Books

First Impression. Octavo (23.5cm); red paper-covered boards, with titles stamped in gilt on spine; dustjacket; [4],5-384pp. Signed by the author on the title page, beneath Herbert's crossed-out name. A fresh, Fine copy in a Near Fine dustjacket, unclipped (priced �8.95 net), showing some trivial surface wear and some mild crimping at crown and along the upper edge. A sharp copy of the fifth installment in Herbert's Dune series. Copies of the English edition are considerably less common signed than their American counterparts.

In Frank Herbert's seminal science fiction novel "Dune," the intricate tale unfolds across a distant future where noble families vie for control over the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the highly coveted spice melange. The Atreides family, led by Duke Leto Atreides and his son Paul, assumes stewardship of Arrakis, navigating a perilous political landscape rife with treachery and ambition. As Paul adapts to the harsh desert environment, he encounters the Fremen, Arrakis's indigenous people, and discovers his latent abilities tied to their prophecy of a messianic figure known as the Kwisatz Haderach. Paul grapples with his destiny, mastering the complexities of politics, religion, and warfare while confronting personal struggles and ethical dilemmas. The novel explores themes of power, ecology, religion, and the human condition, set against a richly imagined backdrop of a desert planet teeming with political intrigue and mystical intrigue.