Rating: 
Summary: The best character study in science fiction
Review: One of the marks of a great writing is timelesness, and Frank Herberts "God Emperor of Dune" is a truely timeless work of science fiction. When held in comparison to the rest of the series of Dune books, it is eclipsed only by the original "Dune" for it's complexity, it's depth and emotional pull. The centerpiece of this novel is Leto II, the God Emperor. Due to several complicated circumstance of his heritage, Leto has the power of prophecy and concious access to the memories of his ancestors. These powers led him to see the eventual extinction of mankind, short of dramaitic intervention. In an act of awsome courage and terrible sacrifice, Leto accepted sybiosis with the native sandworms of the planet Dune. The reward was a lifespan of more than four thousand years, but the cost is gradual transformation into a sandwork and the loss of his humanity. The novel picks up roughly 3,500 years into Leto's reign. Leto is revered as a god, complete with religious administrators of his empire, and has enforced a 3000 year peace on mankind. Leto is also nearing the final stages of his monsterous transformation and has achieved the final outcome of a project meant to preserve humanity. That project is to produce a person who can not be seen by prophecy, the very power by which Leto rules. However, to create something is not neccesarily to control it. Can Leto persuade his creation to follow the "golden path" he has sacrificed so much to build? The character of Leto II is probably the most fully realized character is science fiction. Where the original Dune excelled in illustrating the byzantine complexities of intergalactic power politics, this book is about the complexities of the inner self. One feels sadness for Leto's obvious loneliness, pain, sacrifice; and admiration for his courage. On the other hand, we see the vanity, arrogance and casual cruelty which comes from being a living god. Like a real person, the character of Leto has to be understood for his totality. The supporting cast of charcaters are also well drawn and believable. But like planets, they all appear smaller and more distant as they orbit around Leto II's solar presence. Another quality that marks fine writting is that subsequent reading reveals greater depth and nuance. This book delivers a large dose of historical, philosophical and creative musings which don't usually overwhelm the story and can therefore be easily missed. The central messages of personal responsibility and the dangers of blindly following leaders are well communicated. This review only gives four stars because there are a couple of moments where the philosophy becomes a little too self reffering and pedantic. It's not clear whether this is the authors intent in terms of characterization or the book just getting too involved in itself. Science fiction often creates it's own universes and context, but it only works if that conceit has something to do with the real world. On balance this is a deep, thoughtful, meaty and very entertaining book. It is one of the high points of the Dune series and a genuine classic in it's own right.
Rating:
Summary: Hard To Judge
Review: 3,500 years have passed and Leto II, Paul Atreides' son, is STILL ruler of the universe. With the memories of all his ancestors, as well as an almost perfect prescience, not to mention absolute control of the dwindling spice, Melange, Leto rules the universe with an iron grip. The way he has survived so long is that he has merged with the sandworm, to create a giant, sometimes uncontrollable hybrid of man and worm. He does not enjoy the power he wields, though, he views his transformation he had to pay to ensure that mankind does not stray from the Golden Path that had first been taken up, and then abandonned by his father. This is an incredibly vivid book with superb characterization. You really feel that you know Leto II by the end, feeling the pain of his supreme loneliness, the boredom which provokes his wry, sometimes vicious sense of humor, and the essential nobility which provokes him to sacrifice his humanity to save the human race. I think the problem with the book for me, anyway, apart from the fact that the plot was very slight (choosing instead to be more a series of philosophical conversations) is that Leto II is almost universally hated and feared by all those around him. Even Siona, his protege, who supposedly understands his Golden Path, does not really gain sympathy for him. I had problems with this because as the ready we have been presented with such a sympathetic portrait of him, its hard to understand the hatred people like Siona and Duncan Idaho feel towards him. This being said, the climax of the book, which hangs upon Siona and Idaho's hatred of him, feels forced and unnatural. Nevertheless, I was drawn through the book merely on the strength of the characters.
Rating: 
Summary: It's always a pleasure to catch up with an old friend...
Review: And that's how I feel about Herbert's Dune books...they're old friends. I've been reading the prequels and felt compelled to go reread the originals. God Emperor of Dune is such a sad book. Being a god is lonely work. Leto is one of the most isolated characters ever created. His sacrifice isn't recognized by most. As the book unfolds I was met again with the realization that his loss of humanity is merely physical because this character is one of the most noble humans ever written.
Rating: 
Summary: Lackluster Performance
Review: The Dune Series has overall, been a solid set of Science Fiction. Dune Messiah was average (3 Stars) but rebounded with the great Childern of Dune (4 Stars.) So, when I picked up this book I wanted to see what happened to Leto II after Children of Dune. I was in for a huge dissapointment. The intrigue and the excellent storytelling has been sacrificed here. I found The Worm to be a major dissapointment as a character . Leto is a flat and rather dull main character , he is not able to support this novel. Alia and Maud'Dib were far more interesting and were able to evolve. There is little interaction and change. If a book is to have one charachter be the focal point of the story atleast make him interesting. The complexity of the series has been dissolved. This book is big on words, thin on action. There isn't that interesting of a story going on in here. This book could be a simple 200 pages instead of the rampant 400 of nothingness that plagues this book. I could not wait for it to end. All in all, I would have thrown it away if it weren't my only reading on an airplane. Regardless, your not going to listen to me if you read this book. You've gone up to this point in the series, there is no turning back. Just don't have giant expectations.
Rating:
Summary: Authorial Intent?
Review: Okay, don't boo me into oblivion here, but...I found this book to be HYSTERICAL. An inappropriate reaction? Perhaps, but there you are. As a young female, I was amused by how much of a guy's book this was. I mean, really, there isn't a lot of plot here, but there is a lot of fighting. For the most part, it's the Amazon legion of women all lusting after the 50th (thereabouts) incarnation of Duncan Idaho, and lesbians, and Leto angsting about being a 3,000 year old virgin worm whose girlfriend is attracted to the hunk that Leto has such as odd fixation with. Dune is High School! But seriously, folks, all of you who enjoyed the first Dune Trilogy...you won't be disappointed here. God Emperor shows the decline and fall of what could have been a great empire, and is, surprisingly (given the giant worm factor here) very human and emotional. The characters are vivid, and the gloomy settings make for a great "brooding" book.
Rating:
Summary: In-depth character exploration, a great Dune book
Review: This book delves into the psyche and experiences of Leto II, a tragic and powerful figure that is both very human and very far removed from humanity. We get a detailed picture of Leto's mind, his sacrifices and his goals, but we also get other memorable characters, such as the everpresent aide Moneo and the latest Duncan Idaho ghola. I feel this Dune novel's epic expanse was much more within Leto II's mind than the galaxy-spanning intrigue of other Dune books, but the plotting and scheming of other factions is definitely still here. The mix of character depth, emotional and political conflict, and the vast scope of Leto II's life and influence make this an unforgettable read and great installment in the Dune series.
Rating:
Summary: As the Worm Turns
Review: In the fourth volume of Frank Herbert's Dune Series, the tale goes three thousand years after the first three books. Leto, the son of Paul Atreides is still around, however, a semi-immortal who is the title character. Paul might have been the equivalent of Julius Caesar, setting up an Empire for his successor, the Augustean Leto. Leto has established his own version of Pax Romana, creating a government that has remained in power over three millenia. The price of this peace is obvious: civilization has stagnated and many of the same institutions are still around, despite a time gap similar to the time of the mythical Agammemnon/Atreides to our modern day. Leto is extremely powerful, not only physically and intellectually, but economically as well. His Achilles heel (speaking metaphorically as his worm-like body no longer has heels) is his simultaneous development towards worm-hood and his vague longings for his humanity. Among his allies/opponents is Duncan Idaho, the latest in a series of Idaho clones that have served Leto and have often died trying to assassinate him. The book focuses on Leto's scheming about the human race and those who oppose him. While quite interesting and entertaining, it would sometimes be nice if Herbert's characters were a little less serious. No one speaks or does anything frivolously; it is all part of a larger agenda. Nonetheless, although different from the first three books, this is a worthy part of the series and a good science fiction novel.
Rating:
Summary: A Prophetic Masterpiece
Review: If you have a short attention span, this book won't hold your interest. If you hunger for an engaging peek into one man's insightful, if metaphoric, vision of human destiny, this is THE book to read. Even more relevant today than at the time of it's publication, God Emperor of Dune comments on sociology, philosophy, religion and politics through the voice of it's title character Leto II. Yes, the book contains long, wordy passages, but the truths contained therein are the kind of revelations that have the power to change your world view. The characters are all engaging and fascinating, and the plot is unparalleled in it's originality. Herbert's fiction is rooted in the (often paradoxical) reality of human interaction. He masterfully peels back the layers of pretense (that we keep as a comfort zone) to reveal the truths about ourselves that we, as a race, don't like to face forthrightly. That notwithstanding, we, as readers, can see our true selves at a distance, the medicine taken with the proverbial spoonful of sugar that are the delightful imaginations of Frank Herbert's God Emperor of Dune. Don't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: Different and affecting
Review: The Dune series consists of three distinct components, each characterized by chronology: (1) Books 1, 2 and 3 trace the story from Paul to his children (2) God Emporor of Dune covers the next few thousand years and (3) the last books occur in yet a further future. GED brings to fruition some answers to all the philosophical and cultural issues raised in the first three books. This is a story of the inner self, not a tale of wild action or shattering events. But this inner self is that of a near God and his musings are nothing short of amazing. It is without a doubt the most introspective of the series, the language rich and redolent with just the right degree of authenticity. One feels a close comradeship with not only Leto but the band of folks attempting to end his rule. Especially noticable is Duncan (Paul's friend from the original Dune) who the Emperor has brought back repeatedly- if only to kill and resurrect yet again. The writing is top-notch in almost every way - plot, character, words, the seamless dialogue from the "archives"...a splendid achievement!
Rating:
Summary: This is more psychological thriller than science fiction.
Review: Frank Herbert is my favorite author, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I finished this novel. It's not as good as the first three Dune books, nor Heretics of Dune (book 5), however, book 4 in the Dune Series is still a pretty good read, especially if you like psychological thrillers. Which is exactly what this novel is.
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