Dune Essay, Research Paper

Dune

By Frank Herbert

Dune is the saga of Paul Atreides and his journey on the desert planet of Arrakis. He is the son of Duke Leto and the Lady Jessica, an exceptional student of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. Unknown to all but a few, Paul may be the Kwisatz Haderach, a mentally adept being with powerful precognitive abilities. When Paul is 15, House Atreides is asked by the Emperor of the known universe to take control of the planet Arrakis also known as Dune. Arrakis is the most important planet in the universe as it is the only source of Melange, the spice that is required for space travel and other wonders of the universe.

The story unfolds with a plot to defeat House Atreides, conspired between House Harkonnen, House Corrino, and the Emperor himself. The Harkonnens relinquish their assignment on Arakis with the intention of taking it back with the aid of the Emperor’s terror troops. When Paul and the Lady Jessica arrive on Dune, through the aid of a spy within the Atreides house, they are cast out into the deep desert to die.

The Fremen, the native desert-dwellers of Dune, believe that Prophecy has come to be; that their long-promised messiah, young Paul, has come to liberate them. With the aid of the Fremen, Paul sets a plan into motion to reclaim his title. With his gift of prescience, he must overcome massive odds and the cunning plots of the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. Along the way, he discovers that he may be the universe’s supreme being and sets out to discover his true potential, while hurtling toward the inevitable: a confrontation with the Emperor and his elite troops, the seemingly invincible Sardaukar.

I thought this was a great book. Its complex plot and detailed story-line make it very unique, especially for its time. I recommend this book if you like a great story-line, all though if your not a hard core reader you might be discouraged in the beginning since you are kind of thrown in to the middle of the story.