Dune: what novels should I read?

[TroutMan]

I’ll return to say I read the first, and am not feeling super motivated to pick up the second. I’m not opposed and I might when I whittle down my reading stack, but it’s pretty low on the list.

@Gray_Ghost

One thing I did not expect, and did not remember from the last time I read it, was how the quality of the description and plot went downhill, around the time Paul becomes Muad’Dib.

I had the same reaction. Whereas before I was eagerly reading, this marked the point where I started checking how many pages I had left. I’m not sure if it’s entirely due to the writing dropping in quality, or because it’s about the time that Paul starts showing himself to be an asshole.

@Elendil_s_Heir

I read the first book in high school and liked it a lot; read it again recently and it didn’t hold up all that well. Great worlds-building and nifty concepts, but very poor characterization and clunky dialogue.

And this too. I guess I’m the triplet to you and Slow_Moving_Vehicle. The politics, the Guild, the Bene Gesserit, sandworms and spice - it was all wonderful and imaginative and original. But it just bogged down in too many places. I remember seeing the David Lynch movie when it came out and thinking how stupid all the inner monologue sounded in the voiceovers. Reading Dune a second time, I realize that it was a pretty accurate reflection of the book.

[Gray_Ghost]

@TroutMan

I’ll return to say I read the first, and am not feeling super motivated to pick up the second. I’m not opposed and I might when I whittle down my reading stack, but it’s pretty low on the list.

I saw your reply and started laughing, because I was so excited to start Dune Messiah, after recently finishing Dune, despite what I wrote about the plot and detail going downhill. I got about fifteen pages in, Life briefly intervened, and I haven’t picked Messiah back up since.

[Sicks_Ate]

Start with ‘Dune’ and keep reading until you don’t want to read them any more…

[Spice_Weasel]

Uhhh, I kinda feel that way already and I’m maybe 1/4 through Dune. Will it pay off? Does anything… you know, happen?

[Northern_Piper]

I"m afraid that was my reaction as well. I don’t think I was able to get through the first novel.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

I would definitely finish the first novel, if you possibly can. Stuff does happen. Despite my criticisms upthread, I do believe that the original book is worth reading.

[Gray_Ghost]

@Spice_Weasel

Uhhh, I kinda feel that way already and I’m maybe 1/4 through Dune. Will it pay off? Does anything… you know, happen?

I’ll support you here. Time is short, and this is supposed to be entertainment, right? We don’t have to read this for some work assignment or other thing? So, why waste time if you’re not liking it?

Where are you in the book? If Paul and the rest are already on Arrakis, and have experienced things in their new house, and you still don’t like it? It’s not going to get better for you. Maybe stick it out until the big dinner scene in the house?