Customer Reviews

The Maker of Dune: Insights of a Master of Science Fiction

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This book of essays shows the mind behind the books. He elaborates on his political, ecological, and philosophical beliefs. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has read Frank Herbert's work and wants to know more about the author

It is difficult to give a short review of this collection of articles and essays simply because they cover so many topics. Obviously there are several sections dealing with Dune, and these are utterly fascinating. The Campbell Correspondence is of particular interest as it shows Herbert's thoughts about Dune while he was still writing it. But you can see the inspiration for many of his other works throughout the essays. The insight into his motivations (or at least inspirations) for writing his novels stirs up the desire to re-read (or I guess read if you've not been fortunate enough to do so yet) those books to see those ideas explored.

I found there to be a great deal of serious philosophical ideas in Herbert's works, but here these ideas are pulled from their pretty fictional dressing and discussed more plainly. Which makes it somewhat easier to then turn around and articulate to others. Most people tend to not give weight to arguments that begin with, "I read this in a science fiction story and..."

What I like most about this book is it shows a man who thought deeply about the world, us and our place in it. Who gave it considered thought and approached our world from an angle most people do not. I don't agree with all of his conclusions or ideas, of course, but even in those ideas I disagree with I find inspiration and clarity for my own ideas.

It is a tragedy that this book is no longer in print.