Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
please, just stop now, 21 Feb 2008
It is sad, to the point of being distressing, to see a son attempt to measure up to the works of his father and fall so very short. The prequels were appalling; the writing was shallow, and the plot traipsed through every elderly sci-fi cliché ever minted.
Sadly it hasn't improved in these sequels. I recall reading an interview in which these two authors said they weren't planning to strip-mine Frank Herbert's original universe, they were simply trying to round it off. If only that had turned out to be true. Because as it is, they are bleeding the very soul out of it with every new novel released.
Frank Herbert's Dune novels were soaring achievements of sharp, rich writing, steeped in politics and philosophy -- Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson would rather give you cackling killer robots, endless clones of the original characters, and "ultra spice".
Much as everyone wished for a competent continuation of the Dune saga, this novel and its sequel are not it; I hope they find it in themselves to step back and acknowledge that they are doing more harm than good to the Dune universe, and stop releasing these disappointing cash-ins. As much as a son may wish to measure up to his father, sometimes it simply cannot be.
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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just about what I expected......, 1 Sep 2006
If you've read all the Herbert/Anderson prequels, then this will have nothing new for you. The basic story line is good (but is based on Herbert Snr.'s notes). The dialogue and chacterisation is fairly basic, but there are a few good action sequences. There is nothing of the complexity or interaction between characters of the original 6 books.
However, having read and re-read these original novels many times, I had to buy this book, as I will the final one.
I have to know how the story finally ends.
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33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely not brilliant, 2 May 2007
In general, I am very suspicious of sequels of famous books written by sons, daughters or other authors. In most cases they tend to capitalise on the fame of the originals, with their sole aim to gain sales and money. For this reason, as well as for the mostly negative reviews of other readers, I have avoided all prequels to the original Dune series written by Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson. However, when I read that Hunters of Dune was a sequel to the original Dune series based on notes of Frank Herbert himself, I decided to take the risk and buy it.
Unfortunately, Hunters of Dune only proved that my misgivings were justified. First disappointment came from the foreword: the book brings no closure to the Dune Universe, because it is the first of a two-volumes series, since, according to the authors, Frank Herbert's notes gave material for over 1600 pages.
From then on, one disappointment followed the other. First of all, the writing style is indifferent, having nothing to do with FH's compact and distinctive style.
Furthermore, the story is meandering and repetitive, rehashing the same points again & again, repeating events of the previous books or even of the previous chapters, something that FH never did. The authors should understand that once inside the Dune Universe you need not hear again and again how, for example, the Bene Gesserit were afraid of a new Kwisatch Haderash or how Duncan Idaho has been killed in his previous ghola incarnations or even how Honored Matres viciously destroyed one planet after the other.
In addition, nothing significant is added to the overall storyline. No new characters are introduced, no new ethical or political issues are discussed, no moral or metaphysical questions are posed. Nothing to enrich or enliven this post - FH storyline. In fact, to revive interest the authors found it necessary to revive Muad'Dib and Leto II, instead of bringing in something or someone new.
Finally, the efforts to link this book with the prequels written by Brian Herbert & Anderson are pathetic and infuriating. To mention only one point, how can Serena Butler, of the Butlerian Jihad, be in the Other Memory of Sheeana, since her only child was murdered? The explanation given in this book is inadequate at best.
In just a few words, I do not recommend this book. If you absolutely need to know what happens next, borrow it or buy it used, but don't expect much.
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