Quick Links

Summary

  • Tolkien disliked Dune so much he refused to comment, indicating he held strong negative feelings towards the book.
  • Both Dune and The Lord of the Rings are foundational works in fantasy, each with distinct themes and settings.
  • Despite Tolkien's criticism, Dune's continued popularity showcases its lasting impact and importance in the genre.

Frank Herbert's Dune is one of science fiction's most influential and impactful pieces of literature. The political, religious and ecological themes surrounding the story have helped sculpt future novels for generations. That being said, while it's primarily regarded as hugely important to the masses, there's one equally important fantasy writer who had his own differing opinions on the story -- J. R. R. Tolkien.

Tolkien is best known for creating the equally sprawling work, The Lord of the Rings. Like Herbert, Tolkien's contribution to fantasy helped reshape the genre in ways that are still being felt today. As a foundation of high fantasy, the series is told and retold through various outlets. In that sense, Dune and The Lord of the Rings are like cousins due to the importance each work carries. With that in mind, Tolkien had some pretty harsh criticisms when it came to Dune, though as a gentleman he preferred to keep them to himself when asked.

Updated on March 7, 2024 by Jenny Melzer: With Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part 2 in theaters now, fans can't help but reflect on an opinion fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien once shared in respect to Frank Herbert's Dune. Whether he was simply old-fashioned in his perspective on writing, world-building, and the genre, or if as a devout Catholic, he took offense to some of the religious undertones that marked the journey of Paul Atreides, fans will never know for certain. This post has been updated to inclue more information, as well as to reflect CBR's most recent standard in formatting.

J.R.R. Tolkien Disliked Dune So Much, He Wouldn't Even Comment On Why

In fact I dislike Dune with some intensity, and in that unfortunate case, it is much the best and fairest to another author to keep silent and refuse to comment.

Related
Why J.R.R. Tolkien Hated Narnia’s Father Christmas
Father Christmas is an important figure in the Chronicles of Narnia, yet Lord of the Rings creator, J.R.R Tolkien had a big issue with this.

In 1966, Tolkien wrote a letter to a man named John Bush regarding him obtaining a copy of Herbert's book. When asked about his opinion, Tolkien gave Bush a cordial but blunt description of what he felt. According to the letter, Tolkien prefaced by saying that he finds it impossible for an author to speak about another who works in a similar subject matter. He then adds, "In fact I dislike Dune with some intensity, and in that unfortunate case, it is much the best and fairest to another author to keep silent and refuse to comment." While he is nothing but formal in his writing, Tolkien doesn't leave much to the imagination in regards to how he feels about the book.

Following that letter, Tolkien never elaborated on why he disliked Herbert's book so much, at least not publicly. As a result, his feelings on the story can only be speculated. Some have wondered if Tolkien took issue with the messianic nature of Paul Atreides' character. Being a devout Catholic, Tolkien considered his work to be fundamentally Christian and Catholic, with many theological themes layered throughout. Considering Tolkien was so adept at creating living, breathing worlds with real-world themes, it creates curiosity over why he disliked something with so many layers and with such attention to detail.

Similarities Between Dune and Lord of the Rings & the Differences that Define Them

When making comparisons between the epic fantasy stories set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth to Frank Herbert's futuristic science fantasy, the two appear as different as night and day from a distance. On closer inspection, one can glimpse the similarities between them, as easily as making out the vast differences. Both have obvious fantasy elements, like the fantastic creatures, landscapes, and mystical influences that set the tone for their worlds. They each see a bold hero willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to stand against evil, tyranny and oppression, as well as cunning enemy forces who will stop at nothing to achieve their wicked ends.

Both stories are incredibly dark, offering only glimpses of hope in a seemingly hopeless task, but their settings are vastly different. Stories told in Tolkien's most recognizable works, like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings exist in a state of slow technological advancement reminiscent of the Middle Ages. They travel by horse when possible, but many of Tolkien's characters spend a great deal of time on foot. In battle, they resort to more primitive weapons in combat, like bows, spears, swords, daggers, and catapults. Dune, on the other hand, features a society that is technologically advanced. They have space travel capabilities, atomic weaponry, and biological technology that make the aftermath of their epic battles devastating to behold.

Middle-earth is rife with magic, featuring characters capable of brilliant and devastating arcane feats. Elven characters like Elrond and Galadriel had the ability to communicate telepathically across long distances, and Sauron enchanted a series of rings that would allow him to control the people in power. While that wasn't the standard for everyone on Middle-earth, it's only a glimpse at the fantastical magic that fuels the story. Herbert's work features similar fantastical elements at times, but they are often easy to explain using science (or pseudo-science.)

At the end of his epic journey, and after saving Middle-earth, Frodo Baggins finished his uncle's book and retired from the world because his work was done, and he was tired. The traumas he endured on his heroic quest haunted him, and the only respite for him was to leave the world and head into the west. Paul Atreides, on the other hand, went on to become a godlike figure after crowning himself Emperor, his work seemingly never done.

Dune's Continued Popularity Proves That While Tolkien May Have Been a Master, His Opinion About Dune Is In the Minority

All of Frank Herbert's Dune Books

  • Dune (1965)
  • Dune Messiah (1969)
  • Children of Dune (1976)
  • God Emperor of Dune (1981)
  • Heretics of Dune (1984)
  • Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)

It also appears that Tolkien was in the minority. Dune has never lost its appeal, and with director Denis Villeneuve's second Dune film making waves at the box office, it goes to show there's no accounting for taste. In Tolkien's defense, Dune isn't for everyone. The series has a lot to say and ultimately covers six books that Herbert wrote. In those stories, themes ranging from the human condition to political morality are explored in great detail. Action exists but isn't as abundant as the constant plotting between characters culminating in an eye-opening end. To convey these themes and maintain a large audience is hard, and it's entirely possible that Tolkien merely lost interest. However, without him here to say, it all remains in the realm of speculation.

Nevertheless, Dune is just as important as Tolkien's works and is consistently regarded as such. The new films will also be able to reach an even wider audience than ever before. With the story finally being given a modern retelling, it'll be interesting to see if Tolkien's feelings on the book will be mirrored by new viewers, or if fans will prove the professor wrong once and for all.

Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune- Part Two (2024) poster.
Dune: Part Two
PG-13
Drama
Action
Adventure
9
10

Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.

Director
Denis Villeneuve
Release Date
February 28, 2024
Cast
Timothee Chalamet , Zendaya , Florence Pugh , Austin Butler , Christopher Walken , Rebecca Ferguson
Writers
Denis Villeneuve , Jon Spaihts , Frank Herbert
Runtime
2 hours 46 minutes
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
Production Company
Legendary Entertainment, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Villeneuve Films, Warner Bros.