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Summary: The Sandtrout Glove of an Epiphany
Review: This third volume of the Dune saga amplifies the previous spiritual dimension that deals with the emergence of a religion in popular folklore with a new approach that gives to this religion the force of a terroristic and absolute tool to impose a political power, a political organization and total control over the people. But the main interest of the volume is the slow and systematic decaying of that power and in a way its denunciation. Not purely on the basis that it is absolute political power, hence totalitarian, but because it is seized by a person who is haunted by the ghost of the tyrant that this person's own father toppled. Thus a morality appears in the tale. Power is good if the ruler is good. Power is bad if the ruler is bad. It seems thus to go against one common assumption : power corrupts and absolutre power corrupts absolutely. In fact Herbert goes back to John Adams, the Second President of the Unites States who used to way : « Despotism, or unlimited sovereignty, or absolute power, is the same in a majority of a popular assembly, an aristocratic council, an oligarchical junto, and a single emperor. » In fact Herbert seems to think that the only decent power is that of an enlightened emperor using force and even cruelty only when necessary. But when is it necessary ? This political dimension of the saga and of this volume is doubled with an interesting level of fantasy and fantastique. That enables the author to introduce some twists in the story that are not logical but only deus ex machina, even if necessary for the story to go on. Yet these tricks are interesting, if we accept to suspend our incredulity, because they are always delicate and extremely well, announced, introduced, developed and used. A great book to read for the fun of it as well as the reflection it contains. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.
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Summary: keeps getting better
Review: The Dune series continues, it hits a high point with Children of Dune. This is by far, the best of the first three books in Frank Herbert's epic sci-fi series. Though Chani has died and Paul has wandered off into the wilderness desert of Dune, the Atredies twins, Leto and Ghanima, live on as pre-borns. The two children gain the knowledge of a time long forgotten by history, they see their aunt Alia change into a demon, possessed by the old Baron Harkonneon. As the twins learn about Alia and tell Jessica, their grandmother, they also hear about an attempt from the previous ruling house to assassinate them both. Leto decided to follow "the Golden Path" which would result is chaos that would eventually give peace and prosperity to the Imperium. As Leto begins his plans for the Golden Path, an old, wind torn man became coming to Arrakeen, preaching heresy against Alia and her priests. He gained the name, The Preacher, and would make regular visits to the city. Alia, already distressed and angered, feels hatred towards this man that thinks he can berate the religion and empire that she controlled. Soon, Alia turns her disgust on her mother, kidnapping her and sending her to Salusa Seculas, where the house of Corrino waits. This book deserves five stars because it is one of the best books I have ever read. Its combination of adventure, suspense, and power struggle turns it into an all-time great book. This is one book that everyone should read at sometime during his or her life. Though sci-fi, the way that Frank Herbert wrote the book should appeal to all, even those who never thought that they would read and enjoyable science fiction book in their lives.
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Summary: The seris just keeps getting better
Review: Reading some of the other reveiws for the Dune books, i see a repitition of comments like "it's good but it's not close to Dune" stuff. Sure Dune was good, but I think what gives it it's quality is the intricate dialouge and depth of characters. Children of Dune not ony delivers that masterfully, but I belive does it better that Dune did. After twenty pages in to the book I didn't even notice the loss of action. I became enthralled in the text, page after page of witty confrontations between Jessica and twins, Ghani's dispise of Alia, the preacher in the street, Beene Gesrit plots, Fremen rebels...the list goes on. If you enjoy a book that dosen't just keep you interested, but one that really makes you think, this is a must-read for the continuation of the Dune seris.
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Summary: Less action, more religion
Review: In Chilredn of Dune, much of the action and intregue which compelled the reader in the fist two novels has been traded in for long disserations on philosophical and religious ponderings. But, nonetheless, Children of Dune still provies the reader an outstanding read.
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Summary: open faced twin sandwich
Review: I read all of the Dune series in a week, which I beleive speaks well of the entire series, but Children of Dune was by far my favorite. I've read hundreds of Sci-fi books and Frank Herbert's work is amazing. Echoing plot within plot until reading organic chemistry is a releif to the mind. Interest is kept and held, even against better judgement at times. Beautifully worded, bringing a level of precognitive awarness to the reader... making the daydreaming that is likely to insue infused with a mind and ideas that have become your own distant echo, making even breathing without another level of understanding... difficult. This book in it's totality acheived a very unexpected element. It's developement of what it was like to grow up being an intelligent pateranl twin was flooring. It brought an understanding and a beauty that I've never been able to put into words, by giving the idea itself unto paper. Amazing. I hope this interdicts your little lives and you read it you semi-literate fools <smile>.
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Summary: Rounds out the trilogy nicely
Review: Common wisdom states that Herbert created a great world with the first Dune books and then fell from grace with every chapter afterwards. There is some truth to that especially with the last two book that are good in their own right but don't measure up to the rest of the series. This is the last book where we see the main characters from the first novel. Alia and Paul who show so much promise in the original chapter now come to tragic endings with Paul falling from his potential and Alia fulfilling the dark prophecies associated with her. We also see the children of Paul coming into their own with Leto II setting up the epilogue God Emporer. Part of this book will leave you miserable. I think that much of this book was motivated by Herbert being sick of these characters that he had invented instead of wanting to bring them to a tragic conclusion. However, it is a beautifully depressing book and one that stays with you long after you read it.
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Summary: After failure comes success. Another great Herbert book
Review: After reading "Dune Messiah" i was thinking about not reading any other Dune book. I did good not to do so. After hours of boredom with "Dune Messiah" here comes the deliverance. This book deals with the childhood of the dead Dune hero's kids. Dune is in a change. The Fremen are trying to fertilize the desert soil of Arrakis. They want the planet to be more friendly with it's inhabitants. Go with Leto, the dead Emperor's son onto a trip you won't forget and watch his transformation into something much more powerfull then man.
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Summary: DUNE HOUSE ATREIDES
Review: HOUSE ATREIDES FILLS IN MANY OF THE BLANKS THAT ARE ONLY HINTED AT IN THE ORIGINAL SERIES. WE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE FLEDGELING LETO ATREIDES,THE EVIL AND TWISTED BARON VLADIMIR HARKONNEN, AND THE NOBLE PAULUS ATREIDES. THERE IS A CONTINUED GREAT FEEL TO THE NEW STORY AS WAS FELT IN DUNE. WE ARE GIVEN A VERY PERSONAL VIEW OF HOW YOUNG LETO ATREIDES MUST BECOME A LEADER BEFORE HIS TIME AFTER THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF HIS FATHER. LUSH AND BRUTAL LOCALES ARE ALSO A TREAT; FROM THE LOVELY WATER COVERED PLANET CALADAN TO THE DESERT FILLED BUT MYSTERIOUSLY INTOXICATING ARRAKIS(DUNE), THIS BOOK IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANY SCIENCE FICTION FAN EVEN IF YOU AREN'T A FAN OF HERBERT'S WORK.
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Summary: Herbert's Third Installment of his Incredible Series
Review: Children of Dune, the third book of Frank Herbert's series, while not one of the best of the series is certainly an interesting continuation of the Dune chronicle. In this book, the twin children of Paul Maud'Dib Atreides, hero of the first two books of the series must contend with the continued upheaval in the galaxy caused by their father's violent ascent to the imperial throne. The background for this book is complex: The fallout from Paul's takeover is massive. Paul's ascent to the throne, while possibly the least evil course for humanity given the corruption and stagnation in the human race until his takeover, unleashed a bloody jihad on the galaxy. Paul's original followers, the desert-bred and half wild Fremen have become the leaders of the jihad. As army officers, they are still great warriors; however, they have lost much of their mysticism and their wildness. As a result, some of the Fremen have turned against Paul, as originally explored in the previous book, Dune Messiah. On top of this, Paul's death in the previous book has left only his two young children to rule. Given their youth, the galaxy is being run in their name by their increasingly corrupt and insane aunt, the Abomination Alia, possibly in league with their grandmother who may also be a traitor to them and their step-mother Irulan. As a result of all this, the book focuses on the children's attempts to take control of the empire and save it from those who will destroy the entire galaxy. Furthermore, they must find a way to take control of the empire while avoiding the mistakes of their father, Paul, who unleashed the violent jihad on the galaxy, allowed himself to be set up as a Messiah and became so addicted to the Spice melange which allowed him to see the future that he became unable to act except as dictated by his visions. The children strike on a horrifying method to take over the galaxy but avoid the temptation of doing so by foreseeing the future exactly. I will not reveal their method because one of the best parts of the book is the way their method unfolds, twisting and turning until the final horror is revealed. The book is worth reading just to have that revelation. Another interesting aspect of this book is the fact that for the only time in the Dune series, Herbert's main characters are young children. Although they have collected wisdom greater than anyone else in the galaxy, except possibly their aunt Alia due to their parentage, Herbert is still able to deal with them as children. Herbert shows his deftness as an author, not simply as a sci-fi writer. The only flaw with this book is that it is significantly less mystical than the prior books. Although the result of the path chosen by the children is very mystical, as revealed in the next book, this book primarily deals with plot rather than Herbert's amazing insights into humanity and religion.
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Summary: "For God's sake shall we sit upon the ground....
Review: ....and tell sad stories of the death of kings?" Here many threads come together into a climax of monumental scope, and humanity sets out on the Golden Path...a path with a suspicious wideness to it. What do you think of Leto's plan? Frank Herbert foresaw this as the last DUNE book. It wasn't, of course, but the children of Muad'Dib have a plan of their own (as fictional characters often do, even in defiance of their author)....a plan that will set the Imperium on a strange course indeed.
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