Why should one read the Dune series?

Simply put, it changed the way I looked at the world. It expanded the horizons of my imagination. It forced me to ask the question ‘Is this how the world works?’. A caution for the reader though, The thing that will impress you most is not what the book says, but what you derive from it. The book also leaves a lot of things unexplained, things related to the story line, don’t be worried, these are the very things that you will find fascinating, the mystery, the unknown, the desire to know more, Where did the ‘Bene Gesserit’ come from? What was the origin of the ‘Guild’? How is a ‘Mentat’ trained? What is the purpose for the existence of the ‘Bene Gesserit’? What are ‘Other Memories’? Who are the Sardaukars? Who are the Fremen? etc… Some of these questions will eventually be answered. Some by YOU and some by the book.
The book revolves around the planet Dune. Humanity has spread to other parts of the universe. It could very easily be 20,000 years from the present. Dune is the only planet that has the ‘Spice of life’ called the ‘Melange’. Melange (‘Gives with one hand and takes away with the other’) has geriatric properties, regular consumption causes addiction (changes the whites of the eyes to blue) and prolongs life, the average life span of a ‘Human’ is 300 years. For some individuals with certain genetical traits, it gives prescience, the ability to look into the future. The ‘Bene Gesserit’ have been preparing for a male individual, the ‘Kwisatz Haderach’, who will be their male counterpart and will be able to look into thed past, future and be able to manipulate time.

The book is about the power struggle to control the spice (‘The spice must flow’), in other words Dune. Alliances are broken, new alliances are made, traps are set, newer methods of assassination are invented … wheels within wheels within wheels. The characters are also a mystery in themselves, What are Leto and Paul Atriedes made up of? What is the cause for the enmity between the Harkonnens and the Atriedes? What role does Doctor Wellington Yueh play in Paul’s life? Where, lies the loyalty of Lady Jessica?… But, remember what I said at the beginning, the story is important, but more important is what you derive from it. Don’t be disturbed if you suddenly arrive at a revelation, about the way the world works, that forces you the ask the question ‘Is this really how the world works?’. Don’t be disturbed, you will find that you are disturbed because you are immediately trying to judge this new fact. Is it good or bad? At this point, let me caution you. Don’t try to figure out if the revelation is ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Just take it at face value. As a fact. The whole idea is about the awe one feels when one discovers a new facet about things (the way they work, the way things are) around us. The question to be avoided at all costs is ‘Is this good or bad?’

Finally, on a lighter note. The biggest torture for an enthusiast is that he/she will not find someone to talk to, about the book. I will be here if any of you want to talk about the book. I have read the book several times and i still find something new in it every time I read it.

Note: The order in which you read the books is very important. I am giving the
order of the books below.
Dune,
The Dune Messiah,
Children of Dune,
God Emperor of Dune,
Heretics of Dune,
Chapterhouse Dune.

For further details refer to http://www.dunenovels.com/classic.html. YOU MUST READ THE FIRST SIX BOOK MENTIONED ABOVE IN THE SPECIFIED ORDER. When I refer to the book above, I mean the collection of all the Dune books.