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A review by richardrbecker
Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Heretics of Dune is not my favorite in the Dune series. While it revives the complexities of politics, religion, economics, sociology, myth, and military science to build a robust universe in humankind's far future, it often feels like it is looking inward at itself.
In some ways, it feels like a contraction compared to God Emperor of Dune's philosophical and political meanderings. While Herbert explores the consequences of religious splinterings caused by the scattering (which would have made an interesting story on its own), the smaller threads revolve around Sheeana, a girl on "Rakis" who can control the sandworms, and the newest Duncan Idaho ghola, and Miles Teg.
There aren't any real payoffs after some decent buildups — even the destruction of an entire planet is somehow presented as an afterthought (without even a mention of how it happens). But perhaps there doesn't have to be if this was just a long setup for the next installment, Chapterhouse, where the Bene Gesserit will attempt to transplant a sandworm from Dune on their homeworld.
The Bene Gesserit want to produce the spice melange under the direct control of the sisterhood and regain control over the universe — something they lost with the rise of Paul Atreides and the subsequent rule of Leto II, who became the God Emperor and set humanity on what he perceived as the Golden Path. This is their goal in Heretics, so it only makes sense this is their goal in Chapterhouse.
Some might argue that Herbert had fun with Heretics and added more action (but no more knife fighting), and some Herbert fans appreciated this after God Emperor of Dune. My take lands with those who loved the series into the fourth book and felt a bit put off by what happens (or doesn't happen) 1,500 years after the God Emperor of Dune. I might have felt differently if Heretics had been a shorter book as it principally shifts the story away from Atreides and toward the Bene Gesserit.
Overall, Heretics certainly has its hits and misses throughout the book. There were many times I expected it to take off, even if it never really did. Despite this, I'll still take the universe Herbet built in his own words more than anything after the first six. And yes, I still look forward to reading the final true installment sometime this year or next.
In some ways, it feels like a contraction compared to God Emperor of Dune's philosophical and political meanderings. While Herbert explores the consequences of religious splinterings caused by the scattering (which would have made an interesting story on its own), the smaller threads revolve around Sheeana, a girl on "Rakis" who can control the sandworms, and the newest Duncan Idaho ghola, and Miles Teg.
There aren't any real payoffs after some decent buildups — even the destruction of an entire planet is somehow presented as an afterthought (without even a mention of how it happens). But perhaps there doesn't have to be if this was just a long setup for the next installment, Chapterhouse, where the Bene Gesserit will attempt to transplant a sandworm from Dune on their homeworld.
The Bene Gesserit want to produce the spice melange under the direct control of the sisterhood and regain control over the universe — something they lost with the rise of Paul Atreides and the subsequent rule of Leto II, who became the God Emperor and set humanity on what he perceived as the Golden Path. This is their goal in Heretics, so it only makes sense this is their goal in Chapterhouse.
Some might argue that Herbert had fun with Heretics and added more action (but no more knife fighting), and some Herbert fans appreciated this after God Emperor of Dune. My take lands with those who loved the series into the fourth book and felt a bit put off by what happens (or doesn't happen) 1,500 years after the God Emperor of Dune. I might have felt differently if Heretics had been a shorter book as it principally shifts the story away from Atreides and toward the Bene Gesserit.
Overall, Heretics certainly has its hits and misses throughout the book. There were many times I expected it to take off, even if it never really did. Despite this, I'll still take the universe Herbet built in his own words more than anything after the first six. And yes, I still look forward to reading the final true installment sometime this year or next.