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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Sometimes this book is all over the place but there’s strong currents and interesting themes that keep it afloat, has the issues of previous novels and more but I think comparing it with Messiah is pretty neat. I can only think of Paul Muad’Dib’s refrain in book 2: “disengage, disengage, disengage”
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Would you still love me if I was a worm?
I have only given this three stars for a few reasons.
The first: the editing/proof reading of this edition was absolutely atrocious. This is a fault of the publishers, no doubt, rather than the author. I noted repeated paragraphs, misspelling of names (Wensicia became Wensica, Leto became Leta and Leo, Ghanima became Granima and Muad'Dib became Muad'dbi), and a rather confusing reference to Farad'n as the nephew of Shaddam IV rather than the grandson, which had me looking back to find other references to confirm how he really related to the old Emperor.
The second: the characters. There was no true lead character in this book, but instead a host of them. As we felt no true sympathy for any protagonist, there was no real drive to see any one succeed. I eventually settled on the twins, if only because the story was supposed to be about them and they are the children of Paul and Chani. The other negative about the characters was the slow defaming of each one. Alia, Duncan, Stilgar, Jessica, Farad'n, Paul, Gurney Halleck... All of their flaws were thrown at us, and all of them were either double agents or had some hidden agenda. Even the twins had their own hidden agenda. It made for a very confusing read, and a lot of very unsympathetic characters.
The third: the plot. It was confusing at the best of times. At one point I gave up trying to understand what Alia wanted or was trying to do, and what side Duncan was on and what side Jessica was on, etc. So many of them were working for the other side or had some desire to inflict harm on another that it just got a bit silly towards the end. Plus, I often found myself not understanding why the plot went a certain way, or why certain sub-plots were used at all. For example, some of Duncan's actions got on my nerves and often didn't make sense, and sometimes it seemed like Alia was working simultaneously with and against her grandmother, and with and against the twins, though I don't know if that was intentional or not.
There were good points. I kept reading, despite the annoyances. The plot, though confusing, was still just about followable to get me to the end of the book. The twins, though cold and emotionless at times, were likeable enough to make me root for them. Yes, there are many silly things about this book, but it is still the sequel to one of the best Science Fiction novels ever written, so it has that going for it at least.
The first: the editing/proof reading of this edition was absolutely atrocious. This is a fault of the publishers, no doubt, rather than the author. I noted repeated paragraphs, misspelling of names (Wensicia became Wensica, Leto became Leta and Leo, Ghanima became Granima and Muad'Dib became Muad'dbi), and a rather confusing reference to Farad'n as the nephew of Shaddam IV rather than the grandson, which had me looking back to find other references to confirm how he really related to the old Emperor.
The second: the characters. There was no true lead character in this book, but instead a host of them. As we felt no true sympathy for any protagonist, there was no real drive to see any one succeed. I eventually settled on the twins, if only because the story was supposed to be about them and they are the children of Paul and Chani. The other negative about the characters was the slow defaming of each one. Alia, Duncan, Stilgar, Jessica, Farad'n, Paul, Gurney Halleck... All of their flaws were thrown at us, and all of them were either double agents or had some hidden agenda. Even the twins had their own hidden agenda. It made for a very confusing read, and a lot of very unsympathetic characters.
The third: the plot. It was confusing at the best of times. At one point I gave up trying to understand what Alia wanted or was trying to do, and what side Duncan was on and what side Jessica was on, etc. So many of them were working for the other side or had some desire to inflict harm on another that it just got a bit silly towards the end. Plus, I often found myself not understanding why the plot went a certain way, or why certain sub-plots were used at all. For example, some of Duncan's actions got on my nerves and often didn't make sense, and sometimes it seemed like Alia was working simultaneously with and against her grandmother, and with and against the twins, though I don't know if that was intentional or not.
There were good points. I kept reading, despite the annoyances. The plot, though confusing, was still just about followable to get me to the end of the book. The twins, though cold and emotionless at times, were likeable enough to make me root for them. Yes, there are many silly things about this book
Spoiler
(not least the Golden Path and the need for Leto to turn into a giant worm in order to save humanity)
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The highlight of this book is all of the characters having their own ideas and plans, enacting those plans through the rising action of the story, and concluding with plans coming head-to-head in a single scene to see who prevails. Really gripping plot and conclusion.
As usual, I wish the female characters showed more strength throughout the entire book. Ghanima was really cool in the front half but took kind of a backseat toward the end.
As usual, I wish the female characters showed more strength throughout the entire book. Ghanima was really cool in the front half but took kind of a backseat toward the end.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Children of Dune is a strange sci-fi book. Almost nothing happens, yet it entices the reader with thinly veiled allusions of events yet to come. Hard to put down.
Frank, we need to talk.
I struggled with this book. Not exactly because it is boring but because I by now know that a lot of conversations and threads in Dune's books are not worth following. Plenty end up in a *puff* of desert sand, and are not talked about any more. Enemies from previous books disappear completely in this, despite there being a blatant chance for them to seize power right after the events of Messiah. Herbert spends half Messiah in building up a menace only for it to completely disappear by the beginning of Children. Rather, it is not spoke of AT ALL. It is just gone. The whole Messiah could have been 4-5 chapters, plot-wise.
Or, old enemies return out of nowhere and is never explained how. Plenty of stuff in Children is never explained. A super important place is named throughout the book and the reader is build up to expect something important happening there. But when the character that wanted to go to this place finally reach it, no big event happens and instead we are informed, like 75% into the book, that there is other SUPER IMPORTANT PLACE, where the main protagonist needs to go now. Only for this second place to completely disappear from the book 4-5 chapters later. It is like Herbert thought mid-book that he did not like the first idea and came up with a second, without editing out the first.
And, do we want to talk again how important events are still not shown or, if presented to the reader, are done in a mere phrase, without any pathos, any passion, any large reaction from bystanders and so on? I am talking about world-changing events, like at the end of the two previous books. No, Herbert gets rid of them off camera or in 10 words, and bye bye.
Sincerely, this is bad writing. Dune is not confusing for its philosophy (which I feel it is rather contradictory) but because Herbert is simply a mediocre writer with great ideas. I am liking the world, I am intrigued by where the plot will lead us to, but the writing is getting progressively worse and more confusing, making it a struggle to continue.
Lastly, I believe one event in Messiah is sucked up of meaning by what happens in Children. Messiah is partly ruined by Children, and I am dying on this hill. As with the Scouring of the Shire, sometimes it is best to put a period instead of writing a sequel.
I struggled with this book. Not exactly because it is boring but because I by now know that a lot of conversations and threads in Dune's books are not worth following. Plenty end up in a *puff* of desert sand, and are not talked about any more. Enemies from previous books disappear completely in this, despite there being a blatant chance for them to seize power right after the events of Messiah. Herbert spends half Messiah in building up a menace only for it to completely disappear by the beginning of Children. Rather, it is not spoke of AT ALL. It is just gone. The whole Messiah could have been 4-5 chapters, plot-wise.
Or, old enemies return out of nowhere and is never explained how. Plenty of stuff in Children is never explained. A super important place is named throughout the book and the reader is build up to expect something important happening there. But when the character that wanted to go to this place finally reach it, no big event happens and instead we are informed, like 75% into the book, that there is other SUPER IMPORTANT PLACE, where the main protagonist needs to go now. Only for this second place to completely disappear from the book 4-5 chapters later. It is like Herbert thought mid-book that he did not like the first idea and came up with a second, without editing out the first.
And, do we want to talk again how important events are still not shown or, if presented to the reader, are done in a mere phrase, without any pathos, any passion, any large reaction from bystanders and so on? I am talking about world-changing events, like at the end of the two previous books. No, Herbert gets rid of them off camera or in 10 words, and bye bye.
Sincerely, this is bad writing. Dune is not confusing for its philosophy (which I feel it is rather contradictory) but because Herbert is simply a mediocre writer with great ideas. I am liking the world, I am intrigued by where the plot will lead us to, but the writing is getting progressively worse and more confusing, making it a struggle to continue.
Lastly, I believe one event in Messiah is sucked up of meaning by what happens in Children. Messiah is partly ruined by Children, and I am dying on this hill. As with the Scouring of the Shire, sometimes it is best to put a period instead of writing a sequel.
I both hate and love these books. At times such a slog but also so interesting when you push through it. I guess I’ll continue to read them for now haha
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No