Rating: 
Summary: Too Much Synchronicity
Review: This new addition to the Dune series is a prequel to the last prequel trilogy. Set an indeterminate number of millenia before the "real" Dune books, it expands on the backstory alluded to therein.But there's too much synchronicity -- too much happens or is invented at the same time during this first of three new novels. Here we have (spoilers ahead) the origins of: suspensors and glowglobes
shields
the Bene Gesserit
the Harkonnens and the Atreides (with their roles seemingly reversed)
the trade in the spice melange
sandworm riders
the imminent invention of seemingly ftl space travel All of these events/inventions (and I've probably left a few off the list), which one would expect to evolve over the course of many years, happen here within the course of perhaps two or three years. The characters are wooden and without depth, almost archetypes. A particularly disturbing touch is a robot who seems to be emulating the medical researches of Josef Mengele. For all it's length, it is a fast read. It would be a faster read if the authors hadn't assumed that the reader would forget what happened less than 50 pages ago -- resorting instead to padding the text with constant reminders and flashbacks. I read it. I will read the next two. But the reading will most likely be as mechanical as the writing turns out to have been.
Rating: 
Summary: Not very impressive.
Review: I was very disappointed by this book. I know Frank Herbert is dead, and these 2 writers have a different style, so I won't complain about that. The biggest problem I have with this is that the reason I liked Frank Herbert's Dune series is because of the focus on ideas--this book seems like nothing more than a space opera. The characters were all shallow and unsympathetic. Sure there was action, but this was just a page-turner--I mean, sure, it was well-written, but it was very formulaic and predictable. I'll say this--if you love Dune, get it, if not, your money is better spent elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: milking it!
Review: I am a dune Junkie, and having given this book 2 stars, I will still buy the next book. But this was really sad. Basically, the purpose of this book is to set the stage for the next two. And the purpose of these three (Other than the obvious financial reasons) is to give us the origins of all the mythology that the Frank Herbert created as a backdrop for his series. In and of itself this is fine, but the implementation is [not good]. The characters are shallow, the historical representations are unsophisticated and the emotional content is sophomoric. After about the first hundred pages, I read it out of some perverse desire to reach the conclusions promised in the opening chapter. But was denied even that. Get this book if you are a Dune fan, if not, don't waste your money
Rating: 
Summary: A history of Dune
Review: Keep in mind that Brian is NOT Frank Herbert. If you fully understand this fact, "The Butlerian Jihad" gives the reader a fascinating glimpse of what Frank Herbert had only briefly touched on in his epic series of "Dune" classics. This book gives insight into the future feud between what will become two Great Houses in the time of Muad'dib. Yes, it reads more like a screen play, but so what, refer to my first sentence. And yes, I can see what the next two books will entail, but frankly I can't wait for them to be published.
Rating: 
Summary: Satisfying.
Review: It's not Frank Herbert, but it is a fast-moving, somewhat complex tale that provides some great texture to the Dune Universe. If you are a Dune addict, enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Slow starter, but really good
Review: Do you remember when, all those years ago, when you pickied up "Chapter House Dune" and the only thing you recognized was Duncan Idaho? Well that is how I felt about this book. As I got into it it became really good really fast. Now I am looking forward to the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Brain Candy/Cash Cow
Review: I found this book entertaining as opposed to the thought provoking work of Frank Herbert. Something I'd like to read on a plane or oil rig. Reads like a Micheal Crichton novel, fast paced, superficial character development and techno backdrop forced into a Dune framework. Like the House trilogy, this had the same prequel formula, parallel character development leading into a dramatic culmination of events at the end with enough (prequel) sequel nuclei scattered throughout. The obligatory philosophical chapter quote sprinkles started getting blase at the last few chapters. Origins of the Evermind and thinking machines reeked too much of Terminator's SkyNet execept SkyNet had more believeble storyline. Reading the book leaves me with the feeling that Herbert and Anderson are going to milk this cash cow for the next 4-5 years. Will I buy the next Legends of Dune? Sure, Dune's an addiction that I can't kick.
Rating: 
Summary: Not DUNE... but sci-fi still worth reading
Review: Comparing this novel with the works of Frank Herbert is unfair: the original DUNE series were deeply written, complicated, and unspoiled by science fiction cliches. THE BUTLERIAN JIHAD is mostly shallow and predictable. This "prequel" is an easy read, much more like a screenplay in its cinematic style, written with short scenes, all the perfect length for a coffee break. The story jumps from character to character, a dizzying cast spanning the galaxy. For me, the fore-shadowing and predictability of the story was a distraction. I very much wanted to guess at the connections... instead the novel gives you very few surprizes, usually laying out in the previous chapter the events which unfold in the next with unwavering accuracy. It also seems somewhat convenient that all of the pivotal events which will lead up to the galaxy as it is known in Frank Herbert's DUNE series are set up in this time. The importance of spice, the origins of the Bene Gesserit, the creation of personal shields, the first person on Arrakis to ride a sandworm... too many events happening too closely together. Still, I enjoyed it in many ways. I am not a die-hard DUNE fan, and picked this one up with some hope for a good read. I was satisfied with what I had read without being thrilled. But I can easily imagine a movie adaptation coming out of this series of books... And it didn't hurt much that this book was released on my birthday. A nice gift to myself. :D
Rating:
Summary: a love it or hate it ordeal
Review: ok so you've probably read a lot of reviews before this, there are people who give it one star, labeling it as ... "garbage, and " not worth a read, " but they seem to not be able to grasp that Kevin J anderson and Brian Herbert are indeed NOT Frank Herbert, and while the original six were the best books I have ever read, the prequels weren't too shabby either. My Only big qualm with the House trilogy is the super short chapters and there seemed to be around 8 things going on at once in the books, so it's not too hard to lose focus from time to time, other than that, they are some very quality SF books anybody who liked the original series and Sci Fi in general would enjoy. Now to the Book, Yes, it has Sci Fi cliches, yes, the characters are a bit one dimensional,yes, those short chapters are back, and yes, the Anderson-Herbert writing style is back. But it's Still a VERY GOOD book, Dune fans will love, except those people who gave it one star, wwho have very critical and harsh opinions. Any body who bothers to read the whole book will love it and it's definitely worth the time. A great book that provides a backstory to the greatest Sci FI series ever.
Rating:
Summary: really, really, really bad
Review: I read the first few pages of this book marveling at how poorly it was written, how superficial the characters were, how it seemed that descriptions of people, places and events were included to increase word count rather than to increase my reading pleasure. I thought that if this were a worthy sucessor to the Dune series, then I must be suffering from the "visiting my childhood home" syndrome (gee, this place is smaller than I remember it. A lot smaller).
So I got a copy of Dune and read it again. It is as good as I remember it. This book, on the other hand, is really, really, really bad. This book should be read only in paperback, and only if the front cover has been torn off. Your enjoyment may be maximized if you read only the back cover. sorry.
| 
