House Atreides (Dune: House Trilogy, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: blast from the past
Review: The writing is pretty poor compared to Frank Herbert's...this book could have used a lot of editing and tightening up. But, on the other hand, it is interesting seeing classic Dune characters such as Leto Atreides and Duncan Idaho as kids...therefore I am rating it in the middle ;)

Rating:
Summary: To rape a father's corpse
Review: I read this worthless book along with House Harkonnen and House Corrino. I have no idea why I even bothered with the second two after reading this crap. Brian Herbert has turned his father's great work into a Sci Fi soap opera with none of the character depth or political intrigue that the original series was full of. The original Dune series had strong female characters that were actually developed, something I find that male writers have a hard time pulling off. Every character from the original series was interesting to follow and read about. In Brian's blaspemy, women are lowered to the point that they are seemingly there just to be the romantic OTHERS to his boring male characters.

Brian doesn't stop there. He continually destroys characters created by his father due to his lack of imagination, intelligence, and ability to write. The gravest of these trespasses is his destruction and character assassination of Holtzman who was a genious. In the original series we get but glimpses of him through writings of his or commentary from characters. The man was an exceptional human being almost godlike in his aftermath. In Brian's books we meet face to face with the man and Brian does whatever he can to drag him through the mud and make him out to be an idea stealing crackpot who uses slave labor to defeat difficult math problems. As if......

If you want to read a great sci fi series read FRANK Herbert's DUNE and the following 5 books. Don't waste your time on this trash.
To Brian:
Shame on you. It's bad enough that you are trying to profit from your father's great work but the degree to which you are destroying it is just disgusting. You have no honor or talent and I hope you fail in all that you do. Good day sir.

Rating:
Summary: Dune Lives On
Review: The two new authors of Dune don't try to emulate the style of Frank Herbert, but their approach is also solid and admirable. I was from the first page willing to listen to these new storytellers and was drawn in more and more. So many things, which are only mentioned on the side in original Dune Books are elaborated upon in full color. Learning the past of many familiar characters is fascinating for an experienced Dune reader and is also a solid place to start for the beginner. What one would expect from a Dune novel is there. The labyrinthine politics and intense personal struggles are all there as before. I found nothing at all lacking in this new approach and give my wholehearted approval.