When a whole tribe of people move to the arid planet Arrakis as the new rulers, you can expect trouble. But when the planet in question is the sole source of a life-prolonging and supernatural-powers-inducing "spice", the stakes are elevated.

Herbert's classic was definitely way ahead of its time in portraying water as a diminishing and priceless resource. In addition, the main character also talks about not flying his "ornithopter" to reduce the dependence on fuel from another planet. Sound familiar?

This book delivers action, philosophy, romance, betrayal, scheming, everything you could possibly want. But the over-emphasis on the religious prophecies and the mystical elements, though probably perfect for the 60's, can slow the book down.

Herbert's scholarship is very apparent. The references to other languages, and to Christianity and Islam are very cleverly woven into the book. The whole new vocabulary he created for this universe some 8,000 years into the future is impressive. I was hooked from the first few chapter. But, it took some perseverance to finish the last third of the book.

I wish I had read this book when it first came out. I can see how exciting it would have been then. But years of futuristic special effects in the movies and imaginative science-fiction books (many which no doubt owe much to Dune) have changed our expectations. And
I, for one, certainly hope that the world in the future is not so mired in religious superstition as Dune predicts.