Review: Dune, by Frank Herbert

"Brilliant, stunning, better than sex."

- Anonymous

Dune (1965) [US] [UK], by Frank Herbert, is often hailed as the best science fiction novel of all time, and with good cause. While the world we discover in Dune is expanded upon in further installments to the series, it is the first book that captures the imagination and ruthlessly demands to be finished. From breathtaking scenery to insidious assasinations and plots for galactic domination, Dune has it all, and more.

The Setup

Set in a far distant future where feudalistic capitalism is the order of the day, the novel centers around the harrowing destiny of young Paul Atreides, heir designate of a galactic fiefdom and sworn enemy of the Harkonnens, a rival noble family. Herbert seamlessly meshes thousands of years of galactic history into an unbelievably compelling narrative where one's genetic parentage is determined by an obscure society of prescient 'witches', known as the Bene Gesserit. The tightly knit story sets a remarkable standard for what can only be described as epic science fiction, rife with political, social, and religious commentary.

My Take in Brief

Dune is to science fiction as The Hobbit (1936), by J.R.R. Tolkien, is to fantasy--well, as long as you substitute Worms for Dragons. As with many readers of Fantasy, I was introduced to the genre by the Hobbit, and after having read Dune, I feel like it was my first honest encounter with science fiction--this is what the genre should be like and what all authors should aspire towards. I can quite literally still taste the sand in my mouth from being stranded in the desert on Arrakis, the planet where the story unfolds. Without giving more away then you would discover in the first chapter, there are a couple of themes I want to quickly touch on, and hopefully, for those of you who have read the novel, get some feedback on as well.

The first of these themes is the control the Bene Gesserit, a secretive organization of female 'witches' whose powers derive from intense physical and mental conditioning, exert on the breeding of noble families. Given their name (Gesserit = Jesuit = Jesus?), it is not difficult to view them as a Messianic cult devoted to creating the perfect vessel for their savior, and so hasten his arrival. For those of you familiar with R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing trilogy, Kelhus would, for all intents and purposes, not be out of place playing the role of Paul Atreides. The training and upbringing of the two protagonists are remarkably similar: they are both hyper-intelligent products of genetic manipulation and they both harness religion, loosely defined, to their own ends. The parallels between the two and the books don't stop there, but my discussion of them does for fear of getting off track!

My general infatuation with Dune has seriously impaired my ability to describe it to you; I feel like a besotted teenager unable to do anything but sigh and think loving thoughts. What lies beyond this haze is a deep appreciation for the staggering amount of research that must have gone into the novel and the rest of the series. Mr. Herbert's knowledge of ecology, religion, and economics is instrumental to the success of the book. The harsh dessert environment of Dune plays a central role in the plot by contrasting the scarcity of water, the most valuable resource on the planet, with the abundance of spice, which is the most valuable resource in the rest of the galaxy--as well as the simultaneous source and byproduct of political power (*cough* oil). Today's reader will in no way be shocked to learn that the natives of Arakkis share many cultural traits with Islam. Prescient statement describing the clash of civilizations, or a lucky shot in the dark, I leave it up to you to decide.

I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed this book, and for the moment it deserves the top spot on my personal top ten list--that might indeed change after the book has had time to settle in my mind, but for the moment that is where it is going to stay. I have made slightly snarky comments about how important it was to read a couple of the books I have posted here in the past, but this time around I absolutely mean it, no snarky comment included. Read this book or forever be in ignorance of what science fiction can achieve; it is not the most original dish out there, but any five star restaurant would be honored to serve it.

Ratings and Links

Overall Rating: 5.5/5

What is this you ask?! No, it is not a mathematical paradox that will shortly destroy the world but the showing of appreciation for a book that was, for lack of a better word, amazing. Whoever wrote the anonymous quote at the top sure knew what she was talking about! There are an infinity of reviews of Dune floating around, some recent and some not, with a couple being more detailed then others. For a convenient centralized resource you may choose to click here, but be warned, this site is known to lie.

Piqued Your Interest?

You may obviously ignore my recommendation and proceed with your life as is, never regretting your blissful ignorance of one of the masterpieces of epic science fiction, or you may choose to grab destiny by the horns, scream "FREEDOMMMMMMM" at the top of your lungs, and read Dune the way it was meant to be read. That didn't make much sense... but check out the 40th Anniversary Edition of Dune.

Review: Hyperion, by Dan Simmons

     Hyperion (1989), by Dan Simmons, won the Hugo award in 1990 and is the first book in the Hyperion Cantos Series. It is a truly masterful work of science fiction, done in the format of the Canterbury Tales, that sets a new standard for the genre.

The Setup

     Hyperion is structured around the intersection of seven different stories by individuals on a pilgrimage to save humanity. Legend has it that one wish is granted, and all the others are impaled on the Tree of Pain, to suffer for the rest of eternity. There is no central character in this book, as the story is weighted equally between the different pilgrims. Their past relationship with Hyperion and the story of how they were chosen for the pilgrimage make up the bulk of the book, and what great stories they are.
     From poet to detective, every account is genuinely moving, and is intended to shed light, little by little, on the mystery of Hyperion and the Shrike, a bladed and mysterious monstrosity from the future. Dan Simmons' visceral realism and prodigious story telling ability make Hyperion, by far, my favorite book this year--incorporating adventure, mystery, religion, and science, in an educated and highly intelligent narrative gives Hyperion a texture and body that any connoisseur of science fiction can not help but love. Sip slowly, this heady vintage runs out all too quickly. 

My Take in Brief

     I absolutely loved Hyperion, and have prostrated myself at the altar of Dan Simmons prodigious penmanship. It is truly rare to find such a complete and enticing science fiction novel that manages to remain original, provocative, and captivating without going over the edge of the believable. The fractal "Canterbury" perspective and setting combine to give the novel a historical texture that remains focused enough to provide the thrills and reader side revelatory quality of a detective novel. You get it, I am a Simmons convert--the book catered to everything I love about science fiction without falling for any of the typical pitfalls. Read Hyperion slowly and thoroughly; hoard its precious words and discover a gem of science fiction that deserves an honored place on your bookshelf. 

     Without revealing too much, I would like to add that Hyperion is a courtship with truth that is left unfulfilled; secrets are whispered and promises given, but climax remains evanescent. I strongly urge you to pick up The Fall of Hyperion if you are going to tackle this series, if not you will be left tearing out your hair until you can lay your hands on the next book. Ultimately, the first book is a titillating tease that reveals everything without giving enough away. Think on that for a while!

Ratings and Links

Amazon: 4.3/5

B&N: 4/5

My Rating: 4.75/5

Check out Dan Simmons official site for cool artwork and more.

Apparently Warner Bros. has the rights to this and announced in January that they plan to make a movie out of the series. Don't butcher it!

Piqued Your Interest?

Do it. You won't regret reading Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos). Best science fiction series ever? Quite possibly. 

Review: The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin

    The Left Hand of Darkness (1968), by Ursula K. LeGuin won the Nebula Award for Best Novel, and is widely considered to be one of the 'great' works of science fiction. Original, provocative, and ultimately captivating, this is definitely a must read.

The Setup

    Meet Genly Ai, friendly alien representative of the galactic federation of worlds, sent to offer the planet Gethen a cozy little membership plan; unfortunately, the different rulers of the planet don't quite see it that way. As with most great works of fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness operates on a number of different levels. The sociopolitical fabric of LeGuin's world is both complex and imaginative, threading in themes such as gender perception, duty, and truth.
    As a thought experiment Le Guin's work is a remarkable achievement that successfully envisions the long term effects of a predominantly asexual and genderless society on cultural development. Principally of interest is the fact that inhabitants can either be the male or female during their monthly 'arousal phase'. Part anthropological exploration, part real politik, with a little adventure thrown in to stick it all together, The Left Hand of Darkness is a deeply intellectual work whose very purpose is to push the bounds of imagination.

My Take in Brief

    The first thing I need to throw out there is that I consider this book to be a subtle manifesto on the perception and role of women in society. Remembers that it is Mrs. LeGuin, and not Mr. LeGuin, let me give you line that stuck with me:

They tended to be stolid, slovenly, heavy, and to my eyes effeminate--not in the sense of delicacy, ect., but in just the opposite sense: a gross, bland fleshiness, a bovinity without point or edge. I had for the first time on Winter a certain feeling of being a man among women, or among eunuchs.

It is pretty bold, in my opinion, to characterize the feminine as such, and generally exemplary of LeGuin's quietly implicit treatment of gender perception in society. While the book deals much more blatantly and resolutely with ideas such as communism, mysticism, and patriotism, gender remains the ever present and ever important connecting element. While overt analysis of the subject is generally avoided, LeGuin lets slip (in the voice of Ai) that the planet Genthen has never know war because it lacks a clear male female sexual dichotomy and the consequent social dynamics. Regardless, every line was provocative food for thought as it required LeGuin to not only build a totally unique world, but narrate from the perspective of an alien from a different world, with radically different social dynamics, values, and beliefs. It takes a true master to make that work, and work it did.
    That said, classic or not, this was not my cup of tea. Intellectually, I understand how this is ranked among some of the greatest science fiction novels, but on a personal level it just didn't work. While the prose generally flows clean and sweet, I sometimes found it to be heavy handed and halting. It is difficult to weave a heavily anthropological narrative and still keep me interested on a level that isn't purely intellectual, and in that sense I did not enjoy The Left Hand of Darkness. Nonetheless, I still think that it is worth reading, and I am glad that I did so. If anything, it hammered home how subjective our understanding of the world is, and how the questions we most want answered are those we should never be given the answers to.

Ratings and Links

Amazon: 4/5
B&N: 3.8/5
My Rating: 3.2/5

A very candid interview with Le Guin at the LA Times that explains a lot about the book (wish I had read it before I wrote my review).
Ursula K. Le Guin's Home Page, failing me finding her blog. Does she have one?!

Piqued Your Interest?

The Left Hand of Darkness aches to be read, it deserves to be read, it demands to be read. Read it, because failing to do so will make it seem like the only reason you read science fiction is for the scripted action sequences.

Giveaway

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