What was so innovative about Dune in 1965? What was so influential about it?

I agree with /u/jonakajon, you need to read to form your own views. Historically, I have no idea, don't care either. I do know that when I read DUNE I was 13 and it was not just some shitty space adventure, nor was it about the cool scifi STUFF. Yes it's adventuresome, epic really. Yes there are tech concepts I'd never dreamed of, but they're just fabric of the location. To me it was a whole complete world(s) with people, society, individuals, and ontologies I'd never seen. Don't get me wrong Asimov's Foundation series, Clarke's 2000 series, Farmer's Riverworld, Niven's Ring, Varley's Gaia, and PKD... whoa love his mind bending... they ALL opened my head up into new places I just could never have conceived of that year. Each to they're own universe. Each related to mine. Each helped me understand this world, now.

Admittedly I have favourites. This list is mostly them. I hated Harihausen (sp?), grew sick of Anthony, and many others just bored me to tears (Tolkein). Herbert, for me, changed my view of Man vs. God and Man vs. The Universe in ways this world would have never done. I am very partial to the last half of DUNE's series and VOID series because of this.

But seriously, context of creation of art, has so very little to do with it, IMHO. Art historians like to tell you it does because it justifies their career path. But, if that were true, it would nullify your enjoyment of the work now since you are no longer part of that moment in time. Herbert wrote out of a world that was in upheaval in almost every aspect of culture we know. Does that change how it can affect you now? Art is the only way humans can communicate across time and touch you emotionally sans all barriers. Context can give you some definition, but don't let that box you in. Enjoy his work, if you do enjoy it, for how it touches you and rewires parts of your synapse.

/r/scifi Thread