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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
The audio recording was pretty screwed in places and the beginning of the book was so overloaded in detail that I almost ditched it but after the 10th chapter I was starting to get hooked. It was a good book overall but the first part almost killed me with boring detail which I think could have been better done. Other then that the narrator was good and projected his voice well which helped to keep me slogging through the worst of it and the bad spots of strangeness that resulted from screw ups in the recording. It definitely helped to understand the first book of dune I had listened to a while back and I actually almost wish I would have gotten my hands on this one first even though I'm not sure I would have survived the massive detailed part.
I absolutely loved the original Dune series by Frank Herbert, but was unsure how I felt about picking up any of the expanded universe books by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. I'm often wary about series that have been continued by other people following the author's death. In the end I decided to give them a shot, after all I love this universe so much and wanted to spend more time here. I started with this one purely because it was what my library had available.
It is clear from the outset that this book is written by different authors to the original series. The writing style is completely different. Gone is the deep philosophical writing that makes up most of Frank Herbert's style. This book is much more plot and action based. But you can clearly see the amount of time and research they have put in to recreating this universe as Frank designed it.
Reading this book was a different experience to reading the original series, but it wasn't any worse for it. I really enjoyed the story and, as someone who loves a backstory, it was really fun to see the younger years of a lot of characters that you recognise from Dune. In particular it was great to see Idaho as a child (for the first time) and how he came to work for the Atreides. I also liked seeing Leto and Duke Harkonnen and even Kynes story was interesting.
The world building has been expanded in a way that feels like a natural extension to what was already established. Similarly the characters are well developed, both those that already existed and the new ones.
I'm interested to see where this story is going, even though ultimately it will end up in the position where Dune begins, and so am excited for the next book.
It is clear from the outset that this book is written by different authors to the original series. The writing style is completely different. Gone is the deep philosophical writing that makes up most of Frank Herbert's style. This book is much more plot and action based. But you can clearly see the amount of time and research they have put in to recreating this universe as Frank designed it.
Reading this book was a different experience to reading the original series, but it wasn't any worse for it. I really enjoyed the story and, as someone who loves a backstory, it was really fun to see the younger years of a lot of characters that you recognise from Dune. In particular it was great to see Idaho as a child (for the first time) and how he came to work for the Atreides. I also liked seeing Leto and Duke Harkonnen and even Kynes story was interesting.
The world building has been expanded in a way that feels like a natural extension to what was already established. Similarly the characters are well developed, both those that already existed and the new ones.
I'm interested to see where this story is going, even though ultimately it will end up in the position where Dune begins, and so am excited for the next book.
This book was GREAT. I will say, one thing I have emphasized about this book when explaining it to friends is that it is a lot less dense than [b:Dune|44767458|Dune|Frank Herbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555447414l/44767458._SY75_.jpg|3634639]. Dune had a lot of world-building to get through, and lots of philosophy, politics, and religion to explain. This book had a lot more adventure, character development, and tricks and schemes, but added more planets and families into the mix to flesh out the world a bit more.
The Bene Gesserit scheme to produce a child with the Baron Harkonnen, who is a young, vain, hot stud(this took me a while to imagine, especially after having seen both the 2021 and David Lynch version of Dune LOL). This book describes the beginnings of how his body starts to fall apart. The takeover of Crown Prince Shaddam as the Emperor is explained in full. Leto is a young teenager, sent to Ix for his training. His father, Duke Paulus, shows off his bull-fighting matador prowess. Duncan Idaho is a young boy stuck on Geidi Prime, trying to escape Raban and his goons who hunt him down for sport. Pardot Kynes, the imperial planetologist, becomes one with the Freman.
With such a huge cast, it is a little bit hard to keep up with all the characters and their motivations. This book is pretty long also due to the fact that Herbert does remind readers of the characters and where we left off in the storyline. I did greatly appreciate this aspect, as it made it much easier to follow along.
The story I was least interested in was the story of the Ixian twins who both aspire to be navigators. However, the rest of the story lines kept my attention and the whole book really did feel like it took place in the Dune-iverse, despite being written by Frank Herbert's son. This prequel is written by [a:Frank Herbert|58|Frank Herbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1591018335p2/58.jpg]'s son, and I did listen to the acknowledgements that explained the context how he took over. If anything it is easier to digest than the original first book and more action-packed and character-driven.
The Bene Gesserit scheme to produce a child with the Baron Harkonnen, who is a young, vain, hot stud(this took me a while to imagine, especially after having seen both the 2021 and David Lynch version of Dune LOL). This book describes the beginnings of how his body starts to fall apart. The takeover of Crown Prince Shaddam as the Emperor is explained in full. Leto is a young teenager, sent to Ix for his training. His father, Duke Paulus, shows off his bull-fighting matador prowess. Duncan Idaho is a young boy stuck on Geidi Prime, trying to escape Raban and his goons who hunt him down for sport. Pardot Kynes, the imperial planetologist, becomes one with the Freman.
With such a huge cast, it is a little bit hard to keep up with all the characters and their motivations. This book is pretty long also due to the fact that Herbert does remind readers of the characters and where we left off in the storyline. I did greatly appreciate this aspect, as it made it much easier to follow along.
The story I was least interested in was the story of the Ixian twins who both aspire to be navigators. However, the rest of the story lines kept my attention and the whole book really did feel like it took place in the Dune-iverse, despite being written by Frank Herbert's son. This prequel is written by [a:Frank Herbert|58|Frank Herbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1591018335p2/58.jpg]'s son, and I did listen to the acknowledgements that explained the context how he took over. If anything it is easier to digest than the original first book and more action-packed and character-driven.
First prequal to the amazing Dune series, developed with love and care, creativity, but also respect. Perfectly aligned and true to the messages, atmospheres and revelations Frank Herbert vehicled through his own tomes.
If I disliked anything, it was the ease I had in reading Brian Herbert's particular style. It is inviting, making the characters easily relocatable, but I had grown accustomed to the heavy, dream-like narration of Frank Herbert in regards to Dune and it's universe. This incarnation of the dune characters and storyline lacks the "soul" behind Frank Herbert's narration; the feeling that the answer to all questions, all philosophical problems, lays between the lines, just out of reach, but it's presence nevertheless glowing.
If I disliked anything, it was the ease I had in reading Brian Herbert's particular style. It is inviting, making the characters easily relocatable, but I had grown accustomed to the heavy, dream-like narration of Frank Herbert in regards to Dune and it's universe. This incarnation of the dune characters and storyline lacks the "soul" behind Frank Herbert's narration; the feeling that the answer to all questions, all philosophical problems, lays between the lines, just out of reach, but it's presence nevertheless glowing.
I started reading the Duniverse only a few short months ago (in the middle of a pandemic it was easier to find more reading time) my aim was to read the original Dune as a reading challenge book but haiving discovered the entire set of prequel books I set out to read them first.
I became invested in the lives of the Atreides, Harkonnens and Corrinos as well as many more and at the end of the previous book, the final in the schools trilogy, I was left wanting more. Wanting to know what became of Vorian Atreides, how long did he live with his left extentsion treatment, did he finally find the peaceful life he deserved? What about Josef Venport, would he succeed as a Navigator, what would become of him? Then there was the evil Valya Harkonnen now in one of the most powerful positions in the universe, would she ever be stopped?
I started this new trilogy with a skip in my step and them immediately fell down - 1000 years have passed?? My heros are nothing more than dust and barely even mentioned in this new series?? Oh my, hopes dashed, questions unanswered I ventrued forth into a new world of Dune, now set only some 50 years before the classic original.
The names are recognisable, although there are little changes here and there - only to be expected as the millenia go by. The main houses of Atreides, Harkonnen and Corrino are still here and it seems nothing much has changed, humans will be humans and the greed and corruption continues. The blood feud between the Atreides and Harkonnens lives on, although by now possibly long dead I am sure Vorian is not at rest knowing this. The Corrinos still the Emperors of the universe, and still corrupt and incompetent.
This books lays the foundations for the Atreides future standing in the Empire, a new young duke thrown into the position prematurely must navigate through the schemes of his Harkonnen enemies to survive, his house, his own life could be forfeited if he is not successful.
We are also introduced to a few other characters that I hope will continue through my Dune adventrue. The young Duncan Idaho (another name that has survived the years) and Pardot Kynes sent to Arrakis to discover the secret of the spice, the most valiable commodity in the Empire.
There were moments in the book where you held you breath and hoped things would turn out well but for the most part it was a nice read but not a great read. If I had a half star to give I woud have gone 3.5 for this book.
I became invested in the lives of the Atreides, Harkonnens and Corrinos as well as many more and at the end of the previous book, the final in the schools trilogy, I was left wanting more. Wanting to know what became of Vorian Atreides, how long did he live with his left extentsion treatment, did he finally find the peaceful life he deserved? What about Josef Venport, would he succeed as a Navigator, what would become of him? Then there was the evil Valya Harkonnen now in one of the most powerful positions in the universe, would she ever be stopped?
I started this new trilogy with a skip in my step and them immediately fell down - 1000 years have passed?? My heros are nothing more than dust and barely even mentioned in this new series?? Oh my, hopes dashed, questions unanswered I ventrued forth into a new world of Dune, now set only some 50 years before the classic original.
The names are recognisable, although there are little changes here and there - only to be expected as the millenia go by. The main houses of Atreides, Harkonnen and Corrino are still here and it seems nothing much has changed, humans will be humans and the greed and corruption continues. The blood feud between the Atreides and Harkonnens lives on, although by now possibly long dead I am sure Vorian is not at rest knowing this. The Corrinos still the Emperors of the universe, and still corrupt and incompetent.
This books lays the foundations for the Atreides future standing in the Empire, a new young duke thrown into the position prematurely must navigate through the schemes of his Harkonnen enemies to survive, his house, his own life could be forfeited if he is not successful.
We are also introduced to a few other characters that I hope will continue through my Dune adventrue. The young Duncan Idaho (another name that has survived the years) and Pardot Kynes sent to Arrakis to discover the secret of the spice, the most valiable commodity in the Empire.
There were moments in the book where you held you breath and hoped things would turn out well but for the most part it was a nice read but not a great read. If I had a half star to give I woud have gone 3.5 for this book.
3.75/5 The "infamous" Dune prequel trilogy - at least that it was called when I was in high school and I read the original Dune saga. And probably this label has stuck with me until now, as I had no expectations when I start to read the first book "House Atreides".
Although it is not a masterpiece, it is definitely not a bad book either. The story expands the annexes found at the end of the first original Dune book and tells about Leto Atreides (pre-duke, when he was a kid), about the Harkonens (when they were fit (!!!)), about Shaddam (also pre-Emperor). It touches, as the usual Dune book, all the main houses and factions (Space Guild, Bene Gesserit, Bene Tleilaxu, Ix).
It is pleasant to read, despite being a little dry, and I will continue to read the following two books.
Although it is not a masterpiece, it is definitely not a bad book either. The story expands the annexes found at the end of the first original Dune book and tells about Leto Atreides (pre-duke, when he was a kid), about the Harkonens (when they were fit (!!!)), about Shaddam (also pre-Emperor). It touches, as the usual Dune book, all the main houses and factions (Space Guild, Bene Gesserit, Bene Tleilaxu, Ix).
It is pleasant to read, despite being a little dry, and I will continue to read the following two books.
Excellent dramatic story of how Duke Leto, a favorite character of mine from Dune, comes into his own. The story also develops how the events in Dune came to occur.