Scan barcode
A review by limatau
God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The book follows a bunch of people who spew homophobia, racism, and general sexism so fervently and constantly it is heart breaking. The toxic parts of the governmental features of the factions of Dune felt like flaws in a system that kept the world grounded. Turns out the author likes the fact that men and women are segregated in society, that humans can be thought of as tools, and that oppression is the best way to treat people as long as they stop fighting. These issues weren’t issues a god like figure could spend years fixing but actually were the best parts he would spend emphasizing. Luckily our main character is also homophobic so we get to deal with his weird ass outbursts too. Disappointing is and understatement.
Besides the terrible concepts the books deals with a reader is left very little to look for. A very boring plot consisting of a will they won’t they coup develops. The main pov character is Duncan Idaho who, when not being a homophobe, is mostly being setup to breed with a person he doesn’t really like and lectured to be Leto like a toddler. The other large pov character is Leto and these chapters are mostly just bad, high-minded musings that don’t feel interesting enough to grab you. Mostly he just talks about power and knowledge and how they relate to each other and people. Not that interesting things aren’t said it’s just that it’s all coming from a eugenicist/homophobe/dictator so it’s hard to latch on to anything. The most interesting character is so sidelined by the end of the book I can’t remember her name. Although maybe my hatred of Duncan and Leto is taking up too much space.
Also there is a scene when someone becomes very… ‘excited’ while simply watching someone climb a wall. This woman ‘explodes’ just from watching a man climb a cliff. I have never seen a male writer describe what that’s like from a woman’s perspective and I think I never want to again.
Bad book please don’t read
Besides the terrible concepts the books deals with a reader is left very little to look for. A very boring plot consisting of a will they won’t they coup develops. The main pov character is Duncan Idaho who, when not being a homophobe, is mostly being setup to breed with a person he doesn’t really like and lectured to be Leto like a toddler. The other large pov character is Leto and these chapters are mostly just bad, high-minded musings that don’t feel interesting enough to grab you. Mostly he just talks about power and knowledge and how they relate to each other and people. Not that interesting things aren’t said it’s just that it’s all coming from a eugenicist/homophobe/dictator so it’s hard to latch on to anything. The most interesting character is so sidelined by the end of the book I can’t remember her name. Although maybe my hatred of Duncan and Leto is taking up too much space.
Also there is a scene when someone becomes very… ‘excited’ while simply watching someone climb a wall. This woman ‘explodes’ just from watching a man climb a cliff. I have never seen a male writer describe what that’s like from a woman’s perspective and I think I never want to again.
Bad book please don’t read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny