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theangrystackrat's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this prequel series. Its is NOT as engaging as the OG series of Dune. But it does provide some insight to how humans and thinking machines fought/ destroyed each other. The one thing I kept getting stuck on was lack of empathy on all sides. The robots were horrific, the humans were also terrible to their own kind, and then the Cymex (cimex? the human brains piloting the mech suits) where the most horrible of all. No one was empathetic to anyone else. Part of me wanted no one to win... I guess needless to say it wasn't a very redeeming look at humanity. I gave it 3 stars cuz, its written fine, and did keep me interested for 23 hours. That counts for something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, War, Violence, and Slavery
betseyboo's review against another edition
3.0
I can't believe I finished this book. I had a hard time getting through the book because I didn't dedicate time to reading. Each chapter jumps from one character to another, so it goes faster if you just sit down and go for it. Will I read the next book in the series? Hmmmm...let me think about that while I take a nap.
asunachidory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Excellent excellent read. If you’re looking to start into the dune universe this is a brilliant start. Vorians story starts here and left me needing to dive into the next book straight away.
maggiefaerie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
penguinreporter's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
marieren's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jhanway's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
talne's review against another edition
2.0
Expectation often sets the tone for enjoyment. The first time I read Herbert's original Dune, I had almost no expectations beyond wanting a cool story. My friends and I were playing the PC game Dune 2000 at the time, and I wanted more. What I got was a complex and layered tale about politics, religion, freedom, ecology, and our relationship with those things. I admit, it wasn't until I was a bit older that I was able to fully appreciate the world Herbert built in Dune. But it has easily stood as my favorite science fiction novel.
With such a lasting impact that beget lofty expectations, any future novels not written by Frank Herbert may have been destined to be abject failures. Gone are the deep characters wrapped up in clever writing that makes you work for results. Instead, we're presented with a pretty safe adaptation of the Dune-verse. Characters are either good or bad, the authors feelings regarding good and bad things (torture, slavery, etc.) are a little too on the nose. There isn't much complexity here. After a bit, you know what you're going to get out of the novel. Good people trying to do good things for the good of the universe and....well you get the point. I enjoyed seeing the origination of the Great Houses of the Landsraad and the various factions and schools we've read about. It delves into the early rumblings of the spice market and the Fremen, and there are some decent action sections both in space on the ground.
In the end, the younger Herbert took the ideas his father carefully weaved together and made a mediocre space opera. If you loved the original series of novels and are interested in the greater Dune universe, it's a quick and easy read. If you're going into this expecting the next great science fiction novel, well we know what happens with high expectations.
With such a lasting impact that beget lofty expectations, any future novels not written by Frank Herbert may have been destined to be abject failures. Gone are the deep characters wrapped up in clever writing that makes you work for results. Instead, we're presented with a pretty safe adaptation of the Dune-verse. Characters are either good or bad, the authors feelings regarding good and bad things (torture, slavery, etc.) are a little too on the nose. There isn't much complexity here. After a bit, you know what you're going to get out of the novel. Good people trying to do good things for the good of the universe and....well you get the point. I enjoyed seeing the origination of the Great Houses of the Landsraad and the various factions and schools we've read about. It delves into the early rumblings of the spice market and the Fremen, and there are some decent action sections both in space on the ground.
In the end, the younger Herbert took the ideas his father carefully weaved together and made a mediocre space opera. If you loved the original series of novels and are interested in the greater Dune universe, it's a quick and easy read. If you're going into this expecting the next great science fiction novel, well we know what happens with high expectations.
eclark93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5