I’m not a big reader of science-fiction, generally. I haven’t read many of the classic sci-fi novels that it seems like everyone who was a nerd in high school has read. (I was definitely a nerd, just of a different sort.) So Dune is a bit of a departure for me. But I loved both of Denis Villeneuve’s movies, especially Part Two. Therefore, I decided I would try to get caught up on the books before the next film in the series. The problem with doing that, of course, is that it means reading a book where, assuming the movie is a faithful adaptation, you know what is going to happen.
Maybe that explains why, even during parts I was enjoying, Frank Herbert’s Dune felt like a real chore. I’m never happy when a book takes me longer to read than I think it should, so the three weeks I spent on Dune really tried my patience. There were times where a plot point that was thrilling in the movies took up page after page of turgid dialogue and uninspiring prose, to the point where I couldn’t believe that Denis Villeneuve was able to do what he did with the material.
There are a lot of interesting themes present in Dune, mainly about power and how society is structured around it. I was particularly intrigued by the suggestion that the religious fervor of the Fremen population had been implanted by the Bene Gesserits in order for them to exploit it for their own protection. Herbert also deserves credit for creating such complex, intriguing characters. Whether the reader is captivated or repulsed by Paul Atreides, there is no doubt he is compelling.
Perhaps I’ll have more luck with Dune Messiah, which I hope to read before the film adaptation arrives in theaters.