Rating: 
Summary: Really good story.
Review: The back information on the Dune universe was very good. I really enjoyed this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Dune: House Atreides
Review: Disappointing. The story line is fine, but the character development, both in description and dialog is very different from the series. Not only is it different, it's quite poor. It's almost a certainty that the editor of this book NEVER read any of the others.It isn't easy to fill the original author's shoes, but somebody dropped the ball on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: and a dash of Star Trek 6
Review: This prequel to the Dune series is an admirable effort but it falls far short of the standard set by Frank Herbert. The book's most noticeable failing is the hasty and poorly executed introduction of the Harkonnen's "no-ship" technology. Not only is the idea lifted almost exactly from Star Trek 6 (and who knows where else), but this crucial plot element is introduced far too late in the book to interest the reader. The prose tends to be redundant. Plot elements unique to Herbert's Dune Universe are overexplained. Even a reader new to the Dune universe needs only one explanation of the purpose of the Bene Geserrit or the physical deformities of the Guild Navigators. For whatever reason, the authors found it necessary to continually remind the reader of the subtleties of the Dune universe. Most of all, Frank Herbert's literary tone is discarded in favor of the more popular tone and structure currently in vogue in the science fiction community. Despite its failings, Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson's resurrection of the Dune universe is certainly passable, and even a welcome reintroduction to the characters that many thought had died along with Frank Herbert.
Rating:
Summary: It's probably worth your time.
Review: Sure we all wish Frank Herbert had lived to finish his Dune series, but he didn't and this is the closest you're going to get so just start grinning and bearing it, okay? ;-) If you didn't make it through Herbert's original 6 books, don't start with this one, because the master himself definitely tells the story best, but if you're like me and have read pretty much everything the man ever wrote, just can't possibly get enough Frank Herbert, this is definitely worth your time. Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson do a credible job of bringing Frank Herbert's characters and universe back from the dead. The book is a "prequel" to the original series, and further good news is that there are clear hints that there will be at least one additional prequel book and a "postquel" book as well.
Rating:
Summary: On Balance, Very enjoyable.
Review: This new book from the universe of Dune is some of what I read in the negative reviews and some of what I read in the positive reviews. I am surprised at the number of reviews which disect the story so ruthlessly. I enjoyed it, even with its flaws and I look forward to future efforts by these two authors. They are doing a competent job in expanding our view of the Dune universe. I will buy the next Dune book and the next, regardless of the nay-sayers and negative attitudes shown by those without the ability to "get into" the world of Dune.
Rating:
Summary: Simply a poor book
Review: I won't go into how the book doesn't compare to Frank Herbert's original novels in any way. You don't have to be a Dune fan to see that this book is bad, quite simply: - The writing is uninspired, full of old clichés and inappropriate slang. The authors explain the plot over and over again, insulting the intelligence of their readers (and boring them to tears). - There is no *point* to the book; no overall plotline, theme or symbolism. It's just a bunch of stuff that happens to a random collection of characters. Therefore there's no feeling of suspense, no anticipation of how the conflict will be resolved. - The characters are flat, uninteresting and apparently more than a bit stupid. Each has only one dominant character trait (good, evil, scheming etc...), and always acts in accordance with it, never revealing hidden depths or otherwise surprising the reader. No character develops significantly over the span of the book. For such a simplistic book, I found it amazingly hard to read. I continually lost interest in the characters and their actions, and the prose quite literally drove me to sleep. This book is not very entertaining. It is not interesting. It is not well-written, epic or poetic. It is certainly not profound. "Dune" by Frank Herbert, on the other hand, is all of those things. So why not read that instead?
Rating: 
Summary: Back in the Future with Dune's Past
Review: What a great read Dune House Atreides is.The original Dune novel established a universe created by Frank Herbert that is revisited by authors Brian Herbert(Frank's son) and Kevin J. Anderson. Dune House Atreides is set in time approximately one generation before the original novel takes place. The reader is introduced to familiar(and unfamiliar) characters that become the main players in this part 1 of 3 Prequel Trilogy. Right from the opening chapter we are taken on a fast paced ride that gives insight to the many beginnings of friends and foes in the struggle to control spice. Anyone unfamiliar with the Dune universe can pick this book up and instantly become engrossed in it. Fans of the "Duniverse"(like me), can finally rejoice with the release of great new material that expands the greatest sci fi story ever told.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting plotlines, perpetuates social evils
Review: While noone could, or at least should, expect this novel to live up to Frank Herbert's master work, it is acceptable as a continuation of the storyline. While it is far inferior to both Dune and Children of Dune, it is a far better work that Chapterhouse. What it lacks in plot, however, it makes up for in perpetuating lines of stereotyping and discrimination. The additional plotlines woven into the text - the backgrounds for Ix, the Bene Tleilax, and Duncan Idaho in particular - provide a good solid backgrounding for the later books in the story. The Baron's story is a good format adopted here to show why he turned out to be so twisted, but the familial backgrounding is weak. The first half of the story dealing with Shaddam and Fenrig's scheming is excellent, but the latter half of this plot-line is contrived and reflects too much of Anderson's involvement in the Star Wars expansion books. The plotline involving Sister Gaius Helen Mohiam is quite ingenious. As far as the relationship between the text and real life go: the anti-union bias reflected in this text is horrid, the environmental considerations are added in only as a tribute to Herbert (it is obvious that the authors do not share his passion for ecology), the careful attitude adopted by Herbert towards non-European cultures is adandoned and degenerates into racist and xenophobic depictions, and the general background and serious research put into the novels by Herbert is replaced with irrelevant and utterly made-up sceince and biology. In short, while the book is interesting, the social message is one that should be taken into account by the reader. THe book abandons Herbert's course of wise progressivism in favor of reactionary and regressive stances towards socal issues. One has to read this book with a critical eye to avoid the sexist, racist, and (often) homophobic attitudes adopted by little Herbert and Anderson in the text of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Extreme opinions
Review: I reviewed the ratings given this book. There are lots of 4 and 5's and lots of 1's. So apparently you love it or you hate it. I am in the former camp. It was wonderful after all these years to be able to return to Dune. True, there are some differences in style, but the book far exceeded my expectations. It is clear that much of the elaboration of the young Duke's tribulations following in his father's footsteps are the author's comments about his own situation. I believe he admirably passes his trial. I look forward to reading the next Dune books
Rating:
Summary: NOT BAD, BUT DEFINITELY NOT GREAT- A FUN & EASY READ....
Review: Actually, it's an excellent watering-down of Frank Herbert's classic series, skillfully designed for the lucrative young teens market. The adult reader is left with no doubt that young Herbert did it for the bucks. Will serious sci-fi lovers find any of it to be exciting, awe-inspiring or mind-expanding (as the first Dune was)? Not likely; however, the return to the elder Herbert's world still made for a fun afternoon's read. Despite the many "historical" mistakes (see the other reviews), still makes for good "bathroom reading" on a par with the Star Wars books. Give it to your young teen for Xmas.
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