this was a bit of a mess. 

the idea had so much potential and the writing was okay BUT there was a lot lacking. 

starting with having two main character names be Paul and Jessica which might have not been as everyday names in the 60s in the USA (maybe?) and because of that might have seen more special but at this point in time it just is annoying to have those two names constantly thrown in between sci-fi and fantasy words and situations. 

also the mother/son relationship is just utterly strange. on one hand Jessica is supposed to be this highly trained and knowledgeable person that taught Paul and still has so much to teach him but than he becomes the person she refers to? why? 

also the utter laziness of having Paul just… know things for no real reason other than making it easy and unnecessary to explain things because why would there be a need the explain things if Paul can just understand it all out of thin air?!
mhm. 


so i disliked the laziness of the author if just making it too easy for himself instead of actually guiding this world and literal space this takes place in in real and understandable ways, actually building it up and explaining things. 

also the whole plot of lazy fat people (how can they all be that utterly overweight if they are in a place were water is the rarest material?!) kill everyone that gets in their way, trying to put down everyone else and a newly arrived boy is the foreseen saver?! mhm. 
once again that could have been done better? 


all that being said the world itself with the worms and the spices (which i while have loved to get a deeper and better understanding off) was fascinating and i wish the author would have actually made the entire world and planet more of a plot point especially with how many pages are spend running around and away from the worms. 


this wasn’t bad and it’s definitely a product of its time and i wish the women in this book would have been given more than the assistant side appearances especially BUT it has potential and i can see why some people love this especially if they read it as teenagers or some years ago. 

it’s a book i do want to reread, going into a book again knowing what to expect and knowing what i didn’t love sometimes helps me see the other things and find more things i enjoy because i am less focused on all the things i notice are lacking. but for right now: 2.5 stars and a little disappointed that this is such a hyped book but didn’t manage to come close to fulfilling that promise for me.