I know! How do you choose between a magician accused of killing a president vs. 2 orphan boys fighting to stay with their found family vs. falling for the fake boyfriend in 1950s England (pre-Elvis)??
There's a lot of amazing writing and content in the Dune series, but it's not evenly distributed. The first one's definitely worth it, and will probably tell you if you want to read more, but a few of them, especially later, feel sloggish.
Unlike some series, that shouldn't deter you from starting.
The first one is a legitimately compelling read (issues aside) and the second is fine. I was underwhelmed by the third and I'm really not enjoying the fourth. I'd heard the quality diminishes the longer the series goes on and that's really bearing out.
Good to know. I've been thinking about trying it. I watched the first film and thought, this seems like a movie you only understand if you've read the book....
I definitely tell friends who love SF that the first is worth reading; it's fun and you can see the effect it had on later writers. But I'm thinking once Herbert no longer has a family dynamic to work with in later books, he struggles with characterization badly & plot is inert.
Wouldn't be the first writer to have a fantastic start and then lose the thread as the series go on! I'm becoming more interested in reading stand-alone scifi and fantasy, but it seems to be hard to find... everyone wants an epic series....
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Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drew’s
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice
Unlike some series, that shouldn't deter you from starting.