Available in Kresge: Yes

In One Sentence: The book that might have developed if J.R.R. Tolkein decided to write a commentary on authoritarianism, economics, and environmentalism, with a generous helping of magical space-people.

Frank Herberts Dune is one of the giants of science fiction literature, both in influence and actual lengthmy mass-market paperback edition clocks in at nearly 900 pages. I only recently worked up the courage to try it, and I was not disappointedDune is an epic synthesis of high fantasy and far-future science fiction, simultaneously resembling the best of Tolkien and Asimov.

In Dune, the young Paul Atreides is the heir of a feudal house mired in political intrigue, in a universe rife with magic, visions, and prophecies of which he seems to be the primary focus. Paul must flee for his life into the deserts of an arid planet called Dune, where he becomes something of a messiah figure to the planets nomadic people. He must fight for his birthright to rule this planet, even as his sense of supernatural ability, prophetic vision, and terrible purpose begins to intensify.

If you made it through the previous paragraph, youre doing wellDune is a book that doesnt waste a lot of time on a universe that makes intuitive sense. Herbert was a remarkably effective world-builderthe universe of Dune is rich with history, politics, language, prophecy, and intrigue. One prominent theme of the book deals with the oppression of the desert people whom Paul comes to rulethey are the sole harvesters of a mysterious spice that everyone in the universe consumes, and powerful governments oppress them to try to take control of spice production. The parallels with modern Middle Eastern history are hard to ignore, especially since Herbert based large portions of Dunes mythology on Islam and the Arabic language.

Another, more disturbing theme centers on autocracy and freedom: Herbert believed that both human and natural systems were mired in ecological webs of relationships, from which no individual is ever free. Unlike Tolkein (Tolkien strongly disliked Dune, though his reasons for thinking this are unknown), Herbert takes the view that a small spark of hope in the darkness is insufficient to change the course of historyindeed, the course of history may be far more deterministic than we think. Herberts world tumbles toward fascism, autocracy, and jihad, even despite the attempts of powerful people to prevent it. It raises sobering questions about the meaning of freedom, all enmeshed in an enthrallingly detailed universe.

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The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams

Available in Kresge: Yes (in a compendium)

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The Book List: Science Fiction - The Bagpipe