Dune

I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It's been on that shelf of classics that I knew I should have read by now but feared it would be too dry (you bet your stillsuit pun intended). Also I was once scarred by the image of Sting in a metal bikini. Reading it, however, I was surprised at how quickly I became invested in the characters. I could see how other sci-fi/fantasy authors had been inspired by this series and the way it merges politics and adventure.

Obviously, the setting is the most impressive part of the piece. I must have gone through a couple gallons of water reading the book. They attention paid to every detail of desert life is a credit to Herbert and he's on par with Simmons as far as making me feel the world he has created.

My only real struggle is the treatment of women on Dune. We get this all powerful force of female mysticism in the Bene Gesserit, but their entire goal is to create a single man whom they can control. Jessica is a well-rounded, intriguing character but the other women all fall into typical SF tropes. I may continue the series just to learn a bit more about the Bene Gesserit and how the world moves on now that Paul has assumed control.