Dune

I had the wrong impression about “Dune.”

Even though I’m a fan of science fiction, I avoided this book because it seemed inaccessible. The way it was discussed made me think it would be a slog to get through.

But it’s not a slog at all. Sure, it’s long, but even that isn’t an issue because the writing is lively, the story is engaging, and the world building is immersive.

Speaking of the world building–the technique of dropping the reader/viewer directly into a new universe and letting them figure it out as they go along is well established (and necessary, because no one wants chapter after chapter of exposition). But doing this well is an art. Frank Herbert, author of “Dune,” found the perfect balance of detail. There are just enough names and locations and cultural clues to fill your imagination, but not too much that it becomes a burden keeping track of it all.

This is a big deal. Compare “Dune” to something like “Dark,” for example. Because “Dune” challenged me just enough, I’m inclined to continue with the other stories in this universe. But I opted to finish “Dark” out of obligation, and at the end I wasn’t able to enjoy the full story because the show collapsed into a bewildering mess of timelines and characters.