Dune: Deluxe Edition Hardcover – Illustrated, October 1, 2019

As a lifelong sci-fi fan, Frank Herbert’s Dune is nothing short of a masterpiece, and this edition solidifies its place as a must-read for anyone drawn to epic storytelling. From the moment I opened the book, I was swept into the intricate universe of Arrakis, where politics, religion, and ecology collide in a narrative that’s as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.Herbert’s world-building is unparalleled. The desert planet, with its spice-driven economy and Fremen culture, feels so vivid I could almost taste the sand. Paul Atreides’ journey from noble heir to messianic figure is gripping, layered with themes of power and destiny that linger long after the final page. What I loved most was how Herbert balances dense philosophical ideas—like ecological stewardship and the dangers of charisma—with pulse-pounding action, like the sandworm chases. The appendices and glossary in this edition were a fantastic bonus, adding depth to the lore without overwhelming the story.The prose is dense at times, but it rewards patience, especially for readers who enjoy diving into complex worlds. It’s not just a book—it’s an experience that demands to be savored.Whether you’re a sci-fi veteran or new to the genre, Dune is unmissable. It’s inspired my creative work and sparked countless late-night debates with friends. This edition, with its crisp print and helpful extras, is the perfect way to dive into Herbert’s vision. A true classic that deserves every star!

I received the paperback version of this book, and basically from the minute I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. HIGHLY addictive story and writing.From Page 1, I felt like I was immersed in the story. Maybe a bit uncomfortably at times in the beginning, since there's discussion of things and people I haven't heard of, but I felt immersed nonetheless. To help the (small) initial culture shock, Frank Herbert has given us a glossary at the end of the book.I was very quickly impressed by the level of thought that was put into the plot. Most characters are pretty much playing mental chess with each other, and Herbert does a great job of explaining their thoughts/reasoning where appropriate, yet leaving enough unsaid that there are still a lot of interesting plot twists.All in all, the book is so addictive we need a new program: D.A.R.E. to keep kids off Dune. 10/10, would recommend! Someone check me into a rehab before I buy the next book...

This book is often considered to be the best science fiction novel ever written and for good reason._Dune_ is a 1960s-era science fiction novel, published on the cusp of the Golden Age and the New Wave. Science Fiction of the time was in a transitional period influenced by the periodical _Galaxy_. SF at the time emphasized what some would call soft science fiction, a genre dealing with psychology, sociology, and sociopolitical commentary, with the bonus of one or more unique original ideas and a Sense of Wonder.Within these domains, _Dune_ hits every note a book of its genre could possibly hit and does so brilliantly. This is not anything like what passes for science fiction today, as the genre has been heavily-influenced by the Modernist movement and is now characterized by meandering fiction with long atmospheric narrative descriptions and no idea content other than politically-correct gender diversity, as is often found in a Gardner Dozois Year's Best anthology.This novel seems more nuanced and cogent to me today as an adult than it did when I first read it as a teen. The explorations of preternatural consciousness, mind control, economics, religion, and political intrigue are fascinating.But _Dune_ was also revolutionary in its use of what was then called Ecology (now called Environmental Science) as a hard science. This book is a high mark in the achievement of hard-science worldbuilding. After all these years it is still the most well-thought out and well-fleshed out worldview in the entire SF canon. Its complex, logical worldbuilding is presented in what was the then-prominent Science Fiction protocol of revealing the world little by little through contextual clues rather than inserting infodumps of description. As such it takes more work to read than a more modern book with infodumps. Readers who find the book boring aren't reading it with Science Fiction reading protocols and apparently most of them are too callow to resonate with some the book's political, economic, and sociocultural commentary.The genre was about ideas, not literary modernism, so you will not find the book filled with metaphors and literary allusions such as one might find in a Creative Writing MFA's workshopped short story, although Paul's story is clearly the Hero's Journey and he is obviously a Messiah figure as well as a military/political leader.The characters may not be as well-rounded as in a Dostoevsky novel but in case you missed it, the main character isn't really Paul. The main character is the planet Arrakis. Read this book with that in mind and you'll be amazed.For those expecting a Hollywood superhero comic-book style movie with action scenes and high-definition special effects, there is some of that in here too, but that is not the main point. This is a Frank Herbert novel of ideas, not a David Lynch film of striking visuals.