A review by clabepeterson
Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Oh boy. I don't really know if I liked this book or not. There were some portions of this book that clearly were made to improve on the faults of the black sheep of the Dune franchise, God Emperor, and some portions of the book where... I don't even really know what was going on. I'll start with what I loved. Heretics has finally, FINALLY brought back more of the space politics that have been so sorely missed in the series, since the first and best instalment. Dune was about the complicated philosophy of a messiah and prescience, yes, but what really drove the plot were the scenes where the conflict was verbal–not physical. The tension built between both the Harkonnens and the Atreides, as well as the tension between the Fremen and those intruding on their land was palpable, and was what kept me hooked. Moments like when Stilgar spat on the floor in the first book are a perfect example of this. The conflict lied in how that gesture of respect by the Fremen was misinterpreted by the Atreides–holding weight in terms of the power both groups held, but also was, now say it with me, SIMPLE. A moment like that perfectly displayed the conflicts within cultures with barely any dialogue–we didn't even need a giant worm to sit in a room and talk philosophy to us for 200 pages for us to get it. Heretics brings this tension back strongly, giving you a room with two diametricially opposed characters, building upon the conflict slowly, and then resolving it before it stagnated. The reset of the Dune universe that God Emperor brought helps in this regard, as we can explore the intricacies of groups that are either unknown or known little by the reader. Herbert expertly sets up multiple camps with nuanced motivations, and sets them at each other's throats. That is what keeps the book captivating. However. However, however, however. I am not sure why the need was felt to continue to try to one-up the weird elements of the previous books.
I maybe should have expected that mind control sex was a distinct possibility after we had entire book based around a sentient worm, but I didn't. It was weird. I'd be able to ignore this if it weren't such a crucial part of the climax (no pun intended) of the book–but alas, a lot of the major conflicts–that I really liked–were resolved by saying–"oh yeah, the answer is mind control sex". Ah yes–there is a spooooky element the tleilaxu implemented in the new Duncan, I wonder what it'll be.... MIND CONTROL SEX. Oh well. The ending–while the buildup to it is genuinely superb, with each separated group of characters facing a unique and interesting roadblock, culminates in: something I shouldn't have to repeat anymore, and a connection back to God Emperor that I don't particularly care for. Maybe I'm just dumb–but is it really necessary that we make Leto a major player again? God, let the man(?) rest, I never want to deal with him again. The explanation and the end makes sense, and it does kinda tie everything in the story up... it just feels pretty unsatisfying. 
Well, yeah. I had a lot of thoughts on this one. I would probably recommend it if you like the series, it is quite a bit better than God Emperor and has some genuinely great stuff, just prepare yourself for the normal Dune weirdness and jank. 
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