Paul of Dune

I read Dune by Frank Herbert sometime around the 7th grade. This classic science fiction is about a galactic empire in the far future, when man has long since stopped using computers, but has the ability to jump from planetary system to planetary system in the blink of an eye with huge Guild ships. The empire is brought to its knees by a young man that is the product of a 30 generation long breeding program that culminates in his ability to see the future. He comes to power from a desert planet named Dune, where the people are oppressed and the planet provides The Spice, a unique substance that extends life, helps Reverend Mother's connect with their past lives and sense the truth, and allows Guild Navigators to see through spacetime and move their massive ships into safe destinations in the blink of an eye. It also transforms the main character, Paul Atreides, into his full potential of being able to see the future.

Frank Herbert wrote the original series, which followed the life of Paul, and then his son and his favorite swordmaster Duncan Idaho (actually, a series of clones of Duncan, with memories of his past life) up to an confusing and incomplete fate.

After Frank Herbert died, his son Brian in a collaboration with Kevin Anderson, started writing more to the series. He completed prequels and a conclusion to the original series, as well as fill-in novels of the various main characters.

This book fills in a time gap between the original book Dune and the second book Dune Messiah. It answers questions about what he was thinking, how much of the future he saw, and how did he consolidate his power and direct his empire. Each backfilling novel answers more of the mysteries the original series was almost proud to leave behind.

As a young boy, I found Paul a compelling main character, because he was about my age, yet superior to most of the people around him in intellect and ability. As an older man, I still find the character compelling, as a conflicted man struggling to do what is right in a world that compromises his morals as well as his hopes and desires.