"Dune" Book Club

Dune is one of the greatest science-fiction novels ever written.

Writing at the dawn of the Age of Aquarius, author Frank Herbert (an obscure Tacoma newspaper reporter) called forth an entire world in astonishing detail.

In this world, an empire is crumbling and computers have been outlawed. Mercantile barons jockey for control over trade routes. A desert planet is the source of a narcotic that powers space travel. A secretive sect of women sorcerers is bent on a centuries-long quest to control history. And that’s just the first chapter—we haven’t even mentioned the worms! 

Dune and its sequels inspired legions of imitators, including Star Wars. But the book is much deeper—and darker—than its Hollywood cousins. To create his world, Herbert drew from Islamic mysticism, desert ecology, the Roman empire, Zen, Jung, Native American mythology, and psychedelics. 

Together we’ll immerse ourselves in Herbert’s singular universe. We’ll read the first book of the cycle over seven weeks together. We’ll explore some of the people and places that inspired him, such as the Sahara desert and an obscure band of Chechen rebels.

We’ll listen to the epic soundtrack to the Dune movies by Hans Zimmer. And we’ll ask why science fiction is so obsessed with certain themes—space travel, time travel, aliens—and what that says about us. 

Are meetings recorded?

Yes. All meetings are recorded and automatically sent out to all club members. To join the club, just buy a ticket.

Who is leading this course?

Chris Lydgate is an author and journalist with a longstanding obsession with music and science fiction. He led the FrizzLit classes Mozart Unplugged and Classical Music for Lovers and Haters. Despite having been born in England, he bears no relation to Dr. Tertius Lydgate in Middlemarch. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Which edition are we reading?

We are reading this edition — buy that if you want to have the same page numbers as everyone else. And if you buy it using that link, you will be supporting FrizzLit with your purchase. 

What do I read before our first meeting?

Nothing. You do not need to read anything before our first meeting. Come ready to learn about the strange life and times of Frank Herbert. 

Is financial assistance available?

Yes. If you would like to join this course but price is a barrier, financial assistance is available. Please apply here.

Thank you for donating

Big thanks to everyone who pays extra to make a donation to financial assistance. We see your name on the list, and we do a happy dance of gratitude.

Art

The original artwork for this club was created by Levi Hastings