Children of Dune

Rating:
Summary: Third in a Great Series
Review: Take Mankind 9000 years into the future (not 100 or even 300 years, like most authors, or even Arthur C. Clarke's somewhat weak attempt at going 1000 years), and what do you have? It leaves the author pretty free to have anything be true. Frank Hebert clearly and premisely and thoroughly creates a truly alien Human society that is also strongly rooted in its past. The worlds and cultures of "Dune" are strongly influenced by Arabic and Islamic culture, along with a hearty dash of medieval European feudalism. Frank Herbet wrote so well that it all becomes very believable, as if you are reading history instead of fiction. And, who can say it won't turn out this way?

This book picks up where "Dune Messiah" left off and could really be viewed as "Dune, Part 3". In this book, the restoration/salvation of the planet Dune/Arrakis continues, and the entire society is profoundly affected. Meanwhile, the son and daughter and sister of Paul Atreides are getting heavily involved in Imperial politics, with lots of intrigue, back-stabbing, manipulation, coercion, and other pretty things going on. I never call anything a must-read, as I don't know who has the right to dictate to anyone what they "must read". However, you're missing something if you don't read (and later re-read) the entire Dune series. I recommend buying a set when you're a teenager and keeping it to re-read every five years or so. The story will grow as you do, as will your appreciation of it.

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece #3
Review: The third book in the ever great Dune series promises more than you can handle. The book is unpredictable as always, but when the story is enjoyable at the same time we've got a winner.

Frank Herbert paints a new picture of the desert world Dune into your mind, one that will change your view's of the characters. The mind tumbling twists and turns that are taken will hurl the cliffhangers straight at you, and you will continually draw into the story.

The way the whole of plots and story is perfectly fit together makes this book more enjoyable than most others out there, and the long length will garuntee your money's worth. Dune is a great series, Children of Dune is a great sequel.

Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Continuation
Review: An outstanding continuation of the series!! Here we see the closing of the story of Paul and the begining of his son Leto II. Paul has rejected the "Golden Path" and his son will come to a realization of what it means and the sacrifice he will endure to ensure the continuation of humanity. Here you will also see how the Baron Harkonen though dead still attacks the Atredes family. One should not focus on any one part of the DUNE story line but should read all the books and view the series as a whole. This book is shorter than the first and Herbert leaves out a lot of the ecological analisys of Arakis. The focus of this book is the stuggles and confilcts of the Atredes family and how one member Sees what must be done to save humanity.

Rating:
Summary: a nice walk
Review: For me this book is a bridge between the story of Muad`dib and the next part of the series, God Emperor. That in itself is an even bigger bridge to the later books in the series. I find however that GE stands up a little better on its own. dont know anyone who actually reads these books without the sequence, but I think that Children out of the First 4 novels relies too much on its other parts... Its still great though...!

Rating:
Summary: What a convoluted mess
Review: It's hard to beleive that this is written by the same author who wrote Dune. Too much koan garbage not enough story. I found I could not identify with any of the characters. Every time I'd begin to think I understood a character's motivation they'd say or do somthing totally bizare and leave me scratching my head. If you liked dune and are thinking about trying the sequals, my advice would be don't.

Rating:
Summary: The dynasty lives on
Review: Leto II takes over where Paul failed. This book is about his and Ghanima's maturation and assumption of the power and legacy that Paul has left them: leadership of the Fremen, an increasingly powerful force in the galaxy due to their control of the spice. As they're growing up, Paul's sister Alia is in charge and succumbs to evil (you'll be shocked to find out who takes over her mind).

However, enemies and conspirators are hard at work to eliminate the twins. A great novel with a dynamite plot and dialogue. Plenty of action!

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating study of power
Review: In Dune Messiah Paul Atreides discovers that he is too human to be a god and decides to relinquish the throne. In Children of Dune his son Leto II discovers that the only way to rule the universe is to become a god and relinquishes his humanity. I read Dune about 15 years ago and have finally gotten around to reading the sequels. I found that each installment in the series has been more fascinating than the previous one. Now on to God Emperor of Dune.....

Rating:
Summary: Back to true Dune style
Review: After reading Dune and it's successor, Dune Messiah, I thought that the series might take a nose dive into the abyss of money-hungry authorship trying to capitalize on the magnificence of the first novel. But I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The book tells so much with so little that it is truly mind-boggling. Depth of character, the planet and the plots within plots kept me riveted to the pages. Now its on to the next book in the series. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Concepts
Review: After reading Dune and then Dune Messiah, I was a little disappointed in Messiah. It had lengthy internal dialogue and long explanations of twisted plots within plots. But Children of Dune ranks right up there with the original Dune in my book! What a great story! The twins are awesome in their mental scope and abilities; Leto II is necessarily brutal as his human-ness slips away from him (and he knows it). The sand trout, the worms fears, the destruction of Alia and her abomination within, all warped the readers mind enough to make this a VERY enjoyable read. Now it's on to God Emperor of Dune. Let's see how this goes!

Rating:
Summary: Taking Dune to a higher level
Review: I have to admit that I enjoyed Children of Dune more than I thought I would. Dune and Dune Messiah were both masterpieces, but the chains of events Paul Muad'Dib set into motion seemed to be winding down by the end of Messiah. I'm happy to say that Children proved me wrong. Much of the book spends time fully fleshing out it's characters, letting us get deep into the heads of Jessica, Alia, Duncan Idaho, Farad'n, and of course the twins Leto II and Ghanima. The additional appearance of a Fremen preacher who seems as though he could be Paul Muad'Dib yet preaches against the ideas of Muad'Dib's followers keeps the direction of the book from becoming predictable. The rest opens up new possibilities that hint at a much grander future of possibilities.

The twins use a plot against them by the Imperial family as a device to start down the true path they feel Dune messiahs should take. This is a path which their father knew, but didn't have the courage to walk down. This "Golden Path" is an extraordinary journey that promises brilliant and awesome possibilities to really pep up the Dune series and take it to a higher level. You'll have to read Leto's beginning down that path to truly get the full picture; I won't spoil it here. Old worlds are examined and new worlds begin in Children of Dune. Experience them for yourself.