“I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Dune has so far sold millions of copies and is widely regarded as the best work in science fiction, and the Star Wars universe would not exist without it. Frank Herbert‘s Dune will stay as a politically significant sci-fi fantasy from the Age of Entertainment.
Despite winning the Nebula and Hugo awards, the greatest-known science fiction prizes, Dune did not become an instant financial hit. Its fan base grew during the 1960s and 1970s, spreading among squats, groups, labs, and studios wherever the idea of a worldwide revolution sparked interest. Many believe it to be the finest work in the sci-fi genre fifty years later, and cultural influences are great to this day.
With the films Dune Part 2 (2024) and Dune (2021) being major critical and commercial successes, there is no better opportunity to read this enormously popular cultural milestone. There’s no denying that Dune is a sci-fi giant that helped mold the genre as we know it. It can be an avid reading pleasure for anyone who is completely new to these books.
Beginning of The Epic Saga
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune tells the tale of young Paul Atreides, son of the noble Atreides dynasty burdened with ruling a hostile world wherein the sole thing of worth is the “spice” melange, a stimulant capable of prolonging life and increasing consciousness. Melange is something worth dying for, coveted throughout the known world.
After House Atreides gets betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family sends him on a path to a fate beyond what he could have imagined. And as he grows into the extraordinary man referred to as Muad’Dib, he is going to discover the world’s greatest and unachievable desire.
The theme of the books
The book’s action is centered on a power struggle between the various Great Houses in an intergalactic civilization. The Emperor transfers Arrakis, a spice-producing planet that delivers immense riches, from the Harkonnens to the Atreides, bringing the conflict between the two groups to the forefront. As the novel frequently mentions, there are “plots within plots within plots” as the two households scheme and set traps for each other. One complicating element is that Paul Atreides, the Duke’s son, appears to have been prophesized by the Fremen. They are the inhabitants of Arrakis, who have been enslaved by other houses pillaging their planet for spice.
Dune establishes a direct link between political, military, cultural, economic, and environmental dominance and human misery. Throughout the story, individuals who wish to maintain power have no way to accomplish it without harming others. The Fremen culture represents the belief that humans and nature shape one another.
For the Fremen, Arrakis’ desert serves as an enemy, teacher, and deity. They must continually test their survival to stay alive in their waterless environment. This fight against nature teaches them to be braver and more resilient than mankind in more hospitable worlds.
Computers have been banned in the Dune world, but human brains have evolved to fill the void. These traits and remarkable abilities indicate that the human race will continue to progress and evolve.
Dune Books: Best Reading Order
So, if anyone is completely new to the world of Dune, they may have no clue what kind of stories exist in those books. There are 21 novels in total, although not each of these focuses on Paul Atreides and his tale.
So one may be wondering which books contain the main theme to decide which ones to read. What are the main books?
The six major books in that series are: 1. Dune, 2. Dune Messiah, 3. Children of Dune, 4. God Emperor of Dune, 5. Heretics of Dune, and 6. Dune: Chapterhouse in that series.
All are great, in most people’s judgment (and several of them have been true masterpieces, in particular Dune Messiah, along with the first book).
So why the delay? Immerse yourself in the world of Dune today!
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Writer,
Sadi Reza
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE