A week ago I downed the mammoth Dune by Frank Herbert. Despite being a lover of the sci-fi genre, I’d never read Dune. I’d heard of it, been recommended it by several people, but a still from the movie with Sting scarred me.

I decided to face my fears and just read it.

I flew through Dune. The storyline captivated me; the book is the story of Paul Atreides, a noble born teen who moves with his parents to the desert planet Arrakis. There was intrigue, backstabbing and double-crossing. My one complaint is that the reader sees all points of view; we see inside the minds of the bad guys as well as the good guys. The betrayals are not shocking enough.

Herbert does a fantastic job bringing Arrakis to life. His attention to detail is astounding; the way the different groups of people survive in the desert is varied and rings true.

All in all, Dune was an enjoyable read, but not one for the faint of heart. Those who don’t care much for sci fi should just stay away.