At the end of Frank Herbert's final novel, Chapterhouse: Dune, a ship carrying a crew of refugees escapes into the uncharted galaxy, fleeing from a terrifying, mysterious Enemy. The fugitives used genetic technology to revive key figures from Dune's past--including Paul Muad'Dib and Lady Jessica--to use their special talents to meet the challenges thrown at them.

Based directly on Frank Herbert's final outline, which lay hidden in two safe-deposit boxes for a decade, Sandworms of Dune will answer the urgent questions Dune fans have been debating for two decades: the origin of the Honored Matres, the tantalizing future of the planet Arrakis, the final revelation of the Kwisatz Haderach, and the resolution to the war between Man and Machine. This breathtaking new novel in Frank Herbert’s Dune series has enough surprises and plot twists to please even the most demanding reader.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.0 based on 127 reviews)

Bad.....Yep, Bad.....

First -- they stretched one book over two. Bad move -- makes for a drawn out slow read. Second, it's just not that good.

There are a lot of opinions comparing Brian and Kevin to Frank Herbert. It's not fair -- Frank owned this material and he nailed it. Brian and Kevin are tackling someone else's work and, while I have enjoyed their other work, it does show through.

I would love to see the 'notes' and 'outlines' that are credited as being the base for building this book. I enjoyed the prequels and like the tie-in back to that. Maybe Frank intended something similar, mabe he didn't -- it doesn't matter at this point. I'm glad they tackled it. Unfortunately, it devolved into silliness related to the characters they brought back, etc. Oh well .....
October 01, 2008

More of the Dune Universe

After reading all of the Frank Herbert Dune series, I have become addicted to the richness of the Dune Universe. Brian and Kevin have done a spectacular job of pushing out the edges of that universe.
September 22, 2008

MUST READ THIS BOOK

OMG Huge Dune fan here. This book is so captivating and everything I expected-plus more. Get a copy of this book if you have not already.
September 21, 2008

Misunderstand Frank Herbert's originals

The book directly contradicts facts established in Frank Herberts originals. Not trivial bits, but major plot points such as who and what important characters are, rewriting the background for the universe, etc.

What is worse is that it makes a mockery of the themes Frank Herbert explored in his originals: Where they discussed the problems of handing over decision-making to mechanical things and power structures, the new books talk of an evil robot trying to eradicate mankind for no apparent reason.
After Frank spent 6 books demolishing the hero archetype, charismatic leaders and our dependency on them and warning us about 'putting all our eggs in one basket' as a species, this book applauds religious fervor to incite mankind to band together under a single leader.

If you liked Frank Herbert's work for the multilayered plotting, believable characters, well crafted universe and themes of humanity, politics and overall philosophical approach to science fiction - you will feel your fond memories violated.

If you thought Dune was an action novel with a few draggy bits but a lot of lasers, giant worms and über-cool heroes and villains - then you might enjoy this and other KJA&BH work. You would also be wrong...
September 16, 2008

Ultimate Kwisatz Haderach or Ultimate Failure?

To be fair to Herbert and Anderson, Frank Herbert had a number of dum ideas. Among the insideous creations: face dancers; gholas; axlotl tanks; and worst of all Leto II becoming a sandworm.

But what made Herbert's stories work; was that he was a great writer capable of taking the dumbest ideas and making something out of them. Something intriquing, something worth reading.

In Sandworms of Dune, readers are left with the worst of Herbert's ideas, taken by SF's worst writers, who conspire to create a terrible book in an attempt to enhance the cash hoards of Hourse Herbert and House Anderson.

In Sandworms of Dune, the no-ship continues through space with its gholas; Omnius marches through the empire destroying human worlds; the Bene Gesserit puts up a futile attempt to stop Omnius; the face dancers just infiltrate the humans making these worse; and the Oracle of Time has some mysterious purpose which is never revealed until the end. To about pg 475 of 549; everything goes against the humans.

Then the ending is a complete disappointment with human victory hinging on the help of Erasmus and the Oracle of Time, both of whom don't have any motivation to help the humans bc they both hate them.

Other than Duncan Idaho, no one on the Ithaca really does anything. And even he doesn't do much other than proclaim himself the Ultimate Kwisatz Haderach. Pretty stupid. In fact, the authors just ended up eliminating the ghola children bc they didn't know what to do with them.

Overall, poor imagination; bad writing; and stupid ideas make this book a complete failure.
September 16, 2008

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Hunters of Dune
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson

Paul of Dune
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson

Chapterhouse Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 6)
by Frank Herbert

House Corrino (Dune: House Trilogy, Book 3)
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
by Stephen Youll

Heretics of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 5)
by Frank Herbert