Dune
Overview: Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family—and would bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.
Pages: 544 Pages
Writers: Frank Herbert
Recommendations: A Game of Thrones By George R. R. Martin
After owning this book for what feels like an eternity, I finally decided to crack it open and give it a read. Let me tell you, it’s set in a galaxy where an emperor rules over a bunch of planets, each controlled by noble houses. House Atreides gets the short end of the stick when they’re assigned to oversee Arrakis, a desert planet famous for its spice production. This place is no walk in the park – it’s got massive worms that can gobble up mining operations, scarce water supplies, and endless stretches of sand dunes.
The story starts off at a snail’s pace, and I’ll admit, I almost threw in the towel a few times. There are some sections that feel like they’re just there to remind you how bleak everything is. But I soldiered on, and boy, am I glad I did. Despite some parts feeling like they were missing, the sci-fi elements in this book are top-notch and truly make it a classic.
The last quarter of the book is where things really pick up. I couldn’t tear myself away, even though it still felt like some action-packed scenes were left out. The final chapters left me craving more, but I think I’ll need a breather before diving back in.