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Amazon.co.uk Review
House Atreides chronicles the early life of Leto Atreides, prince of a minor House in the galactic Imperium. Leto comes to confront the realities of power when House Vernius is betrayed in an imperial plot involving a quest for an artificial substitute to melange, a substance vital to interstellar trade found only on the planet Dune. Meanwhile House Harkonnen schemes to bring Leto into conflict with the Tleilax, and the Bene Gesserit manipulate Baron Harkonnen as part of a plan stretching back 100 generations. In the Imperial palace treason is afoot, and on Dune itself, planetologist Pardot Kynes embarks on a secret project to transform the desert world into a paradise.
Dune remains the bestselling SF novel ever, such that three decades later no prequel can possibly have the same impact. Yet in House Atrides the authors have written a compelling, labyrinthine, skilfully imagined extension of the world Frank Herbert created, which ably commands the attention for almost 600 pages. It is powerful SF continuing a great tradition, and in itself is a very considerable achievement. --Gary S. Dalkin
Review
'. . . Herbert and Anderson have met the challenge admirably. Within a web of relationships in which no act has simple or predictable consequences, they lay the foundations of the Dune saga . . . Even readers new to the saga will be able to follow it easily as the narrative weaves among the many interconnected tales. A TERRIFIC READ IN ITS OWN RIGHT . . . Will inspire readers to turn, or return, to its great predecessor.' (Publishers Weekly )
'Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson succeed in weaving their own intricate saga. <i>Dune: House AtreidesM/i> does its predecessors justice.' (USA Today )
'Congratulations to Herbert and Anderson for transporting us back to this richly excavated world . . . A spicy melange treat for both new and long-time fans of the series' (Billy Dee Williams (of Star Wars) )
'In writing a prequel to what is arguably the best science fiction novel of all time, Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson set themselves a monumental task. They succeed brilliantly. This cynical old critic found himself engrossed from page one, and eagerly looks forward to the rest of the series. Buy it now!' (Dave Wolverton )
'IN A WORD, SATISFYING: all Dune fans will want to investigate, newcomers will be tempted, and it should promote fresh interest in the magnificent original series.' (Kirkus Reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Hideous,
This review is from: House Atreides (Prelude to Dune) (Paperback)
For me the novel falls flat on its face on the first page and never recovers. Dumbed down and beyond all recognition of the original.The portrayal of Baron Harkonnen as a muscular man is an abomination!! Cause of weight gain - a subtle/undetectable poison administered by a bene Gesserit!!! Frank Herbert's Baron was a far more complex individual who's obesity stemmed from an addictive personality, who's craving for ever more extreme stimulus cause his over feeding of both the stomach and his perverse desires. The ultimate Glutton; both spiritually and physically. I don't think the authors were up to the task, and looking at the rate they are producing work under the Dune banner, I'm pretty sure they don't care. Big disappointment, bigger shame!!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
This book deserves 5 no-stars!,
By François-ji "FJ" (Vanves) - See all my reviews
This review is from: House Atreides (Prelude to Dune) (Paperback)
Please read one chapter from any classic Dune book by Frank Herbert and then read one chapter of any of the prequels (Prelude or Legends) in a bookstore.The difference will pop up immediately. Junior and Anderson's writing is poor, weak and uninspired and the quotes at the beginning of each chapter (a Dune trademark) are ridiculous. House Atreides (book 1) was a pleasant read though, due to the expectations. It is a shame that the rest of two series do not meet these expectations. The second trilogy (Legends) ends in a rush with a couple of sub-plots (the origin of Mentats and Face Dancers)half-told which is a contradiction for a story whose purpose is to unveil the origins of every element of the Dune universe. The other books were painful to read. They might appeal to teenagers who have not yet read the classic Dune books written by Frank Herbert but they will have a shock when they start to read Dune 1. And they will probably give up before the end of Children. My advice is that, even though you were told that you'll find seeds of events told in Dune 7, no matter how curious you are to read Hunters & Sandworms, avoid reading House Atreides at all cost because it will lead you to read the next one, and the next one and the second trilogy and there are indeed better books to read these days. It is a shame that the Herbert Estate has made such a poor choice of writer for the new books. They needed somebody like Stephen Baxter or George R.R.R Martin and instead they picked a writer of Star Wars stories for teenagers.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The new Dune universe lacks atmosphere,
By ESP (Dudley, West Midlands United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: House Atreides (Prelude to Dune) (Paperback)
I first read Dune in 1974, some twelve years before Frank Herbert died. I was 13. A rather more intelligent and well-read friend loaned me the book. I found it hard going. Not only was it one of the first SF novels I had ever read, but it was a complex book with a whole new range of foreign terms and concepts (I had never before read a work of fiction requiring appendices, including a glossary and extensive notes!) I was fascinated; my imagination captured, but I didn't fully appreciate or understand the intricacies, breadth and scope of the Dune story. Even so, I struggled through the thick book (with frequent references to the notes), followed by Children of Dune and Dune Messiah in quick succession. Since then, of course, I have completed the epic series, re-reading them all several times, finding something new each time.Naturally, I always wondered about the events, characters and motivations which led up to Dune, and the universe sometimes only hinted at or briefly described as the backcloth to the story of Paul and his family. When Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson finally published the first in the Prelude to Dune series I was keen to enter this intriguing universe once more. Having read House Atreides, House Harkonnen, and started House Corrino, I can safely say that I would have greatly appreciated these books back in 1974. They are certainly more suited to a 13yr-old than the books that came before them. My apologies to Brian and Kevin, but these new prequels are a pale shadow of the master's work. Yes, they are quite exciting on occasion and, yes, they fill in a whole realm of gaps which Frank Herbert's legion of fans must have wondered about. Yet they seem shallow by comparison. Much like candy-floss, the stories lack substance and depth, leaving the reader somewhat dissatisfied, even though the yarns are enjoyable. I might also add that some of the edge is taken off the stories because we know what happens to the principal players. This detracts from most attempts at suspense. Incidentally, I can't help but wonder how much of this is Frank Herbert's unpublished material, and how much only based on his (rough) notes. I am also fairly convinced that in House Atreides there are discrepancies between what the original series tells us about Duncan Idaho's early years and the newly-narrated events. However, thanks to Frank Herbert's work, I am drawn to find out more about the universe he created, despite the relatively disappointing nature of this new series. No doubt I will purchase the Butlerian Jihad when it is available in standard paperback format. For those who have wondered about what went before Dune and can bear a version of events not told by Frank himself; and for those who are fresh to the characters and worlds he created, I recommend these books; just don't expect brilliance. They serve as a good appetiser before the Frank Herbert main course, but a poor dessert.
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