Dune

Let me first say that I love sci-fi, I love fantasy and I respect the place “Dune” has in the history of these genres. That said, I found the settings confusing (is it a future of interstellar travel, lasers and shields or is it a medieval fantasy of castles, dukes and sword fighting?), the characters flat and archetypal (he basically tells you who is good and who is bad at the beginning) and the “intrigue” provided no tension whatsoever (when you know who the traitor is and what bad guys plan, what's the point in reading anymore?). I think this world has some interesting potential, but I can't help but think how this story world be told/structured if it were published today. I really wanted to like this book, but I kept hoping for something bad to happen to Paul or for him to fail at something just once to break up the monotony and his one-dimensional character. My dad loved this book when he read it 40 years ago; I truly wish I could feel the same way.