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A review by redheadbeans
Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert
2.0
I grew up with the "Dune" movie and both mini-series and I've read "Dune" three times, so the series holds a special place in my heart. I decided to read the expanded universe/prequels/sequels/w/e. This has led to some good things and some bad things.
For instance, there seem to be more female characters of importance in the newer books than in the old, and particularly on the relationships between women and women in power. Despite the fact that the Bene Gesserit have always been central to plotlines in this universe, most of the stories are about men (the women prophesying a superior man thing is part of the problem). The prequels and interquels have amended this a bit, and have introduced some pretty neat women. This book does not disappoint on that front, and continues the tale of many characters from the "Legends of Dune" trilogy. Still... some characters' fates aren't as thrilling as others.
Don't be fooled by the cover with the woman who is wearing, I believe, what is supposed to be some kind of boobalicious stillsuit body armor with a crysknife with, I presume, other women in the background and some fires going on. This may be a reference to something I vaguely recall from later books way down the line in the series but has literally nothing to do with this book. And if the character in question is anyone, her story is horribly written and ends badly, there are only two women of note on Dune itself, and the only one with a crysknife is not involved in something like that (nor is anyone else). On a nitpicky note (although it's a trend in science fiction book covers), the costume is stupid. For one thing, I've seen some mock-up sketches of what a stillsuit probably looks like (in comparison to descriptions and basic common sense). I've seen modern body armor. And I've seen what movie studio mock-ups have done for the stillsuit. I've also traveled in a desert and know people who have done so. You don't dress like that unless you're a moron. Long story short: the title "Sisterhood OF DUNE" is likely in reference to the fact that the book's primary focus is on the early Bene Gesserit Sisterhood... from the "Dune" series. Not Arrakis, the planet. I guess you could argue that Dune's existence in the economy helps shape them but like... anyway. Very misleading.
Overall, the writing is quite repetitive. Whole lines are repeated with frequency and for some bizarre reason many chapters feel the need to summarize prior chapters repeatedly, in case we forgot where we were in the story or what just happened. Repeatedly. Not because something particularly shocking just happened. But just because we're moving on in the story and I guess our memory can't be trusted. It's monotonous and little is accomplished. It doesn't help that the book frequently seems to glorify in slaughter.
We go back to Vorian because of course we do. We go back to Arrakis because of course we do, in a Spark Notes version of Paul and Jessica's journey (ish). It's just as frustrating and boring as everything else. There are so many interesting characters and storylines going on here and the Chani knock-off was really cool but of course her storyline turns out like it does and honestly it was just so boring. I find it hard to care about Erasmus and the Mentat school in this plotline, which is worrisome because this isn't even the Mentat book in the series. I should be curious about it, not thinking "Oh when will this end so I never have to read it again?"
Also, try to avoid any audiobooks narrated by Scott Brick. He sounds like what I imagine paint drying would sound like if it were a person. He turns monotony super-monotonous and is just overall frustrating to listen to. These books are difficult enough to get through, and unfortunately he narrates most if not all of them apparently.
There is some great stuff in the expanded universe books... if you just read the "Legends of Dune" part. And tilt your head and squint. Otherwise, my recommendation would be to stick to re-reading "Dune" and its sequels for the present. These others are poorly written and a struggle to finish.
For instance, there seem to be more female characters of importance in the newer books than in the old, and particularly on the relationships between women and women in power. Despite the fact that the Bene Gesserit have always been central to plotlines in this universe, most of the stories are about men (the women prophesying a superior man thing is part of the problem). The prequels and interquels have amended this a bit, and have introduced some pretty neat women. This book does not disappoint on that front, and continues the tale of many characters from the "Legends of Dune" trilogy. Still... some characters' fates aren't as thrilling as others.
Don't be fooled by the cover with the woman who is wearing, I believe, what is supposed to be some kind of boobalicious stillsuit body armor with a crysknife with, I presume, other women in the background and some fires going on. This may be a reference to something I vaguely recall from later books way down the line in the series but has literally nothing to do with this book. And if the character in question is anyone, her story is horribly written and ends badly, there are only two women of note on Dune itself, and the only one with a crysknife is not involved in something like that (nor is anyone else). On a nitpicky note (although it's a trend in science fiction book covers), the costume is stupid. For one thing, I've seen some mock-up sketches of what a stillsuit probably looks like (in comparison to descriptions and basic common sense). I've seen modern body armor. And I've seen what movie studio mock-ups have done for the stillsuit. I've also traveled in a desert and know people who have done so. You don't dress like that unless you're a moron. Long story short: the title "Sisterhood OF DUNE" is likely in reference to the fact that the book's primary focus is on the early Bene Gesserit Sisterhood... from the "Dune" series. Not Arrakis, the planet. I guess you could argue that Dune's existence in the economy helps shape them but like... anyway. Very misleading.
Overall, the writing is quite repetitive. Whole lines are repeated with frequency and for some bizarre reason many chapters feel the need to summarize prior chapters repeatedly, in case we forgot where we were in the story or what just happened. Repeatedly. Not because something particularly shocking just happened. But just because we're moving on in the story and I guess our memory can't be trusted. It's monotonous and little is accomplished. It doesn't help that the book frequently seems to glorify in slaughter.
We go back to Vorian because of course we do. We go back to Arrakis because of course we do, in a Spark Notes version of Paul and Jessica's journey (ish). It's just as frustrating and boring as everything else. There are so many interesting characters and storylines going on here and the Chani knock-off was really cool but of course her storyline turns out like it does and honestly it was just so boring. I find it hard to care about Erasmus and the Mentat school in this plotline, which is worrisome because this isn't even the Mentat book in the series. I should be curious about it, not thinking "Oh when will this end so I never have to read it again?"
Also, try to avoid any audiobooks narrated by Scott Brick. He sounds like what I imagine paint drying would sound like if it were a person. He turns monotony super-monotonous and is just overall frustrating to listen to. These books are difficult enough to get through, and unfortunately he narrates most if not all of them apparently.
There is some great stuff in the expanded universe books... if you just read the "Legends of Dune" part. And tilt your head and squint. Otherwise, my recommendation would be to stick to re-reading "Dune" and its sequels for the present. These others are poorly written and a struggle to finish.