Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Hunters of Dune
Book Review: Not Frank, but not awful
Summary: 3 Stars
As a long-time Dune fan who did not read the prequels, it was with considerable trepidation that I bought 'Hunters of Dune', after all, Frank Herbert had been dead for over 20 years, and I didn't think it was possible for his son to continue the story, even if it were supposedly based on the outline.
I'll first pick the nits...
-As noted in earlier reviews, the characters do not have the insight they did in the first six novels, they are quite dense actually. Not once did I feel like I learned something about politics (government fears a popular leader), human nature (revenge is for children or the emotionally retarded), or self-awareness (hope clouds observation) as you do with almost every chapter of the originals.
-Sometimes the battle scenes were fairly well-written, but they were also very repetitive. I also got tired of she-must-be-faster-than-he-but-the-Futar-is-faster-than-her, but they are all slower than Teg...
-There was so much obvious exposition and referral to the prequels that it really intruded on the story. F. Herbert used to make a slight comment and let you imagine the Butlerian Jihad, or make you wonder about why there was an 'Orange Catholic Bible', this novel explains things like stereo instructions.
-Spice from the sand is blue, not orange. Hence the blue-on-blue eyes. This was said many times.
SPOILER-Chapterhouse was very clear that Marty and Daniel were advanced Face Dancers, where the conclusion of this book has them tied to their prequels. I'm sure that one wasn't in the outline.
As to what I liked:
-The story moved along pretty well, and I got the feeling that there indeed was an outline that was followed for the first half of the story (Scytale had the null entropy tube, there was no doubt Frank intended to bring back some of the other characters).
-Murbella is developing into an interesting character, and while she isn't Bene Gesserit, she does make things happen.
-It was good to get some background on the Honored Matres and Face Dancers, and exploring the mechanics of the axlotl tanks was fun.
In short, I finished the book, liked it well enough, and I might buy the next one (although the turn they took at the end was a turn-off for me). But Frank Herbert is gone, and I doubt his ghola will come back in my lifetime.
Book Review: OK, but not in the same league as Daddy Frank's work
Summary: 3 Stars
This is the first of the Dune books by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson that I have read. It's an OK read, which continues the story from Chapterhouse Dune, and leaves the stage set for the suposedly Final episode to follow. However, any reader who is closely familiar with the original Dune series by Frank Herbert will recognize that this book is nowhwere near the same quality of work. They give it a good try, but there's just no substitute for the genuine article.Book Review: Omnius and Erasmus NO!
Summary: 1 Stars
I almost collapsed when Omnius and Erasmus popped up at the end of this thing. They have the character depth of Shredder and Krang.
Honestly, I was managing to tolerate this book until these fools were revealed. Yeah, I'm sure Frank Herbert imagined Daniel and Marty as being two slapstick robots who like to dress up like old people. Brilliant!
Book Review: Please let it be over....
Summary: 1 Stars
Well I did it again. I had promised myself that i wouldn't waste my time or money on another bastardization of Frank Herbert's work. Each of the "new" Dune novels had left me with a progressively worse taste in my mouth. Frank Herberts novels were a study in subtlety, you were forced to THINK about what he wrote. His characters had dimension, they FELT real. Frank Herberts novels were a 7 course meal. The New Dune books are bubble gum by comparison. I almost named my son Duncan...I'm serious. I'm sooo glad I didn't. If there's anyone out there with some talent and a love of the Dune universe, please write a book! I swear on my Frank Miller Wolverine miniseries that I will not buy another Novel that has "Brian Herbert" on the cover. On another note, what do you think about starting an on-line fund raiser to pay James Cameron to make Chapterhouse?Book Review: Pretty good
Summary: 4 Stars
I wanted to read this book. So I had to go back and finally finish Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse Dune, (which was some work). This book was a bit lighter and an easier read. I have moved on to the Sandworms of Dune, and it is quite good as well.