Paul Atreides, heir to the house of Atreides, is a nobleman whose father was given leadership of the planet Arrakis. Arrakis is a very valuable planet due to its vast supply of melange, a spice that increases the lifespan of a human. It also creates an addiction, so people who are addicted to it are forced to continue to use it, otherwise they face a slow and painful death. Paul travels to Arrakis, but a betrayal from the Empire causes chaos, leaving Paul’s father dead and the House of Harkonnen, the previous leaders of the planet, in control. Paul and his mother flee and join forces with Fremen, the natives of Arrakis, to overthrow the Harkonnens. Lady Jessica, Paul's mother, is a Bene Gessirit witch, so she provokes the religious fervor of Fremen, creating a prophecy where Paul is their prophet that will lead them to victory over the Empire. Now, with many followers, Paul declares war on the Harkonen house, ready to avenge his father and take his rightful place on the throne.
The book’s main protagonist is Paul Atreides, and some other characters include Stilgar, Lady Jessica, and Duncan Idaho. Frank Herbert’s Dune is a critically acclaimed science fiction blend of philosophy and science. It also combines the customs of real people to create realistic and rich cultures of the nations in the book. It has some of the best storytelling I have ever read, and I spent many nights reading this book, completely immersed in Herbert’s world of conquest and war, and it was so good that I read the rest of the whole series. This book is a bit difficult for younger readers to understand, but is an amazing read, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves amazing storytelling.