This is considered to be in the Sci-Fi/Fanatsy category, but it's DEFINITELY not a fairy tale for a child. It has an errotic, sensual quality that an adult can most assuredly appreciate. I enjoyed this book very much and found it hard to put down. You have to be a fan of works such as this to fully appreciate Herbert's flowery English prose. But, he definitely transports you to a realm of unseen worlds and fascinating characters, leaving you breathless to find out what it all means.