God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, #4)
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God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles #4)

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65  ·  rating details  ·  15,663 ratings  ·  366 reviews
4th in Dune Chronicles Series

With more than ten million copies sold, Frank Herbert's magnificent DUNE books stand among the major achievements of the imagination. Of them all, GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE, the fourth, is the greatest and the grandest. Centuries have passed on Dune itself, and the planet is green with life. Leto II, the son of Dune's savior, is still alive but

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Mass Market Paperbound, 423 pages
Published June 15th 1987 by ACE Charter (first published 1981)
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Dufour
It's not until the end of this book that you begin to understand Herbert's grand plan for his series. DUNE is really about shaking man out of an evolutionary cul-de-sac, showing a frustrated civil(?) society that despite its technological and social superiority is stagnating. The inventions of the Bene Gesseritt, the Guild, the Mentats, all of these are bulwarks against the decline of man that are failing. And the only one to understand this is Leto II, God Emperor of the Known Universe. In his ...more
John
John rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommends it for: masochists.
God Emperor of Dune is the red-headed stepchild of the series. Frank Herbert delves into the mind of a near omniscient god-creature. Many people feel disturbed or bored by this book, calling it the most "dull" of the series. From a philosophical point of view, this is probably the most advanced book in the series. Definitions of humanity and morality are contrasted in very personal ways in this book. Those familiar with Lovecraftian Cthulu mythos could well use this as a textbook ...more
Tom
Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: sci-fi
Reviews for this book have called it "heady" and "deep." I cannot concur more. Few books have mastered this combination of deep material with a hurtling plot, and this is one of them.

Of the Dune Chronicles so far (this is book 4), God Emperor of Dune is my clear favorite. This profoundly philosophical installment in "the bestselling sci-fi series of all time" explores the now-verdant world of Arrakis thirty-five hundred years after the events in Children...more
Dave Johnson
when i first read this, i really didnt understand what Herbert said. this was such a departure from his first three books that i thought it was awful. in fact, at the time, i told a friend that i didnt like where Dune was going and that i was going to quit the series after this book. long story short, i didnt quit. and, although i didnt like the book at the time, i reread this book back in '06 and i really liked it. i guess you have to understand what leto went through for his "Golden Path"...more
Kyle Holden
A very good read. Herbert's use of dialog and overall language forces the reader not to focus on what the author is saying but what the author is leaving out. I was a little disappointed in the ending; thought it could have had more detail or substance, but overall a very enjoyable read.
Anthony
I don't use this word lightly but it was definitely epic. It took me way too long to finish this book primarily due to all the information I was absorbing, I just had to take so many breaks from reading it. It strange how so many of of the characters seem forgettable almost halfway through the book and then all of a sudden those same characters are so enthralling. I can admit a large majority of the philosophical elements went way over my head, though I enjoyed the book just the same, I do plan ...more
Derrick
Good stuff.
After having read Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson's prequels and sequels, the little throw away references took on a much larger import.

The Golden Path is still not spelled out for the reader. We simply have to figure out stuff while the main story unrolls. That is one thing I really enjoy about the Dune Chronicles, they are not the "Transformers" of books, but a very thoughtful and insightful look at what it means to be human.

Herbert deftly weav...more
Paul Darcy
by Frank Herbert, published in 1981.

I rarely need to struggle and push myself through a science fiction novel, but on this one by Frank Herbert I had to do just that.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as bad as all that, just very dense and philosophical - which to some is probably great reading, but to me it felt like wading through dogma and cleverness and knee-high swampwaters.

The main character, Leto II the God Emperor, is unquestionably a unique and interesting chara...more
Andrada
God Emperor of Dune has been on my to read list for a long time mostly because I was determined to finish the series once I started it. However, I remember finding the language and concepts a bit difficult as a teenager so I could never quite bring myself to read the books one after the other and took fairly long breaks between them. I was also put off from continuing the series for so long both because of the disappointment various people expressed in the series after the third book and also th...more
Jing
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
John Shumway
*Same review for the Dune Universe*
GREAT books! VERY time consuming! Worth the time!

Ok here is the deal. If your not sure about starting a series this big, here is what I would do.
1. -- Read the 1st one by Frank Herbert "Dune" if you like it...

2. -- Read the "Legends Of Dune" series. Its 3 books written by Frank's son Brian and a author I really like by the name of Keven J. Anderson. Its a prequel that is so far in the past that it doesn't spoil ...more
Scott Taylor
Just the usual everyday story of man becomes worm, worm rules world, worm meets girl, worm gets betrayed by girl's secret lover. Been there done that! Ok not really, but this is my third reading of the book.

It does hold up. The various conversations between the God-Emperor and his subjects were entertaining, as were the excerpts from his 'Stolen Journals.' The path you see the characters tread, as they slowly turn on their master and his tightly controlled world was well mapped...more
Quizzle Amarel
Of all of Frank Herbert's novel. I thinks this one is a bit stark. Kind of monotony. However, due to Leto Jr. Immortality, i think all is understandable. U can know few worldview here, one of the most prominent is the existence of the Fish Speakers. Logical, but there's no firm lead in the real word. Perhaps viewable in the future. If only there's a book that take it quite deep, on the spearhead the females' matrimony. Would be interesting.

Well, back to the book. The book is more of ...more
Melee Farr
I just finished this one and liked it almost as much as the first, which is really saying something. I have to say that Leto disgusted me at first ... gave me the willies just reading about him, kind of like squishing a snail, but by the end of the book, I felt dreadfully sorry for him, and had a reluctant respect for the lonely choices he made. I'd certainly have never made those sacrifices. I have a pile of quotes from the wise Mr. Herbert to add here ....
Kevin
Since the last hundred or so pages of Children of Dune, I have slowly seen decline in the plot of the Dune series. Or at least, from the end of Children of Dune throughout God Emperor of Dune. There was something quite over the top about Leto II's slow transformation into a sandworm and his eventual three and half thousand year reign over the Universe - as a sandworm/human hybrid. I think I found it hard to visualise the being he slowly transformed himself into - although the plot of God Emperor...more
♥ Cheshire Catt ♠
Okay well - I can understand why people hate this book. I can understand why people love it. It is definitely the most philosophical of this series (so far) - yet I didn't want a bunch of philosophy I still wanted my scheming, action, adventure, plans within plans - that was there yet not really there.

So we now jump 3500 years in this book and we have Leto II who is now way into his transformation as the God Worm. Eventually he will just be sandtrout and worm - but right now he ...more
Ashley
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Христо Блажев
“Дюн” на Франк Хърбърт – може би най-противоречивата фантастично-мистична сага
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/07/blog...

Месец след месец след месец… Ревюто за многологията “Дюн” на Франк Хърбърт си отлежаваше и малко по малко се насочваше към никоганаписване – така и не можах да сбера в главата си едно ясно и просто мнение за трите тома. Но книжноблогърският дълг зове и ето ме пишещ най-сетне за една от най-мащабните поредици в класическата фантастика… и най-противоречивата с...more
Harry Robinson
This book continues the Dune saga. Like most sequels, it lacked much of the intense vitality of the first work in the series. It tells a part of the story of the no-longer-human Leto Atreides, Emperor of the galaxy for thousands of years.

This book differed from most of the others in the series. It was overburdened with subtle hints and portents; much of the dialog was overly complex and did not contribute to the plot line; it possibly added somewhat to the theme. I found it difficu...more
Daniel
This installment of the Dune series was a complete departure from the previous ones. I didn't like it, but I assume it was a necessary prerequisite to the next. God Emperor of Dune is filled with the cryptic sayings of Leto Atreides II. Whether in excerpts from his journals appearing at the start of each chapter or in his thoughts and dialogue, Lord Leto is a never-ending faucet of words without clear meaning. A reader might think his purpose is to teach, but none of the other characters ever se...more
Jimmy
Jimmy rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommends it for: Dune Fans & Science Fiction Fans
Here is Leto II’s tyrannical enforced peace across the universe, 3,500 years after ‘Children of Dune’. The God Emperor’s (Leto II, the “pre-worm”) boredom is a side effect of his peace. It’s his plan for humanity to become stagnate for all of this time in the universe. This is his Golden Path, and it’ll ensure the continuing of the human race.
Another price of his peace is the only ones with any sort of power remaining are the Bene Gesserit, the Spacing Guild, and the Ixians. The grea...more
Daniel Goldberg
Daniel Goldberg rated it 3 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommends it for: People who like Sci Fi
It took me a while to get through the first three books of Dune, and that would be a natural stopping point if I wanted to quit the series, but I decided to continue on. This is the fourth book of a six book series. It starts off like 3500 years after the last book, and the main character from the past book (who was a human) is turning himself into some immortal sand worm or something like that. So...yeah. I didn't really like that turn in direction for the series. The book ends pretty captivati...more
Sheri
Select humans have been worshipped as gods through the ages -- think Haile Selassie, Cleopatra, Hirohito, the royals of Europe (e.g.,Henry VIII). In this, the 4th book in the Dune series, Frank Herbert creates the second of his human "gods." The first, Paul Atreides, rejected his divinity in books 2 and 3. The second deity, Leto II, is Paul's son. By the time this book starts, Leto has used his divinity to rule the known universe for approximately 3500 years, and things may be abou...more
Coy
Coy rated it 2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for: Intense Sci-Fi fans
Hmm, this book was quite boring in most parts and the ending was very, very strange. I used this book to put me to sleep for about two months. Its not the worst book I've ever read, but its close and I'm a sci-fi fan.
David Striepe
This has one or two really cool parts but overall just felt kind of fragmented. It felt to me like there wasn't as strong an idea of what this book was meant to be before it was written. I'm probably wrong about that.
Michelle
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Leto is my absolute favorite character of the series ! Without giving it away, Leto has acquired a half-humanoid half-sandworm form and the book begins over 3,000 years after Children of Dune, with Leto ruling the entire "known" universe. Leto has acquired tremendous God-like power through the course of his metamorphosis from human to worm. Despite such incredible prescient powers, Leto suffers from some of the same foibles as all humans do, (loneliness, boredom) pe...more
Ruth
c1981. Having discovered when transferring books to Goodreads that I couldn't remember reading this one at all, I decided to refresh my memory. Well, I think I have been away from the Dune world for far too long. I just found the story weird and I know that has mostly to do with the 30 years since it had been published. The style of writing and the characterisation is still excellent and Wikipedia has a good synopsis and style review.. The pace is good but I just could not settle knowing that th...more
Daragh
While not as good as the first three (as much as it is so far removed from those iconic times and the characters you came to admire), this is word-heavy and wonderful for that alone if for no other reason. Still can't figure out why Nayla has an inexplicable orgasm while Duncan climbs the Sareer wall or why he knows Siona is determined to destroy him but still places the ferocious Nayla under her command with strict orders to do whatever Siona commands, including killing the God Emperor. Perhaps...more
Marita
Marita rated it 3 of 5 stars
Shelves: sci-fi
Frank Herbert changed styles form a narrative to conversations on this book. I found it choppier and harder to follow even though I have to say I LOVED reading this book. This book is full of very strong females and Herbert keeps one quessing what each one is really up to. I love the thought of what one must have experianced if one lived 3500 yrs. Would that alone not seem godlike!?. I was quite distressed what Duncan and Siona end up doing to Leto. WHY? Just because he was ugly? Or because they...more
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Goodreads Librarians: ISBN 0425053121 3 23 Oct 20, 2011 09:31pm  
God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, #4)
God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, #4)
God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, #4)
God Emperor of Dune (Hardcover)
God Emperor of Dune (Dune 4)

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Critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author.

He is best known for the novel Dune and its five sequels. The Dune saga, set in the distant future and taking place over millennia, dealt with themes such as human survival and evolution, ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, and power, and is widely considered to be among the classics in t...more
More about Frank Herbert...
Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1) Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles, #2) Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, #3) Heretics of Dune (Dune Chronicles, #5) Chapterhouse: Dune (Dune Chronicles, #6)

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