Sandworms of Dune by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $2.37 You Save: $25.58 (92%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Sandworms of Dune
Book Review: Misunderstand Frank Herbert's originals
Summary: 1 Stars
The book directly contradicts facts established in Frank Herberts originals. Not trivial bits, but major plot points such as who and what important characters are, rewriting the background for the universe, etc.
What is worse is that it makes a mockery of the themes Frank Herbert explored in his originals: Where they discussed the problems of handing over decision-making to mechanical things and power structures, the new books talk of an evil robot trying to eradicate mankind for no apparent reason.
After Frank spent 6 books demolishing the hero archetype, charismatic leaders and our dependency on them and warning us about 'putting all our eggs in one basket' as a species, this book applauds religious fervor to incite mankind to band together under a single leader.
If you liked Frank Herbert's work for the multilayered plotting, believable characters, well crafted universe and themes of humanity, politics and overall philosophical approach to science fiction - you will feel your fond memories violated.
If you thought Dune was an action novel with a few draggy bits but a lot of lasers, giant worms and über-cool heroes and villains - then you might enjoy this and other KJA&BH work. You would also be wrong...
Book Review: Money Changes Everything - SPOILERS!!
Summary: 4 Stars
Sandworms of Dune is a book by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. I am going to tell you now, it is just a stepping stone to the next series of books that these 2 have planned for the Dune Universe.
The 2 have created the gholas of all of the favorites Dune characters from the original series, and have done almost nothing with them in this book. This includes Paul, Lady Jessica, and Chani. I cannot imagine bringing these beloved characters back, and hardly using them at all.
Conversely, Dr Yueh is brought back as a ghola, and is used extensively.
I like the writing style of BH/KA. One of the flaws of the Original Dune was the writing style of Frank Herbert. One would have to read and re-read what he was trying to get across. Heretics of Dune, for example, is almost an incomprehensible book because of Herbert's writing style.
I think it is good...Yes good...that the Thinking Machines are Daniel and Marty from Chapterhouse: Dune.
But I agree with a previous reviewer. There is a fairy-tale like quality to some of the plot resolutions in Sandworms.
Erasmus, the kinder, gentler Thinking Machine, flips a mental switch, and every Face Dancer dies in the Universe!!? Norma Cenva shows up, and banishes Omnius forever!!? Weird.
But the merging of Erasmus and Idaho is fantastic.
I suspect that these 2 crazy [and money-hungry] Dune authors have other sequels up their sleeves. Like Idaho/Erasmus fighting Omnius when he escapes from the Other Universe; or something like that. But honestly, are you glad to be gotten rid of the Tlielexu? I know I am.
Book Review: More like a whimper...
Summary: 1 Stars
I was originally driven to write about my disappointing encounter with Sandworms several months ago, and my review was also "lost" in the nether-world of censorship. After looking at the 5-star and 4-star ratings on this book, I wondered to myself "Did they read the same book I did?" or "Maybe they were paid to put a high rating review in", or maybe, just maybe they got confused about what book they read, because reviews for "Cat in the Hat" belong in the children's section because they obviously did not read the same book I did! Don't get me wrong, I am a DIE-HARD Dune LOVER. I recommend the reading to anyone and everyone who hasn't had the privilege to experience it. After reading the over-rated hot air reviews, I felt obligated to re-add my 1-star review back for others to see for themselves.
I have read every single book that deals with the Dune series. From the moment that a friend of mine loaned me their copy of a truly sorry excuse of a dog-eared mutt of a book, I was hooked! I believe that it took me almost 3-months to read Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, and "believe you me", that was FAST for me back then (I was a painfully slow reader). The worst part of reading it back in 1980 (before many of you were born) was that I had to wait for God Emperor of Dune to be published! I was truly saddened when Frank Herbert passed away because I thought there would never be another Dune book published, and there was so much more left unsaid.
Then out of nowhere came Brian Herbert and Anderson. I absolutely loved the books they put out! The histories of the Dune families, and the ancient history of WHY computers were forbidden! I was like a kid in a candy store! I couldn't wait for the next installment! When Hunters of Dune came out I enjoyed the book, but not as much as the previous books, then along came Sandworms of Dune. I was so anxious to get my hands on a copy I did an advanced order so I could get it as soon as possible.
When it finally arrived, I curled up in my chair and began to read one of the most disappointing books I have ever laid my eyes on! In fact I felt insulted!! I thought the conclusion to such a GREAT series would go out with a BANG! It didn't even have the decency to just fade away! This book is more like an insulting cowardly whimper!!!!! Here in front of me is what was supposed to be the culmination of one of the greatest science fiction stories ever written, and I felt like I was reading a Readers Digest abridged version. It was hurried, poorly written, and grossly unfocused. Did I mention I was sorely disappointed?!?!?! It felt like a parody! Like Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson couldn't wait to "wash their hands" of this burden. The last two books of this series (Hunters and Sandworms) had enough plot lines that could have spanned 6 more books. Instead, the authors tried to wrap everything up in Sandworms, placed a pretty cover on it and said "here, enjoy" knowing that fans would gobble it up.
Plot lines in the books seemed to abruptly cut off leaving the reader going "HUH?" wondering if the editor was randomly snipping pages. Then at the end of Sandworms the authors leave poor Duncan Idaho trying to sum everything up in a "B-grade" movie style narrative thinking that should satiate the readers hunger for a hearty plot-line wrap-up
It truly saddens me to give a Dune series book a 1-star rating. I never thought I would ever do that! I have read all of the post Frank Herbert books at least three times each (except this one and Hunters of Dune), and I have read all of the first 6 books at LEAST 2 dozen times over the last 20 years. Up to this point I would have ranked Children of Dune the lowest because it was a slllooooowwwwww read. But even Children of Dune was well written and unrushed. It had a story to tell and it served it's purpose without insulting the reader.
The ONLY reason I would suggest for ANYONE to read this is if they have already taken the time to read the rest of the series and wanted to know what else happened. Even then I would only suggest that you read this book if you
1. Check it out from the Library
2. Buy it from a yard sale for $1
3. Come over my house and I'll give you my copy for free
DON'T waste your money on a new copy of this book.
Book Review: NOT Herbert's vision.
Summary: 1 Stars
(Amazon deleted this post, amongst many others. My respect for Amazon is diminishing...)
How could a series with so much potential and brilliance turn out so horribly?
The lack of Frank Herbert's brilliance isn't hard to miss: the studies of the inter-workings of ecology and economy, religion and politics, humanity and technology... all these things receive typical pimple-faced science fiction thoughtless application.
Take maybe the most obvious example: Qelso. Herbert the elder studied and made supreme efforts to map the fantastic Dune universe naturally to it's human history, giving it a fascinating realism by thoughtfully incorporating language relevant to the histories that characters and cultures were derived from... the Bene Gesserit and Bene Tleilaxu for instance... where as Herbert the younger seems to grab random letters from a scrabble bag to create 'science fictiony' names like Qelso. I couldn't read it without thinking of that 70's show the whole time.
I read these last two books longing at least to see Frank Herbert's vision seen through, if not through thought provoking writing, at least through the closing of the plot line - they couldn't have ruined the basic plot line, even with trite writing, could they?
I'm convinced this was not Frank Herbert's vision. The ending was absolutely sexist which is particularly disgusting, and it completely diminished all the careful work Frank Herbert had put into developing this intricate world, to have everything turn out rosy in a couple blinkings of the eyes.
And nobody learned anything. The horrifying sexist practices of the Tleilaxu Axlotl tanks continued - but now they're willing volunteers. Ecological devastation continued with exhaustive mining and manipulation of limited natural resources - but now there is a diversified portfolio. Abuse of 'lower class' citizens (the machines) continued - but now they're willing workers. Dependence on an ultimate dictator continues - but this dictator is noble and well meaning.
The one small shining light of the book - the noble work of the Qelsans (embarrassed of that name yet?)- was totally condescended and made light of when our new dictator heroically swoops in and takes them under his wing, ending their silly quest for independence and a return to ecological balance.
This ending is just insulting. I feel compelled to steal Herbert's original outline, gather together some other Dune followers who have real integrity, and humbly write and release a rogue novel that hopefully can approach the wonder of Herbert's original vision.
Book Review: Not nearly as compelling as its predecesor, but still finishes strong.
Summary: 3 Stars
Hunters of Dune was a much better read than Sandworms of Dune. Sandworms picks up shortly after Hunters of Dune and the novel starts out very slow. The mid-section is not that much more exciting and plods along with very little steam. I have to admit though, that the ending (last 125 pages) was excellent and literally saved this novel. It finishes very strong, all the plot lines come together in the last 125 pages, and it was even difficult for me to put down at this point. It's too bad the beginning and middle sections weren't nearly as good or compelling as the ending.
With the Ithaca captured on the Machine home world of "Synchrony," it's crew imprisoned and its weaponry dismantled, face dancers loyal to and created by the robots infesting Chapterhouse and all of their warships, Omnious and Erasmus figure they've got this one in the bag. The extermination of Humanity and Chapterhouse are virtually certain as their weapons have no effect against the advancing robots. What the robots completely forgot about, not to mention never even considered the possibility of, were the Sandworms locked inside the Ithaca's storage facility. And when they're let loose on the Machine's home world of Synchrony, they literally bring the robots to their knees, destroying their entire society, hence the name of the novel. There are plenty of other surprizes in the ending as well, which makes this Dune novel a worthy read.