Dune Reading Response

Reading Log: Dune, Frank Herbert 8/20- 15 mins., 8/21- 45 mins., 8/22- 30 mins., 8/23- 20 mins., 8/24- 30 mins., 8/25- 40 mins. TOTAL: 180 mins., pp. 1-236

Dune Book Response

            Dune by Frank Herbert is one of the greatest works of science fiction ever written. It won the Hugo award and the Nebula award in 1996 and is the first in a series of six science fiction novels. It takes place in the distant future on the desert planet of Dune, where the main way to make money is mining for a spice that the people of Dune are addicted to. Dune is a story of politics, assassins, and particularly, differing styles of leadership. There are two factions that rule the planet of Dune that are in constant conflict with each other. One is lead by Duke Leto, and the other is lead by the Baron.

Dune seems to be a political commentary on the effectiveness of different types of leaders. The Duke, the main protagonist, is a strict but understanding man who puts his subjects before himself. On the other hand, the Baron is the main antagonist and is a tyrant. Their styles of leadership are very different.  Duke Leto is a ruler much loved by his people. The Duke is the kind of man that people are willing to follow without questioning his motives because they know he is a worried about the well being of his people, rather than just acquiring territory and power for his nation. In contrast, the Baron is not looking out for his subjects but for himself. His main desire is to rule all of Dune because of the valuable spices.  He rules his territory with an iron fist. He enslaves his subjects and forces them to mine for his own personal gain. People follow the Baron only because he has the military might to punish those who do not follow him. The Baron is a very cunning politician as well.  Both the Duke and the Baron have avid followers but for differing reasons.  The Baron brings to mind Adolph Hitler in the way people follow him out of fear.  I predict that the Duke will be outsmarted by the Baron and probably killed, but that in the end, good will win over evil as it usually does, and the people will rise up against the Baron because he is a tyrant.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book.  One of my goals for this class was to diversify my genres and read more science fiction.  I’m sure I’ll read the next five books in the series as I have enjoyed this one immensely so far.