Dune is the godfather (sorry, Lisan al-Giab) of Science Fiction, and it shows in how the book is written. Near extinction level war predating the establishment of the current human setting with Artificial intelligence, check. A troubled young protagonist struggling with his destiny, check. Mentorship and romance figures, check. Betrayal and twists, check. It would be hard to point to any work in the genre without believing Dune helped to inspire them even beyond the written page, as Star Wars and the sprawling Warhammer 40K universe can attest to.

What's particularly impressive about Dune is not it's setting. Yes, fascinating and well done—but there are other examples of this, even if Dune was the first. It's the critique at its center and its character development. After a slower paced and exposition heavy first portion (for those who have seen the films, this corresponds with Dune Pt. I), the reader is rocketed through critiques of colonialism, religious fanaticism, and corruption. This the gives way to a action packed climax in which

the protagonist is victorious, but the reader is left feeling uneasy about the fallout and what this victory means for the galaxy.

The best of the grand epics, such as Lord of the Rings, is not the fantastic settings but the stories and characters against that backdrop. This is a prime example of that, and a must read for fans of the genre and literary enthusiasts in general.