Tom Huddleston's book The Worlds of Dune: The Places and Cultures that Inspired Frank Herbert

Review of Tom Huddleston’s The Worlds of Dune: The Places and Cultures that Inspired Frank Herbert

Criticism

Tom Huddleston’s The Worlds of Dune: The Places and Cultures that Inspired Frank Herbert (2023) is a beautifully designed book that explores the range of ideas and concepts that inspired Frank Herbert in the writing of his 1965 science fiction masterpiece, Dune. Through an introductory biography chapter followed by twelve chapters named after planets, characters, and other elements in Dune, Huddleston looks at various political, environmental, and social influences that help show the many layers of meaning in Herbert’s complex novel. Each chapter is accompanied by images from art history, film, books, comics, and photographs that bring the story to

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Ryan Britt's The Spice Must Flow: The Story of Dune, from Cult Novels to Visionary Sci-Fi Movies book cover

Review of Ryan Britt’s The Spice Must Flow: The Story of Dune, from Cult Novels to Visionary Sci-Fi Movies

Criticism

In The Spice Must Flow: The Story of Dune, from Cult Novels to Visionary Sci-Fi Movies (2023), Ryan Britt has written an engaging and entertaining history of Frank Herbert’s Dune and the winding road it has taken to become a pop culture fixture. Its clever chapter titles and charming tone make for an enjoyable read. Weaving interviews with analysis and humorous commentary, Britt brings together a wide range of materials to explore the history of Dune, and he manages to make the feat look effortless! Thirteen chapters cover the different stages in the life of this famous science fiction story,

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Na Viro science fiction book by Gina Cole

Review of Gina Cole’s Na Viro – Pasifika science fiction

Criticism

I’ve been waiting for a science fiction novel like Na Viro (2022) by New Zealand author Gina Cole. Threaded with Pacific and Māori imagery, terms, and worldviews, it clearly represents Pasifika science fiction and showcases what Cole has termed ‘Pasifikafuturism’ in a beautiful and engaging way. It also centers on women’s experiences—grandmother, mother, sister—and takes their strength and capability in the face of personal and technical challenges as a given. Though great at what she does, the main character, Tia, has doubts and family troubles like all of us. She has to find ways to overcome her fear of deep

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J.G. Ballard's The Drowned World book

Review of J.G. Ballard’s The Drowned World

Criticism

J.G. Ballard’s The Drowned World (1962) is often mentioned in scholarship for its positioning on the cusp of the 1960s/1970s New Wave in science fiction. I found it to be an interesting novel that reflected the author’s desire for science fiction to explore inner, psychological space and aim at being more literary. I was surprised by how much this book felt like a traditional novel, yet still managed to weave in science fiction genre elements. It has stood the test of time and might even feel more relevant today due to its climate change-influenced setting. What struck me throughout was

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Dune 101 course logo

Dune 101 Online Course

Criticism

My first online course “Dune 101” has launched! I’ve designed the course with lessons on author Frank Herbert’s life and influences, the 20th-century historical context, setting and factions, and key themes in Dune through audio-visual content based on my research. Check out the Dune 101 course page for more information. This is part of my expansion beyond books and articles into different content types to bring my research and insights to life in new ways. It’s a learning process for me but I hope to reach new audiences and use the power of visual media to enhance understanding about this

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Discovering Dune: Essays on Frank Herbert's Epic Saga book

Discover Something New About Dune

Criticism

Whether you’re an old or new Dune fan, the recently published essay collection Discovering Dune: Essays on Frank Herbert’s Epic Saga will have something to interest you. Edited by Dominic J. Nardi and N. Trevor Brierly, with a foreword by Timothy O’Reilly, this book by publisher McFarland holds itself to academic standards while being largely written in an accessible style that will appeal to a wider audience. The book showcases several interesting topics across 14 main chapters, divided into 4 sections: Politics and Power History and Religion Biology and Ecology Philosophy, Choice, and Ethics In the Politics and Power section,

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