For the “greatest science fiction novel of all time” it’s incredibly underwhelming. The pacing is bizarre, dedicating chapters to decorating a new palace then killing off central characters in a single sentence. The characters feel hollow, more archetypes than actual people. While much of this (I assume) is designed to give Dune a very “biblical” feel, there’s a reason people don’t read the Bible for fun. I will say, however, that the ideas - the desert planet, the spice, the glimpses at a larger history - are cool enough to get Herbert some brownie points. Just not cool enough to make me trudge through a sequel.