[Diana Rose]

This is the perfect place to ask...I want to give my nephew Dune to read his parents are divorced and any little thing starts a court battle from the other side. Do you see anything wrong with giving a 13 year old boy Dune to read? Thanks!

[DCBryan1]

Diana!

I was 13 when I read the entire series.

I would recommend getting him the first book, "DUNE" and if he really enjoyed it, I would let him take the initiative in getting the other books.

As stated here, the books drag on, and on , and on , and on later in the series.

[Paul Atreides]

Though you asked someone else, I would like to comment. Dune is a wonderful story. It is not filled with vulgarity, except for the fact that the Baron Harkonnen is a pedophile (though, this is not presented in an explicit manner). Other than that, it is a great book for a young person.

[agarrett]

This is the perfect place to ask...I want to give my nephew Dune to read his parents are divorced and any little thing starts a court battle from the other side. Do you see anything wrong with giving a 13 year old boy Dune to read? Thanks!

  Depends on the parents, and the kid. First off, Dune is a fairly dense book - it's excellent, but it's probably a bit tough for a 13 year old. Now, if he's a bright kid, he could probably manage it, but I doubt he'd enjoy it quite as much as he would a few years later. Still, if he's a sci-fi fan, and bright, he might enjoy it.

  As to the parents... If they sue over anything regarding religions, avoid Dune. It doesn't refer directly to modern religions, but it makes some pretty clear analogies. Depending on how seriously people take it, it can be seen as a slam at Christianity, and even a promotion of Islam. (Note: I don't think this is the case - I think Herbert was more interested in the cultures than the religions, and was going with what was, to him, the more exotic.)

  For all that I love Dune, I don't think it's the best book given the circumstances you describe. I'd also add that, while Dune itself is a masterwork, the series rapidly declined in value as it proceeded.

Drew Garrett

[Maigrey]

If those here think Dune is too dense, try Robert Jordan and his World of Time series. It's dynamic like Tolkien and reads quite easy.

[JerseyHighlander]

Dune is long and ardous for a 13 year old. My uncle gave it to me as a present, I had suspicions he didn't like me too much after the 60th page.
I'll second the Asimov Foundation Trilogy, as well as Asimov's collection of short stories. "Robot, I" a short story, and the second book in the Trilogy will feed your nephew's imagination well.

[Wavyhill]

Dune is more for adults; I'd suggest either one of Heinlein's juveniles, or, if you want something more "modern," the Jupiter novels by Jerry Pournelle and Charles Sheffield--although HIGHER EDUCATION does have one "love scene."