George R. R. Martin discusses Dune by Frank Herbert

It should come as no surprise that George R. R. Martin is a voracious reader who takes particular pleasure in the genre of fantasy. He is a Tolkien Nerd and also enjoys the work of many other authors like Robert A. Heinlein and Roger Zelazny.

Recently, George R. R. Martin lauded fellow author Frank Herbert’s “magnum opus,” Dune. Martin’s admiration for these authors showcases his discerning taste and avid reading habits.

George R. R. Martin on Dune

In a recent interview with Dominic Noble, George R. R. Martin was asked to pick a book to discuss prior to the interview. After a  thorough analysis, he landed on “Nine Princes in Amber” by Roger Zelazny. He had this to say regarding the choice he was tasked with:

“It was a very difficult choice when you asked me to pick a book because I like a lot of books and a lot of authors.”

Then Martin mentioned other prominent authors whose books he had enjoyed, like Jack Vance and finally, Frank Herbert and Dune:

“You know, there were authors like Frank Herbert, Dune. Herbert wrote a number of books, but the only thing anybody remembers is doing Dune (it) was clearly his magnum opus, his Masterpiece.”

Martin compared Frank Herbert to other authors

Martin then drew a comparison between Herbert and other writers like Jack Vance and Rose Leslie:

“He wrote several Dune books, and then he wrote some other books that nobody really remembers. If you’re going to do Frank Herbert, you’re going to do Dune. Writers like Jack Vance and Rose Leslie are more difficult because they wrote a lot of great books, and it’s hard to pick just one.”

It’s no secret that the novel Dune has been turned into a film series, with the sequel due out later this year.

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