Rating: Summary: The end of a triumph of humanity... Review: For almost half a year I read Frank Herbert's six DUNE books. When I started out with DUNE, I only read it because I loved the David Lynch movie. But I was hooked. Now, it's all over. No more DUNE for poor me. Oh sure, there's the Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson DUNE books, but they're nothing compared to the brilliance of Frank Herbert. Don't get me wrong, they're good in their own respect, but they lack the depth & meaning that the original six had. I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, as one of my favorite DUNE characters Miles Teg had been killed, and Dune itself destroyed. But thankfully, Frank Herbert's magic is readily apparent. Not only do you get to read an incredible story, but you get to amass a wealth of knowledge about humanity that no Humanities class could ever teach. I would've loved so much to find out more about those people Duncan see in his visions, but I probably never will. It's too bad, that would've made a great book. Many people have talked about how unfinished the DUNE legacy is because Frank Herbert died before he could write another book, but I think it better this way. Frank Herbert's imagination gave us the DUNE universe, and by not finishing it, I think he gave us a doorway into that universe, to interpet as we see fit. We can use our own imagination to finish what Frank Herbert started, and that's perhaps the greatest gift Frank Herbert could ever give.
Rating: Summary: More sci-fi excellence Review: Just finished this a couple days ago and I'm still stunned at the scope of the series. In a mere six books, Herbert fleshes out an epic tale that stretched my mind far beyond any sci-fi I'd read before. Several characters from past books still live on in my imagination! Chapterhouse closes the series. Sort of. Taken as a novel it's outstanding. Here are a couple things that really stood out for me: 1. The description of Murbella's experience with the Agony and her resultant loyalty to the Bene Gesserit is wholly believable and we gain a better understanding of why the "witches" behave the way they do. 2. Outstanding descriptions of the transformation of a lush world into a desert planet: "anti-terraforming". 3. If you've read Book 4, it totally makes sense when you discover where the Honored Matres come from! 4. Quite a dramatic shock when the Matres use their secret weapon! As an ending to a series Chapterhouse is generally satisfying but doesn't really serve as a substitute for the sequel Herbert would surely have written if he hadn't passed away the following year. Clearly the book can't be rated lower for circumstances beyond Herbert's control. A few obvious loose ends to be cleared up that a sequel may have taken care of: 1. Scytale and the Bene Tleilax 2. consequences of the new generation of worms 3. destination of Leto II's Golden Path? 4. What's chasing the Honored Matres? Chapterhouse is a fantastic read and I recommend it highly! The ending of the book kind of baffles me and I'm not sure what to make of it. Very unexpected!
Rating: Summary: Unfortunately all good things.... or so we thought Review: In a nutshell- My favorite novel of all time. I'm aware that this is herecy to those who worship the first novel, but I have never been so completely enthralled with a single book, indeed, a set of characters in my whole life. The novel starts where Heretics left off. Without revealing too much, I have to say that Lucilla is probably the finest example of character illumination I've ever seen. Herbert brings her supreme, and doomed, intellect to life before the Honored Matres in a way that made me wish I could truely meet her. Dar's command of the Situation and her helming the Bene Gezerit into the fire of war with the HMs is phenominal. If it wasn't for them being words on a page I'd have fallen in love. A must read... but you have to start with Dune first.
Rating: Summary: More closures would have been nice Review: The book gives us a better glimpse into the inner sanctums of Bene Gesserits, but I agree with those who felt that the ending wasn't quite satisfactory. I sensed continuing struggles between Bene Gesserit and Honored Matres, and even an impending threat to Murbella from both sides. Also, it was alluded that Sheeana would play a crucial role in the future but never articulated. Same thing goes for Teg, Duncan Idaho, and the last remaining Tleilax Master. I don't think Herbert intended this to be the last of the series.
Rating: Summary: Best Book, Best Series Review: The Dune Chronicles are by far thee Greatest Series ever written. I have read the entire series many times and for their depth, perception, layers of subtlety, demanding desire to make you want to understand EXACTLY what is going on, I would stack them against any series, any book. This series caused me to become a Sci-Fi fan and very few books since have stood at the same level as DUNE. Thank you Frank Herbert and also thanks to his wife Beverly (Both have left this world and gone on to the next.) Now it is in Brian Herberts hands and I'm sure that with his Fathers Notes and Training along with co-writer Kevin Anderson he will continue to awe and inspire us. I wish them (Brian and Kevin) nothing but luck and hope they know that thousands (millions perhaps??) are waiting for DUNE:7. I will definitely be buying it when it comes out!!
Rating: Summary: Amazing Review: I am a man of 32 years of age and I have read this book and all of its brothers and sisters many times. My first read of the series happened when I was in my early twenties. I fell in love. I can't stop reading the series. Nothing else seems to matter as much as the beautiful universe created by Frank Herbert and his wife. Perhaps the most gut-wrenching and emotional moments in all of the books is the end of this one. Words are not enough to describe the complete and utter sense of loss I had when I read the final pages and knew there would be no more. My friends, my companions, my lovers where all entwined in this mans vision. "Bless the Maker and His passing"
Rating: Summary: Honored Matres Review: This book was the culmination of many years of anticipation for me. I marvelled at the shocking ending. Fans of this book will be thrilled to know that Dune: House Atreides gives a pre-history to all of the Dune Chronicles! I loved this book and the whole series!
Rating: Summary: The last of Dune books Review: I wrote a review below for the book Dune by acident and i decided to write one on chapterhouse to make up for it. You probaly are familar with the other Dune books and this is the last book. If you haven't read the first five books this book will make little sense. It is defeniatly worth reading if you read the first five books. This book is about a war between the Bene Geseret and the witches of the great scattering. This book focuses on Bene geseret intently. The story is intense because of the fact that sand worms are cultivated outside dune and revened mothers start using AXOL tanks for creating Golas based on the Bene Telaxu technology. They are able to recreat Milites Teg the great BG general. This book sadly is the last book because of Frank Herberts death. The book leaves a big door open at the ending that screams for another book (which his son and others may hopefully write)
Rating: Summary: This is extraordinary science fiction - fantacy Review: I am not much of a reader of science fiction. But after reading Dune I devoured everything Frank Herbert wrote. This book is about life on the desert plant Arakkis. While you read this book you will think about every drop of water you drink and every bead of sweat you prespire. The plot never is straight forward or predictable. Frank Herbert is willing to spend time on the characters that he is willing to destroy early in the book. This is intresting because you don't have a clue who is going to survive the intruge of this book because any character no matter how well developed may be destroyed or corrupted. Sounds like life doesn't it. I do not believe a world like Dune will ever happen but if you are looking to read a book just for the pleasure of reading than this is a great book. While the sciecne of the book is out there the political and emotional strain on the characters make Herbert's world seem very real.
Rating: Summary: a brilliant ending, but.... Review: ....although I enjoyed the characters and plot twists, particularly the military reversal toward the end, can someone help me out with what "the bitter medicine of a Sheeana future" is? Anyhow, awesome book.
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