Dune Frank Herbert
Innumerable small flourishes transform this book from an indulgent sci-fi opera to an English language classic. There are too many to go over; however, I do want to highlight two of them. The first is the character of the desert planet Arrakis. Herbert's training as an ecologist comes through clearly, and he is able to let readers understand the ecology and biome of the Arrakeen landscape beautifully. I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned by thinking about what Herbert has to say about ecology and biological systems. The second is Herbert's use of epigraphs. They do a masterful job of fleshing out the wider Universe and convey a sense of grandeur rarely captured. They create the feeling of 'terrible purpose' and contrast beautifully with the story as it unfolds. I've revisited this book before, and think I will again. It's my type of book.