PatHunters of Dune & Sandworms of Dune
January 28th 2008 11:39
Dune is probably my favourite book ever.
It distinguishes itself from lame science fiction through its amazingly complex and detailed setting, which is by far the strongest feature of the novel. I remember reading this book and barely being able to take in the enormity of the plot, but reading it was never a chore despite it sounding like it should be that way. It was very much a case of the book being too good for me to absorb it all easily (me being stupid didn‘t help), and I enjoyed the way that the intricate narrative wasn’t dumbed down for the masses.
The sequels to Dune, while not having quite the same impact as the first book of the series, are all amazing as well. I thoroughly recommend the whole series to anyone, particularly to people who wouldn’t normally read science fiction, because these books are genuinely good.
But Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune fail to meet Frank Herbert’s brilliant standard.
These books are competent, in a dull and lifeless manner. They tell a story and wrap things up nicely (even if it all does seem a little formulaic) and what happened after the conclusion of Chapterhouse: Dune, which admittedly left matters in a very confused state, is finally revealed, but there is definitely something quite not right about these two latest additions to the Dune series.
I hadn’t previously read anything by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson set in the Dune universe because I had always heard that they didn’t quite nail it in comparison to Herbert Snr, and because of this, I was happy to let all the prequels and the rest of it pass me by.
These books tempted me however, because of the abovementioned cliff-hanger, and as predicted, these books just weren’t quite the same. The flair of Frank Herbert’s writing is sorely lacking and Brian Herbert and Anderson seem very much the journeymen writers in comparison. The bare minimum is done to get the story across to the reader, but the delight that Frank Herbert gave to me with his brilliant books was nowhere to be found here.
You should read these books to find out how Frank Herbert (allegedly) wanted the series to finish, but don’t expect anything special.
This review should probably be longer and I can see exactly where I can improve it (it needs my standard 1 x personal anecdote and 2 x zany and/or wacky comment [in brackets usually]) but I am feeling terrifically lazy at the moment; sorry guys!
It distinguishes itself from lame science fiction through its amazingly complex and detailed setting, which is by far the strongest feature of the novel. I remember reading this book and barely being able to take in the enormity of the plot, but reading it was never a chore despite it sounding like it should be that way. It was very much a case of the book being too good for me to absorb it all easily (me being stupid didn‘t help), and I enjoyed the way that the intricate narrative wasn’t dumbed down for the masses.
The sequels to Dune, while not having quite the same impact as the first book of the series, are all amazing as well. I thoroughly recommend the whole series to anyone, particularly to people who wouldn’t normally read science fiction, because these books are genuinely good.
But Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune fail to meet Frank Herbert’s brilliant standard.
These books are competent, in a dull and lifeless manner. They tell a story and wrap things up nicely (even if it all does seem a little formulaic) and what happened after the conclusion of Chapterhouse: Dune, which admittedly left matters in a very confused state, is finally revealed, but there is definitely something quite not right about these two latest additions to the Dune series.
I hadn’t previously read anything by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson set in the Dune universe because I had always heard that they didn’t quite nail it in comparison to Herbert Snr, and because of this, I was happy to let all the prequels and the rest of it pass me by.
These books tempted me however, because of the abovementioned cliff-hanger, and as predicted, these books just weren’t quite the same. The flair of Frank Herbert’s writing is sorely lacking and Brian Herbert and Anderson seem very much the journeymen writers in comparison. The bare minimum is done to get the story across to the reader, but the delight that Frank Herbert gave to me with his brilliant books was nowhere to be found here.
You should read these books to find out how Frank Herbert (allegedly) wanted the series to finish, but don’t expect anything special.
This review should probably be longer and I can see exactly where I can improve it (it needs my standard 1 x personal anecdote and 2 x zany and/or wacky comment [in brackets usually]) but I am feeling terrifically lazy at the moment; sorry guys!
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Just to get a fix.
They were hideous, though... it was like someone naively writing playtime stories in a Universe created by someone else. The novels lacked the depth, the density, the weight of Herbert's originals.
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by bosma
xoxoxox
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers