These are my impressions on Frank Herbert's Dune as I read.
2 Apr 2011
I have reached as far as Paul's first visit to the Spice mining areas. So far the writing has been crisp. The writer gave away the identity of the traitor where others would have milked it for a surprise. It is as if he is telling "This is trivial. I have bigger things lined up further down". The descriptions of Arrakis are short and just as much required for the scene. All the characters brought on "screen" are important. There is no filling pages with bit parts and description of palace architecture like Robert Jordan. I can feel the weight on Duke Leto's shoulders. So many things in the air and an impending attack. I want to know how Paul fits into the local prophecies. Back to reading then.
4 Apr 2011
I have finished book 1. The betrayal is done. I am still trying to digest the last couple of chapters. It feels like heavy reading when I did not expect it to. The interaction of Thufir Hawat with the Fremen was very interesting and puzzling. I am still trying to figure out the Fremen side of the conversation. Paul's interaction with his mother is too cold for my taste. The mother-son bond seems to be non-existent for Paul. Perhaps this is a part of the journey to become the saviour.
8 Apr 2011
I have finished reading the whole book. I am left with mixed feelings. The most important part of the book is the planet Arrakis. The trickle of information about the planet, its people and its ecosystem kept my interest up when reading the book. The plot was fairly standard. A wronged prince finds followers in unexpected places and regains his inheritance. If set outside Arrakis, the plot would be unremarkable. The pace of the book which I appreciated in the beginning felt hurried by the end. On first impressions, it appeared as if Paul and his mother Jessica are the only two characters that are well developed. After thinking it through, Baron Harkonnen, The Emperor ,Feyd Rautha and the off-worlders are also well developed. Their motivations are clear. It is only the Fremen characters that are dwarfed in comparison to Paul and Jessica. The way Paul gains acceptance as the saviour among Fremen is covered in too few pages. The political games in book 1 were interesting. In summary, Did I like the book? Yes. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it some one? May be.
2 Apr 2011
I have reached as far as Paul's first visit to the Spice mining areas. So far the writing has been crisp. The writer gave away the identity of the traitor where others would have milked it for a surprise. It is as if he is telling "This is trivial. I have bigger things lined up further down". The descriptions of Arrakis are short and just as much required for the scene. All the characters brought on "screen" are important. There is no filling pages with bit parts and description of palace architecture like Robert Jordan. I can feel the weight on Duke Leto's shoulders. So many things in the air and an impending attack. I want to know how Paul fits into the local prophecies. Back to reading then.
4 Apr 2011
I have finished book 1. The betrayal is done. I am still trying to digest the last couple of chapters. It feels like heavy reading when I did not expect it to. The interaction of Thufir Hawat with the Fremen was very interesting and puzzling. I am still trying to figure out the Fremen side of the conversation. Paul's interaction with his mother is too cold for my taste. The mother-son bond seems to be non-existent for Paul. Perhaps this is a part of the journey to become the saviour.
8 Apr 2011
I have finished reading the whole book. I am left with mixed feelings. The most important part of the book is the planet Arrakis. The trickle of information about the planet, its people and its ecosystem kept my interest up when reading the book. The plot was fairly standard. A wronged prince finds followers in unexpected places and regains his inheritance. If set outside Arrakis, the plot would be unremarkable. The pace of the book which I appreciated in the beginning felt hurried by the end. On first impressions, it appeared as if Paul and his mother Jessica are the only two characters that are well developed. After thinking it through, Baron Harkonnen, The Emperor ,Feyd Rautha and the off-worlders are also well developed. Their motivations are clear. It is only the Fremen characters that are dwarfed in comparison to Paul and Jessica. The way Paul gains acceptance as the saviour among Fremen is covered in too few pages. The political games in book 1 were interesting. In summary, Did I like the book? Yes. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it some one? May be.
