Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful trip back
Review: Rereading Herbert's second Dune trilogy--God Emperor, Hertics and now, Chapterhouse Dune--was a wonderful trip back for me. And in Chapterhouse, the Bene Gesserit are going back as well. They've rescued worms from the now destroyed Arrakis, and have moved them to Chapterhouse. Even as they try to move back, they're forced to confront the future and deal with the Honored Matres. A great read, set in a world that feels like coming home to me.
Rating: 
Summary: The epic series concludes
Review: It may not have been his intent, but fate has made Chapterhouse Dune the last book in Frank Herbert's Dune series. There may be others, and they may even be good (I haven't yet read them), but this book represents Herbert's final words on the subject. Although not perfect, and definitely leaving things open for another book, this is, overall, a worthy addition to the series.In this book - a direct sequel to Heretics of Dune with many of the same characters - the Bene Gesserit sisterhood is under siege, threatened by the Honored Matres, a somewhat darker version of their own organization, that is sweeping viciously across the galaxy like a barbarian horde. With the original Dune lifeless after a Matres attack, the Bene Gesserit are trying to create a similar world out of their headquarters. Although they don't think of it in those terms, they are really trying to create a planetary ghola, a clone similar to that of recurring character Duncan Idaho. The book focuses on the war between the two sisterhoods. The book does have its flaws. The rather open-ended conclusion may be forgiven if we believe that Herbert had another book intended. The characters are, as usual, overly serious and everything they do is filled with hidden meanings. Also, there is a feeling that Herbert was making up parts of this story as he goes along, with new movements suddenly appearing (such as the futuristic Jews who have never been previously mentioned although they have supposedly always been around). In the end, what is the central point or character of this series? Is it a history of the Bene Gesserit, the House Atreides, Duncan Idaho or some combination of all these. My feeling that the center of this saga is the Tyrant Leto, with the first trilogy (Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune) a story of his origin, the central book (God Emperor) the tale of his emperorship, and the final trilogy (Heretics, Chapterhouse and an intended final book) to be the story of Leto's Golden Path. That is my theory. Whatever your own ideas, if you have enjoyed the previous books, you should enjoy this one also and when you conclude it, you will have read one of the most significant series in science fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: Not that good by Herbert standards
Review: Make sure you read the other books first or you'll be lost. This book reads pretty slow and doesn't have the drive found in earlier novels. It seems to be losing speed but at the same time keeping the reader entertained by Herbert like cultural dimensions, science and good writing. I recommend it to any hard core Dune fan but otherwise don't bother.
Rating:
Summary: Frank Herbert goes out with a bang in his last Dune novel!
Review: Although Dune is my favorite novel, I have to admit that book 6, Chapterhouse Dune, is a bit of a let-down when compared to the first 5 novels. It's still a good read and much better than most of the science fiction that gets turned out nowadays by the publishing companies. The storyline this time focuses on the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. A more appropriate title for this novel could have been "The adventures of Dar and Tar," but I guess Chapterhouse will do. I would reommend this novel to all who like the first 5 Dune novels or Frank Herbert.
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/robkettenburg
Rating:
Summary: 3 pages that rock my world
Review: Just when you think you have it all figured out, Frank messes with you mind. I finished reading this book while I was stationed in South Korea in 2001, and after I was done reading it, all I could do was stare at the wall and ponder what had just happened. In three short pages he had changed the dynamic of the entire Dune universe. I have never seen 3 pages of one book be so hotly contested as to what the reader was trying to convey. Even though, the ending left me yearning for more and changed the way I thought about the previous stories. In the earlier books, we are make to believe that humans were the center of the universe and it was there's for the taking, but after the last two chaper of Chapter House, we see a more dynamic universe of infinite possibilities. I am desperately looking forward to Dune 7, even though it will be writen by Frank's son. I don't care much for him as writer, being that I've read all 4 prequels that he has writen, but he does have a talent for peaking the readers intrest. As long as Dune 7 can give us even a modest idea of what was going through Franks mind when he wrote Chapter House, it will be a book worth waiting for.
Everyone should read all of the Dune books, there insites into politics and religion will change the way you see thing around you, thank you Frank for opening my mind to new possibilities
Rating:
Summary: Now you see it, now you don't
Review: You think you understand what's going on in the Universe, and Frank Herbert twists things on their head in the last three pages. I love it. Others have done a marvellous job of reviewing the plot and elements, so I shall not belabor the point and will only add a few quick impressions, having just finished the book at about 4 o'clock EST in North America. Dune 6 is a slow, meditative, and at times frustratingly slow book; the last 100 pages finally pick up; and in the last 3 pages Frank Herbert tells me this: "You've read the other 5 books, and you think the Universe is BIG? Well, think again, because you/I/we will NEVER be able to fathom the wonders of the Universe!" Any Dune fan MUST read CH:Dune, or else they will ...... Naah, I can't tell you what the "or else" is. Your Spirits be Happy, Frank and Bev
Rating: 
Summary: A weak finish
Review: After a very slow start, the book draws your interest and really gets moving - resurrecting the spirit of the early books. But it utterly fails in the end. The conclusion is unbelievable, frustratingly open-ended, and poorly written. In the end, Herbert disappoints with weak characters, unforgivable plot holes, and just plain flat out hokiness.
Rating:
Summary: I was expecting more
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed books 1-4. Book 5 was good. I liked book 6 (Chapterhouse) the least. It lacked the charisma, excitement, and "the unexpected" of the first 4 books. The plot was not new and it was predictable. The ending was open, so the author could have continued future books, ad infinitum. Perhaps his son will do so. I plan on reading the prequel books, and I'm hoping for more entertainment from them. Don't get me wrong...book 6 is a lot better than most TV shows, but it just doesn't compare to the first 4 books in the series.
Rating:
Summary: The sinister one...
Review: Let's get this straight; Frankie boy was a genius, plain and simple. He would think nothing of writing a book for the sake of building a series and it shows itself in this effort, the sixth Dune novel. While a fantastic story (deep into politics and the nature of survival), you still get the feeling that he was building up to a climax with this book being the penultimate one. Well, in 1999 (I think), Brian Herbert discovered Frank's notes for the unreleased 'Dune 7', which included a complete outline and story for what was to be the final book in the series. Yes! I hear you say...well...we'll have to wait a bit longer I'm afraid because Brian and Kevin Anderson are doing their Butlerian Jihad series first (3 books), which won't be over until about 2004. Well we got used to waiting for Frank's books I suppose... I found this story to be the most sinister one. In every chapter there is a revelation or some indication of what is to happen next: characters like the Face Dancers and Honoured Matres shrouded in mystery, the Handlers and Futars (who bred them?), the (still) unknown qualities of the Reverand Mothers. Herbert liked to tease, and the by now infamous last chapter is still pondered over to this day. I've seen literally hundreds of different analytical studies of this chapter alone, nevermind the book or the series. Because of the open ending, the book, more than any other, has taken on a cult feel; I've seen people even try to finish the story off themselves on many different websites and forums. Addictive in the extreme, I've always got one of Frank's books (usually Dune ones) on the go at any time. I may take a week to read them, I may take a month or two...but each and every one is a sci-fi classic in its own right. My personal favourite was 'Heretics' (so well plotted and action packed and, dare I say it, even more readable than 'Dune'!). If you like Star Wars, you must get these books. In fact, you will be laughing at how primitive Star Wars is in the face of these masterpieces. Star Wars always borrowed heavily from this anyway :P
Rating:
Summary: So Much to Love about this book
Review: The inner workings of the Bene Gesserit have never really been ignored in the previous Dune Books, but their prominence in this Novel was genius. ONE OF THE TOP 2 BOOKS IN THE DUNE SERIES I was absolutely riveted by the plot twist involving the Honored Matres, and the Bene Tleilax. The ability of Frank Herbert to essentially start over and reinvent a whole new context for the plot to take place in was fantastic. I'm amazed simultaneously by his skill and his daring. It would be so easy to rest on your laurels and extend a successful franchise -- the most successful in history. The fact that he stretched himself spoke volumes about his confidence and creativity. Saying thank you to him just doesn't seem like enough. Mr. Herbert, Thanks (a whole whole lot).
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