Sisterhood of Dune (Schools of Dune, #1)

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Sisterhood of Dune (Schools of Dune #1)

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 · rating details · 886 ratings · 139 reviews

It is eighty-three years after the last of the thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. Great changes are brewing that will shape and twist all of humankind.

The war hero Vorian Atreides has turned his back on politics and Salusa Secundus. The desc

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Paperback, UK Edition, 496 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by Simon & Schuster UK (first published January 1st 2012)

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Jan 27, 2013 Alex rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ahh, it felt good to just throw myself into a book again.

This one's quite good.

As an afficionado of the Dune series, especially the prequels, this was a good one-- I even broke my Robert Jordan rule (no unfinished series!) to read this one.

Turns out this is the first in a new series taking place after the Butlerian Jihad series of prequels, so chronologically book 4 in the Dune universe. Luckily, I read that series pretty recently, so the characters are still fresh in my mind.

Since this isn't th...more Ahh, it felt good to just throw myself into a book again.

This one's quite good.

As an afficionado of the Dune series, especially the prequels, this was a good one-- I even broke my Robert Jordan rule (no unfinished series!) to read this one.

Turns out this is the first in a new series taking place after the Butlerian Jihad series of prequels, so chronologically book 4 in the Dune universe. Luckily, I read that series pretty recently, so the characters are still fresh in my mind.

Since this isn't the first of the prequels, this shouldn't be a starting point for anyone. If you read this, you should have at least read the 3 books in the Butlerian Jihad series. By that point, you should have an opinion as to whether you love or hate the Dune prequels.

For my money, the Brian Herbert/Kevin J Anderson Dune prequels do a LOT less damage to Frank Herbert's amazing universe and legacy than Frank Herbert's books 3-6. If you disagree, well, you're wrong, but you're entitled to your opinion. (Penny Arcade!) You are free to be disappointed in the prequels-- they're a lot shallower and more forumulaic than Frank Herbert's masterpiece, but they're fun adventure reads that certainly do no harm to the original ideas.

Anyway, this book is great for lovers of the Butlerian Jihad prequels. Only 3-4 characters remain from that series, but the world is similar. It's an interesting time-- the imperium is young and weak. People are still uncertain as to the lessons to learn from the fight against the thinking machines, and the universe isn't so static as the next several millenia-- until really the book Dune. There are interesting characters, etc. etc., and enough drama and unresolved tension that I'm not bored reading an (arguably) unnecessary series between familiar points. About the only thing I was disappointed in was I thought the Mentats could've been .... smarter. For being Mentats, they're surprisingly un-Mentat-like-- maybe that's because these guys are the first.

I read it in two days and thoroughly loved it. It's only not 5 stars in deference to the original Dune, which is, unfortunately, always a comparison

(less)

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Nov 14, 2012 Delicious Strawberry rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: brian-herbert, kevin-j-anderson

Time to milk the cash cow yet again!!!

Before all these McDune books came out, Brian and Kevin claimed that they had found Frank Herbert's notes and outlines for Dune 7 on some floppies or something like that. They however have offered no evidence of said notes and/or floppies, which throws the entire matter of if there really were notes into question. The fact that Brian and Kevin's handling of Dune 7 in 'Hunters' and 'Sandworms of Dune', primarily evinced by their complete tossing out of the me...more Time to milk the cash cow yet again!!!

Before all these McDune books came out, Brian and Kevin claimed that they had found Frank Herbert's notes and outlines for Dune 7 on some floppies or something like that. They however have offered no evidence of said notes and/or floppies, which throws the entire matter of if there really were notes into question. The fact that Brian and Kevin's handling of Dune 7 in 'Hunters' and 'Sandworms of Dune', primarily evinced by their complete tossing out of the message of Leto's Golden Path as established by Frank Herbert, their retconning of the fact that Daniel and Marty were Face Dancers (again, established by Frank Herbert in Chapterhouse Dune) and changing them to Omnius and Erasmus (among so many of the other things they did WRONG) show us that if there really were ever notes, they did not use them.

This was exacerbated by the fact that rather than starting Dune 7 as their first project, they instead did two prequel trilogies, the House trilogy and the Butlerian Jihad trilogy (with more bad writing and retcons) before they FINALLY got around to Dune 7.

They butchered Frank Herbert's legacy with Hunters and Sandworms of Dune.

As if this was not enough, they had to do some stupid inbetween-quels, further insulting the memory of Frank Herbert with even more retcons, including an 'ultimate' retcon which basically said that anything that happened in the real Dune books were just historical inaccuracies and 'facts' that were made up by Irulan and other historians.

So basically what Brian and Kevin told us was that Frank's Dune was no longer canon, and that we are supposed to accept Brian and Kevin's poorly-written fanfiction as canon.

Not going to happen, folks. Nothing will ever top Frank Herbert's Dune, no matter how many books Brian and Kevin churn out, and I will never accept their McDune books as canon, either.

So now, after prequels, sequels, and inbetweenquels, we have a pre-sequel, a sequel to a prequel trilogy. This makes me wonder if after finishing this series as well as the Heroes of Dune series, they'll do a sequel for Hunters/Sandworms, what basically is a se-sequel. Oy very. But that's something for another day.

This book is another desperate attempt to milk a cash cow. Frank Herbert only wrote six books for Dune, and it is too bad that he died before he could do the seventh Dune book. So far, Brian and Kevin have written eleven McDune books, including this one. It's one thing to write one or two books to finish for someone who died before they could finish writing, but eleven books is just overkill (and they have more planned!!!)

While this book was actually better than most of the other McDune books they wrote (particularly the inbetweenquels and Dune 7), it still suffers much of the same problems that are rife in all of the McDune books. I found myself impatiently reading through parts just to get to the next scene because much of the story felt unneccessary or repetitive, something I found in all of the other McDune books. Frank Herbert could have handled the founding of three Schools in one book, he had a flair for painting the big picture and making us think. The other negative reviewers for this book already explain in detail what is wrong with this book, so I shan't go into it further as my review has already gotten long enough, lol.

This whole McDune debacle is actually making me think of the Star Wars franchise. At first there was just the original trilogy and a couple of other things. Now you have an seemingly endless number of novels, graphic novels, TV shows, films, and etc etc which just milk the Star Wars universe and drag it out for seemingly forever (such as resurrecting/cloning the Emperor) and now I see the same thing happening to Dune. As far as I'm concerned, only Frank Herbert's books and the Dune Encyclopedia (which was approved by Frank himself) are canon. The rest is just bad fanfiction.

I found the Dune Encyclopedia entry on the Bene Gesserit far more interesting than the story of the Sisterhood presented here. If you're dying to read this book out of curiosity, I don't see why you shouldn't - but for heaven's sakes, go to the library and borrow this so that Brian and Kevin don't get a single penny from you. The surest way to make the publishers/Brian/Kevin stop churning these out is to stop giving them money. (less)

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May 09, 2012 Donovan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi

Sisterhood of Dune is the first of a new series that presents a pre-history to the Frank Herbert Dune series. It's written by Frank Herbert's son Brian Herbert and well known sci-fi author Kevin J Anderson. It is a well written and nicely paced novel that looks at the founding years of the 'schools' that appear prominently (later) in Dune. While it is not required reading, I think it would be pertinent for any reader of this series to have read Brian & Kevin's other series in order to unders...more Sisterhood of Dune is the first of a new series that presents a pre-history to the Frank Herbert Dune series. It's written by Frank Herbert's son Brian Herbert and well known sci-fi author Kevin J Anderson. It is a well written and nicely paced novel that looks at the founding years of the 'schools' that appear prominently (later) in Dune. While it is not required reading, I think it would be pertinent for any reader of this series to have read Brian & Kevin's other series in order to understand the context of this series - namely the Legends of Dune series.

Plot ***Spoilers***
By this time, the Butler family, under the name Corrino, has consolidated a tenuous hold on the human-occupied universe. The head of the Corrino family, Emperor Salvador, lives in splendor on the planet Salusa Secundus with his brother and trusted advisor, Roderick Corrino, but their control of the Imperium is threatened by Manford Torondo, popular leader of the anti-technological Butlerian movement. The demagogue Torondo, deprived of both legs in a bomb blast decades previously, leads Swordmaster Anari Idaho and millions of people across the Imperium to cleanse humanity of its reliance on convenient technologies, often exploiting religious paranoia to advance his agendas.

In opposition to the popular movement is the unscrupulous businessman Josef Venport, great-grandson of the transformed Norma Cenva, who discovered the secret to creating spacefolding "Navigators" and holds a near-monopoly on space travel. Advised by the mutated Norma and his wife Cioba, Josef plots against his few remaining competitors and funds a secret group of scientific researchers that hold personal grudges against the Butlerians, yet are willing to salvage and optimize old cymek technology to satisfy their vendettas with Torondo.

Meanwhile, on the planet Kepler, the war hero Vorian Atreides attempts to keep his neighbors free from the threat of slavers. Atreides's life has been prolonged for years due to a life-extension treatment he received at a young age, thus he is often mistaken for a young man, despite being more than two hundred years old. An attempt to obtain Imperial protection for his planet is successful, but Vorian is sent even deeper into exile by Salvador and Roderick, who are concerned that the Jihad hero may, through his celebrity, incite a rebellion against their authority.

On the planet Lankiveil, the Harkonnen family ekes out a mean existence, far from the glory enjoyed by their ancestors after Vorian Atreides disowned the disgraced Abulurd Harkonnen. While the parents have decided to surrender ambition for survival and a humble existence, the two oldest children, Griffin and Valya, seek to rebuild their family fortunes through service to the Lansraad and Sisterhood on Rossak, respectively.

Other plot lines follow the Sisterhood of Rossak, led by Vorian's granddaughter, Reverend Mother Raquella Berto-Anirul, who survived a poisoning that provided her with the memories and mental presences of her female ancestors. Raquella faces challenges from Butlerian sympathizers within the Sisterhood, who correctly suspect that Raquella and her inner circle are using computers to manage their breeding index, which comprises an immense amount of family data from across the Imperium. Raquella is aided in these efforts by Sister Valya Harkonnen who finds her efforts to rebuild her family's glory impeded when the spoiled Princess Anna Corrino (sister to Emperor Salvador and Roderick) is sent to Rossak. Anna, viewed as an embarrassment by the royal family, is meant to learn important skills with the Sisters, but instead follows her own childish ambitions and takes a drug designed to induce near-death transformation that could make her a Reverend Mother. Through the new director of the Suk Institute, and former Rossak Sister, Dr. Ori Zhoma, the Sisterhood also plots against Salvador, who it fears may be the ancestor of a potentially disastrous tyrant.

The Mentat Gilbertus Albans, taught by the robot Erasmus prior to the fall of the robotic empire, and with life prolongation similar to Atreides, attempts to maintain order in his Mentat school on the planet Lampadas and guard the existence of his old mentor. However, he is dragged into the Butlerian movement's anti-technology campaign by the fanaticism of his most vocal students, and the furor of Manford Torondo, who coerces him to serve as his special advisor. He finds himself forced into a confrontation with his best student and friend, Draigo, who is in the service of Josef Venport's VenHold shipping conglomerate, ostensibly a precursor to the Spacing Guild.

On the planet Arrakis, it is revealed that the Free Men of Dune, who have abandoned the easier life of the Arrakeen villages, continue to thrive in the desert, encountering various enemies and allies during the course of their existence.(less)

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Mar 25, 2012 Atman88 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: SF fans

Recommended to Atman88 by: Amazon

*SPOILERS AHEAD * BEWARE * I have a thirst for more Dune! I didn't realize how much I longed for more about the sorceress' of rossak, the mutated navigators, the mentat school of Gilbertus Albans, or the evil independent robot Erasmus. This book updated my internal chronology of the Dune Universe, and inserted some seemingly irrelevant side stories (i.e. the twins of Juno and Agamemnon). I was glad of the inserted stories though, because it deepened my interest and the value of the Dune Universe...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Gavin Reed rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Only mildly interesting at times.
The series of "prequel"books co-written by Herbert and Anderson are generally, in my opinion, very weak in storytelling and, especially, dialogue compared to any of Frank Herbert's Dune novels. The prequels' authors do not appear to even attempt to emulate FH's style or approach to character development or story structure. Much of what they write - and this novel is a prime example - is just flat narrative with occasional unconvincing dialogue. I read most of wha...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Derrick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, scifi

This was more enjoyable than Paul of Dune and I think I enjoyed it a little more than The Winds of Dune.

However, I was/am also reading Heretics of Dune, so was able to contrast directly between Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson and Frank Herbert. It was just sad.

Sisterhood is just an adventure scifi story that could either stand on its own or be part of a duology or [heaven forbid!] a trilogy. Things, exciting things sometime, happen. But I honestly cannot say that I would find this book [along with...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Jeremy Compton added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: Canon-minded Dune fans

Recommended to Jeremy by: New York Times

Since there are only glowing endorsements of 'Sisterhood' here, I would like to mark some points of objective criticism. As a DUNE purist and fanatic, I've been watching the title come dislodged from the stars of Sci-Fi, and plummet to Earth. Many complaints have been made against Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson for the direction they've taken Frank Herbert's opus. Terms like "Dune dumbed-down" and "McDune" are commonly batted around. Where the original works were thought provoking, and insi...more Since there are only glowing endorsements of 'Sisterhood' here, I would like to mark some points of objective criticism. As a DUNE purist and fanatic, I've been watching the title come dislodged from the stars of Sci-Fi, and plummet to Earth. Many complaints have been made against Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson for the direction they've taken Frank Herbert's opus. Terms like "Dune dumbed-down" and "McDune" are commonly batted around. Where the original works were thought provoking, and insisted that the reader use their imagination, the latter day productions come with the content already chewed and partially digested for the consumer. Like a weary streetwalker, who's forced by her 'manager' to stay out past 4AM, Herbert and Anderson are milking the franchise for every opportunity for a buck.

The plot and theme to 'Sisterhood' is fine for the most part. This is the story of the beginnings of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood and the controlled introduction of Reverend Mothers; the development of Guild Navigators; seeds of Corrino corruption on Salusa Secundus. Another sub-plot in 'Sisterhood' is centered around the Atreides-Harkonnen feud. It's there that the art of storytelling devolves suddenly. Like Thufir Hawat's assessment of the Baron in the original novel, it's plain that the authors babble too much. Anderson is chiefly noted for being a Young Adult writer. He's also known for the glut of books he's churned out in his nearly 40 years as a writer (an average of one book every 6.4 months), making him the modern personification of a pulp fiction contributor. The majority of his titles are in conjunction with another, primary writer; this being the reason why he is widely regarded as a literary lamprey.

Brian Herbert penned ten works of his own since 1981, and several more with others, including his father, Frank. So, while he has firsthand experience with Frank's writing style, there are many portions of 'Sisterhood' that are KJA's rambling, over-explained plot lines. At times, the actual grammar is poorly thought out, and an over-use of the same, repetitive adjectives is common.

Several new characters are introduced into the Dune universe in 'Sisterhood'. Unfortunately, while there are some enduring cast members, many of the people who are involved in crucial story arcs are entirely forgettable. A common theme in the 'Latter Day Dune' novels is for the authors to fill up page after page with rehashed back stories. Whereas Frank Herbert relied on his readers' intelligence to retain the basics of his previous works.

We're introduced to a bumbling and temperamental Emperor Salvador Corrino, who is under the thumb of the anti-technology Butlerian movement, headed by Manford Torondo. An ancestor to Duncan Idaho, Anari is also part of the updated Cultist movement (and, what a coincidence, she's also a Swordmaster). Gilbertus Albans has founded an academy for Mentats, and walks a fine line between supporting man and machine. The Guild is in it's fourth generation of management, while the Bene Gesserit still have their founder at the helm. Vorian Atreides was a principal player in all three 'Legends of Dune' books. In 'Sisterhood', he's pulled out of history's dustbin to fill the most plodding and anticlimactic role of the story. Opposite Vor is Griffin Harkonnen, who's eventually badgered into taking his vendetta against the Atreides seriously.

Not to worry though. All the major issues are resolved by the end of the book. The only way anybody is left hanging here is with the conclusion of the book: Plenty More Where This Came From!(less)

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Dec 20, 2011 Nathan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Having read all of the other books in the original Dune series by Frank Herbert and all of the offshoot series created by Brian Herbert (along with Kevin J. Anderson) I was obviously looking forward to reading this novel as well. To be fair, I must admit that prior to reading each of the other two prequel trilogies (Legends of Dune and the Houses trilogy) I had hesitations relating to how well the stories would mesh with the original series. The same is true of this series as well. I've always b...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Joanne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sisterhood is a prequel, taking place over 10,000 years before the Paul Atreides timeline of the regular Dune novels. It is best read after the Legends of Dune trilogy: The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade and The Battle of Corrin, however it does provide enough explanation that you will understand what is going on, even if this may be your first Dune novel.

This is an origins story, but it easily stands on its own within the main Dune series. A generation has passed since the Butlerian Jihad...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Levi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Dune saga has grown so expansive that each new entry requires lengthy backstory explanations. For longtime fans, retreading the same plot lines can be annoying. For new readers, this information meant to make it more accessible might prove a deal-breaker. But for those willing to slog through it, every entry continues to prove an incredibly good read.

Sisterhood of Dune is the first part of a new prequel trilogy. I won't explain exactly how it fits in with the rest of the books; there are who...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Bishop Harber rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Herbert/Anderson additions to the Dune series are not particularly known for their philosophical depth (despite their quite noble attempts). Unlike Frank Herbert's original series, the extended books are less successful in the depth of thought and more tilted toward an ADHD world that requires bombs and blood. That said, and for full disclosure, I am a huge fan of the Herbert/Anderson additions. I believe they have done the world of Dune a great service and I continue to look forward to howe...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Vincent Darlage rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

I really loved the original Dune books, and even enjoyed some of the first prequels, but I am starting to tire of the McDune series. The characters are hard to like - all of them are super obssessed to the point of making everyone an unlikable villain - basically all the characters are the same. The plot threads didn't combine at the end; it felt like I read three novels with this one, all with the same basic plot, and without any connectivity. There was the Atreides-Harkonnen plot which resolve...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Elizabeth Sulzby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks

This is one of the lowest ratings I gave to a Dune book, either by Frank or Brian. I was disappointed that the Voice and its development were not addressed in this book. Also, although it was supposedly focused on the Benejezerit Sisterhood, I could not easily place it in the time frame and the authors seemed to forget about it for long periods during the book. At the end, suddenly, the Sisterhood became central again.

One feature that I expect the authors to return to are the computers and memor...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Tom rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I had not read all of the father's Dune novels I might have been satisfied with the son's writing collaborations in this milieu; as it is I feel like Brian Herbert is at best running in Frank's shadow, and at worst doing his fictional universe a grave disservice. Where the elder Herbert's works are subtle and eloquent, scientific and psychological, his scion and the co-author Kevin J. Anderson wield broad pen-strokes with a heavy hand. I so often found myself questioning the actions of every...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Eric rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, science-fiction

If you like the other books in the series like 'Paul of Dune' and 'Winds of Dune' then you’ll probably enjoy this as well. However, if you don't then this book is not going to change your mind about any of it.

Like the other books mentioned 'Sisterhood of Dune' is basically a 50 page story turned into a 500 page book. How Herbert and Anderson manage to spend so much time talking about the Bene-Gesserit's origins without really saying much is beyond me. It feels a lot like the authors are not get...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, science-fiction, series-reminder

Anderson is a master space opera writer and I always sense his style very strongly in these Dune prequel novels. The large number of points of view and the tone reminds me very much of Anderson's Saga of the Seven Suns, one of my favorite series. But the main thing that's fun is just seeing how the authors fit the stories together into a tighter and tighter weave of the historical document that they've been designing that spans millennia. As they add each strand to the loom and make it work, and...more Anderson is a master space opera writer and I always sense his style very strongly in these Dune prequel novels. The large number of points of view and the tone reminds me very much of Anderson's Saga of the Seven Suns, one of my favorite series. But the main thing that's fun is just seeing how the authors fit the stories together into a tighter and tighter weave of the historical document that they've been designing that spans millennia. As they add each strand to the loom and make it work, and work well, it's just fun to watch. I really applaud their vision and execution. Where I think the books filling in pieces of the late Dune cycle (Paul, Jessica) are a bit weak, the prequel books have all been really entertaining. And I think it's pretty remarkable that Frank Herbert wrote Dune over 46 years ago but the ideas of Navigators, Reverend Mothers and Mentats are still so fascinating to this day that there is still a ton of story to be told about them. The origin tales are compelling. And there are very few authors that have managed to write about such huge sweeps of history and keep filling in the pieces of the story from beginning to end in such an entertaining way, I think these guys deserve some credit. Yes. Frank Herbert wrote the original series, but Brian's and Kevin figured out (with his notes) how to complete it, and how to pull it all together with the origin tale about Omnius that made it all make sense.

Anyway, as for this book more specifically, no one on this book is a hero, that's for sure. Vorian (Atreides of course) come close, he's practically perfect, a bit annoyingly so, His only flaw is that he just isn't greedy or ambitious. His part of the book was the weakest, it's too isolated from the rest. It's clearly leading somewhere for the next book, and the visit to Arrakis was fun sentimentally, but it was too much like a weird short story that was isolated from what was going on in the rest of the book.

But the rest of the characters are all frighteningly corrupt. Of course they don't think so, they justify their own actions at every turn. The most frightening is of course the anti-technology religious fanatic, who the authors are smart enough to give a tiny bit of legitimacy to by having him have Erasmus' personal journals, including the quote, "Given time they will forget... and will create us again. Yes, we can wait." Seeing that, it's more understandable that a man would fight against all technology, that's pretty haunting stuff after 1000 years of slavery by the thinking machines. And yet the hypocrite uses spaceships and advanced weapons and has nothing against human slavery, just machine slavery. Power corrupts.

I really enjoyed watching the authors weave their story, stand by strand, tighter and tighter. Nothing will ever compare to the majesty of the original Dune. But I enjoy the space opera quality that these prequel books have and look forward to the next one. (less)

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Apr 12, 2012 Andrew Bedggood rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hmmm. Perhaps the best bit about this book is the cover - and even that's a painting of a pseudo - Hawk out of Space 1999 - but what's it doing with anti - shipping missiles fitted to it on a planet like Dune ????? The mind boggles.....
Anyway, as you can probably gather I wasn't exactly enamoured with this novel. Okay so it was nothing like as bad as The Butlerian Jihad, but it's still a terrible waste of ink and paper. Perhaps the most worrying thing is that it proudly announces upon the cover...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi

Bought this book as a part of my annual Dune-fix. With the previous two novels Paul of Dune & The winds of Dune I recovered some of my dissapointment that were the sequels to Frank Herberts Chapterhouse of Dune (based upon a 30 page synopsis named Dune 7 left by Frank).

Now the Sisterhood is actually a step back to the early days of the Duneiverse but after the first trilogy as written by Brian & Kevin. Those books did contain some excellent moments. SoD actually is the start of a trilogy...more

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Apr 19, 2012 bella rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me make it clear from the start, I'm a fan of the original Dune series but I'm also a fan of the books by Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert, since House Atreides is the book that got me hooked on the Dune series.

I picked up Sisterhood of Dune straight off finishing The Battle of Corrin, since I am re-reading all the books with a friend. Sisterhood of Dune was a completely new read to me, and I'm glad I included it in my re-read.

Sisterhood of Dune is the first book in a new trilogy called Sc...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Stuart Nager rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Whew. I have read just about all the Dune books: all by Frank Herbert and the majority of what his son, Brian, and Kevin Anderson have written.

Why the "whew"?

The book is dense with information. It is NOT the book any new reader of the Dune series should start with. While there is enough groundwork information into the various characters and "sects", it's still overwhelming at times. I would hate to think of someone coming in and then trying to "judge" the series on this book.

Better to start w...more

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Jul 09, 2012 John Keegan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shortly after producing their "House" prequel trilogy, marking the beginning of the modern Dune rebirth, Herbert and Anderson decided to go much earlier in the series' mythological timeline and tackle the Butlerian Jihad. That it gave them the chance to frame those events in a way that facilitated their version of the saga's ultimate finale was only part of the consideration, it seems, as it set the stage for a follow-up trilogy. And so the threads left wide open at the end of the "Legends of Du...more
Shortly after producing their "House" prequel trilogy, marking the beginning of the modern Dune rebirth, Herbert and Anderson decided to go much earlier in the series' mythological timeline and tackle the Butlerian Jihad. That it gave them the chance to frame those events in a way that facilitated their version of the saga's ultimate finale was only part of the consideration, it seems, as it set the stage for a follow-up trilogy. And so the threads left wide open at the end of the "Legends of Dune" trilogy are the starting point of "Sisterhood of Dune", the first volume of the intended "Schools of Dune" trilogy.

Delving into the post-Jihad formation of the humanistic schools of thought that dominate the universe of the original novel is a fine idea on its own. I would even venture to say that there are plenty of good concepts and themes within the novel itself. Where the "Legends of Dune" trilogy made it seem like all the schools emerged at the exact same time as the Butlerian Jihad, this new trilogy delves into the nuances of it all. The various power plays result in many of the familiar circumstances that longtime fans can, on some level, appreciate.

For that reason, this is not necessarily the book that the title suggests. This is not a history of the formation of the Bene Gesserit. Anyone expecting a post-Jihad version of, say, the prequels to "The Mists of Avalon", delving into the complex relationships and struggles of the early Sisterhood, should check that assumption at the door. The novel covers all of the schools to one degree or another, with the Sisterhood being only slightly more prominent or important to the story. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it allows for a more expansive treatment of the era.

Still, the same old problems persist when it comes to the Herbert/Anderson novels. While many of the broad concepts are in keeping with the Frank Herbert vision, the finer details often struggle to mesh with the mature tone of the original works. Frank Herbert could refer to Sorceresses as the forebears of the Bene Gesserit and leave the reader intrigued by the possibilities; this treatment, while far more detailed, renders them as little more than Dune's version of the Jedi. Those with extensive experience with Anderson's works will recognize his tropes throughout the course of the book.

One major source of dissonance is the lack of intelligence among many of the characters, particularly those who are supposed to be the founders or main influencers within the schools of advanced human consciousness and elevation. Frank Herbert's original novels were filled with humans of devious intelligence, even when they were hobbled by personal vices or weaknesses. The characters in this novel are blunt, simplistic, and often naïve to a mind-boggling degree. When Mentats are routinely incapable of predicting the most obvious consequences of their actions and choices, it's a serious problem for the integrity of the narrative.

The previous "Heroes of Dune" novels seemed to show a progression in the writing style for Herbert/Anderson's collaboration. Perhaps it was the time period itself, already largely set in stone by Frank Herbert; it seemed to force the authors to be more disciplined. Those incremental improvements are lacking in this novel, as it seems that the authors have regressed to the bad habits of the "Legends of Dune" novels.

In fact, many consider "The Butlerian Jihad" to be the worst of the Herbert/Anderson novels, and this book rivals that volume in terms of the writing style. The story itself merits a much shorter book, which means that the authors' penchant for endless repetition of description and events is once again at its peak. In several instances, entire pages of exposition expound what is later covered in a single line of dialogue. And since the characters routinely feel the need to drop unnatural exposition into conversation as it is, it feels like the authors don't trust the readers to follow even the most straightforward of plot threads.

As a result, it's hard for me to recommend this book. As a fan of Dune, I've reconciled myself to the fact that this is the "official" version of the timeline now, and I can see some merit in how certain ideas from the original saga have been advanced. On the other hand, the sophistication in the expression and exploration of those ideas is simply not there, and it makes the reading experience less enjoyable as a result. Let the reader beware.

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Feb 17, 2012 Derek Oberg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this book. It’s been so long since I read the Butlerian Jihad trilogy that I had a hard time at first trying to remember who did what and what was who. But Herbert/Anderson did a pretty good job of reminding you by way of introduction (in a way which would suffice for people who have not read the previous series as well).

Was it good? Yea, it was mostly good. Is it Frank Herbert? OF COURSE NOT. I think anybody holding these books up to the original 6 should have stopped reading after the...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Shaheen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, s-saust

I love reading books set in the Dune universe because it’s such a richly detailed, vibrant world. This novel is set after the Battle of Corrin and features a war-torn world still coming to terms with the place of computers and science in it. The development of the Schools of Dune - learning centres dedicated to furthering human capabilities - is a natural result of the war against thinking machines, and I really enjoyed reading about it.

The legacy of Reyna and Serena Butler is the most interesti...more

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Oct 01, 2012 C-Cose Daley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall this latest Dune installment from BH & KJA was good .... not great .... but a passable inclusion in the overall story. I appreciate the attempt to provide us with a history of the founding of the Great Though Schools and the beginning of the Imperium. But, I have several issues with how they presented this tale:

1. Inserting the antecedents of what was to become the Bene Gesserit into the founding of all Schools except Ginaz was a trifle overdone. It's not only improbable, but also le...more

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May 14, 2012 Andy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sisterhood of Dune takes place less than 100 years after the Battle of Corrin. It's an uncertain time despite the human victory over the thinking machines. I've liked the 6 other books I've read by Herbert and Anderson but this one didn't grab me like the others. Maybe it's the fact that I just got done reading the House trilogy and I need a break from the Dune world. Or maybe it's that Herbert and Anderson have written so many of these books that the quality is starting to fall off. Many of the...more

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May 28, 2013 Fantasy Literature rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-by-bill

Sisterhood of Dune is the latest installment by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in the add-ons to Frank Herbert’s classic DUNE series. To be honest, I gave up on the series after The Battle of Corrin — the third book in the opening LEGENDS OF DUNE group — after it continued a downward spiral from a solid if not inspiring book one (The Butlerian Jihad). I wish I could say Sisterhood of Dune recaptured my interest, but unfortunately I found many of the same problems that caused me to give up t...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Clydene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love the continuation with the Dune series by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Yes, it is not Frank Herbert, but it is as close as you are going to get, and it is Wonderful.

I got an ARC of the book. It is really great. I love the Dune series that Kevin and Brian have written. It keeps the story alive for me.

Perhaps I loved Sisterhood of Dune best because it dealt with what I think is the best part of the Dune story line, the Bene Gesserit.

The authors have done a great job telling the bac...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Luke rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not a Dune "purist" In fact, I'm probably the one person in the world who wasn't a massive fan of the original Dune series. Don't get me wrong I liked it well enough, but I didn't think it was as great as people let on.

The Prelude to Dune and Legends of Dune series, well I absolutely loved those. More so than the original saga.

Sisterhood of Dune follows up on the events of the Legends of Dune. I read those a long time ago, so i did struggle a little rememebering certain events. It mainly fo...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Sue rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Been a fan of all things Dune for many decades now. Since his dad Frank died, his son has taken over the writing. I did enjoy the book BUT it was obvious from the start that this book was just another story in the never ending story of Dune and I cant help but think the cash cow has been milked dry and should be put out to pasture for services rendered.
His writing style is east to follow but some characters lacked depth and some questions they should have asked did not happen.
I read a few of th...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

I LOVED this book. I feel like BH and KJA finally reached a balance between too much described action (like some of their previous books) and too little described action (the original series). (view spoiler)...more

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About Brian Herbert

Brian Patrick Herbert is a best selling American author who lives in Washington state. He is the elder son of famed science fiction author Frank Herbert.

Brian and his wife, Jan Herbert, have been happily married for forty years (as of 2007). They have three daughters, Julie, Kim, and Margaux Beverly. Brian also has an elder half-sister, Penny; their younger brother, gay activist Bruce Calvin Herbe...more

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Books by Brian Herbert

The Butlerian Jihad (Legends of Dune, #1)

The Machine Crusade (Legends of Dune, #2)

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Quotes from Sisterhood of Dune

“Life is filled with tests, one after another, and if you don't recognize them, you are certain to fail the most important ones.” — 3 people liked it

“I'm a thinker. That is what I do, in great depth and detail, every waking moment of the day. I like to believe it's worthwhile. And yet, I can't help but recall something ... said to me once when I was young: "All of these things with which we occupy ourselves don't amount to much in the cosmic scale of things, do they? No matter how extensively we ponder any particular topic, there is really very little there"--Gilbertus Albans, Reflections in the Mirror of the Mind” — 2 people liked it

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Sisterhood of Dune (Schools of Dune #1)

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