Book Review: Paul of Dune (Dune #15)

 

Paul of Dune, published in 2008, is a novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. It is the 15th book in the Dune saga if you read the novels chronologically. It is set mainly during the time jump between the first two books of Frank Herbert's original Dune trilogy, Dune, and Dune Messiah. In it, we see how Paul's forces take control of the planets in the Imperium and how Paul ultimately becomes the Emperor. We also learn more about his relationship with Irulan and how she becomes Paul's biographer. The book also details the attempts made to stop his rise to power. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 500 pages long. Part of the book is told in the present (meaning after the events of the original Dune novel), and part is told in the past, detailing events that occurred when Paul was young. The story flows pretty smoothly since the time period switching occurs in sections, so there will be a section with 5-10 chapters set in the past, and the next section will have 5-10 chapters set in the present. The only thing that makes the storyline set in the present a bit hard to follow is that you have to remember where that story left off after you get through one of the flashback sections. The book is well-written and has a good blend of action, intrigue, and drama. We see that Paul is conflicted about what is being done in his name, and a huge theme of the book is the danger of cult-like devotion to a leader, which is absolutely applicable to the times we currently live in (as of 2024 when this was written). It is an excellent addition to the saga and is worth reading.