Chapterhouse Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 6)

Rating:
Summary: A reflection of reality
Review: The beauty of Herbert's work lies not only in the sheer pleasure and entertainment of reading that this book has in abundance, or in the magic and wonder of his fictional universe, but in the implications concerning the reality we live in. Chapterhouse:Dune gives us a different insight and awareness of the intricacies of politics, philosophy, religion, and truth ; the humanity in survival, evolution, and growth-- the issues that concern us all

Rating:
Summary: Just some words about the saga
Review: I don't believe we will never read again anything about this marvellous creation from Frank Herbert. I hope that his son, also a writer and one that has actually worked with his father, will in time return to this strange and complex Universe his father created and follow the unanswered questions that have been left on this last book. Many things must be still explored and explained... i'm sure we will see Dune's Universe again...

Rating:
Summary: Brooding finale
Review: Herbert and Bev wind down the greatest Sci Fi series of them all in grand style. The Bene Gesserit are in deep trouble and their survival may require changes that not all find acceptable. Even Dune/Arrakis has been destroyed as the awesome powers of the people of The Scattering are realised. An optimistic end to a rich series, designed to leave us forever wondering...

Rating:
Summary: A brooding finale to the greatest SF series of them all!!!
Review: The people of the original time of Dune are now an antiquated minority. The Bene Gesserit must bargain to stay alive and all the rest are subjugated or dead. But small pockets of resistance may hold the key to escape with some legendary figures coming back into play. Frank Herbert finally puts to rest his greatest creation, leaving us with a tear in the eye and a reluctant farewell to our well-loved heroes. Prepare to recite the "litany against post-Dune come-down"

Rating:
Summary: The Emperor has no clothes
Review: Chapterhouse: Dune is, in a word, tedious. This book has 20 pages of boring, meaningless pages for every page that actually contributes to the plot. As other reviewers point out, MANY things are left unanswered.

The last three books in the Dune series are ploddingly boring.

Do yourself a favor, and buy the USED, paperback for a few dollars, DON'T bother paying full price.

The books in the Dune: House trilogy on the other hand (by BRIAN Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson), were great. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Herbert's final chapter of the chronicles [no spoilers]
Review: "Chapterhouse: Dune" concludes the "Dune Chronicles" several years after the preceding story. In his final book, Frank Herbert continues his exceptional writing style with a fine mixture of politics, warfare, and individual introspection. Sadly, the death of the author for this fascinating series might have abruptly ended the story.

I enjoy following a new ghola introduced specifically for this chronicle. Sheeana has matured quite a bit, taking on the Reverend Mother qualities traditionally expressed in the past. The Duncan and Murbella relationship has evolved nicely, giving the Bene Gesserit a handle on the Honored Matre. Reading the view of the Great Honored Matre and the Mother Superior, respective leaders of their schools, gives great insight into the differences and similarities between the two.

I get the impression another book was to follow this one since several strong characters weren't utilized to their full potential and questions left unanswered. Duncan Idaho's regulated actions by the Bene Gesserit fearing he might be a Kwisatz Haderach limit the use of his Weapons Master abilities. Also Scytale and two mysterious characters in Duncan's visions become a non-factor. The series has evolved with spice addiction falling into the background, although the sandworm is not as common as millennium past. No appendixes conclude the novel but still a glossary would have sufficed. A detailed map of the significant terrains, especially with the climate transformation, would have been useful.

I highly recommend the series to any fan of the science fiction genre.

Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: lsd without the flashbacks
Review: This book, and the series that precede it are masterful. But especially this book, and more so the ending. Read the series just so you can get to the mindblowing end. The book shows you infinity. It's the same gut punch, Wow. I can't say anymore.

Rating:
Summary: So-so ending to SF best known series
Review: Chapterhouse Dune is the last in the Dune series by Frank Herbert. The story continues closely after the end of Heretics of Dune. The Bene Gesserit are slowly transforming there home planet to replicate Dune in order to monoploize the Spice. But it is a race against time, their enemies the Honored Matres are closing in. And there may be even greater powers than either lurking in the Galaxy.
This was a disappointing end to the series. It is never clear why the Bene Gesserit are so inferior militarily to the Honored Matres when they are superior in every other way. The final showdown between the two was anti-climactic (what was the Honored Matres ultimate weapon? it was never explained) and the ending was little bit puzzling. Herbert ends this book pretty much as he ended the previous one, a small group flying away with a sandworm to start a new Dune somewhere else in the galaxy. And why did Herbert throw in those god-like beings in the story? That whole subplot didn't make much sense.
The series as whole was enjoyable for its scope, politics, religion and ecology, but it was never clearly written, leading to frustration at times.

Rating:
Summary: Don't even buy this for 10 cents at a garage sale
Review: This book is thin, watery, crap! The original "Dune" was a multi-layered fabric; wholly engrossing, compelling enough to spawn ever-less-interesting sequels, but clearly, Hebert had run dry by this book.

Don't be fooled by the "Bestseller!" status. It's not "flawed", it sucks.

Reverend Mother Odrade wanders around the titular "Chapterhouse" planet, fretting, musing, wondering, and talking to an incredibly boring assortment of inner ancestors, going on and on about gardening and the love-hate relationship the Bene Gesserit have with bureaucracy, all for hundreds upon hundreds of pages.

You'll find yourself rooting for the bad guys to wipe them all out!

Despite the waste of forests of pages, she never actually tells us what her great big mighty important plan is. But don't worry; it's blaringly obvious from page twenty on. In fact, sit down at your local bookstore, read the first chapter and the last two, and save yourself a colossal waste of time.

Oh, and we forgot to tell you, there are Jews in the future! Why? No good reason, adds absolutely nothing to the book at all, but if they ever make a movie, they can cast Judd Hirsch if he does the stereotypically Jewish father from "Independence Day" (but only if he cranks the stereotype up even further).

I'm embarrassed for Herbert.


Rating:
Summary: A very good ending...
Review: This is a very good story to wrap up a very good series. It lacks that flair of Dune, Children of, and God Emperor, but is much better than Brian Herbert's (Frank's son and author of the continuation of the series) stories.