Rating: 
Summary: The Real Beginning of the Second Dune Trilogy
Review: Take Mankind thousands of years into the future (not hundreds of years like most authors, or even Arthur C. Clarke's somewhat weak attempt at going 1000 years), and what do you have? It leaves the author pretty free to have anything be true. Frank Hebert clearly and precisely and thoroughly creates a truly alien Human society that is also strongly rooted in its past. The worlds and cultures of "Dune" are strongly influenced by Arabic and Islamic culture, along with a hearty dash of medieval European feudalism. Frank Herbet writes so well that it all seems plausible, as if you are reading history instead of fiction. And, who can say it won't turn out this way?"God Emperor of Dune" was the fourth book in the Dune series, but had an entirely different feel to it. Now, "Heretics of Dune" both steps farther away AND back into the usual "Dune" feel. It steps farther away by moving even further into the future, and by working with no clear House Atreides member, although there are Atreides descendants. Instead of warring Houses, it's the Bene Gesserit versus the Bene Tleilax versus the returning Imperial citizens who had left the Empire at the end of the God Emperor's Reign of Enforced Peace. We don't know why the Returning Ones are returning, or how they have changed since they left, but we get glimpses of intriguing possibilities. We don't even know whose side they are on, and neither do they. This book is very much a set-up for the next book. "Heretics of Dune" steps back into the Dune tradition by having multiple parties at odds with one another and giving you different viewpoints. While many people divide the Dune series into a first trilogy and a second trilogy, I see it more as a first trilogy, a transitional book ("God Emperor of Dune"), and a second, and still unfinished trilogy. Brian Herbert, Frank's son, and Kevin Anderson, are moving toward writing the seventh Dune book, and are preparing by writing a prequel trilogy - "House Atreides", "House Harkonnen", and "House Corrino". While many reviewers dislike these new Dune prequels, I like them. They do lack some of the complexity and depth of Frank Herbert's work, but they are moving in the right direction. The as-yet unpublished "House Corrino" should give Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson room for complexity, as the Corrino family was always into intrigues and shifting alliances. I never call anything a must-read, as I don't know who has the right to dictate to anyone what they "must read". However, you're missing something if you don't read (and later re-read) the entire Dune series. I recommend buying a set when you're a teenager and keeping it to re-read every five years or so. The story will grow as you do, as will your appreciation of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Dune Forever (Sequel and end)
Review: When the book comes to a close, the next and final stage is ready and the main proponents on the side of the Bene Gesserit are assembled : the Mother Superior Odrade, the impregnated Honored Matre, the ghola, Sheeana and the worm they have saved from the sterilisation of Rakis. The conclusion that comes up from this book is that history is a treacherous « science » because it locks up the people in a vision that aims at reproducing and justifying existing power orders. Then history has to be re-examined and re-studied to be put in perspective, the perspective of a change of events. The second conclusion is that the domination of people leads to doomed power, tyranny, no future. To really have a long-lasting influence on history and the world, you need to dominate, to manage the deepest dynamics of humanity, and those are genetic lines, religions, beliefs, faithfulness, trust, friendship and love. The third conclusion is that there is deep distrust in these novels against technology for the sake of technology and power. The belief is that human values are a lot more better. The fourth conclusion is that the real dynamic of humanity is survival, the survival of individuals, the survival of species, the survival of values, the survival of human feelings, the survival of beliefs and cultures, the survival of humanity because humanity is the only perspective the world, the universe has to develop and to be endowed with a long-term mission, a long-term project : the expanding universe itself can only exist if this wide vision of survival is totally accepted and assumed by any individual and by the whole community. The fourth conclusion is that beliefs are stronger than any material force, especially those beliefs who concern the soul, the mind, the intelligence of men and women, their capacity to imagine and invest their imagination into the living organism that the universe is. The fifth conclusion I will draw is that progress can only come from conflict, that the future can only be delivered through fights, revolutions and even wars : humanity cannot be but a divided and striving reality : the absence of fighting and eternal peace only lead to tyranny and the freezing of historical change, though history can never be stopped : there will always be the forces that will delibver the future and these forces will always be successful in spite of any set-back of even regression. Mental and imaginary powers are the only real powers in this universe. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.
Rating:
Summary: The Heretics first (to be continued)
Review: This fifth volume in the Dune sequence by Frank Herbert is essential to understand the whole sequence. It is also essential because the center used so far is slightly, even radically, shifted. Dune, Arrakis, now Rakis is no longer the center of this saga, but only the key to the last development of the novel, the keystone of the denouement which brings the total sterilisation of the planet. The main change or shift is the fact that the novel is centered on The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. They hold the energy necessary to the action. They are the only force able to bring together two newcomers. Sheeana, this girl who can speak to the worms, who can speak to the descendants of the Tyrant or God Emperor, Leto II. She obviously holds in her the essential genetic elements that can bring the total regeneration of this universe, because this universe is totally rotten, even worse than the Kingdom of Denmark. This girl enables the religious system on Rakis to shift from the Priesthood, the heirs of the God Emperor, of the now Divided God, to the necessary recuperation of the Worm, of the God Emperor's teaching and its radical renewing by a deep rejuvenation and questioning, based on the popular faith that has never died in spite of all pressures. A new perspective is supposed to come out of this re-evaluation. But a new female order appears in the picture, a conquering order of Honored Matres who want to enslave the whole world. Their method and tool is sex. They have devised a new sexual technique that makes men subservient and totally dependent. They conquer total power by giving the illusion to their direct slaves that they do take part in this power, though these slaves have to betray all human feelings, all faithfulness, all legitimacy in their thinking and living in order to have a position that controls - which is a total illusion - a little sector of society. They are nothing but tools used by these Honored Matres to conquer and control the world, to reduce 99.99% of the population to, the simple status of « scum ». This novel hence is heavily centered on two women's orders. The Bene Gesserit who uses accumulated knowledge and constant reevaluation of this knowledge to understand history, to understand the real perspective of the real world, hence to step beyond the limits of the history of historians who only rewrite the past to fit the projects of the men in power, of the tyrants in power. We may note that this order is yet based on a minority that controls the world, though this minority is trying to guide the world into a higher level of consciousness, of awareness. For them sex is nothing but a tool to achieve some genetic goals : the selection of exceptional people who will be able to concentrate in them the qualities and the mental powers of the best blood lines ever produced by humanity, one being that of the Atreides. On the other side The Honored Matres do not aim at entrusting the world to the best men and women ever existing, but only to control, manipulate and destroy, to enslave in one word, and for them sexuality is the tool of that enslavement. This novel shows how the fight between those two orders is doomed in the short run because their is no weapon or protection against this sexual power of the Honored Matres. Yet, the Mother Superior of the Bene Gesserit is trying to bring together the elements that are going to produce their final success. Those tools are Sheeana, since she has direct contact with the worm. Then a new ghola of Idaho Duncan (a real obsession in this sequence of novels that is finally broken, because the present ghola is to be the last one) produced by the Bene Tleilax (but the Tleilaxu are fiends and they have implanted in this ghola the order to kill the Bene Gesserit Imprinter who will reawaken his sexual desire, as well as the total sexual power that the Honored Matres have produced, and this fiendish as well as thoughtless act will give the Bene Gesserit the power to explore this special weapon used by the Honored Matres, because the ghola is imprinted by an Honored Matres who becomes the total slave of the ghola since he has a power that is equal at least to hers and she does not know how to cope, and because the ghola impregnates her and the child that will be a good study specimen). Then Teg Miles, the supreme Bashar of the Bene Gesserit, who is transformed in his mental and physical powers by the attempt of the Honored Matres to prenetrate his psyche, his body awareness to know the plans of the Bene Gesserit, and that attempt is a mistake (Teg is able to organize a rebellion that saves the ghola, himself and a few other faithful fighters, and Teg is able to bring the ghola to Rakis and to know where exactly the worm who is carrying Sheeana and Odrade is intended to come to deliver them to him and the no-ship he has captured). Note Teg will have to sacrifice himself and his faithful followers for this no-ship to go. The most interesting element is the constant negociation between the Bene Gesserit and the Bene Tleilax, and the final defeat of the Bene Tleilax, because the Bene Gesserit is able to use the Bene Tleilax's religious beliefs to lure them. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.
Rating:
Summary: Heretics is faithful to the orignal Dune and almost as good!
Review: This is a thrilling novel, pitting the Bene Gesserit against a new enemy, the Honored Matres. Obviously there must be some relationship between an order of women devoted to politics and breeding stock (Bene Gesserit=Well Bred) and a group of fearsome fighting women who unlike the Bene Gesserit, seem not to be addicted to the Spice. The Spice is that drug that creates the ability to see past and future and all the lives encapsulated in one's genes. It's now even more valuable as Rakis (once Arrakis) no longer produces the quantities of Spice as before. And what happened to the Fish Speakers, God Emperor Leto's army after the Diaspora, that time he had forseen when men would be scattered throughout the universe and once again re-invent humanity. Did they become the Honored Matres? Or are the Honored Matres something else? We get a new character here in the style of Paul Atreides, maybe even more successful than Paul; Miles Teg. A descendant of Paul, he is a born general and vital to the Bene Gesserit in their desperate fight to hold onto their worlds against the Honored Matres onslaught. And Duncan Idaho is reborn yet again, this time to serve the Bene Gesserit as he served the Atreides in the past. This book is almost as good as the original Dune, and its successor, Chapterhouse Dune is equally good. Together they make for an exciting set of science fiction novels.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate in Bene Geserit Plots
Review: Undoubtedly the most twisted Dune plot yet. Conceived by an undeniable genious of the genre! We miss you Frank! The book starts out with a young girl, Sheeana, on Dune --- now known as Rakis --- who can 'control' the worms. Sounds promising to many. Jump to Wallach IX, home of the Bene Geserit Sisterhood, and you find the newest Duncan Ghola under the tutelage of the sisterhood and of Miles Teg, a warrior who plays a surprising role in the book. Move on to the Honored Matres who have returned from the Scattering after the death of Leto II (the God Emperor); these Honored Matres promise to enslave the human race through their ultra sexual prowess and cunning (I'm hooked!). Now throw in the Tlielaxu (the scummy boys) who will make a bond with anyone to further their needs and you've got quite the soup for a science fiction novel with all the proper twists...or so you think. Who will gain control of Duncan and the spice? What happened to Miles Teg after the destruction of Rakis? Did he truly die? Will Duncan give in and 'make it' with Sheeana to produce a super-child that the Bene Geserit seem very interested in? I've got to start on Chapterhouse right away! This is addicting! Help!
Rating:
Summary: great sci-fi
Review: I'm currently reading Book 6 so Heretics is still fresh on my mind! I was initially disappointed that the story basically started fresh many centuries after Book 4, with only Leto II's lingering "Golden Path" still haunting the Bene Gesserit and no other characters present from that time except Duncan Idaho. BTW, this book and the next focus entirely on the Bene Gesserit. After a couple chapters, however, I was hooked into the story and intrigued by the nature of the violently destructive Honored Matres returned from The Scattering. What are they after? I'm about halfway through Book 6 and that question still hasn't been answered. Duncan is a child for most of this novel, so the main male "hero" is the veteran general Miles Teg. There are a few Bene Gesserit protagonists, but since they're all so crafty and cunning it's hard to call them heroines. Let's just call them "the good side" while the Honored Matres are most definitely evil. Herbert does a wonderful job endowing each Bene Gesserit with a unique personality yet also that infernal arrogance. There isn't a single Bene Gesserit that doesn't feel a sense of superiority to all non-sisters and complete control of almost any situation. Herbert chalks this attitude up to the countless memories of Other Lives and it is very believable. An excellent read with an awesome ending. Several scenes of intense action and classic Herbert descriptions of combat and the "prana-bindu" reflexes. Go Miles!
Rating:
Summary: give it up to Frank Herbert!
Review: First of all, I've read many of the above reviews, and the general consensus appears to be that Dune was great, Messiah drooled, Children left you cold, and God Emperor should be ignored or better yet forgotten. Heretics on the other hand got some glowing reviews, as it should, since, even in my opinion, it is probably the better of the five books, excluding only Dune, which ruled on a scope that has not yet been passed by any other book in any other sci-fi series, and Chapterhouse, which I felt ended the series, if not pleasantly, than at least satisfactorily. Now, I'm going to explain why none of the books should be skipped or viewed as less than awesome. Point number one: Frank Herbert wrote them. Need I go on? I don't care how poorly contrived Messiah was, or how out of place God Emperor appeared, Herbert had a vision, and we're just along for the ride. For any of you to even consider that you could effectively and correctly critique the grand master of modern science fiction is preposterous! The books were meant to flow, and I believe they did. And as for philosophical ranting, please! I'm open to views other than my own, especially views emanating from such an ingenious and wonderfully imaginative author as Frank Herbert himself! Anything associated with Dune, and that includes the new books coming out (Yay!), should be read and hopefully appreciated, and if you didn't like it the first time, read it again, or just do something else! Now, while you digest that, I think I'm going to read the whole series again, merely for the pure enjoyment of it...
Rating:
Summary: The Dune series hits the afterburners!
Review: I bought this book along with Chapterhouse: Dune (which I have just started) mainly in order to finish the series. Dune itself had disappointed me initially - it is hard for a book to live up to a blurb like "Dune is the finest, most widely acclaimed science fiction novel of this century. Huge in scope, towering in concept, it is a work which will live in the reader's imagination for the rest of his life"! However, I enjoyed it more on later, more careful readings. I was somewhat depressed by Dune Messiah but thoroughly enjoyed Children of Dune, which made more sense (maybe I was just older and wiser when I came to read it). Then came God Emperor of Dune. Oh dear. The main problem with this book was that I couldn't understand why anyone did what they did. I couldn't fathom what this big universal plan for the future of humanity was and what had happened to it at the end - not knowing, of course, that much of what had happened was part of the plan, which was still going on! In Heretics of Dune, the Dune series acquires a new set of bad guys, or rather girls, in the form of the Honoured Matres. However, the familiar ingredients are all in place - everyone double and triple-crosses everyone else, surprises come thick and fast and the underlying scheme is unseen until the end. As in Children of Dune, a slow-burning beginning filled with much scheming, confusion and philosophising suddenly leads to a whirlwind, shocking ending which I doubt I could have expected without reading the back of Chapterhouse (tip: don't buy Chapterhouse until you finish Heretics!). I feel that it is the characters who make each Dune story work or otherwise. In God Emperor, for example, the characters' motivations are hard to see - they do things which make no sense with no explanation. In Heretics, on the other hand, the characters' backgrounds are fleshed out by their remembrances, which helps to make their actions seem more sensible. Chapterhouse awaits, and no doubt all will be revealed.......or, more probably, not.
Rating: 
Summary: Dune still the best!
Review: Dune is the best of the series. Not my favorite SF book, but deservedly and truly a classic. The next volume is nothing but sad. The third volume picks up a little but not much. The fourth, fifth and sixth are, I suppose, all right: the story comes alive again. They are quite wordy and rather contrived. I am afraid I don't understand half the contents and this is mostly because of the way concepts are presented: cloaked and crowded together. One evocative example: somewhere in the second half of the series there is a bar where the owner is supposed to have added something to the beer to make people drink more. Big surpise: it has alway been in beer and is called alcohol! I have the feeling that this is typical of the whole: many stale ideas repackaged to make them seem new. But I sure have to give Frank Herbert credit for trying.
Rating:
Summary: all praise to heretics
Review: ....and the heretical author for writing such a thoughtful and yet exciting adventure tale unfolded by characters like the admirable Miles Teg, the Mentat Bashar who becomes the Sisterhood's eyes, ears, and (above all) heart... (and I'm glad they sort of resurrected in Teg the original Duke Leto, who really got the short end in DUNE).
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