Rating: 
Summary: very entertaining
Review: With books like these, who needs TV?!I found this third book in the Dune Series to be exciting and fascinating. The characters come alive and the plots (and plots within plots) make for great reading. There is action, but not as much as in the first book. This book focuses more on drama, suspense, intrigue, and mystery. I look forward to seeing Dune II as a movie next year; it's supposed to air 12/2002 and will try to tell the stories of the second and third Dune books. I'm currently reading the fourth Dune book and am enjoying it very much!
Rating: 
Summary: Ick Ick Ick
Review: Ok I thought this book was the most god awful thing that I had ever read besides an Agatha Christe book and the Silmarilian. I loved all the other books of this series except this one. The only reason I continued to read this novel was so that I whould know what was going on in God Emperor Dune. I even had to read a different book just to get that book out of my system.
Rating: 
Summary: A decent part of the series.
Review: This book transitions the Dune series nicely from where we left off in Dune Messiah to the next installment God Emperor of Dune. For the first time in the series we have to view the world of Dune without our favorite hero Paul. Herbert does an excelletn job of developing Leto II's personality unfortunatly I think he underdeveloped his sister as a way of making her fall in to the shadows of the main plot. All in all an excellent addition to the series, not as good as books 1,5, or 6 but defintely better then Dune Messiah.
Rating: 
Summary: What a load of twaddle
Review: I really liked Dune. I persevered with Dune Messiah but found this almost unreadable. It seemed as if the author had run out of ideas. It is a big muddle.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read!!
Review: I really didn't know what to expect with the Dune universe after I finished reading "Dune Messiah" and was trying to figure out how the series could honestly go on for another four books but "Children of Dune" quickly answered that question. I loved this book! The characters come even more alive and Frank Herbert fuses into each subplot so many thought-provoking ideas you find yourself wanting to return to them again and again to ponder on them more. Herbert is a genius in his own right. I found the whole concept of Alia, Leto, and Ghanima having all their ancestors memories particularly fascinating. And the ending was one of the best climaxes I've ever read. Instead of wrapping up the series this pivotal book paves the way for the next three novels, and if Herbert were still alive I wouldn't doubt that he could keep going with it. I look forward to reading it again.
Rating:
Summary: A let down
Review: I loved "Dune" and "Dune Messiah," and after reading them I naturally wanted to dive straight into "Children of Dune." While it starts off well, it soon degenerates, and its ending is one of the most dissapointing I have ever read. Unlike Paul Atreidies, who had a human side that the reader could relate to, his son Leto II is distant, pretentious, and completely uninteresting. His immense power and knowledge make it impossible for the reader to care what happens to him. Neither Jessica nor Alia stand as the fascinating characters they were in "Dune" and "Dune Messiah" respectfully. A downright dissapointment in every aspect. This book left a bitter, sour taste in my mouth after I read it, and remains my least favorite of the Dune saga.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: Having been a fan of Herbert for years, I have to say this is one of the most disappointing books I've read. Part of this is due to the fact that Herbert has set the standard quite high. When you compare this book to Dune, it just doesn't hold up. I find this book is quite wordy and the story seems jumbled together. Sure there is a central story taking place, but much of what is going on seems to be unnecessary drivel. At times I found myself wondering "What does this have to do with anything?" Maybe Herbert is just that much more intelligent than I am. Actually I know he is. However, that doesn't excuse him for writing such a... mess. One example is the preacher's speeches. He seems to be saying absolutely nothing but apparently he is saying something, cause a lot of characters are moved by what he says. After reading the book twice I still can't figure out what is the big deal with the Preacher (besides his true identity). Having said that I want to give out praise where it is deserved. I found the part of the story dealing with Leto II and the "golden path" compelling. His sacrifice to save humanity and Dune is exactly what being a messiah is all about. First time readers will be interested to see how this character changes in the next book. Afterall, he is going to live for thousands of years and become something which is certainly not human. While not a bad book, and a requirement if you plan on reading the entire series, this book is not quite up to the standard set by the original. It doesn't have that epic feel to it like Dune had. However, when you compare it to some of the other [stuff] out there in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, it's a cut above the rest in originality and composition.
Rating:
Summary: Mildly Entertaining
Review: Me, being a Dune fanatic forced myself to complete Children of Dune. Dune, is a unparralled masterpiece sporting unique, deep, and admirable characters, a balance between religeon / philosophy and action, and a devious plot. Dune Messiah and Children of Dune are slighly depressing to read, seeing the noble House Atreids degenerate from loyal soldiers and warmasters to the highly religeous Fremen, whom Herbert focuses on too much in the later books. The House becomes corrupt and too overly powerful. Messiah is frustrating to read because Paul accepts all the problems, curses them, and does nothing. Herbert cleverly brings back Duncan Idaho, a mysteriously dangerous character but does not creat anymore diabolical characters like the masterful Piter de Vries or the clever Thufir Hawat. Children of the Dune becomes a mass of religous rites, quotes, and discussions focusing on the all too powerful Leto Atreides II. It then degenerates even farther when he startes turning into a sandworm. It pains me to say it, being an avid Dune reader, but that is one of the stupididest and most unthoughtful things that Herbert has ever written. I guess he thinks that he can get away with murder because he wrote ONE masterpiece and that everyone with read his other books not matter what he puts in them. That one act turns that series into Superman parody which disgusts me. The Bene Gessirit techniques and adepts I can believe but not that. DO NOT READ CHILRDREN OF DUNE OR AND BOOKS AFTER. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Rating:
Summary: The saga continues, and it is far from over!
Review: Arrakis is a different world now and Paul's grip on the Throne is no more. Left to the dessert as a sacrifice for Shai-Hulud due his blindness, Paul's persona is no longer present in the events moving the royal throne, yet his influence is still there. Was he devoured by the giant sandworms, as the Fremen custom commands? Meanwhile, Paul's twin Children, more gifted than what his father ever was, are the heirs to the royal throne. Yet these are not ordinary children, the wisdom of the Ages flows through their bodies and the Bene Gesserit will do anything that is on its hands (even family treachery) to obtain the precious Atreides genes. But this time, Leto II, just a young eight years old boy in body, will do the unthinkable and face the terrible consequences his father, the Kwizats Haderach, did not want to face; The terrible sacrifice that comes with the salvation of the Human race. This book is perhaps the most mystical of the first three Dune books and it is rich with metaphysical symbolism, something that makes is just too goddamn great! (Even though I am a complete skeptic/atheist) Just read it, ok? (But read the other two first!)
Rating:
Summary: Best Dune Book Yet
Review: This is the best Dune book writen so far. After Messiah some poeple were turned off from the seris, I was one of them. But I read on hoping that it would get better. It did, it go a lot better. In COD Leto II and Ghani who are Paul's twin children, try to keep from becoming an Abonamation. Alia has already become an Abonination and has been taken over by a familar enemy to the Atradies. The Lady Jessican comes back in this book and she and Alia don't get along very well. There is also another new character, The Preacher. Some of the Fremen believe he is Maud'Dib come back from the desert. And there is a conspiracy to kill the twins coming from the Corrino family. But it seems the leader of the Corrino family doesn't even know about it. There is a lot of plotting and thinking going on in this book which I think gives it depth. Leto II is the most fancinating Sci-Fi character ever. And twords the end of this book something really cool happens to him. I won't say what it is cuz it might ruin the book but let me tell you, IF YOU THINK THE BOOK IS DULL IN THE BIGGINNING READ ON. IT WILL GET BETTER.
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