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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
300 pages of yap 150 pages of plot. Eh I think it’s setting up the plot for the next book I just wish he didn’t leave it very open ended
Simultaneously the best and worst Dune book yet. Best because the story is more focused in its smaller narrative scale, with many very dramatic scenes. Worst, because the contraction of the world has continued apace. The entire galactic empire consists of four groups (Leto, the Tleilaxu, the Bene Gesserit, and the Ixians). You could argue this is in keeping with the theme of Leto's Peace being a stifling and homogeneous tyranny, yet the trend was obvious in the previous books. Even the things the factions do have become rote: the Tleilaxu make face dancers and gholas, and nothing else. The Bene Gesserit have truthsayers and whine that they aren't getting to make Punnet squares. Leto is the only thing in this schema that can sustain interest, so thankfully Herbert goes all in on him.
90% of this book is people talking to Leto, who baffles them. Finally, the characters are as confused as I am. He wants them to understand him, but only an authentic understanding, so he never explains himself in terms they can understand, though he undoubtedly could. Too much of a galaxy brain. Though presented as a tragic figure, it rarely came through for me, except in the scenes with his fiancee, Hwi. I'm glad to finally have a "JRPG villain" type character in western scifi, though.
I was told this was "the weird one" (or was that Heretics?), but it wasn't that weird, relative to the rest of the series. Yeah, Leto's legion of fanatical muscle mommies (is there no limit to Warhammer's lifting from this series?) is a strange addition, but so were the trained attack ferrets mentioned in Children. Maybe my basis for comparison was forever ruined by Fourteen. A giant worm man is simply not enough.
The scene where Duncan gets bodied by an old man was amazing
90% of this book is people talking to Leto, who baffles them. Finally, the characters are as confused as I am. He wants them to understand him, but only an authentic understanding, so he never explains himself in terms they can understand, though he undoubtedly could. Too much of a galaxy brain. Though presented as a tragic figure, it rarely came through for me, except in the scenes with his fiancee, Hwi. I'm glad to finally have a "JRPG villain" type character in western scifi, though.
I was told this was "the weird one" (or was that Heretics?), but it wasn't that weird, relative to the rest of the series. Yeah, Leto's legion of fanatical muscle mommies (is there no limit to Warhammer's lifting from this series?) is a strange addition, but so were the trained attack ferrets mentioned in Children. Maybe my basis for comparison was forever ruined by Fourteen. A giant worm man is simply not enough.
The scene where Duncan gets bodied by an old man was amazing
Leto II really said “would you still love me if I was a worm?” and then committed to that bit for 3,500 years. Heavy on philosophy, light on plot, but Leto II remains one of my favorite characters in the series. Thought-provoking and strange in the best way.
4.0⭐️
4.0⭐️
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
6/10
There were parts of this book that I enjoyed, but I had a hard time with most of it. The plot moves along really slowly, and then a lot of stuff happens all at once in a way that I had a hard time seeing as truly climactic. This book presents a lot of questions and doesn't answer a lot of them. Leito is supposed to be a god emperor, but he isn't really presented as one in the book. We read of the control he has, but it's hard to imagine how he maintains control of his empire based on his behavior in this book. There's a weird focus on sex throughout this book that I had a hard time seeing the reason for. I did enjoy some of the philosophical discussion.
There were parts of this book that I enjoyed, but I had a hard time with most of it. The plot moves along really slowly, and then a lot of stuff happens all at once in a way that I had a hard time seeing as truly climactic. This book presents a lot of questions and doesn't answer a lot of them. Leito is supposed to be a god emperor, but he isn't really presented as one in the book. We read of the control he has, but it's hard to imagine how he maintains control of his empire based on his behavior in this book. There's a weird focus on sex throughout this book that I had a hard time seeing the reason for. I did enjoy some of the philosophical discussion.