Dunes series

[Elollypop]

With the new movies out, I'm intrigued. Has anyone read the series? Do you recommend it?

Yes(ish).
Dune itself was good it's followed by a lot of sequels which are of varying quality, some good and some absolute trash. There are also prequels covering the Butlerian Jihads and machine wars. There are also side books eg House Atriedes and House Corrino.

Many (most) of the sequels were not by Frank Herbert. They do form a large story arc and have some good ideas (at the risk of spoilers if you like the Bene Gesserit you get introduced to their enemies the Honoured Matres). All in all they were good but you take the good with bad in this series.

I'd agree. The first one was good. The rest are a more mixed bag.

I tried and gave up after a 100 pages or so. They are not an easy read and life is too short

I read them a long time ago. I remember enjoying Dune the most and then the plot got messier but still enjoyed them. I liked the politics in them. I didn't bother with the prequels though.

Things go really off the rails around God-Emperor of Dune. I really enjoyed the OG Dune and am planning to read Dune: Messiah but then stop there for my own sanity.