Dune might have been one of my favorite books as a snot-nosed adolescent, but this is the first time I've re-read it in a good 18-20 years. Combining Machiavellian power politics, futuristic-psychedelic Bedouin mysticism, psychedelia, colonialism, & eugenics into one sci-fi narrative, Dune is kind of hard to classify, and must have been even more so back when it was published. It's no wonder it's inspired such divergent takeaways from different people; just look at the difference between Jodorowsky's attempted adaptation, which would have played up the psychedelic aspects (casting Salvador Dali as the Emperor, for instance), and David Lynch's movie adaptation, which was more of a sci-fi biblical-adventure. My personal take is that Dune is a sci-fi politico-military adventure, falling somewhere between the Hobbit/Lord of the Rings (Kings, wizards, & legendary journeys) & the Moon is a Harsh Mistress (space, barren planets, & anti-colonialism).