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Frank Herbert died in the mid-80s, shortly after completing Chapterhouse Dune, or Dune 6. Thereafter, his son and Kevin Anderson coauthored several prequels, before moving on to write Dune 7 & 8, which provide the `official' conclusion of the Dune saga. In a prologue to Dune 7, the new authors tell the reader that these final volumes are based on sketches left by Frank Herbert himself. However, literature has a long and distinguished history of less than literal authorial explanations for the provenance of their work. In the light of this, the reader may choose not to believe the claims of the Dune 7 prologue, without calling foul on the new authors. Dune 7 is a very poor book indeed, with lots of repetitious catch-up material and a slow-moving plot. Dune 8, Sandworms of Dune, is an improvement, though still many classes inferior to Frank Herbert's Dune sequels, let alone the original novel. Kralizek, the long-prophesied battle at the end of the universe, begins to unfold. Thinking machine battle fleets, centrally controlled by the deep-space Evermind computer, begin destroying outlying worlds in the old empire with a combination of plagues and orbital artillery. They are allied with a race of new, undetectable face dancers, who have infiltrated the leadership of Ix, the Guild, the Honoured Matres, and even a few Bene Gesserit. To win, Evermind believes he must control the ultimate Kwisach Haderach, for whom there are a number of candidates, including gholas of Paul & Leto Atreides hidden on a no-ship, which endlessly roams the galaxy on a random course, piloted by the latest incarnation of Duncan Idaho. A lot of `action' takes place on the no-ship, with worries about stowaway face dancer saboteurs, the purity of the Bene Gesserit, the adverse potential of some of the gholas they are resurrecting, and the growing sandworms in the ships hold. However, this is a wearisome repetition of the themes of Dune 7 and doesn't advance the plot. Back on Chapterhouse, the Bene Gesserit emerge from years of secrecy to build armies, buy weapons, and attack the remnants of the Honoured Matres. However, Murbella, their leader is aware of Evermind's battle fleets, and seeks allies to meet the deadly challenge. Apart from moans about authorial style, lack of drama, far too many red herrings, and endless dumbed-down explanations, the biggest criticisms must be reserved for the ways in which Frank Herbert's original vision has been undermined here: * Dunes 4, 5, & 6 stressed the infinite nature of the human Scattering following Leto's peace. However, Dunes 7 & 8 return us to a closed system, where all can be governed by an Evermind or a Kwisach Haderach. * Dunes 5 & 6 tell us of Sheeana's special, random, arrhythmic talent, which will be critical to the future of humanity. However, this is not developed in Dunes 7 & 8. She is merely a leader, with an affinity for the worms. * Dunes 7 & 8 swallow the Bene Gesserit line that Leto II was a tyrant, and fail to understand the subtler elements of Dune 4. * Dune 6 implied that the old couple searching for Idaho were face dancers. However, they are computers in Dune 7 & 8. * Most tellingly, Dune set out, among other things, to show the human potential, without the crutch of computers. However, the conclusion of Dune 8 is a rejection of this aim. Although the new authors tell us that Frank Herbert left us a cliffhanger at the end of Dune 6: Chapterhouse Dune, my opinion is that this was a fine way to end the saga. Idaho & Sheeana setting out into the infinite in an undetectable ship, with worms and the human resources to create a new Dune, beyond all enemies. This is far preferable to the new ending we're offered here.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
If you've read the 6 Frank Herbert books and enjoyed them then these two final books are a must. They bring the whole saga to a very satisfying conclusion. After I'd finished them I was a bit stunned, looking back, by how epic the whole story was. Now I need to wait about 10 years so I've forgotten all the details and then read them all back to back. Ho-hum!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The book is slow to start and may initially seem a little heavy with no excitement but around half way through starts to turn into a can't put down page turning climax. No clues about content and you can't say the worm has turned but life does go on. Whilst it provides an end to the series there are still tales to tell. Would Frank have written it like this? Perhaps not.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
good product :)
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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