Jeff Koeppen's Reviews > Dune

***2024 re-read in advance of the Dune: Part Two coming to theaters this weekend. Just as great the second time around - while there were no surprises I did pick up on more details and now understand the complex world of Dune better than when I first read this in 2020. I agree with the masses who state that this is the greatest science fiction novel of all time. My original review follows. ***


In 1965 a baby was born who eleven years later read his first science fiction book and became hooked on the genre. That same year Frank Herbert published Dune which is now considered by many to be the greatest science fiction novel ever written. So basically it took that 'ol baby fifty-five years to finally get around to reading the most admired novel of his beloved genre. What?! I can't tell you how many times (hundreds?) I walked past used copies of Dune and its sequels at Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Bookstore and never once plunked down the few dollars to own a copy. I'm bummed that I didn't pick this up decades ago but am glad I finally got around to reading it!

There isn't anything left to be said about how grand and epic Herbert's tale is. The world building is the best I've ever read. The characters are fully fleshed out and unforgettable. It's amazing that this all came out of a single person's mind. After being overwhelmed initially by all the new terms and the complexity of the universe Dune is set in, I gradually fell into a good rhythm with my reading as I consulted the very helpful thirty-two page Terminology of the Imperium section. Everything you need to know is in there. I've heard so much about Dune over the years and I’m happy to report that it lives up to its reputation as one of the all-time greats.

What I also thought was great about the novel were the four appendixes and the Cartographic Notes. The appendixes take a deeper dive in to: the ecology of the planet Arrakis (Dune), the religion of Dune, the motives and purposes of the powerful training sect Bene Gesserit, and excerpts of the Nobel Houses of the Imperium. This is all great information which adds even more detail to the worlds and characters of Dune. I was going to read them prior to starting the novel but quickly found out that they contain spoilers so they are rightfully located at the end of the book.

I bought the 2010 Penguin Ace premium edition which also featured a fantastic Afterword by Frank's son, Brian Herbert. If you love Dune and your copy does not have this, you owe it to yourself to find this. Brian writes about how Frank came up with the ideas which lead to Dune, the crazy amount of research his dad put in, who some of the characters were based on, and a number of other things Dune. Frank studied and prepared notes from 1957 to 1961, and wrote and rewrote the novel from 1961 to 1965! The task of getting it published was difficult and another story which Brian recounts. Also in the Afterword, Brian talks about what it was like growing up with Frank and Frank's love for his wife, Beverly, who Lady Jessica Atreides was modeled after. I thought this Afterword was a great way to wind down from the fantastic experience Dune was.