This is a book that I’ve been meaning to read for a long time, especially the audiobook version which was supposed to be very good.

Dune is regarded as one of the all-time classic science fiction novels, first published in 1965, and supposedly the biggest selling sci-fi book of all time.

The Atreides family is given responsibility for the planet Arrakis by the Emperor of the universe.   It is an inhospitable desert planet where water is very scarce, but it is the only place that produces the spice Melange, a drug that is prized but addictive.   There is huge rivalry that has extended over generations between House Atreides and the previous rulers of the planet, House Harkonnen, who are plotting to regain control.

This book truly does create a whole world – ecology, politics, religion.  I can imagine a story of that ambition being written today (I suspect that Game of Thrones would be a modern equivalent, although I haven’t read it) but the idea that it was written over 50 years ago is just astounding.  It really has stood the test of time.  I enjoyed the book a lot, but the impact is amplified by a greater feeling of respect. Respect for the scale of the story, the scale of the imagination.

The production quality of the audiobook version is very high.  I had heard the name of the narrator, Simon Vance, before but had never listened to one of his books.  He does an astounding job, especially given the broad scope of characters, and is totally consistent all the way through.  A real performance.

Then… something different.  Throughout the audiobook are scenes that are acted out by a cast of actors.  It adds a kind of cinematic edge and for me it worked, but it is a bit bizarre.  I would have thought that you either go for a single narrator or you go for a full cast production.

I also bought an second-hand copy of the book so that I could read the appendices, which add additional depth and background – these are missing from the audiobook version.