I've seen really divided opinions on Dune. Personally I think it's a great series. I especially liked all the political manipulation - all the powers of the empire trying to get the upper hand, while acting their own roles etc. There's a chapter in the first book, showing a feast with political figures, where everything that's being said is an allusion, it was fascinating stuff when I first read it. Throw in all that religious extremism and a bit of philosophy, and you have a book that is copied in SF as much as LOTR is copied in fantasy.
