God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 4)

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Summary: This book made me understand the fact that I am a god
Review: I am finaly a god , now me and my followers using this holy bible to show how I can become a The God Emperor of the Earth. But First I'll take over Svalbard.

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Summary: Truly amazing!
Review: In some ways, this is a very simple book. There's not a whole lot of plotline, only a smattering of main characters (and one compelling super-character), and much of the book is simply monologue. This is Frank Herbert's masterpiece, surpassing the original Dune. Every time I re-read it (at least once a year) I get more from it.

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Summary: Are you entertained by pure philosophy?
Review: I am, which made this book easy for me to finish. But the story had little depth and the character of Leto was too removed from humanity to really empathize with. One is not left feeling that one has witnessed, first-hand, a great adventure of mind and body, as one is in Dune.

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Summary: This is a must-read book for the followers of HERBERT
Review: If u have read the first 3 books, u of course should not miss this one. I've found again the seemingly independent citations given b4 the chapters most revealing and sparkling for thoughts. There is so much investigation, research, observation and sweat in this saga's footprints that ur attention is drawn to this fact even without ur conscious approval (cos u want to get lost in the book while reading, u dont want to worship the writer LORD awhile). The book can make u think and this quality alone is so rare thus precious ..It is certainly written to read.. but the problem which inevitably surfaces over the lines is: "not as good as the first one." U feel that there are plots in plots and games in games and many hideous things are being threaded by some secret agents of HERBERT but u will have to satisfy urself with these feelings bcos u wont find them in concrete forms, HERBERT fixes the role of the prophet for the poor reader. And i shall shout oud loud here is there any reader out there who hasnt identified the Old Worm as HERBERT himself ? HERBERT with his superb creative continuum, chose to reveal himself in this 4th one as THE man capable of the most basic human act, LOVE and that is what all this book is bout...love surpasses all....

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Summary: Perhaps the single best Si-Fi book of all time.
Review: A text whose depth of religious, historical, philosophical and emotional insights touch at the very essence of what humanity is. As someone who has read the 6-books of the Dune series more than 7-times each, I find God Emperor to be a gifted presentation set within the perspective of a truly unique point-of-view. As with the entire Dune series, Herbert forces us to focus within ourselves to answer the deeper questions and issues raised so masterfully in his book. The relationship and dialogues between the God Emperor Leto, and Moneo, his Majordomo has to be some of the most insightful, honest theater in Si-Fi history. From the silent obeyance of the massive Nayla, or the fostered rebellious attitudes of Siona, the shimmering 'Golden Path' that will finally and forever perpetuate humankind in the Universe has been set into place personally by Paul Atreides' son Leto. With Leto's selfless sacrifice of an unimaginable 3,500-years, his metamorphosis of worm and man; man and God, legend and religion with his logical-brilliance of the all-female "Women of the Imperial Guard", the Fish Speaker Army that holds an iron-grip on the human universe- Herbert creates the single most enjoyable, readable, profound, and meaningful book in his timeless collection. This book also ties the Paul Atreides side of the Dune series to the Bene Gesserit-led books in a singular, keystone fashion. The development of the Ixians, and the Tleilaxu; the downgrading of the Guild, and the Bene Gesserit and the extermination of CHOAM and the Great Houses add a great deal to both the overall and continuing plot lines of the Dune series. More so than the rest of the series, this book forces a closer examination of religious, social and interpersonal beliefs, and in a truly long-term thinking frame. This book also stands unique among the Dune-sequels as being the only one that can be easily read, understood and enjoyed without having read the other books. It would be interesting to have originally read this book first, then Dune second. I will never bore of Leto's character or his integrity. Please read this book, and when you finish it, read it again. -Scott Craig "Religious institutions perpetuate a mortal master-servant relationship, they create an arena which attracts the prideful human power-seekers with all of their nearsighted prejudices! Ultimately, we must realize that we are all servants unto God, not servants unto servants." -Frank Herbert 1981

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Summary: Hard to finish but a worthwhile addition to the Dune Saga
Review: The Dune saga is my favorite si-fi seris of all time. This book was the hardest for me to complete and then I had to read it again so i understood what I had read. I didn't apresiate the richness of the story untill I read it the second time. I beleive the plot is the most complicated of the saga. But I beleive it is a worthwhile read.

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Summary: The best Book of the Milenium
Review: I finished to read this book in a weekend, the autor, Already ever the success in write this book, I take this book, for everypeople that I know. is the simple magic!!!

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Summary: The only worthy successor to "Dune"
Review: This is one of the greatest novels I have ever read. In some respects, I think it is superior to "Dune" - the sheer grandeur of Herbert's conception of humanity and the complexity (and great insight) of his beliefs about the nature of civilization and the meaning of historical change boggle the mind. Leto II is one of the most fascinating characters in modern fiction - his is unquestionably a tyrant, but conventional notions of good and evil simply do not apply to him. Leto II deserves the name God-Emperor because he is something more than human. It is as if all the possibilities of thousands of years of history, genealogy, and knowledge have come together in this one extraordinary being, who, to fully play his role in history, gives up his humanity in order to save the human race from itself. Astonishing. Also, this novel combines religion, politics and technology in a unique way. Not only do the events of the book take place 3000 years after the events chronicled in the first three "Dune" books, but there still remain mingled throughout the text linguistic terms, familial relationships, technologies and even bits of history from our own time which have influenced the world of Arrakis/Dune/Rakis. For the less cerebrally minded, the book also contains some great action sequences (and 1 or 2 sex scenes), 'though not as many as "Dune" does - the Empire has been at peace for millennia, after all. Indeed, the lack of militaristic events (except for the conspiracy to destroy Leto II - a conspiracy of which he is well aware) makes this novel somewhat more difficult to "get into" than its predecessors. Large blocks of the book seem to consist of "just talk" or philosophizing, but it all ties together beautifully if you give it a chance. I reread this book at least once a year and find it more profound each time.

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Summary: no
Review: the simple brilliant idea in the settings and the characters and the idea of this magnificent book leaves me no other choice but try to convince you of its brilliance(!)...

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Summary: Oh........My..........Stars and Garters.........
Review: After what i consider 2 dissapointments in "Messiah" and "Children", Herbert makes a story that actually lives up to the original. It throws off many of the things which i felt made the previous 2 boring by setting it 1,000's of years in the future, but retains the good charecters of Duncan Idaho and Leto 2. Excellent.