Chapter House Dune

by
Frank Herbert

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Chapter House Dune (Dune Chronicles #6)

by Frank Herbert

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 19,163 ratings · 299 reviews

The desert planet Arrakis, called Dune, has been destroyed. Now the Bene Gesserit, heirs to Dune's powers, have colonized a green world and are turning it into a desert, mile by scorched mile. In this, the final book in the Dune Chronicles, Herbert again creates a world of breathtakingly evolved characters and the contexts in which to appreciate them. The richness of detai...more

Published (first published 1985)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Apr 06, 2009 Terence rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Dune completists

Shelves: sf-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Book: 3 stars
Audio CD: 3 stars

In Dune, Frank Herbert achieved a near perfect balance of story, character and exposition. In fact, the story and characters expressed the themes of the book, and Herbert avoided long, philosophical discursions. Dune is a self-contained novel needing no prequels or sequels. However, Herbert had more to say and produced five further novels set in the Atreides Imperium that were interesting to the compulsively completist amongst us (and I number myself one in this cas...more

11 likes · like · see review

Mar 09, 2008 Matthew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After tens of thousands of years, the theme of ultimate prophetic prediction, spice (i.e. water/oil) dependence, universal religious programming, not to mention a great primer on behind-the-scenes political activities, comes to a close. and what a perfect way to bring this series to an end. Well worth the devotion, this series follows one genetic line with supra-sensory perceptions which gave birth to a messianic figure and his son, whom became a galactic tyrant in the name of progress, nay, of...more

5 likes · like · see review

Aug 12, 2009 najla rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

i think i read the first book when i was 12, and for some reason got the idea in my head that i should read the whole lot in rapid succession. well, the rapid didn't happen so much, and i am grateful that i am five pages away from concluding my brief, but friendly affair with mr. herbert. you know when you begin to go on dates with someone that has been an intermittent and casual friend? you think, well, they seem perfectly nice, reasonably intelligent, compelling conversationalist, let's try. b...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 27, 2009 Eric rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Frank Herbert's last Dune novel suffers from the same flaws as Heretics of Dune. One that I didn't mention in my review of that novel, but which certainly applies to both, is the lack of a character to care about. In the first four Dune books, Leto, Paul, and Leto II provide central figures whose rises and falls the reader becomes invested in.

None of the characters in Heretics or Chapterhouse stand out in that same way. The fact that almost every character is a Bene Gesserit, trained by a Bene G...more

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 18, 2007 Tom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

Chapterhouse: Dune marks the final installment in Frank Herbert's original Dune Chronicles (though the story continues through another six prequels and two final sequels written by his son, Brian Herbert).

Set twenty or so years after the events in Heretics of Dune, readers may now follow the final confrontation between hyper-sexualized and dominating "Honored Matres," vs. the Rasputian, scheming Bene Gesserit, for control of the old empire and the fate of humanity (though in this installment, t...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2012 Dinre rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 0-library-books, 1-audio-books, 2-science-fiction, 3-dune-series

As the last Dune book that was written by Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse is a little disappointing at the end. Herbert clearly planned to extend the series before his death.

That aside, the book is a decent read. I lost some steam during some of the dry sections, and the major plot twist towards the end was too heavily foreshadowed for me. I enjoyed the read, but I probably won't pick it up again.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 17, 2009 Spike Spikey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have a problem when a long multi-book series basically finishes with no real ending.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 03, 2012 Delicious Strawberry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: frank-herbert, science-fiction

As far as I am concerned, this is the last Dune book (besides the Encyclopedia) and should be considered the end. The disappointing tripe of Hunters and Sandworms of Dune by Brian and Kevin are nothing but poorly written fanfiction.

The consequences of Leto's Golden Path are made apparent in this and its predecessor, Heretics of Dune. Sheeana is a intriguing character and so is Murbella and Odrade, as well as the nth incarnation of Duncan Idaho.

Frank Herbert died before he could write Dune 7, so...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 14, 2012 Smcleish rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

Originally published on my blog here in February 1999.

Chapterhouse Dune carries on almost immediately where Heretics of Dune left off. It is set almost entirely on Chapter House, the planet which houses the secret headquarters of the Bene Gesserit, who are being hunted to extinction by the Honoured Matres returning from the Scattering, the massive colonisation effort of humanity following the death of Emperor Leto. It is the last Dune novel written by Herbert before his death, though since then...more Originally published on my blog here in February 1999.

Chapterhouse Dune carries on almost immediately where Heretics of Dune left off. It is set almost entirely on Chapter House, the planet which houses the secret headquarters of the Bene Gesserit, who are being hunted to extinction by the Honoured Matres returning from the Scattering, the massive colonisation effort of humanity following the death of Emperor Leto. It is the last Dune novel written by Herbert before his death, though since then there have consistently been rumours of more Dune material which is still unpublished - and Chapterhouse Dune leaves several loose threads which could easily provide the basis for the saga to continue.

In fact, Chapterhouse Dune seems to be intended to imply that at least one further instalment was planned. It cannot be said to be 'climactic' and leaves a great deal unexplained. I would still say that the rest of the series is relatively disappointing compared to the first one, but this is really due to the fact that there is no apparent overall planning which would unify the series. The way that this novel points seems to show that Herbert had come up with a plan, of which Heretics of Dune and this novel form the start.

The main character in Chapterhouse Dune is Darwi Odrade, now the head (Mother Superior) of the Bene Gesserit. She is not terribly well differentiated from the other sisters, with the exception of three others who are rather far from the norm (Bellonda, irascible archivist; Sheeana, the former waif from Arrakis who can control the sandworms; and Murbella, the former Honoured Matre). The most interesting characters are, however, the Jewish rabbi and Rebecca, portrayed as survivors of a very ancient people with many centuries' experience in evading those who wish to destroy them. Rachel has made herself a "wild" Reverend Mother, so that she possesses the abilities of the Bene Gesserit; she now stores within her own consciousness the memories of a billion Bene Gesserit whose planet was destroyed by the Honoured Matres. The idea that the Jewish faith survived unchanged and underground for so many centuries is quite a fascinating one, and is one of the aspects of the book that I suspect would have been developed if the series had continued.(less)

like · see review

Oct 11, 2011 Jeff rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

Scott Brick is a fine reader and I've been a Dune fan since discovering the first three novels back in the '70's. But Chapterhouse Dune just doesn't capture my interest like I thought it would. The peripheral action and characters are more interesting than the main thread.

The description of the stolen No Ship, Uxal's horrible predicament with the Face Dancers and the Mother Commander, the increasingly and inevitably threatened position of the Spacing Guild, the remaking of Chapterhouse into a n...more

like · see review

Apr 07, 2011 Jeremy Preacher rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi

This is the second half (well, part 2 of 3, really) of the arc started in Heretics. I think it's actually a stronger book than Heretics too - less scattered, more time spent developing the characters, and the stakes are clearly higher.

It also displays its Reagan-era politics pretty obviously, which made me roll my eyes at least once, but there's also some commentary on the all-consuming nature of bureaucracy that are definitely relevant to modern times. The Honored Matres are developed a little...more

like · see review

Nov 19, 2010 Felix Dance rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, Herbert stuffed it again. This sixth and final installment of his epic and usually brilliant Dune series is the waffling wank God Emperor of Dune is, totally avoiding all the awesomeness advances his plot and characters made during Heretics of Dune. In fact the plot doesn't even begin until two thirds of the way through the book, the first 250 pages comprising smug introspective dialogues between pompous pseudo-characters. When stuff finally does begin to happen, the war between the all-fe...more

like · see review

Nov 07, 2009 John Shumway rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

*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 the Original Dune series in any way, and you could...more *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 the Original Dune series in any way, and you could stop after that series and be done with Dune.. but if your not done....

3. -- Go and read the "Prelude To Dune" series its also 3 books and is a prequel to the original dune series but just prior so you will learn about some of the characters in the 1st book you read "Dune".

4. -- By now you have committed enough time in the series that you probably NEED to finish it. Go back and re-read Dune, (trust me you will want to) then go on and read the rest of the original Dune series (Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, Chapterhouse Dune) Your devotion to the series will help push you through some of the parts that I think are slightly. Its worth it though!

4. -- You will notice the series ends up in the AIR! Frank Herbert died before finishing the series. The authors of the prequel series (his son Bryan Herbert and Keven J. Anderson) finished the series from compiled notes from Frank, Brian's experience talking to his father about the series and both Brian and Kevin's love of the Dune universe. It is very well done. Its two books (Hunters of Dune, and Sandworms of Dune.)

OK so sum up here is the order I would do the series. (which ends up being chronological except for the 1st book, even though it wasn't published this way.
Dune (to make sure you like it.)
Legends of Dune (series of 3 books)
Prelude to Dune (series of 3 books)
Dune (again since your restarting the original series)
The rest of the Dune series
Hunters of Dune
Sandworms of Dune

Ok have fun.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 03, 2010 Bryan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Classic Dune Series Concludes...: Chapterhouse Dune (book six) concludes one of the best science-fiction series of all time. This final novel of the series is primarily concerned with the Bene Gesserit and their battle against imminent extinction. As a result of the God Emperor's impact on the future of humanity, the Bene Gesserit face their demise from a powerful new foe. This final novel is one of the most powerful of the series and the ending (although left as somewhat of a cliffhanger) i...more

like · see review

Aug 17, 2009 Gabe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am a reader who sometimes enjoys books that make me work hard. This book (this series) is one of those. I loved it, but I fully understand that not everyone will.

In addition to being one of the greatest science fiction sagas ever, the Dune Chronicles were a massive sociological "thought experiment" on Herberts part, and I for one am thankful he had the time to share his thoughts with us. These books (especially the later ones) are the kind you have to put down from time to time to just think a...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 18, 2012 Seth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

one of the best in the series. definitely fulfills a lot that felt unfulfilled in the previous book. it was refreshing to not have a thousand year gap in between two of the books again. you get the same characters back on a large scale for the first time since book two went into book three.

there is a helluva cliff hanger, and frank herbert died before he could write the next chapters. i'm very tempted to read books 7 and 8 by his son brian and kevin j. anderson, but i have my doubts. and after r...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 16, 2011 Kevin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

The grande finale of the whole of Frank Herbert's six Dune novels. Interesting ending (were the old couple actually god and his wife?), although it leaves many unanswered questions and various loose threads - which apparently his son Brian Herbert has tried to tie up in the later novels based around his Fathers notes. However I hear mixed reviews on these books. Maybe I will try and read them some other time.

The Space-Operatic original book, Dune, went very philosophical from Dune Messiah onward...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 13, 2013 Steve Roach rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Many people seem to like these books less as they went on into the series. Quite frankly the opposite is true for me. Each book added more twists and complications to an already complicated world, but that's ok because by the time I got there, I had already had time to assimilate the earlier books.

In Chapterhouse we see the ultimate consequences of what was started in Dune, and especially what came out of the Golden Path of Leto in God Emperor. Especially compelling is the statement that Leto sa...more

like · see review

Nov 17, 2011 Христо Блажев rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Дюн” на Франк Хърбърт – може би най-противоречивата фантастично-мистична сага
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/07/b...

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 също според мен.

like · see review

Jun 20, 2012 David Mcangus rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

And... that's it. The end of one of the most spiritually intelligent pieces of fiction I have read thus far.

One of the odd sensations I had when turning page after page of Frank's prose; is the anticipated collapse of the narrative. This moment seems to happen at different stages for different people. Some can't make it past the second book. Others recoil at the prospect of spending hours with the God Emperor. I'm happy that my enjoyment never really waned until this final instalment and thankfu...more

like · see review

Mar 15, 2011 Drew Athans rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This 6th and final book in the Dune saga that Frank Herbert wrote before his death in 1986 stands as one of the best in the entire series. Many have complained that it doesn't "go anywhere" for the first 150 pages or so, but I think it does. There are all of these seemingly unrelated plot threads that slowly but surely converge such that by the time you're halfway through the book, it all makes sense. The last half of this book is a mixture of intrigue and action that left me breathless and unab...more This 6th and final book in the Dune saga that Frank Herbert wrote before his death in 1986 stands as one of the best in the entire series. Many have complained that it doesn't "go anywhere" for the first 150 pages or so, but I think it does. There are all of these seemingly unrelated plot threads that slowly but surely converge such that by the time you're halfway through the book, it all makes sense. The last half of this book is a mixture of intrigue and action that left me breathless and unable to put the book down until I was finished. The story here continues from the end of Heretics of Dune, with the Bene Gesserit hidden on their base planet of Chapterhouse, hiding and regrouping from the rampaging Honored Matres who hunt and slaughter them across the galaxy. However, the Bene Gesserit soon deduce that the Honored Matres themselves are being hunted, driven back into the Known Galaxy from the outer depths of The Scattering...and who these mysterious hunters are is not known. A desperate plan is conceived and ultimately carried out, but nothing goes as it was 100% planned and the resulting outcome leaves the two orders in shambles, merged together by force, with factions resisting, including some of the major players, who make their escape into the unknown. Throughout all of this are glimpses of two mysterious and all-powerful watchers who try to gather the most powerful of the renegades in their net...what ends up happening? Read it to find out!

Chapterhouse: Dune is famous for it's ending, which has been alternately called "cliffhanger" and "open." There has been raging debate over the intervening 25 years whether or not Frank Herbert intended to complete the saga with a 7th book, or leave it open-ended and finished with Chapterhouse:Dune. This is bolstered by two arguments...the short tribute to his wife that follows the final chapter (she died a year before this was published) and the fact that the mysterious watchers take the form of an elderly couple patterned after Frank and his wife Beverly. Further muddying the waters are the two horrendous "sequels" Herbert's son and his hack-writing partner Kevin Anderson published, supposedly based on an outline for "Dune 7," the supposed sequel and wrap-up to the saga, written by Frank Herbert and found in a safe-deposit box after he died in 1986. I won't get into any spoilers here, but suffice to say that the fact that the VAST MAJORITY of the "sequels" tie in characters created and introduced in Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson's "prequels," written YEARS after Frank died, and it's clear that, even though the outline may very well exist, they did not follow it one bit. This becomes clearer after reading the "sequels," (and don't worry, I'll savage those books and reveal the lies from those two after I read them again and review them on here).

Thus, we are left with an open/cliffhanger ending that is at the same time satisfying and frustrating. This is a testament to Herbert's imagination and talent, however...the final chapter of Chapterhouse:Dune is chilling and amusing and leads your imagination into a million "what-ifs" about what happened next. If only Frank could have lived longer and finished the saga (if he ever indeed intended to), but we still have his 6 Dune books and all of the imagination-spurring it provides, and isn't that really what we want out of the best fiction in literature?(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 09, 2010 Andrew rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Dune #1-5

Shelves: dune, sci-fi

If you’ve made it this far into Frank Herbert’s epic Dune series, then you know what to expect. (As an aside, if you haven’t read the preceding five books in the series, you must do so before reading this one. The beginning is the only place to start this series.) Much like Heretics of Dune and the rest before it, Chapterhouse: Dune is an ambitious look into the future, filled to the brim with cryptic dialogue, elaborate plans and pithy proverbial pronouncements.
Like some of its predecessors in...more If you’ve made it this far into Frank Herbert’s epic Dune series, then you know what to expect. (As an aside, if you haven’t read the preceding five books in the series, you must do so before reading this one. The beginning is the only place to start this series.) Much like Heretics of Dune and the rest before it, Chapterhouse: Dune is an ambitious look into the future, filled to the brim with cryptic dialogue, elaborate plans and pithy proverbial pronouncements.
Like some of its predecessors in the series, this book starts slow. And it continues that way for a long time. If I had to write a plot summery for the first 300 pages or so (my paperback is about 400 pages in length) I would be in trouble. People talk to each other. Often they think to themselves while they talk. Often these thoughts are followed by exclamation points. Often I don’t know what these people are talking about. I absolutely respect Herbert’s decision to take science fiction out of the usual realm of explosions and fireworks, but it does take a bit of patience to sink into the rhythm of this book.
Of course, there is a payoff at the end. As with Heretics, some pretty galaxy shattering events take place in the final pages of this novel. Without revealing anything spoilersome, it’s safe to say that the Bene Gesserit will be changed forever! So things do come to a pretty impressive boil, I just wish there wasn’t quite so much simmering before they gets there. I still feel that the original Dune had a balance of pacing that hasn’t been matched since. It’s still good stuff, it just feels a bit unbalanced.
One of my biggest worries going into this book was the ending. As I understand it, Herbert didn’t plan for this to be the last book in the Dune series. I was concerned that the epic six book saga might come to a frustrating conclusion with lots of loose ends never to be tied, like an unexpectedly canceled television series. In part this is the case. There are plenty of unknowns at the end of Chapterhouse and lots of material for a potential sequel. But the more I think about it, the more I feel this is as good a way as any for the series to end. Over the course of six books we’ve followed the human race for thousands of years. There is really no way to write a nice neat ending for such a grand tale. It would be ludicrous to say “Finally the Bene Gesserit were satisfied that mankind had reached maturity, and the human race lived happily ever after.” I actually like the idea of leaving loose ends. It feels like, even though I’ll never know about them, there are still plenty of fascinating adventures left in store for humans.

***Update! Apparently the series was eventually capped off by Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. I guess I will get an ending after all. We'll see if that turns out to be a good thing or not...)

I could dredge up some of my usual complaints about the series. I don’t really care about any of the characters. I’m not smart enough to tell if some of the blurbs are insightful or just drivelous gobbledegook. Too many exclamation marks. But seriously, six books into the series, I’ve accepted that stuff as part of the ride and it really doesn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the experience anymore. I knew what to expect, and Chapterhouse delivered just that: Thoughtful, viscous, and somewhat chewy sci-fi.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 08, 2013 Amber rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

My opinion of the Dune series is that the first book was the best, and each subsequent book diminished in quality somewhat. I got to the fourth, God Emperor of Dune, and decided that it was really hard to relate to things when the characters I'd grown to know and love for the first three books were now at least a thousand years dead, except the God Emperor himself of course.

Because of this, I didn't bother reading Heretics of Dune or Chapterhouse: Dune... until now. And I didn't read it, exactly...more My opinion of the Dune series is that the first book was the best, and each subsequent book diminished in quality somewhat. I got to the fourth, God Emperor of Dune, and decided that it was really hard to relate to things when the characters I'd grown to know and love for the first three books were now at least a thousand years dead, except the God Emperor himself of course.

Because of this, I didn't bother reading Heretics of Dune or Chapterhouse: Dune... until now. And I didn't read it, exactly: my commute to school four days a week for an hour and a half each way exhausted my interest in my music, and my mother suggested audio books. This was one of the few the school library had that wasn't what I refer to as "supermarket checkout books": popular, not frequently quality but easily ingested by most people novels usually by big names like James Patterson, Dan Brown, etc.

The main idea is that the Bene Gesserit are on the run from the Honored Matres, a bunch of women who are a lot like the Drow from Forgotten Realms: women-run society, control men through sex, very deadly, etc. The Honored Matres are trying to exterminate the Bene Gesserit, who are holed up on a planet that they are trying to transform into another desert-covered, Dune-like planet by introducing "sand trout," the precursor to sand worms, so that they can have Spice/Melange, which they need to do their Bene Gesserit thing.

Overall, Chapterhouse: Dune was interesting but not fantastic. It livened up the drive, and I've always enjoyed the frequent, chewy chunks of Bene Gesserit wisdom, but overall it was a book where people mostly discussed/debated things, thought to themselves about stuff, agonized over decisions, coughed up more Bene Gesserit wisdom, thought about each other and plots both theirs and others', talked, thought, talked and thought. Not that I'm averse to talking, thinking, or character development, but it started to feel more like a collection of people's thesis papers on various philosophies. The ending was pretty unsatisfying, and I was a little lost (my fault) due to not having read the fifth book, and having read the fourth book so long ago.

What it did make me want to do is reread the first half of the sexology (if that's what you call a 6-part series, and not the study of sex or something). Unfortunately (or fortunately, since it is the best) I only still have the first. I suspect I lost the other two when an ex's brother borrowed them and then either was or played dumb about where they got off to. I hope someone's enjoying them.

As for the sequels written by Herbert's son and another writer, I'm not sure if the junior Herbert actually writes any of it or the other guy ghostwrites the whole thing and the Herbert name is just appended for legitimacy, but the one book I did read of that (I think it was House Atreides), I wasn't impressed. Stick to the first one, before the Honored Matres and all that junk comes in, when things were still nicely simple (though "simple" in the Dune universe still requires a Dramatis Personae and a full glossary - not that that's a bad thing). You'll be better off.(less)

like · see review

Jan 02, 2010 Justin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I mean, it was a Dune book. It was slightly better than 2 but it took a long time to pick up. I feel like it was written backwards - all the interesting plot only lasted about 150 pages or so, so there was a big parable about buracracy, leadership, and delegation inserted into the first 250 pages to flesh it out.

Unsatisfyingly, this is not the conclusion of the series. Frank planned one more to like tie it all up, but died before his notes could be turned into a book. He hid his notes but unfort...more

like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Matty rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was ok, I guess...

By reading most reviews that people have given this book, they seem to enjoy it a lot more simply because "stuff happens". In a way, i get a sense that Herbert wasn't quite sure of what he was doing with his characters. The only good thing to have come out of this novel, in my own opinion, is that we can get a broader view of how the Bene Gesserit functions. However, Herbert spends on awful lot of time having to illustrate B.G. attitude rather than progress a storyline that...more

like · see review

Jan 07, 2013 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A thrilling, though at times awkwardly written conclusion to Herbert's original saga. While it was hard to read at times because it jumps from one POV to another, and the edition I had had occasional typos, it was thrilling to see anticipated events unfold. As Herbert has done in most of the Dune books, he ended it with the unexpected. If only he had lived to write more, but we will have to make do with what his son Brian can craft with his father's notes.

The descriptions were captivating, dream...more

like · see review

Jul 30, 2012 Peter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sciencefiction

Overall a very good series. I really liked the exploration of religion and "universe building" and the Bene Gesserit society was fascinating. I found that in this last book his libertarian-esque harping on the evils of bureaucracy and taxes got a little old. Expecially since his criticism of bureaucracy was that it becomes an aristocracy untouchable by voters, but the Bene Gesserit (the apparent example of perfect governing) were pretty much untouchable by anyone that wasn't one of them (which i...more

like · see review

Jun 01, 2011 David rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

On December 25, 1980, I was given Frank Herbert's "Dune" as a present. Sometime around midnight that night, I finished the book. Then, and now, I had the epxereince of being enthralled by the rich, complex world that Frank Herbert created. This is the sixth and last book that he wrote in that series. The original "Dune" had a compelling plot that complemented the world Herbert dreamed up. Unfortunately, as the series progressed, plot became less of a concern.

Buried in this book is an exciting 20...more On December 25, 1980, I was given Frank Herbert's "Dune" as a present. Sometime around midnight that night, I finished the book. Then, and now, I had the epxereince of being enthralled by the rich, complex world that Frank Herbert created. This is the sixth and last book that he wrote in that series. The original "Dune" had a compelling plot that complemented the world Herbert dreamed up. Unfortunately, as the series progressed, plot became less of a concern.

Buried in this book is an exciting 200 page sci-fi novel. The plot is actually fairly interesting -- the Bene Genserit are trying to create a new Dune while being hunted by the brutal Honored Matres. Sadly, the action doesn't get going until right around the 80% mark of the book. Until then, there is chapter after chapter of small pieces of action and dialogue, buried (and I mean buried) by the thoughts, inner dialogue and conflicts between the Bene Geserit mothers. There are also Herbert's ideas, I guess, about the world. Much of this is difficult to follow and incomprehensible.

I decided that I would "skim-read" much of the filler in the book and slow down when I got to something significant. That worked well. I enjoyed much of the book, and at the end was pretty excited with some nice plot twists and turns that were very entertaining. The very end of the book did not make a lot of sense, and I guess that it was a set up for another book, which never happened. Sadly, as this series progressed, plot became less and less important, with page after page of Herbert's ruminations. If you enjoy his philosphy (or pseudo-philosophy) you will enjoy the last three books of the series. If you are looking for a good plot, try the first three books.

Ironically, in my edition, after the conclusion of the book, there was a real-life tribute by Herbert to his wife, Bev, that I found to be quite compelling. It shows that he was perfectly capable of writing in an engaging fashion. If he had done just that throughout Chapterhouse: Dune, the book would have been much more enjoyable.(less)

like · see review

Jan 20, 2009 Sarah Jane added it · review of another edition

People usually don't get this far in the series, which is a shame. I like these last two books as much as the first two (it's the two in the middle that are a bit... odd).

1 like · like · see review

Feb 21, 2011 Omer84 rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dune-series, s-f

This book was a big let down for me. I'm a true fan of Dune series read all 6 original books plus 3 books of legends (looking forward to further books done by his son and Kevin Anderson - I've liked legends), so on 9 books in world of Dune, I class this one as the worst. Now you may ask why that is so:

- There is no action at all till about last quarter of the book,
- I don't know if I'm not smart enough but for 3/4 of the book all dialog and all thoughts of main characters are some existential ma...more This book was a big let down for me. I'm a true fan of Dune series read all 6 original books plus 3 books of legends (looking forward to further books done by his son and Kevin Anderson - I've liked legends), so on 9 books in world of Dune, I class this one as the worst. Now you may ask why that is so:

- There is no action at all till about last quarter of the book,
- I don't know if I'm not smart enough but for 3/4 of the book all dialog and all thoughts of main characters are some existential mambo-jumbo which adds absolutely nothing to the plot, story or the meaning of previous books,
- Whole sex imprinting and enslaving by sex acts, what the hell is that???!!! That is extremely silly idea and reading it was a torture. I can understand implication behind the idea, but on that scale and with such meaning - I think that it could not be worst then that. In "Heretics of Dune" we already have it, and in my opinion it already doesn’t work, and now in "Chapterhouse" he goes full scale with it, uuhhh God why?
- The only good parts in my opinion are characters of Miles Teg and Duncan Idaho (maybe Sheeana a bit as well) but both are under used. They do not take part in most of the book, and yet bits with them I think are the best (exactly like in previous book),
- Odrade for some reason (interesting character in previous part) now has been filled with like 200 cages of mambo-jambo which leads to nowhere (her character frustrates me the most), she is Atreides and yet she doesn't seem like one to me; she is Miles' daughter but she hasn't got any serious connections with him () - strange - even considering she was not raised by him, even that she is Mother Superior, she should few something more than just few mere mentions of her emotions, considering she is emotional about Van Gogh's painting, a sculpture of Chenoeh.
- what happened with Duncan's special powers and Teg's as well, and I'm not talking only about Miles' super fast movement, but we know that both of them are smart and after awakening they are as Ben Gesserit Mothers they remember previous lives, they are the best Male race can give. - unless he was planning something special for them two for next installment.
- when you read about Bene Gesserit you can understand how they survived thousands of years in the world of men, because they are superior in their training in so many ways, but I can't understand how possibly hundreds of planets were conquered by Honored Matres order if they seem nothing else then a horde of chaos, no actual planning no leading characters except Dama. It seems impossible that something unorganized can conquer so many planets in military assault. I can understand they can do it by surprise on some of the worlds but not so many, and anyway there is never really explained how they managed it.

I'm very frustrated when I write this review, just finished the book so everything is still fresh. This was first Dune book till the end of the book I did not really have intentions to finish it. I wanted to put it down and just leave it. It did not happen before with any Dune book. I really have to force myself especially first 200 pages, which were the worst I've read in long time. (As somebody smart said one day - "life is to short to read bad books").

In my opinion Frank Herbert lost it somewhere on the line. We will never find out where he was going with it for book number 7. I still did not try Hunter's and Sandworms by his son, but I believe it can't be worst then Chapterhouse. I give it two start only because of Teg & Duncan plot lines and because it is Dune world.

Ps. would love some comments if somebody feels similar or different about the book.

Thank you
(less)

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (50)

More editions...

Videos About This Book

Creating the Audiobooks for the Original Dune Series

Add a comment

Genres

Science Fiction

775 users

Fantasy

116 users

Science Fiction Fantasy

81 users

Classics

32 users

Science Fiction > Space Opera

26 users

Adventure

17 users

Speculative Fiction

13 users

Religion

11 users

Politics

9 users

Epic

8 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Hunters Of Dune
by Brian Herbert
The Dune Encyclopedia
by Willis E. McNelly (Editor)
Foundation and Earth
by Isaac Asimov
Endymion
by Dan Simmons
Ringworld's Children
by Larry Niven

About Frank Herbert

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 the field of...more

More about Frank Herbert...

Books by Frank Herbert

God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, #4)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Chapterhouse Dune

2 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Chapterhouse Dune

“Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.” — 1,563 people liked it

“Confine yourself to observing and you always miss the point of your life. The object can be stated this way: Live the best life you can. Life is a game whose rules you learn if you leap into it and play it to the hilt. Otherwise, you are caught off balance, continually surprised by the shifting play. Non-players often whine and complain that luck always passes them by. They refuse to see that they can create some of their own luck.
Darwi Odrade - Chapterhouse: Dune” — 89 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Chapter House Dune
avg rating	preview: Chapter House Dune Goodreads rating: 3.81 (19163 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1188210.Chapter_House_Dune?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]/assets/nocover/111x148.png[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1188210.Chapter_House_Dune?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Chapter House Dune by Frank Herbert[/url]

Chapter House Dune (Dune Chronicles #6)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website