Decided to finally listen all Frank Herbert’s Dune books. I have listened first book once or twice before. Have watched 1984 movie few times. Last time few weeks ago. Have also seen tv series and its sequel but that has been so long ago I don’t remember much about them anymore. I read first part of Dune comic earlier this year. What I am trying to say I know the story of first book but not much beyond that. What I didn’t remember was how good the first book is and how much more complex it is than the movie.
Movie is quite straight forward hero’s journey with evil protagonist. Baron Harkonnen is portrayed as diseased monster. In book he is just ruthless and untrustworthy. He is gay but being gay is not portrayed as bad thing like in movie. He uses his position to get slave boys but he would have done that with slave girls him being straight. Book version is more interesting and complex character.
In movie prophesy and Paul’s journey were seen as inevitable and good. In book it is not as clear. Not everyone is so sure they are doing the right thing. Maybe ending of the book gives impression what happened was good thing. People stop questioning what they are doing by the end. It felt bit weird. I understand movie can’t have everything from book but that was important part of the book before the end and I have understood that theme returned in later books. If I remember correctly tv series had some of that.
I am always surprised how book (and movie and comic) tells Harkonnen’s plan and who the traitor is at the beginning. It could have teased those more. Book follows Harkonnen so it makes some sense to open their plans but why tell who the traitor is when you can keep it a mystery? Book follows traitor but all that could have been after traitor was reveled much later.
Dune is classic and it feels different depending what is currently happening in Middle East. Spice is oil and Fremen are Arabs. Don’t know what real world analogy for worms is. I am curious to get to next book. Tv series’ sequel was based on it. Don’t remember much about it. I know even less about the book.