When I decided to read Dune by Frank Herbert, I didn't realize it was, in fact, a series. Good for me, because despite the slowness, the stilted dialogue and robotic characters (with the exception of Alia), I want to read more.
Being that this book was first published in 1965, I thought I might have a hard time. I knew the book was considered revolutionary for its contribution to modern science fiction. I knew that it was compared to Tolkien (it seems everyone is compared to Tolkien), and that was about all I knew. I'd seen the movie when I was younger, but remembered very little of it other than the vision of the worms and Paul's impossibly blue eyes.
I was intrigued by the idea of the "race consciousness" that invades Paul, giving him his prescience and visions of the future. It aligns with Carl Jung's collective unconscious, especially in its aspect as a historical trove of knowledge. Just think if you and I could tap into that! We wouldn't have to start out as idiots, and spend our lives learning.
The world-building was excellent. I was transported to Arrakis and felt at home among the Fremen (I, too, live in the desert, though not as harsh, and unfortunately, void of sandworms). The political machinations were straight-forward and provided a plot-propelling force of conflict. The characters fell a little flat for me, and the relationship between Jessica and Paul didn't come across as genuine.
One thing that really bothered me was the passage of time. I recognize that time jumps were necessary to the plot, however the execution of those jumps had me fumbling to figure out what had happened. From the ceremony and subsequent orgy where Jessica is confirmed as the new Reverend Mother, two years pass in a few pages. Paul and Chani have a son during this time. Alia is born. Many changes occur on Arrakis leading toward the final showdown between the Baron and Paul (and the Emporer and the Emporer-na). I would have liked to see more transitory statements or blatant backstory, rather than just dropping us two years into the future like nothing. Perhaps the author had written some of this and decided to cut it out. Who knows. All I can say it was a huge disconnect from the narrative, and as a reader it was difficult to continue. But continue I did (I'm usually no quitter).
And I'm very glad I did. The last hundred or so pages I could not put the book down; in fact, I read for two hours straight until it was finished. I needed to know what would happen to Paul. If he would have his revenge or end up dead. I even missed my bedtime on a school night to find out.
Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
J. L. Dodd
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
― Paul Atrides, Dune
"Without change something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.”
― Duke Leto Atrides, Dune
"Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.”
― Princess Irulan, Dune
Links
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3634639-dune
No comments:
Post a Comment