Frank Herbert

One of my all-time favorite novels, I cannot say enough good things about it. It's a book that every science fiction fan will instantly fall in love with. It's the kind of book you can also read over and over, and you will find new meanings each time. The novel follows the young Duke Paul Atreides in his feud with the rival noble house of Harkonnens. The politics in this universe of the future are complex as well as very deadly. In addition, every family in the galaxy is driven by their greed over the addictive spice that is mined from the planet Arrakis, or Dune. A mind-enhancing drug, the spice is expensive, difficult and dangerous to mine, and very valuable. Whoever controls the spice calls the shots. Paul and his mother become outcasts after the Harkonnens raid their home on Dune and kill the old Duke. Then begins the adventure which transforms Paul into a legend in his own time. Throw in suspicious natives, a demented baron Harkonnen, an Atreides traitor, ancient rituals, psychic abilities and giant sand worms and you've got a definite page-turner by a fabulous writer. If you'rea sci-fi fan and haven't read this book, you're truly missing out! M10