Book Cover

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 me I will turn to see fear's path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

# Review

This book is massive, and not only in page numbers, but also in the depth of the story and the world building. At the core, the story is about Paul Atreides, heir to a galactic noble family which has been forced to rule the desert planet Arrakis, an inhospital desert world which lacks and thus values water. The main industry on Arrakis is the mining of "spice" an extremely valuable drug used to extend consciousness and one of the most sought-after ingredients in the galactic empire.

The story is a mix between the inter-dynastic turmoil of Game of Thrones and the futuristic warfare of Warhammer 40,000. The plot is filled with intrigue and action, intermixed with the teachings of the mysterious female-only "Bene Gesserit" sect which is loosely based on Zen philosophy, stressing acts such as meditation and abstracting from emotions. The story also includes many fantasy fiction themes, such as fate, prophecies, and chivalry.

The narration is pretty incredible, Herbert retells the story both as an external and internal narrator; the reader can witness both the character's actions and their thoughts. One area where I felt this technique really shined is during scenarios of intrigue, where a character's actions do not match their thoughts. The dinner scene at the Altreid's castle is one of my favourite scenes, as on the surface, everything is very cordial, but there is so much tension and hostility under the surface that it becomes one of the most thrilling scenes in the entire novel.

My favourite thing about this novel is the detailed and rich universe. While at the beginning, it was a bit tough trying to grasp the meaning and significance of many aspects of the universe, over the course of the book, the universe is gradually revealed to the reader, creating a vivid image of a potential futuristic galaxy. Personally, I felt that the book has withstood the test of time so far, as everything still feels innovative and new; I felt that Herbert has done an excellent job portraying humanity on a galactic scale.

# Conclusion

It is often said that one either loves this book or hates it; I'm squarely in the camp of the former.

# Overall rating: 8.8

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