Thousands of years in the future, a galactic empire depends on melange, a spice that extends life and enables space navigation, found only on the harsh desert planet Arrakis. The Emperor hands control of Arrakis to Duke Leto Atreides, removing the rival House Harkonnen, but the gift is a trap. The Duke's son Paul, trained in combat and in the mental disciplines of his mother Jessica, travels with the family to their new fief.
On Arrakis, water is so scarce that people wear stillsuits to recycle their own moisture, and giant sandworms roam the dunes. The native Fremen, a fierce desert people, hold prophecies that seem to point at Paul. As betrayal unfolds, Paul and Jessica must survive among the Fremen while Paul's growing prescient visions show him terrifying possible futures.
Herbert combined political intrigue, ecology, religion and economics into a densely built world, complete with appendices and glossaries. The novel warns against messianic leaders and resource dependence. It won the first Nebula Award and shared the Hugo, is often called the best-selling science fiction novel ever, and has been filmed by David Lynch and Denis Villeneuve.
Book details
| Author | Frank Herbert |
|---|---|
| First published | 1965 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Type | Fiction |
| Setting | The desert planet Arrakis, in the far future |
| Awards | Nebula Award for Best Novel 1965, Hugo Award for Best Novel 1966 |
Themes
- Power and politics
- Ecology
- Religion and messianism
- Colonialism
- Destiny
Who should read it
Science fiction readers who want deep worldbuilding and political intrigue on an epic scale.