Rating: 
Summary: Poor character development & too much reliance on magic
Review: I've read Dune several times now, and each time I come away with the impression that it's absolutely brilliant -- really, a great work of literature. I wish Herbert had reread that first work before moving on to the third novel. Aside from details that only a really nitpicky fan like myself would notice (like who Leto II was originally, or that sandtrout were originally imaginary, or what spice essence does), there are some major shifts in how Herbert wrote characters. What made Dune so compelling was the character of Paul (and others). Or, rather, the CHARACTER of Paul. Talk about pathos! Talk about ethos. The character of Paul was not only well-developed, but developed well as the story progressed. I had a sense of real Greatness that reverbrated throughout the novel, and I knew from where that greatness came. It wasn't that Paul had magic powers (not really) or that he happened to be born with memories, but that he always seemed very strong, very tortured, very intelligent, very competent, and very compassionate (though in his own ways). Leto II and Ghanima are none of these. I don't respect them, since, despite the assurances of the author, they seem consistently young and incompetent. Nor are they ever pathetic characters -- I find myself half hoping that *they'll* be the ones thrown out windows, if only to keep the dozen actually *interesting* characters alive. Leto II's transformation is nothing short of magical (in the perjorative sense), and, emotionally, I can't be moved by it. Simply confused. Finally, the degradation of Paul and Alia, while interesting, simply don't sit well with me. By novel's end, they cease to be the truly Great characters that they originally were, and a reader, I think, feels that loss and is cheated by it. Too, readers are cheated by the deaths of Paul and Alia. Paul's death especially is anti-climatic and contrary to the buildup in all three novels, and his death is far too pitiful and simple for such an originally wonderfully written character. And while Alia's suicide might be understandable, having her jump out a window, out of control, is just silly. Herbert ought, I feel, to have simply stayed with Paul and Alia; attempting to create characters superior to them simply created soulless, annoying characters that based all their power on inexplicable magic rather than strength of character. (Yeah, I know the Voice is semi-magical, but it's acceptable and even semi-understandable as the extension of strength of character.) Why not stick with Alia and Paul? The plot and the characters finally seem to have nothing to do with anything outside of Dune. Gone are any relationship to real religion, real politics, real anything. Dune was great literature because, in the end, it was really about people and understandable situtations, not character-less characters solving inexplicable problems in inexplicable ways. Too much pure sci-fi and not enough pathos.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific
Review: This is currently the last Dune book I've read, I have yet to read God Emperor and the others, along with the prequel. But Children of Dune, in my opinion, is just as good as the original. Even though it's packed with philosophy and can get boring at times (at get very exciting, also), the book is truly amazing. Also, one more note. This goes out to the other reviewers: Stop spoiling it! Your job is to REVIEW, not to give the summary!
Rating: 
Summary: Another solid offering...
Review: Another solid entry in the Dune chronicles. This book is a bit more cold or sterile (or something along those lines) in tone than the first two, but I think this is indicative of the characters and themes. The writing and plot/story are top notch, and as I said re: Dune Messiah: I would NOT recommend this UNLESS you've read the previous books in the series. Not as great as the original "Dune," but is extremely well-written, imaginative, inventive, and does a good job expanding the Dune universe and its mythology. If you're into great sci-fi that intelligently deals with politics, religion, philosophy, ecology, etc. you can't go wrong with the Dune books...
Rating: 
Summary: Baffling
Review: There's no denying Herbert's stylish brilliance, even if he does tend to be a bit prolix at times. However, unlike the richly textured original, this sequel tends to be cold and soulless. This is particularly vexing, because there are abundant attempts at pathos and emotion here which seem to fall flat more often than not. And perhaps I'm too demanding, but I was completely turned off by the degredation of Paul and Alia. When the time comes for the payoff with these characters, we are utterly cheated. Instead, we get a strangely aloof, unsypathetic, underdeveloped character in Leto II, who, seemingly out of the blue, is thrust upon us as some inexplicable mutant-god, casting aside Maud'Dib like so much garbage. It's baffling and disappointing to me. When I am set up for a payoff, I WANT the payoff dammit. I felt robbed here. This incongruous, deconstructive conclusion to the original trilogy turns what could have been a great series into an enigmatic jumble. Stick with the original. These sequels only serve to taint that great work.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Review: Alright, there's no question in my mind that Herbert is one of the all-time masters. There are very few who give him any sort of challenge. Even if you go beyond the Dune Chronicles, to his earlier works, you see that it is obvious he is a master of the un-happy ending. I loved Children of Dune. It redeemed Messiah and lightened God Emperor. Focusing on little Leto and Ghanima gave the story a new facet and the end....oh boy. I'm not too old, but I am somewhat well-read, and these books, Children of Dune right along with them, are still among my favorites. Frank is one of my idols and it pains me to think that he will write no more.
Rating:
Summary: Yet another sci-fi neccessity ...
Review: To be honest, this book started out very slow for me. The first 100 pages just seemed to drag, as if you were getting no where with the story. Then, as the reading process continued, it just kept getting better, and better, and better -- right up until the end where it concluded in astonishing brilliance! The reading gets slow at times, and light speed at others, but all in all this was an excellent book and well deserves 4 stars. Yet another sci-fi neccessity!
Rating:
Summary: The Best of All Six DUNE Novels
Review: Concluding the first three DUNE books, this is a triumphant finalé! Bringing Paul and his two children to their final, and (depending on how you look at it) most chilling, hours. Out of all six books I would vote this as one of the best. Not only out of the DUNE Chronicles, but of the genre itself. Frank Herbert was a genius in so many ways, this bridges all of his ideas and philosophies, making for an excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: son eclipses father
Review: Muad'dib has sacrificed himself to the desert, Alia is descending into abomination, and the twin heirs to the Atreides legacies are targets is constant peril, yet the true thrust of this book concerns Leto II's (did Herbert forget there was already a Leto II? shouldn't this one be Leto III?) assuming the role his father was unable to truly fill: that of Kwisatz Haderach. the fastest paced book in the series, Children of Dune almost makes up for Dune Messiah's shortcomings. yet while i was swept along to the conclusion, the air smelled of deus ex machina. it would have been simple for Herbert to include a short passage near the beginning of the novel about Fremen children playing with sandtrout. instead, we are surprised with attributes never before even hinted at. yet this is still an excellent novel, far better than its predecessor. while it would be nearly impossible to duplicate the original's complexity and subtleties, this and Chapterhouse come closest.
Rating:
Summary: The Best So Far
Review: The Children of Dune is to me the best in Frank Herbert's first half of the Dune Chronicles. I haven't begun to read God Emperor of Dune as of yet having just purchased it, but I'm very excited and anticipate maximum enjoyment. While all of the first three books are good, I think this one tops them because it is a climax bringing together the elements of the first two. It may have been more fitting for Paul Muad'Dib to complete the transformation which would have validated the whole Kwisatz Haderach plot, but I'm still not disappointed. Herbert is a master. What more can be said? The Children of Dune is one of the best SF books I've ever read and I couldn't put it down. The Atreides twins were awesome. This somehow comforted my sense of loss at Paul's pitiful fate. . . I think The Children of Dune well worth all five stars--plus!! Be sure to read this one. If it doesn't impress you, I don't know what will.
Rating:
Summary: Naive---but still interesting.
Review: I find this book like a kind of effort to move over with a new plot. I mean this by the following. In the original book, we are told the story of Muad'dib, a man destined to be a king, a messiah. This is more than enough plot to write a series of books (Just what Herbert did) but in this book we're introduced to the son of Muad'dib, a child with tremendous powers and thus, more powerful that his own father. This, at least according to my point of view, contradicts the original plot of a man destined to be Emperor. Personally, I would have prefered Herbert to keep the original storyline and let Paul, and not Leto, the one who overtook the transformation. Still, this is no boring book, it is quite interesting, and the last pages are worth the book's price. Even if Leto had been just a bit more mature, I would have given this book the full five stars. Sorry, it could not be this time.
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