CuriousGeorgette

Heya new member, loved this book, forgive me if I ignore the questions as they are far too much like a book review and not a discussion. I am a long long standing and avid classic sci-fi fan - the new stuff has tended to largely leave me a bit stone cold. Frank Herbert is one of the classic writers along with Asimov, Heinlein etc. An almost 'must read' in other words. I think one of the first things to understand about the novel is that is that people, and philosophy of the Fremen is based on the people and philosophy / beliefs of the Middle East. Even the words for many things are based on Arabic. For an excellent word study on the Arabic (and other words) in Dune: http://baheyeldin.com/literature/arabic-and-islamic-themes-in-frank-herberts-dune.html There are also clear references to many Greek mythological tropes - Atreides for example ... and these Greek myths are further explored in the novels by Frank Herbert's son expanding on the family histories. The Atreides claim descent from Agammenon - of Iliad fame yes. While with the House Harkonnen Herbert turns to other great empires - Russia with them claiming descent from the Romanov's, more specifically the tsar of Russia, through a common ancestor with the Corrino's = Lisia Pozzo de Borgo a name which bears more than a passing similarity to Lucrezia Borgia, a family history that entirely fits the behaviour of the Harkonnens. There are many more classical references slipped in to the novels here and there. The parallel with spice (needed for all transportation) and oil is so obvious it is painful, however just as it is in our world - he who controls the oil controls the world, so it is in Dune that he who controls the spice controls the universe, and it is this dependence that Paul Atreides attempts to destroy. This fact is not obvious nor clearly spelled out in Dune, but it is in subsequent novels. The book is written like a grand opera with a very broad backdrop of a well thought out universe and this is one of the things that I love about it. The level of detail of world forming for not just one planet but many is incredible. Entire eco-systems are thought out and created and they are all different. The technology is also well written - there is just enough information that you believe there is a vast and advance science behind it, but not so much detail that it loses credibility. A fine line to walk which many fail to do well. For all that however the thing I loved the most about the book is the philosophical approach to many things. Although I don't agree with some (or many) of the sentiments there are some that I do agree with and this book was one of many that I read that have formed a basis of much of my thinking / beliefs. Not that I believe in the fictional philosophies, but that the ideas of them, as written, contain truths that these books sparked an interest in exploring further. I love reading books that require me to stretch - and these books are part of a list of books that will forever remain favourites because of that.