Dune

The book that inspired not only the famous Star Wars. A story so sophisticated, thoughtful and as mentioned for the millionth time - complex. I'll admit that reading it was a little challenging for me. I didn't know what I was getting into and the complexity of the history of the world of Dune took me by surprise. So I cracked through the first book very slowly and carefully, even going back to important passages that were very essential to understanding the lore. And I don't regret a single line.
Politics plays a big role here too, and it makes the book all the more real. Baron Harkonnen as a villain was great. He was a properly greedy man, and it was his greed that was his undoing.
But after 600 pages, I need to read something where I don't have to engage my brain cells so much.

Dune learned to walk so Star Wars could run.

It's just a shame that D. Lynch screwed up the film adaptation (Dune, 1984) like hell.