Councillors across Bedford Borough are telling us about their favourite books as part of our Year of Reading.
And this week Councillor Paul Edmonds had no hesitation in selecting one of the most famous sci-fi tomes of all time: Frank Herbert’s Dune.
And as he told us: “If you’ve ever wondered why Dune has endured for six decades, it’s because it’s not just a story.
“It’s a prophecy, a mirror and a warning, and it’s never been more timely to read.”
He said; “I’ve read Dune six times (if you count once as an audiobook) but the first time I wondered what was going on. Dune isn’t just science-fiction, it’s a warning dressed as a myth.
“Written in the 1960s, Dune foresaw many of today’s crises - the struggle over finite resources, man-made ecological collapse, and the exploitation of desert lands by powerful empires.
“Arrakis, the desert planet where ‘the spice’ is everything, mirrors our own dependence on oil and the Middle East’s place in global politics. The Spacing Guild, which controls interstellar travel, is utterly dependent on spice. Their Navigators use it in vast quantities to gain prescient vision, allowing them to guide ships safely through folded space.
“Without spice, the Guild collapses, and with it, interstellar travel and the whole galactic economy. For the Fremen trying to survive on Arrakis amongst the destruction of the spice harvesting, water is sacred because it is life itself. Every drop is guarded, recycled, and honoured, not only as a necessity but as the heart of their spiritual identity. In a world of scarcity, what others waste becomes holy.
“That reverence is both a critique of our own careless consumption and a vision of how necessity can reshape values.”
Councillor Edmonds shared his choice as part of Bedford Borough Council’s Year of Reading, a Borough-wide initiative taking place throughout 2025. It features a wide range of events and initiatives to celebrate and promote reading, including town centre performances, literary trails, and author readings.
Councillor Edmonds added; “What sets Dune apart is how it blends politics with mysticism. The Fremen, the resilient desert dwellers of Arrakis, are both empowered and manipulated, caught between their faith and the myths outsiders, particularly the cult-like Bene Gesserit, have planted to control them.
“For the Fremen, the desert’s native people, survival shapes belief. The young Paul Atreides may seem like the saviour they’ve waited for, but Paul is swept along by forces of personal revenge, curated prophecy and religious expectation, until his ascent unleashes the fire of his holy war that ultimately engulfs and destroys endless civilisations.
“The novel’s world feels eerily real: its languages, philosophies, and histories pull you into something ancient yet futuristic, immersive in a way few books ever achieve. But beneath it all runs a starker message: the leader we long for may not be our saviour, but the beginning of our downfall.”
To find out more or to get involved in Bedford Borough Council’s Year of Reading, visit www.bedford.gov.uk/yearofreading or email yearofreading@bedford.gov.uk
And remember - if you want to read a copy of Frankenstein or any other book recommended by our councillors, you can always see if it's available in one of our libraries!
Visit or call any of our libraries during staffed hours and staff will help you to request titles, remembering to have your library card with you. You can also search the catalogue and request books on the library app or online catalogue using your library card number and PIN. If you’re not sure of your PIN, you can request a reminder. There is a charge for requesting books, but it’s free for children.
Library opening hours, PIN requests, and online catalogue is all accessible on the dedicated page on our website, and the app is called Bedfordshire Libraries in the App Store.