Six Cassettes, 9 hours
Read by Tim Curry
"Dune: House Atreides, " a critically acclaimed "New York Times" bestseller, began the exciting chr... read full description
Read by Tim Curry
"Dune: House Atreides, " a critically acclaimed "New York Times" bestseller, began the exciting chr... read full description
reviews
Jan 24, 2011
♥ Cheshire Catt ♠
rated it: 
Disclaimer: Those of you purists (you know who you are) who hated the movie, hated at least 3 to possibly 5 of the original series will never settle for a book not written by the great master. Fine - be that way - you know you aren't going to like it so just don't read it! You others who loved/liked the original series and want more (especially if you are like me and was pissed off that all your favorite characters get annihilated in the first damn book) - this is like crack. Very good crack
More...
12 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Jan 05, 2009
Shelly - The Illustrated Librarian -
rated it:
Dune is one of my all-time favorite books, and this is a great addition to the canon.
It's so exciting to learn the histories of the well-loved characters of Dune. Brian Herbert's writing style is very similar to his father's, so the book (and the whole prequel trilogy) doesn't seem out of place in the Dune universe.
We spend a lot of time with the young Duke Leto in this volume, along with his best friend, Prince Rhombur of the tech planet Ix. Readers also meet the loaths More...
It's so exciting to learn the histories of the well-loved characters of Dune. Brian Herbert's writing style is very similar to his father's, so the book (and the whole prequel trilogy) doesn't seem out of place in the Dune universe.
We spend a lot of time with the young Duke Leto in this volume, along with his best friend, Prince Rhombur of the tech planet Ix. Readers also meet the loaths More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Jul 28, 2010
Ruka
rated it: 
I got a hundred pages in before saying to myself, "What was I thinking?" Brian Herbert's half (what there was of it that was detectable; I severely suspect that the only reason his name is on the dust jacket was for marketing purposes) barely covers up the stink of Kevin Anderson's goopy, vapid, deliberate "prose."
Contrary to the reviewer's blurbs, this cash cow in the shape of a book is painfully contrived, insultingly predictable, and completely not in the spir More...
Contrary to the reviewer's blurbs, this cash cow in the shape of a book is painfully contrived, insultingly predictable, and completely not in the spir More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Jul 03, 2010
Bryan
rated it:
House Harkonnen - Good Evil: My review is listed below but first a disclaimer - I am disheartened by our rejecto-matic society where only the original version has merit and it is super cool to dismiss any new effort as bad. I did not read "The Maine Woods" and hold it up against Thoreau's Walden. On it own House Harkonnen is a fine work. I have just read many of the reviews herein and am shocked - no doubt they are by the same folks who did not like the Star Wars prequels - I guarantee
More...
Nov 07, 2009
John
rated it: 
*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...
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...
Jul 12, 2008
Myla
rated it:
If you are a Dune fan, this is for you. I'm reading them out of order - House Atreides goes first, but it's so great to see the characters before they get to Dune. Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson write in a style so close to Frank Herbert, that the books are easily connected to the original Dune series. You finally see why the Baron is so grotesque, Jessica had a son, why Gurney and Duncan are so loyal, and who Duke Leto is. Great Read
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 13, 2010
El
rated it: 
Oh, these Dune books. They're something else.
Second in the Prelude to Dune trilogy written by Frank Herbert's son, Brian, this story seems more convoluted than the first one, House Atreides, or the original Herbert series. Or maybe I'm just getting more dumb as I go along. It doesn't help that I read these damn books any ol' time, instead of all at once like I probably should. In any case, there are lots of different storylines here, and I'm not entirely convinced that all those More...
Second in the Prelude to Dune trilogy written by Frank Herbert's son, Brian, this story seems more convoluted than the first one, House Atreides, or the original Herbert series. Or maybe I'm just getting more dumb as I go along. It doesn't help that I read these damn books any ol' time, instead of all at once like I probably should. In any case, there are lots of different storylines here, and I'm not entirely convinced that all those More...
Jul 27, 2011
Amanda
rated it: 
I liked this book A LOT better than House Atreides. Events slowly start to pick up and (thankfully) many years pass in this book, unlike the first book which only had a few years pass. Sure, I had my problems with it but it still kept me interested to see the characters grow up and finally mature. I really enjoyed Liet's tale on Dune. Although, it was obvious from the first description, who Chani's mother would be with the repeated usage of "elfin" annoyed me.
The only perspective lacki More...
The only perspective lacki More...
Jul 28, 2011
Kerri
rated it:
None of the prequels are of the same caliber as the original Dune, and I don't think they need to be. These books were created for us die hard fans that can't get enough of the Dune universe. Come into these expecting to be entertained and to gain more knowledge on the events leading up to DUNE, and you will enjoy them. I think they do what they set out to accomplish.
So far, this is my favorite of the House series. The action really starts to build and we are taken deeper into the goings on of More...
So far, this is my favorite of the House series. The action really starts to build and we are taken deeper into the goings on of More...
Apr 07, 2009
Selene
rated it:
I really loved this book. Usually, I don't like sequels of great books because the sequel usually stain the reputation of the first book (read: "World Without an End"), but this is a case of a good prequel.
For one thing, I finally could see Duke Leto being the incredible man that everyone talked about in Dune. I felt like we couldn't really get a good feel for him in Dune; he was a good ruler according to many, but we don't see facts of that. In this book, however, we see More...
For one thing, I finally could see Duke Leto being the incredible man that everyone talked about in Dune. I felt like we couldn't really get a good feel for him in Dune; he was a good ruler according to many, but we don't see facts of that. In this book, however, we see More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 14, 2011
Tresuiri
rated it:
This book was an excellent addition to the Dune universe. I seriously considered giving it five stars, but on reflection, the gruesome torture scenes by the Harkonnens were enough to have me to skip ahead. And for that, I'll have to say it wasn't perfect. I loved how the authors fleshed out the Duke's humanity, how Jessica came into the Duke's company, and how Rhombur survived. I felt like I was watching Star Wars 3 again since you know some things have to match up for the novel that started
More...
Aug 19, 2009
Anna
rated it:
Right now for me the Dunes volumes written by Brian Herbert are little better than those written by his father mostly because of adherence of the stories.
House Harkonnen is a prequel to the original Dune series. Here we meet Leto Atreides and Jessica, the Sisterhood of the Bene Gesserit, conflicts between the Houses, conspiracies and rules interfering even in choosing person to marry by the Duke. For begginers and fans (if they aren't too ortodox). More...
House Harkonnen is a prequel to the original Dune series. Here we meet Leto Atreides and Jessica, the Sisterhood of the Bene Gesserit, conflicts between the Houses, conspiracies and rules interfering even in choosing person to marry by the Duke. For begginers and fans (if they aren't too ortodox). More...
May 30, 2010
Rick
rated it:
I'm enjoying these prequels. They are making me want to revisit the first book even more, but I have too much other reading to do! I will eventually revisit the original Dune...
These books are sooooo loong. I'm a slow reader, so it takes me forever to get through them. But all in all, I'm glad to have invested the time in this...
What I like: I'm being drawn into the world of Dune even further, and enjoying some of the characters in the process. Most interesting in this i More...
These books are sooooo loong. I'm a slow reader, so it takes me forever to get through them. But all in all, I'm glad to have invested the time in this...
What I like: I'm being drawn into the world of Dune even further, and enjoying some of the characters in the process. Most interesting in this i More...
Jul 20, 2008
Smokey
rated it:
House Harkonnen is the middle volume of the prequel to Frank Hebert's legendary series as written by his son Brian Hebert and Kevin J. Anderson, and as anyone with a passing knowledge of the Dune universe could have told you without looking, the very title of this book bodes badly for everyone.
The story lines begun in House Atreides continue briskly onward, and many of the characters that Dune fans are familiar with come into their recognizable selves in this volume, but that's where More...
The story lines begun in House Atreides continue briskly onward, and many of the characters that Dune fans are familiar with come into their recognizable selves in this volume, but that's where More...
Oct 20, 2011
Jennee
rated it:
Started reading this series as they were all my library currently has for Dune novels. One wonders at times though if they had someone who read over the books beforehand. Yes, some of the canon is going to be different and I can go along with that, but there's some things that just stand out to me. Fremen crying? It's a waste of the body's moisture on Dune! There are other times however that they manage to give you that bit of humor, and they're good books, but it does stray too far from the Dun
More...
Aug 03, 2011
Colin
rated it:
This series continues to amaze me. Seeing how the events of the first book settle, how the couples I recognize from the Frank Herbert books come together, and the intricate court intrigue all really impress me.
I had to put this book down when I was nearly finished and in the year it took me to get back to it I was surprised how much I forgot. I re-read from the middle and got caught up. It was amazing that the atmosphere is what I think about most often. Reading about Castle Cala More...
I had to put this book down when I was nearly finished and in the year it took me to get back to it I was surprised how much I forgot. I re-read from the middle and got caught up. It was amazing that the atmosphere is what I think about most often. Reading about Castle Cala More...
Dec 27, 2011
Aaron
rated it:
Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson do a pretty good job of weaving different characters and storylines throughout the length of the novel so one never is terribly bored of one or the other. However, when they get to wrapping some of these up for the end of the book and setting up the next novel, they always seem rushed. Everything that had been hinted at earlier seems rushed and not nearly as grand as foreshadowed. The payoffs are not given much time, partly because they try to wrap up too mu
More...
Aug 18, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
good continuance of the prequel trilogy. I have to admit I read the trilogy in such short order that I forget what happened in this one. The fact that Brian and Kevin collaborate so thoroughly does still come across as short snippets that reflect a modern novel format, suited to movie going short attention spans. But this is more a critique of society, not these two writing in a way that appeals to such a market. I consider all three equally interesting, not as good as the Jihad trilogy, whi
More...
Feb 07, 2008
Dufour
rated it:
HOUSE HARKONNEN continues the plot-intensive story of the pre-DUNE years. Duncan Idaho goes off to become a swordmaster, the indomitable Gurney Halleck is introduced, and we find out - in a cruel twist of fate for several main characters - how the Baron Harkonnen acquired his disgusting, disease-ridden form we all know and love. I think this book, while still a good read, really displays Herbert & Anderson's fatal flaw: that without constant story movement, they are unable to construct an engagi
More...
May 03, 2010
Tanner
rated it:
This beautiful book is a continuation of house atreties but this perticular book leanes a bit more towards the actions of house Harkonnen led by the sick and murderous Baron. The baron has been warned by petir his twisted mennant that the dustruction of his house is near and will be carried out by Leto Atreties. A dont miss read.
Jan 13, 2009
Bill
rated it:
The joint authors are running out of fresh ideas. Plausible filler material on Kynes, on how he affected Arrakis, but it mostly feels a dutiful way of getting the scene set for "Dune" itself. That's probably the last Dune novel I read in my life.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 06, 2011
Lloyd
rated it:
Dune: House Harkonnen is an entertaining Dune prequel that reveals information about many of the characters and events from the original Dune by Frank Herbert. It is the second of a series of three Dune prequels (Prelude to Dune series), and is best read after the previous title, Dune: House Atreides. I also recommend reading at least the original Dune before starting the prequels. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson based them on Frank Herbert's extensive notes. The book does not have the subtl
More...
Sep 09, 2011
Darrin
rated it:
Loved it. Cant wait to read the final installment of this series. When you read Dune you get bits and pieces of the characters like Duncan Idaho, Gurney Hallack, and Liet Kynes. But this series greatly expands on all the back story of their lives, the good and tragic. Anyone who is a fan of the original works would thoroughly enjoy the House trilogy.
Sep 15, 2011
Benjamin
rated it:
I was very disappointed with this one. After how good the previous book was, I found it disconcerting we had so many extra plot lines for no reason, along with every scene involving the Harkonnen's being terrible, bordering on ridiculous. The only bright side to this book was further development for Duncan Idaho and Leto Atreides, who continued to be interesting. I hope the characters are handled better in the final book of the trilogy.
Feb 04, 2010
Darrell
rated it:
Although it's Book 2 in a trilogy and I didn't read Book 1, I felt like I was able to jump right in. Passing references to what had happened earlier was enough to catch me up. A prequel series to Frank Herbert's original Dune series, House Harkonnen takes place far in the future when humans have colonized multiple worlds and their science is so advanced, it often seems like magic, in fact some might classify this as fantasy rather than science fiction. Brian Herbert remains extremely faithful to
More...
Feb 10, 2012
Frank
rated it:
An interesting look at how the imperial empire looked prior to the original book. Everything is very predicatable, but it is kind of fun to see how everything sets up the original.
Feb 02, 2012
James
rated it:
I loved this book. In fact I couldn't put it down. Why? Because I'm really looking forward to rereading the original book. This trilogy introduces all my favourite characters and tells their back stories so I'm looking forward to reading Dune and putting in all this new knowledge to it.
Nov 23, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
The Harkonnen's are so evil... Brian Herbert really captured it much more gruesomely then his father implied.
Good book though masterfully put together.
Good book though masterfully put together.
Jan 11, 2010
Awful. This was on the shelf in our house in Thailand. Totally unreadable...No stars. The original Dune series by FRANK HERBERT rules it though.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 28, 2008
Marina
rated it:
I loved all the books by Frank Herbert and wasn't too sold on his son picking up the series and running with it...until my daughter bought a signed copy for me for Christmas! Herbert/Anderson do a phenomenal job of continuing the voice in which the original series was written. There is a lot of insight to be gained into the series Frank wrote when reading these prequels. Meeting Jessica in her early years and finding out why the Baron is as he is - the hatred of the Harkonnens by the fremen a
More...
