“Dune” is Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic, the winner of the first Nebula award and quite possibly the best book I’ve ever read. It’s the story of young Paul Atreides’ adventures on the desert planet of Arrakis, also called “Dune,” a resource rich world that Paul’s father, the Duke, has been placed in charge of by the Emperor. Herbert’s immersive storytelling and authentic style creates a universe that readers can feel a part of. The startling depth of the characters and environment are the result of Herbert’s careful placement of detail. In a book that could have been hundreds of thousands of words long, Herbert is incredibly selective and precise with his descriptions, oftentimes merely outlining the appearances of characters or objects and leaving the rest to the reader’s imagination. (A quality in books that I personally find very enticing). His characters’ true selves are revealed through their interactions with one another rather than through lengthy and monotonous description. “Dune” was written over half a century ago in 1965 but Herbert’s writing style feels fresh and intelligent. His impressive grasp of and manipulation of time throughout the novel make for an excellent flow and the side plots are always necessary and make valuable contributions to the story as a whole. Overall, it’s a fascinating story written by a talented author and a book I’d recommend to any fans of science fiction or fantasy. 9/10 stars easy.