Book Set Review: Frank Herbert's Dune Saga 3-Book Deluxe Hardcover Boxed Set

 

This is a newly printed (in 2023) hardcover set of the original Dune Trilogy written by Frank Herbert (1965's Dune, 1969's Dune Messiah, and 1976's Children of Dune). The trilogy details the rise and fall of Paul Atreides. The first and longest of the three books, Dune, is the most well-known part of the story as it has been adapted into live-action movies. The stories in the other two books tell Paul's story after he obtained control of Arrakis (Dune). The books include new artwork and are packaged in a decorative outer box. The first book is the best of the three. If you read it first, it can be a bit hard to follow. If you read the vast collection of prequel novels written by Kevin J. Anderson and Frank's son, Brian, you get the backstory alluded to in Dune, which helps to make sense of and give context to the events in Dune. The story gets much weirder in Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. The storylines of those books are not bad; they just get more challenging to follow, especially since time jumps set the events of those books many years after the events in Dune. While the books will not likely appeal to everyone, they are classics in the sci-fi genre and are absolutely worth reading for fans of sci-fi and fantasy books. 

Book Review: Children of Dune (Dune #18)

 

Children of Dune, published in 1976, is the 18th overall book in the Dune series of novels (when read chronologically) and the third in the original trilogy of novels written by Frank Herbert. So, it is the third book if you read them in publication order. The events in the book are set nine years after Dune Messiah. Paul has gone off into the desert and is presumed dead. Alia is ruling Dune but is becoming more erratic, having established an autocratic government, and Paul's children, Leto and Ghanima, who both have the preborn traits of Alia and some of Paul's abilities, discover that terraforming Dune will kill all the sandworms and destroy the source of the spice. Jessica and Gurney Halleck return to Arrakis, and a power struggle ensues between Alia and Jessica. To further complicate things on Arrakis, a mysterious blind preacher who holds sway over some of the Fremen begins railing against Alia's government. 

The hardcover deluxe edition of the book is moderately long at 475 pages. Even though it is shorter than the first novel, it is more challenging to read. There are several plotlines that all go in different directions and have twists. The crux of the story is about the fall of Alia and the ascension of Leto II to the throne, but the story is not exactly streamlined in getting to the conclusion. It very much feels like the middle part of a story, and since Frank Herbert wrote three additional novels, that is very much what it is. Ultimately, if you have read the prequel novels by Frank's son, Brian and Kevin J. Anderson, and the two original novels by Frank Herbert, this has the weakest story and is the most challenging to finish. That said, it is worth reading to see how the saga plays out. 

Book Review: The Winds of Dune (Dune #17)

 

The Winds of Dune, published in 2009, is the 17th book in the Dune saga (if you read them chronologically) and the second in the Heroes of Dune trilogy of novels. It is one of several novels written by the duo of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The events in the story are set mostly between books 2 and 3 of the original Dune trilogy, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. As the novel Paul of Dune (set between the original Dune novel and Dune Messiah) did, this one jumps time periods. Most of the events are set after the end of Paul's reign after he walks off into the desert at a time when Alia is trying to hold the government together. Paul's former friend, Bronso if Ix (Bronso Vernius), has begun criticizing Paul and his rule. The story flashes back to events that occurred earlier during Paul's rule when we discover the plot against Paul and who was involved. 

The hardcover version is just under 450 pages. If you have read the prior novels (which is necessary to understand the story in this one), especially those written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, this one has a similar style and tone and reads as quickly or slowly as the others. The story is intriguing and fills in the gaps between the original novels. I will not spoil the story for those who have not read it, but we discover that not everything is as it seemed with Paul's rule and the events that led to his downfall. We also get more insight into Alia, who is now a teenager but has all the memories of the prior Reverand Mothers of the Bene Gesserit. The story also shows the cracks that develop in the relationships between Alia, Lady Jessica, Duncan Idaho, and Gurney Halleck and the widening rift between Jessica and the members of the Bene Gesserit. If you are a fan of the Dune saga, it is absolutely worth reading.

Book Review: Dune Messiah (Dune #16)

 

Dune Messiah is the second book in Frank Herbert's original Dune Trilogy (and the second book in publication order). It is the 16th book in the saga of novels if you read them chronologically. It was first published in 1968, and this deluxe edition, which features an introduction by Frank's son, Brian, and new artwork, was published in 2023. The story jumps nine years after the events that ended the original novel. Paul is now the Emperor, having conquered hundreds of worlds, and his warriors have killed billions of people in his name. This book deals with the backlash against Paul's rule, with the remaining members of the various political houses he conquered plotting against him.

The hardcover version of the book is short at just under 270 pages. Even though it is short, it does take some time to get through as it jumps between a few different storylines and introduces a handful of new characters. It very much has the feel and tone of the middle part of a trilogy. It does advance the overall storyline, but there are stretches where not much seems to be happening. If you just compare it against the original novel, it is definitely not as good, especially not as good as the last third of the original novel. But, in the context of it setting up another book, it makes more sense and is worth reading.

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. 

Book Review: Sands of Dune

 

Sands of Dune, published in 2022, is a collection of short stories written by the duo of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Herbert is the son of Frank Herbert, who wrote the two original Dune trilogies. The duo has also written several prequel and sequel novels to the original Dune novels. This book is the second collection of short stories (along with 2017's Tales of Dune) that Anderson and Herbert wrote with stories that are ancillary to the main novels.

The book is short—the hardcover version is just over 160 pages. It contains four stories. Two of them are set during the "Schools of Dune" trilogy of novels, specifically just after the Navigators of Dune novel, and two of them are set during the events of the original 1965 Dune novel. The stories fill in or add details to events that occurred in the main novels. For example, one of the stories details what Gurney Halleck was doing between the attack on the Atreides and when he resurfaces in the later part of the book. While the stories are not essential to understanding what happens in the main novels, they add interesting details and are worth reading.

Book Review: Dune: Deluxe Edition (#1 Publication Order; #14 Chronological Order)

 

This is a hardcover reprinting of Frank Herbert's original 1965 novel, Dune. It is the first novel in the now sprawling series of Dune novels, but if you read the novels chronologically, it is the 14th. The book begins on the planet Caladan, which House Atreides has ruled over for years until Duke Leto Atreides is ordered by Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV to take control of the production of Spice (a substance that gives humans longer life spans, gives some humans supernatural powers, and makes interstellar space travel possible) on the desert planet, Arrakis (which is called Dune by the people who live there). Leto, along with his 15-year-old son Paul, and his concubine (and Paul's mother), Jessica, move (along with the House Atreides hands and troops) to Arrakis, where a trap is set to be sprung by members of House Harkonnen, the Atreides' arch enemies. 

This version of the book was published in 2019. I purchased mine as a part of a collector's set containing the original trilogy novels. The book includes an introduction written by Frank Herbert's son, Brian, who has co-authored the (as of this writing) 13 prequel novels, 4 sequel novels, and two collections of short stories set during the various Dune eras. The book is 658 pages long. The actual story takes up 603 pages. The rest of the book includes three appendices that flesh out some of the events leading up to the events in the book and summarize the main characters. The appendices would also serve as the starting point for the prequel novels. The book ends with a glossary of terms.

The story is good, but it can be confusing. There is a reason that it is considered one of the hardest sci-fi novels to adapt to live-action. The book's first half has very little action but sets up what happens in the latter half, where most of the action occurs. There are also time jumps that occur in the book, but Herbert does not identify them when they occur; you just have to figure that out from the context as you read. It helps to read the series of books chronologically because all the characters have been developed in the prequel novels, and you have a better sense of why things happen in this book the way they do. It also helps to know what Mentats are and what the motivations of the Bene Gesserit are before reading this book. That is certainly not to say the book is impossible to follow without reading the prequel novels, but it is easier to follow this book if you know the background material. Ultimately, it is a great book with themes of political corruption, religion, caste systems, family, and the like. It is absolutely worth reading.

Book Review: Dune: The Heir of Caladan (Dune #13)

 

The Heir of Caladan, published in 2022, is (at least for the moment) the final prequel novel to Frank Herbert's original Dune novel. It is the 13th book in the Dune series when read chronologically and is written by the combination of Frank Herbert's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. It is the third novel in the Caladan trilogy, which sets up the events just before the original book. Specifically, this one sets up Baron Harkonnen being divested of control over the spice production on Arrakis, and what led to Jessica being reunited with Leto and Paul. The book also concludes the storyline about the resistance of some of the Noble houses against Emperor Corrino. 

The hardcover version of the book is almost exactly 400 pages long. It has the same style and tone (and thus reads as quickly or slowly) as the other prequel novels. While the title suggests Paul is the book's focus, he is not. Like the other prequel novels, it jumps from storyline to storyline every 1-2 chapters. While Paul has one of the book's major story arcs, the book alternates between his storyline and the storylines involving Leto, Jessica, the Harkonnens, and Shaddam Corrino. The only group that does not have a major storyline in this book is the Fremen. Since I am reading the books chronologically, I have not yet read the original Dune novel. From what I know of the storyline in the original novel, it seems that this book provides (or at least hints at) the motivations behind the actions of some of the characters in the original book. The book has a good blend of action and suspense and is definitely worth the time to read.

Book Review: Dune: The Lady of Caladan (Dune #12) #Dune

 

The Lady of Caladan is the 12th book in the Dune Saga (when read chronologically) and is the second book in the Caladan trilogy set in the years immediately before the events of the original Dune novel. The book was published in 2021 and was once again written by the duo of Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert. While the title suggests that Jessica is the focus of the book, like most of the other prequel novels, it has several storylines going on at one time, specifically involving Leto, Jessica, Paul, Baron Harkonnen and his two nephews, Count Fenring, and to a lesser degree Emperor Shaddam. The only major characters who do not appear are Chani and Irulan. The events of the book pick up immediately after the prior novel, The Duke of Caladan, with Jessica having been recalled to Wallach IX by the Bene Gesserit and Leto having been offered to join the group of Nobles working against the Emperor. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 400 pages. While there are only a handful of new characters in the book, since it jumps between storylines every chapter or two, it can sometimes be a bit slow to read. The book does a good job of escalating the Harkonnen-Atreides feud and setting the stage for why the Emperor reassigns Leto to oversee the spice production on Arrakis. It is absolutely worth the time to read, especially if you want the backstory of the original Dune novels. 

Book Review: Dune: The Duke of Caladan (Dune #11) #Dune

 

The Duke of Caladan, published in 2020, is the 11th book in the Dune Saga (when reading them in chronological order) and the first in the Caladan trilogy. It is one of now four novels (the other two in the Caladan trilogy and the new novel, Princess of Dune) set in the two years immediately before the events of the original 1965 novel Dune. This one was again written by the duo of Brian Herbert, the son of Frank Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson. Like the other prequel novels, this one has several storylines. The major storyline set on Caladan involves a drug that is being manufactured from one of Caladan's native plants and is killing people throughout the imperium (unbeknownst to Leto). The second storyline is set on Arrakis and involves illegal spice production and smuggling after Emperor Corrino imposes a surcharge on spice. The final storyline involves the Sisterhood and a warning about Jessica and Paul. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 320 pages long. While the book is centered around the character of Leto Atreides, Paul, Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Duncan Idaho, Baron Harkonnen, Mother Mohiam, and Emperor  Corrino are all featured prominently. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger that will carry over into the next books in the Caladan trilogy as the authors set up the events of the original novel. If you are a fan of the Dune series, the book is absolutely worth the time to read.

Book Review: Princess of Dune (Dune #10)

 

Princess of Dune, published in late 2023, is, as of this writing, the newest book in the Dune Saga and the 10th book when read chronologically. It is set 2 years before the events of the original 1965 novel and was again written by the duo of Brian Herbert (the original author's son) and Kevin J. Anderson (who have written all of the prequel novels).  As the title (and cover image) of the book suggests, the storylines in this book are focused on Princess Irulan (and her sisters) and Chani. Irulan and Chani have mostly separate story arcs in the book, but their stories do intersect briefly about 2/3 of the way through the book. Irulan's story involves a potential marriage to a military suitor, and Chani's storyline involves trying to free Dune from the grip of the Harkonnens and Emperor Shaddam. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 400 pages, which is a little shorter than many of the other prequel novels. The pacing is good (even with jumping back and forth between the two main storylines), and unlike some of the other prequel novels, it does not have a ton of characters to keep track of. None of the Atreides characters appear in the book, and only a handful of Harkonnen characters appear very briefly. If you are a fan of the Dune saga, this is well worth the time to read. 

Book Review: Dune: House Corrino (Dune #9)

 

House Corrino, published in 2001, is the ninth book in the series of Dune novels (when read chronologically) and is the third book in the Prelude to Dune Trilogy, the third of the prequel trilogies leading to the events of the original novel. The book was again written by the combination of Frank Herbert's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The events of this book are set about 15 years before the events of the original novel, with Paul's birth occurring at the end of the book, Chani being about eight months old, and Princess Irulan as a young girl. The book mostly involves those who are adults in the original novel and includes three main plotlines, each of which has ancillary plotlines. In the first, Shaddam is trying to perfect the synthetic spice and break the Harkonnen hold on the spice trade. In the second, Leto devises a daring attack on the planet Ix to restore Prince Rhombur to power. In the third, the Harkonnens plot to kill Lady Jessica and/or her unborn child. 

The hardcover version of the book is about 500 pages long. The book is a faster read than the prior novels since all of the main characters have been established. There are some new characters in the book, but their involvement is tangential to the storylines. The end of the book does not lead directly into the events of the original Dune, as there are another four novels that, by their titles, seem to be centered around Paul, Chani, Irulan, and Jessica just before the events of the original book. This book (and the trilogy of novels it is a part of) does, however, provide a lot of context for what is in the original novel. The book is mostly about political maneuvering between the Houses, but there is quite a bit of action in the last third. The book is absolutely worth reading, but definitely has to be read in sequence with the other books to follow its plotlines. 

Book Review: Dune: House Harkonnen (Dune #8)

 

House Harkonnen is the 8th novel in the Dune series when read chronologically and the second in the third overall prequel trilogy (aka, the Prelude to Dune series) to the original novels written by Frank Herbert. The book was published in 2000 and was again written by the combination of Kevin J. Anderson and Frank Herbert's son, Brian. Like the first book in this trilogy was not entirely focused on the Atreides, this book is not focused solely on the Harkonnens. The story jumps between Caladan, Corrino, Arrakis, Geidi Prime, Ix, Wallach IX, and Lankiveil and tracks Leto, Vladimir and Abulurd Harkonen, Emperor Shaddam Corrino, Duncan Idaho, The Fremen (with the focus on Liet Kynes), and the Benne Gesserit. To the extent that the book is focused on the Harkonnens, it mainly deals with Baron Harkonnen's maneuverings against all of the other major players.

The hardcover version of the book is just over 600 pages, and as I said above, the book jumps from one storyline to the other. Most of the storylines are separate, but some elements intersect with each other here and there.  The events of the novel are set a few years down the line from the end of the novel House Atreides and it has a couple of short time jumps throughout. Most of the book is relatively slow-paced, but the story picks up a lot in the last handful of chapters (which was enough for me to bump it up to five stars). The big points in the book are the development of Leto and Jessica's relationship, Baron Harkonen's plots to take down House Atreides, Emperor Corrino, and the Bene Gesserit, Emperor Corrino's attempt to produce spice independent of Akkaris, the Bene Gesserit's plans to create god-like bloodlines, and Duncan Idaho's swordmaster training. Ultimately, the book is setting up the original Dune novel and laying out the backstory for the two original trilogies based on Frank Herbert's notes and unfinished works. It makes what was already a sprawling story even larger. It is not an easy book to read because of the fact that it has a lot of characters and jumps between storylines. But, if you are a fan of the sci-fi genre, this (and the other prequel novels) are worth your time to read. I am reading the novels in chronological order so I have not yet read the two original trilogies written by Frank Herbert, and I am not sure how this compares to those books, but this is written in pretty much the same style and tone as the other prequel novels, so if you like those, you will probably like this one.

Book Review: Dune: House Atreides (Dune #7)

 

House Atreides is the 7th book in the Dune series (if read chronologically) and the first in the Prelude to Dune trilogy/House trilogy (which is chronologically the third prequel trilogy to the original Dune novels). It is also, in publication order, the first prequel novel to the original Dune series that was written by the duo of Frank Herbert's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The book, published in 1999, is set a generation before the events of the original novel when characters like Leto Atreides and Duncan Idaho were children, and Baron Vladimir Harkonnen was early in his rule of Arrakis/Dune. Despite what the title of the novel suggests, this is not solely about the Atreides, but alternates between different storylines that intersect at different points. The book hints at the origins rivalry between the Atreides and the Harkonnen Houses (although those stories had not yet been fleshed out so if you read the books chronologically you know the backstory that was not presented in this book), and the circumstances of Leto becoming Duke of Caladan and of Shaddam IV becoming Emperor are also detailed in this book. The book also includes storylines about Pardot Kynes and the Fremen and the maneuverings of the Bene Gesserit. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 600 pages. It is not an extremely quick read since there are several new characters introduced in the book and the chapters jump between the different storylines. Even so, the overall story flows very well and never seems to drag. Plus, the chapters are kept relatively short, so there are many natural stopping points. I am reading the books in chronological order, so I have not yet read the original Dune novels written by Frank Herbert, so I cannot say how this book (or the other prequel novels) compare to those. But, if you have read the other novels in the series written by Anderson and Brian Herbert, then you will likely enjoy this one. And if you have read the original Dune novels, this will provide a lot of good backstory. It is absolutely worth the time to read.

Book Review: Navigators of Dune (Dune #6)

 

Navigators of Dune is the 6th book, chronologically, in the Dune franchise of novels written by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert. It is the third book in the "Schools of Dune" trilogy, which is the second prequel trilogy (again chronologically) to the original Dune trilogy. This book, published in 2016, is set about 10,000 years before the events of the original Dune storyline. The book ties up some of the storylines that were started in the earlier novels and sets up the origins of storylines that will have consequences and/or be instrumental down the line such as the Sisterhood's breeding program, the Spacing Guild, and the human computers. And, of course, the Harkonen-Atreides feud continues to play out. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 400 pages long. There are a lot of characters in the book, but thankfully, most of them carry over from the prior novels in the trilogy so it is not very hard to keep track of who is who. Like with the prior books, there are a few different main storylines. Two of them are interrelated and intertwine quite a bit, and the third is on its own. The book has a good balance of action and downtime (which is mostly used to set up the next action sequence). The book does a good job of continuing the backstory to bring the readers to the original Dune novels while still being suspenseful and entertaining. It is absolutely worth reading.

Book Review: Mentats of Dune (Dune # 5)

 

Mentats of Dune, published in 2014, is the fifth book in the Dune series chronologically, and the second book in the "Schools of Dune" trilogy. It was again written by Brian Herbert, the son of the creator of Dune and author of the original Dune Trilogies, Frank Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson.

This book does have a time jump from the prior novel, but not as large as the time jumps that occurred in the Butlerian trilogy. In this book, the sisterhood is picking up the pieces after the Butlerians and Emporer Salvador Corrino's forces attacked the school. Gilbertus is trying to walk the fine line between keeping his background secret and appeasing the Butlerians so he can continue to operate his school, and Josef Venport is working to try to take down the Butlerians and their leader, Manford Tornodo. Valya Harkonnen and her sister Tula are trying to figure out how to hurt Vorian Atreides, who is trying to finally live a normal life. Anna Corrino is living at the Mentat school with Gilbertus vowing to keep her safe and try to fix her mind from the effects of the poison she consumed at the end of the last book. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 450 pages. It does take longer (at least for me) to read than other books of a similar length because, as has been the case with the prequel novels, the book jumps from storyline to storyline and has a lot of characters to keep track of. Sometimes storylines intertwine with one another and some of the storylines stay separate. The climax of the book involves a cat and mouse escape within a standoff and is very well done. The book definitely sometimes feels like the middle chapter of a trilogy, but it does advance the storylines very well and continues to set up themes in the original Dune novels. It is absolutely worth the time to read.

Book Review: Sisterhood of Dune (Dune #4)

 

Sisterhood of Dune is chronologically the 4th book in the Dune series of novels, and the first in the Schools of Dune trilogy. The book was published in 2012 and written by the duo of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. 

This novel is set approximately 80 years after the victory over the machines at the Battle of Corrin. Some of the characters from the Butlerian era such as Vorian, Raquella, and Gilbertus do carry over into this book. There are two major themes in the book. The schools run by Raquella, and Gilbertus, and the hatred of Vorian by the heirs of Abulurd Harkonnen. Raquella formed the Bene Gesserit School (or the Sisterhood) and Gilbertus formed a school for people (known as Mentats) to learn to think like the machines did. The anti-machine Butlerian movement is still around and trying to destroy all remnants of technology, while underground groups are trying to bring machines back.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 500 pages long. The authors do a good job of moving in and out of the various storylines and intersecting them at key points. The authors do give signs as to where some of the storylines will go in the subsequent novels but do not telegraph the exact direction for any of the main arcs. It is absolutely worth the time to read.

Book Review: Dune: The Battle of Corrin (Dune #3)

 

The Battle of Corrin is the third novel in the Legends of Dune trilogy. The book was written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson and published in 2004. The book's events start approximately 60 years after the events of the prior novel, The Machine Crusade, and conclude the war between humans and machines. There are some time jumps in the book that make keeping track of characters a bit tricky.

The hardcover version of the book is long. It is a little over 600 pages and could have easily been split into two smaller books with a bit tighter storylines. In fact, it is separated in the novel into Book I and Book II, but there are really three stories in the book that kind of interweave. The first is the thinking machines deploying multiple weapons to kill off humans, the Titans working against the thinking machines and the humans, and the humans trying to take out both groups of machines while bickering among themselves. I will not go into the fine details to avoid spoiling the plot, but it is not spoiling anything to say that the humans ultimately win. By the end of the book, it is revealed how the three main "Houses" in Dune came about and why the Atreides and Harkonens are rivals in the original Dune novel. 

The book is good, but it seems like it would have been better had it been split into two books. The actual defeat of the various machines is detailed in the last few chapters and felt a little bit rushed to me. Had the book been split into two novels I do not think the authors would have had to jump from storyline to storyline as much and would have made everything a bit easier to follow. That said, it is still worth the time to read to find out how the events that would set up the original Dune novel played out.

Book Review: Dune: The Machine Crusade (Dune #2)

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the prior novel, The Butlerian Jihad+++

The Machine Crusade is the second book in the Dune series (if you read the books in chronological order). It is the second book in the Legends of Dune series, which was written by Brian Herbert, who is the son of the author of the original Dune novel and its follow-up novels, Frank Herbert, and Kevin Anderson, and published in 2003 that chronicles the war between humans and machines that is alluded to in the original novel. 

The events in this book start out about 25 years after the events of the first book, The Butlerian Jihad, in which the war between the machines and humans started when the "thinking machine", Erasmus, killed Serena Butler's young son, Manion. We find out that Serena has become almost a recluse and basically a figurehead for the Jihad which is really being spearheaded by Iblis Ginjo. Xavier and Vorian are Primeros (basically generals) in the war, sacrificing a normal life to fight the machines. The war is essentially at a stalemate, with both sides scoring victories but neither able to strike a winning blow. Like the first book, this one alternates between multiple stories, characters, and different worlds. We find out that there is infighting between the machines and between the humans. One of the big storylines in this book is the work being done by the characters Aurelius Venport and Norma Cenva to "fold" space and make interstellar travel instant. We also learn the origin of the Fighters of Finaz, who are "led" by Jool Noret, who has been training against a re-programmed machine to learn how to efficiently kill the machines and fights with reckless abandon anytime he can.

The hardcover version of the book is about 700 pages long, and that is with the use of a relatively small font. The book is not what I would call a quick read as there are a lot of characters and the book is constantly shifting from one part of the story to another. I am a fast reader (I can normally read about 150-200 pages in 2-3 hours) and it took me about ten days to get through this one (mostly reading for an hour or two before bed). I am reading the books in chronological order so I have not read the original Dune trilogy that was written by Frank Herbert, and don't know how this compares to those books, but if you a fan of Sci-Fi and liked the first book, then you will probably like this one. 

Book Review: Dune: The Butlerian Jihad (Dune #1)

 

The Butlerian Jihad is a prequel novel to the classic sci-fi novel, Dune, written by Frank Herbert in the 1960s. This book, published in 2002 was written by Frank Herbert's son, Brian, and is co-authored by Kevin J. Anderson. It is the first novel if you read the books in chronological order, and it tells the story of events that were referred to in the original Dune Trilogy of novels.

This book (and the other two books in the trilogy) is set thousands of years before the events in the Dune novel (and movies). At the time, machines had enslaved humans on Earth and many planets that would eventually make up the guild. The machines were a combination of artificially intelligent thinking machines and cyborgs who used to be human but were able to preserve their brains in canisters that they could transfer from one mechanical body to the next. This book details the start of the war between humans and machines that was referenced in Dune and also details the beginnings of the relationship between House Harkonnen and House Atreides.

The hardcover version of the book is a little over 600 pages. That consists of about 612 pages of the actual story and then a character glossary that is about another 20 pages that gives a short explanation of the characters in the book. The story is very good but can be a bit hard to follow at times. The story jumps around from planet to planet, and shifts from the point of view of one character to another. Since there are a ton of characters in the book until you can keep straight who everyone is, it can get confusing. As you get deeper into the book, the story really focuses on just a handful of characters and the story is easier to digest. I have not read the original Dune trilogy yet (as of this writing) as I am reading the books in chronological order. So, I cannot say how this book compares to those written by Frank Herbert, but, it is a very well-written story that blends action, suspense, and drama. If you are a fan of the Dune movies or even just Sci-Fi books, movies, or TV series, this is worth the time to read.