Rating: 
Summary: Can't wait till the sequel
Review: Dune:House Atreides if the 2nd best book in the Dune universe. Dune is the best book. It is better than the 5 sequels that Frank Herbert wrote. It also adds much to the characters of Dune. The Baron's physical shape was a twist. The Ix sequences were well written and absorbing. Read it and the forthcoming sequels, then read Dune.
Rating:
Summary: Its not dune, but who cares?
Review: Anyone who was exspecting dune all over again, is undoubtably a fool. This exciting, intesnce book doesn't let you put it down. I have read the original and , although I enjoyed it, I found its prequal much more interesting and exciting. There are bound to be some small mistakes in some of the finer points, but really, who cares? If that irritated you, it probably ruined your perspective of the entire book, as you must have been looking for a historical recount of the dune universe, not the brilliant novel that it is.
Rating:
Summary: Grand Sf epic! Frank Herbert would be Proud!
Review: Kevin Anderson and Brian Herbert have skillfully taken frank herbert's epic vision of the far far future and given us a unforgettable novel set decades before original Dune.They take us on a tour of the planets in the Imperium:Arrakis,also called Dune home nomadic fremen people,where spice is mined.Caladan:home of the noble house of atreides.Giede Prime-home of the cruel and depraved house of Harkonnen and Kaitain: Home of Imperial home world of this galactic empire where Prince Shaddam will plot to murder his father to gain the throne.You will be shocked by lethal intrigues,machevellian manuvers used by the great house of the Imperium as the struggle for power in this brutal system.You will be atonished as the bene gessit sisterhood comes one step closer in their bid to create a superbeing a kwisatz Haderach.A masterpiece of world-building and my humble opinion the best sf novel of 1999!
Rating: 
Summary: 'Herbert-Lite' Has It's Moments.
Review: Reasonably well written by two talented individuals, with some good ideas (but I wonder what F. Herbert would think). BUT: Unlike Herbert senior's ability to keep disparate plot threads fairly relevant and synchronized, this book is a bit muddled and disjointed and even plods in places. It's hard to see how they can keep a trilogy going at this pace. But with K.J. Anderson's experience with pace and action, that could change. Though Brian Herbert will have to ensure it remains a true collaboration and not let Anderson, with the best of intentions, create a Star Wars-like space opera set in a Frank Herbert universe. No, I'm not trying to pigeon hole KJA, but his style IS a distinctive one. Still, we should not expect these writers to create a 'Duncan Idaho-Herbert' clone. And the signs are favorable that they will not. I give the men a B-minus.
Rating:
Summary: Dune Fan
Review: Personally, I loved it! Brian and Kevin did a great job bringing Frank Herbert's masterpiece back to life. I look forward to the rest of the prequel and hopefully Dune:7.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but leaves space for another before Dune.
Review: I enjoyed it even if it wasn't "pure" Dune. They gave it a good shot. But, there are still alot of unanswered questions and intrigues left hanging. Does this mean another book will be written?
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad pulp SF, but not Dune...
Review: Not bad. Okay, so that isn't the finest way to start a review, but it's the best way to start this novel - not bad. It's far from stunning, and far from a Dune book - far from being what is considered "proper" science fiction! - but it is good if accepted as a fairly simplistic action-adventure sci-fi novel aimed at a predominantly teenage audience. There are a not inconsiderable number of inconsistencies with Frank Herbert's original Dune Chronicles, but these aside, D:HA is fun at a base level. If I were to enter into honest criticism, I would cite weak characters and poor research as my main gripes. However, apart from this, D:HA is a fair (if oversized) read.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Let me start by saying this; it is not Frank Herbert's Dune. I did not expect it to be when I bought it. Those who expect it to be as excitingly fulfilling as any book in the Dune Chronicles are greatly mistaken. I find this novel to be a great SF novel. What I like most about it is the way it presents characters you havent read about in years, and it brings back those memories. After reading the last two books of the Dune Chronicles i find a new exciting adventure to retun to the roots Arrakis and the old Empire. I truly recomend you read this book.
Rating:
Summary: House Atreides
Review: Cynically, I had low expectations for this book. How could anyone write a prequel to such a superb novel as the orignal Dune? Not only was I pleasantly surprised but I was delighted. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt inspired to reread the entire Dune series again. Be warned that this is a risk you will have to be prepared to take. The book really did give further depth to the characters from the original and explained their motivation and history in an interesting and entertaining way. I would certainly recommend it to any lover of science fiction generally and anyone who enjoyed the original Dune series.
Rating:
Summary: Back to a place I'd never been....
Review: Approaching this book with trepidation, I felt that it surely could not match the original. In some respects it did not, however, it did manage to take me to Caladaan and several other places I had never imagined I would visit. To the critics who slate it, all I can say is this: It was never going to be the original, but is a classic in it's own right. There were some continuity errors, but I read to be entertained on occasion, and this entertained me. I look forward to the next offering.
|
