Dune - Frank Herbert

[goodreads]

Title: Dune
Author: Frank Herbert
Genre: Sci-fi / fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook ~21 hours
Date read: October, 2009

This novel tells the sweeping tale of a desert planet called Arrakis, the focus of an intricate power struggle in a byzantine interstellar empire. Arrakis is the sole source of Melange, the "spice of spices." Melange is necessary for interstellar travel and grants psychic powers and longevity, so whoever controls it wields great influence.

The troubles begin when stewardship of Arrakis is transferred by the Emperor from the Harkonnen Noble House to House Atreides. The Harkonnens don't want to give up their privilege, though, and through sabotage and treachery they cast young Duke Paul Atreides out into the planet's harsh environment to die. There he falls in with the Fremen, a tribe of desert dwellers who become the basis of the army with which he will reclaim what's rightfully his. Paul Atreides, though, is far more than just a usurped duke. He might be the end product of a very long-term genetic experiment designed to breed a super human; he might be a messiah. His struggle is at the center of a nexus of powerful people and events, and the repercussions will be felt throughout the Imperium.

I first started reading Dune in February 2007, but got stuck about 70-100 pages into it, and left it hanging. I always planned to finish it someday though, but just couldn't bring myself to pick it up again. Finally, last month I felt that it was time to finish it, and as I'd just found it as an audiobook, I thought I would try that way of getting through it instead.

Honestly, I don't think it's the book most suited for audio presentation, and I would probably have liked it better if I'd read it rather than listened to it, but this way I got through it, discovered that I enjoyed it, and am therefore more likely to pick it up again at a later stage.

I enjoyed all the characterizations and the intrigues. I did think that perhaps Paul was a bit of a Gary Stu in that he was constantly able to do everything he set out to, and that the ending was a bit abrupt, but when looking at the big picture, that didn't bother me. I appreciated that Frank Herbert didn't pull any punches, but killed off people I hadn't expected him to.

I got the audiobook from Audible.co.uk. It was read by (I think) 5 different people, which worked well, once I got far enough into the book to know the voices and tell them apart. Until then I would rather have had just one narrator and more of "he said", "she said".

But definitely a great book, and I'd recommend it to others who enjoy a good fantasy/sci-fi mix.

Comments

[nachtblume.livejournal.com]

I'm from the 100 project community.

I did the audio on this one as well. My husband owns a copy, but we couldn't locate it, so I opted to just to just listen to it.

I couldn't agree with you more that it was not suited for audio presentation. I think the version I listened to had the same voice actors for more than one character. I found that very confusing.

[bogormen.livejournal.com]

Welcome! And thank you for introducing yourself :)

I would find that confusing as well. Either have one narrator, or find different voice actors for all the characters.