed to be really long and daunting to me! I'm not 100% certain if I'll get round to it, with exams coming up and all that, but I'll definitely try!

What makes you love it so much, Faye?

Here's the review I wrote after reading it 2 years ago -

Here's something I never thought I'd say - I loved Dune! I think it fully deserves to be considered science fiction's magnum opus. None of the cliches seemed too cliche, as I usually find them in scifi, probably because Dune is the reason they became cliches in the first place. It was written and plotted so well and in such an engaging style that writers who have grown up reading it have tried to emulate it using their own ideas. Unfortunately, that hardly ever works - the original is almost always the best.

The amount of thought that must have gone into creating this world is astounding. I love that it's set so far into the future, yet it doesn't seem completely alien. Technology is more advanced, but not a big deal is made of that. Mankind has developed a certain degree of psychic ability, but it requires a lot of training to harness. We have colonized other worlds, but they're ruled in a medieval way that seems almost historical-fiction rather than futuristic. And the planet of Dune must have taken some serious creative juice to describe right down to the tiniest detail of its ecology. Absolutely amazing. Nothing was neglected - especially not the characters. They were all flesh and blood and leapt off the page right from the start. Herbert was a fantastic writer. I'm going to have to read the rest of the series now!

I also want to add that the Bene Gesserit mantra for overcoming fear is totally awesome -

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.

Awesome. And on a superficial level - it's great to finally understand so many geek culture references!

Btw, I rated it 4 stars on here, but I think it was 4.5 for some reason I can't remember.

Honestly, I don't even remember it being long. The world Herbert created was so detailed and so engaging that I got completely immersed in it and felt it ended way too soon. It was kind of a jolt to return to reality at the end, actually.

Definitely a tempting review... I'm really tempted to give it a go now!

I have actually never read this. I want to but when will I ever find the time? Sigh!

Ah Dune... I read it a few years ago only to appease the significant other, and ended up really liking it even though it wasn't my type of book. Definitely a must read.

I have the book and if I finish all my other reads I will start on it. Only problem is that I am starting my summer long read of War and Peace in May so I don't know how much of Dune I will be able to get too. I am hoping to read at least 30-50 pages a day in War and Peace and read other books as well so let's see what I can get through to get Dune started.

I never read Sci-fi until last year when I read Ender's Game. So far I have enjoyed every book in Sci-fi I have read. I am surprised I have never read this genre before that.

Laura, I was in the exact same position as you for Science-Fiction. Ender's Game was my first exploration of the genre, and it really sparked my interest!

I must admit, I am putting this off. I had the choice to start reading it, but picked something shorter and easier! I blame my widget telling me I'm failing! I will get round to it though!

I'm now around 40% into it and it's living up to all the hype. There's a good balance between plot, and description of the world Herbert has created. Part 1 does start off rather slow, but heats up quickly, and pushes you right into the action.

I'm finding it surprisingly easy to read, actually. I expected to be really struggling with all the new words and people and items, but that's not the case. Sure, there are times when I look at a word and completely forget what it means, but the situation always allows you to work out from the discussions or actions. The writing actually reminds me of A Game of Thrones. You can see that each chapter focuses on one character, and that makes all the characters really depth in a rather short space of time.

I'm definitely interested in seeing where it goes. Paul is a really interesting kid, and I'm intrigued by the mystery surrounding him. (Plus I really love his mother, Jessica)

Is anyone else reading this? :)

I haven't started it yet. I am trying to finish up 1984 by Orwell first.

I read Dune - the LOTR of sci-fi - recently and was floored by the accessible nature of an "alien" world where the centers of power and politics of the universe were fighting for control. The story is a simple survival tale and if you can put yourself in the heroes' shoes, you can understand the powerful draw of the story. It's dog-eat-dog in a grim intoxicating future.

Josh wrote: "I read Dune - the LOTR of sci-fi - recently and was floored by the accessible nature of an "alien" world where the centers of power and politics of the universe were fighting for control. The story..."

Well said, Josh.

Holly and Faye - the characters are brilliant. the Shakespearean tragedy of it all makes the story all that more powerful. I guess it does have a little Game of Thrones in it!

I got this from Wikipedia...

Herbert spent the next five years researching, writing, and revising a literary work that was eventually serialized in Analog magazine from 1963 to 1965 as two shorter works, Dune World and The Prophet of Dune.[8][9] Herbert dedicated his work "to the people whose labors go beyond ideas into the realm of 'real materials'—to the dry-land ecologists, wherever they may be, in whatever time they work, this effort at prediction is dedicated in humility and admiration." The serialized version was expanded, reworked, and submitted to more than twenty publishers, each of whom rejected it. The novel, Dune, was finally accepted and published by Chilton Books, a printing house better known for publishing auto repair manuals.

I am surprised to find it is that old. I read it in the summer of 1981, and it knocked my socks off. I agree with every word of Faye's excellent review. This is not so much a novel as an experience!

finally started reading this. completed 2 "chapters" and hoping to at least get to page 100 today. I hope as you say Renee that it is an experience!!

Am finally finished with the first part. It was rather slow, but hoping it speeds up in the 2nd and 3rd parts. Don't think I will finish before the end of the month but that is okay.

Laura, I think it definitely speeds up during the last 2 parts.

If anything, I think it speeds up too quickly in the last part, but that's just my opinion.

I hope you're enjoying it!

anyone still reading Dune in June?

I will be. I wasn't going to but everyone's conversation made me want to read it again. :)