Rating: 
Summary: Worthy of Dune
Review: Herbert and Anderson are on to something. After succeeding with the prequel trilogy House Atreides, etc, this looks like the start of another excellent series. The jihad takes time in starting and by the end of the book things are set up for a sequel to delve deeper into the actual jihad itself.If you liked the House Atreides series you will enjoy Butlerian Jihad.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh Man
Review: Umm ok I didn't buy the book(20 mins. at a local B&N was all I needed) and people I liked the last serise that Brian and Kevin did really but MAN this is just.. too different. So... #1 Save your money
#2 (This is for Kevin) Please Mr. Anderson save yourself!! Get back to writting Star Wars.
#3 (This is for Brian) Brian just because your last name is the same is your father's doesn't mean that you can write "Dune" like he did. Get some more of your own stuff published and then get back to carrying on your father's legacy.
Rating: 
Summary: not as good as the other 3 prequels, Thanks to Scott Brick
Review: Having "read" the 3 House of prequels by audio book, I bought the Butlerian Jihad on CD, as it gives me extra reading time while being in the car. ALAS, they changed the reader! While the other books are read extremely well by Tim Curry, the reader here is one Scott Brick whose reading style is a TORTURE to listen to. He thoroughly spoiled the book with his pompous exaggerated reading, pronouncing words in wrong context, actually overpronouncing everything like a completeley out of control English grammar teacher.
Half the time I couldn't even concentrate on what was going on because I was writhing in pain from the guy's reading style. Unfortunately, after 5 of the 20 CDs I just couldn't take it anymore. Must finish it by book now. If you can get a listening test before buying the audio book, do it to see if you can stand the guy.
I couldn't. My daughter listened to it for 5 minutes and screamed to stop it, thant listening to Mr. Brick was giving her a rash. Well, goes to show that you can mess up a good book perfectly well by choosing the wrong actor to read it for audio.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest pre-quels ever
Review: I've read all of the Dune books as of yet, I can not wait to read the next 2 for this pre-quel. It explains a lot about what the Butlerian Jihad was all about and gives a lot of background on the whole history leading up the the house trilogy. I can't wait to read more!!!! A must read for Dune fans!
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good
Review: I have read them all, and I did not know how I would take to a prequel from 10,000 years before the other earliest edition. I need not have worried. THe book told a great story, kepy my attention and is a good lead-in for the next 2 volumes of the planned trilogy. Keep up the good work, and keep them coming!
Rating: 
Summary: Save you money,
Review: I've been reading Sci-Fi and fantasy for about 40 years and I've rarely come across a book that I've wanted to pitch through the nearest window. This is one of those. The authors suffer from a severe case of adjective-itis and try to blend way too many story lines and characters together. The characters are one dimensional and hard to identify with. The villians are cartoonishly evil, the science poor to non-existant and the military and battle scenes almost silly.
The dialog is painfull and stilted, more like something from a Victorian melodrama than what we expect from modern Sci-Fi writers. The overall impression is something like a bad Sci-Fi movie from the '50's or the old Batman TV series. The only reason I can see that this drivel was published is because it carries the "Dune" chachet. Unless you are the Dune equivalent of a Trekkie give this one a pass.
Rating:
Summary: Good thing I can trade this thing in¿.
Review: After I finished this book (which didn't take long) I resolved that this was the LAST one I was ever going to waste my money on. I've put up with these new Dune books, knowing they were mediocre and enjoying them as a guilty pleasure but this one is the last straw. Frank Herbert's characters had intricacies yet they were unknowable, mysterious, but these people in the Butlerian Jihad are a bore; heroes and damsels in distress that are as flat and boring as the paper they are written on. The imagery reeks of concepts lifted straight from Star Wars (AT-ATs anyone?) and plot holes. How could the Guild wield so much power in the future if space travel seemed just as convenient before the Spice? This book should have been a mythological juggernaut, but it's just a pulp bore. And to add insult to injury, not only does it not dish up half of what the book jacket promises but it ends on a cliffhanger so they can sell us more books. No thanks, guys.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Once again I am amazed at the fine job Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have done with this series of prequels to the classic "Dune". The latest trilogy goes back a thousand years further and shows a lot of the religious and political history that lead to the world depicted in the classic novel. It is one of those books you just don't want put down. It is a battle fought for mankind's freedom, against computers, and Cymeks (which are machines which human minds.) This book touches upon where the hatred between the Harkonnens's and the Atreides originated from which I guess is going to be over a girl. With a new twist which I liked, a Harkonnen is the good guy in this story and an Atreides is one of the bad guys. (The Atreides is too naive to know he is fighting for the wrong side.) Agamemnon who is a cymek general and the father of Vorian Atreides reminded me in ways of Darth Vadar trying to corrupt his son over to the dark side to follow in his foot steps. I must also admit that the first line I heard one of the cymeks (who were twenty titans which ruled the world before the computers took over) make, reminded me of the "Borg" from Star Trek, but I'm glad to say that from then on the similarities ended. (I'm also not sure if the characters name Vorian, known through out the book as Vor is a tribute to Lois McMaster Bujold's Vor novels which are also very good by the way.) The "Omnius" computer who is the head of the computer world is a decent character, but the computer Erasmus who is trying to understand humanity is very interesting, even if he does remind you of an evil mentat. Insights are also gained into the beginnings of the new Empire, the inventor Tio Holtzman and his shields, the original Suk doctor, the beginnings of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, spice trading on Arrakis, worm riding, and the Bene Tlulax. This novel may also be used to set up several future story lines which could come into play after "Chapter House Dune" to move the series forward instead of the backwards direction it has been heading in. I can't wait for the next one in this new series to come out.
Rating:
Summary: More, I want More!
Review: I don't care what the critics say, I loved this book, and can't wait for more on the struggle of humans against machines. This is a great beginning, and I hope there is more. I'll be on the waiting list for the release. I am not an avid reader, but I couldn't put this one down. The only reason it gets only four stars is because I want more--NOW! Loved it
Rating:
Summary: Rubbish!
Review: I have never found myself actually getting angry at a series of books but these have done it to me! These books have none of the subtlety or depth of Frank Herberts original books and they are filled with one dimensional plots and characters such as Rhomber "er" Vernius and Piter de Vries, this second example illustrating proof that the authors have not even read the originals, otherwise they would know that this character's name was in fact Piter de Vried! There are just so many inconsistancies as to make these books laugable if it wasn't so frustrating and a list of these inconsitancies could fill a book on their own. ...
In summary where Frank Herberts novels were the pinnacle of the writers art, and perhaps one of the great feats of fiction this book and the the other preludes written by Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson are in the absolute pit of pulp rubbish. ...
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