Paul of Dune

by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson

book data

180 ratings, 3.42 average rating, 44 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		14%
4		31%
3		37%
2		13%
1		2%

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published

September 16th 2008 by Tor Books

binding

Hardcover, 512 pages

isbn

0765312948 (isbn13: 9780765312945)

description

Frank Herbert's Dune ended with Paul Muad’Dib in control of the planet Dune. Herbert’s next Dune book, Dune Messiah, picked up the story several years...more

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11/24/08

Erik rated it:

My slight obsession with all things Dune began back when I was thirteen when a good buddy of mine recommended to me Frank Herbert’s first Dune novel – which I promptly borrowed from my dad, who had a first printing copy – and the David Lynch cinematic adaptation which coincidentally came out mere months later. From there, I was enraptured with this future historical epic – much as I once was with Narnia and Middle-Earth.

What I loved most about Herbert’s original six-volume...more My slight obsession with all things Dune began back when I was thirteen when a good buddy of mine recommended to me Frank Herbert’s first Dune novel – which I promptly borrowed from my dad, who had a first printing copy – and the David Lynch cinematic adaptation which coincidentally came out mere months later. From there, I was enraptured with this future historical epic – much as I once was with Narnia and Middle-Earth.

What I loved most about Herbert’s original six-volume Dune series was how he captured the messianic fervor and fictitious-intellectual underpinnings of a future history in which prophecy is slowly – albeit ambiguously -- revealed. Even subtler, the religiosity of his self-contained universe was never fully explained, with many a plot thread that was left unraveled for the reader to ponder and muse upon – much as the most die-hard Lord of the Ring fans do when they scour his notes and drafts, which are collectively published under the History of Middle-Earth series that are edited by his son Christopher. (I would also argue that this is what I loved about Dan Simmons’ audaciously original series, The Hyperion Cantos and his most recent double-feature, Illium and Olympos.) How and where did the Bene Gesserit, the Guild, the mentats of Bene Theilax originate? What happened to Earth all so long ago? And what is the real history of the Butlerian Jihad that ushered in a new era in which humans forbade themselved from making machines in their image? This is what I loved about the Herbert’s work, and it is this that I alternately love and hate about Brian and Kevin’s novelizations of Frank’s huge accumulation of notes, ideas, and – at least for Hunters and Sandworms of Dune – planned novels after his last, Chapterhouse: Dune.

Although Paul of Dune is to be their last book – according to current-reckoning – Brian and Kevin have published eight other additional Dune books in the last ten years. For the most part, the first in each of their companion trilogies – most notably Dune: House Atreides and The Butlerian Jihad – were the best. Both of these breathed new life into the mysterious world of Arrakis and the coming of the Kwisartz Haderach – the super-being of Bene Gesserit and Fremen prophecy. Jihad, in particular, is probably the best book in the entire prequel/sequel series, as it carefully and theatrically unfolds the dramatic moment in future history – a fulcrum, if you will -- on which the fate of the human race was determined in the moment of one woman’s stand and martyrdom against the machines. (Sarah Connor from the Terminator mythos was never so bold, I suggest.) But these are the highest points in an otherwise mediocre series that leaves too little to the imagination. And by that, I mean that Brian and Kevin pull back the curtain too far to show us every single motivation, explain away every previously unrevealed mystery; all while taking away a little of the magic of Frank’s awe-inspiring future universe.

The best part of Paul of Dune is the one-half of the book that deals with the years in-between Dune and Dune Messiah, as Paul, Alia, and their allies deal with the near-constant machinations of the disgraced former Emperor and his cronies. The other half, which alternates with the main-plotline, gives us a glimpse back in the not-too-far-distant past when Paul, as a young boy, became involved in the War of Assassins which involved no less than the marriage of his father, the Duke, to a fellow noble’s kinswoman. Although this works as a narrative device – both plotlines mirror each other quite effectively in theme and purpose – I can’t help but feel that Brian and Kevin are rewriting the Dune legend, and dulling ever-so-slightly my once starry-eyed imagination.

In short: I enjoy the new Dune books, but I loved the originals even better. And like New Coke, sometimes you just can’t improve upon the original – no matter how sweet you make it.
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09/30/08

Elizabeth rated it:

Read in October, 2008

So far this is one of the most painful books ever written by Brian Herbert (Frank's son) and Mr. Anderson. I read them only because I know they are working from Frank Herbert's notes, and they do fill in useful information. But frankly, I think if they just published his notes, it would be a lot better reading. Their characterization is nearly non-existent and the dialogue is quite poor.

Final comment: Well, I finished it. God it was torture. I couldn't recommend it to anyone, e...more

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03/29/09

Yael rated it:

Read in March, 2009

Like millions of other people, I loved Frank Herbert's Dune and the five sequels to it that Herbert produced. In general, I've had mixed feelings about the prequels and sequels to Frank Herbert's series of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. It's not that they aren't good -- it's that many of them aren't very . . . Dune, dammit. The difference is something like that between the earliest versions of great movies, e.g., The Poseidon Adventure, and later versions, e.g.,Poseidon -- the originals gr...more Like millions of other people, I loved Frank Herbert's Dune and the five sequels to it that Herbert produced. In general, I've had mixed feelings about the prequels and sequels to Frank Herbert's series of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. It's not that they aren't good -- it's that many of them aren't very . . . Dune, dammit. The difference is something like that between the earliest versions of great movies, e.g., The Poseidon Adventure, and later versions, e.g.,Poseidon -- the originals grab you and don't let go, the sequels fall flat. To do Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson justice, their writing is a lot better than whoever was responsible for the atrocity that Poseidon turned out to be. It's just that they're not Frank Herbert, and while their contributions to the series constitute excellent writing, and are drawn directly from Frank Herbert's own notes about the novels he had planned to write if he'd lived long enough, they just don't have the Magick.

But there are exceptions. All of them are those which, with respect to the internal chronology of the entire series, occur very close to the time of Dune, the original, within a few decades, at most. This is true of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson's Dune: House Atreides, Dune: House Harkonnen, and Dune: House Corrino -- and it's true of their Paul of Dune, as well.

Paul of Dune is a recap of Paul Mua'Dib's life from 10,187 AG to 10,197 AG, spanning the last part of Paul's effective boyhood to his first years as Emperor. It covers incidents that did not appear either in the original Dune novels by Frank Herbert or in any of the prequels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson, and gives a much richer portrait of the complex, troubled man who was Paul Mua'Dib than was available before from any author. Here is a deeper understanding of the complexities of the Corrino Imperium and the extremely dysfunctional man who led it at the end, of Paul's struggles to come to terms with his prophetic powers and his anguish at not being able to follow a path his father, Duke Leto Atreides, would have approved of, and of the careers of the many characters that have such powerful impacts on Paul, his choices, and the empire that he ultimately created. I think Frank Herbert would have approved heartily.(less)

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02/01/09

Susan rated it:

Read in January, 2009

recommends it for: Sci-fi readers

Paul of Dune will be of interest to those who have loved Frank Herberts Dune series. I happen to be captivated by Sci-fi books/movies and read the whole series after seeing the movie back in the '80's. The books are better.

The setting of the series is the year 10,193. It traces the life and progeny of Paul Atredies, Mua'dib to his followers, a Messiah-like figure who saves the planet Arrakis (Dune) from the heavy handed rule of an evil house - the Harkonens - under the auspices...more

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11/30/08

Janice rated it:

Read in October, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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05/12/09

Prester rated it:

bookshelves: kja

Read in December, 2008

recommends it for: Yes

When I first read "Dune" in 1983 I was amazed at how Frank Herbert was able to create an entire universe filled with new planets, alien races, politics and of course, religious fanaticism.

I was deeply saddened by the death of one of the greatest Science Fiction writers of all time.

Then to my delight, the team of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson catapulted the Sci-Fi fan base back into the world of "Dune" with some of the best written and imagined st...more

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03/13/09

Cindy rated it:

bookshelves: science-fiction-fantasy

Read in March, 2009

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the first three books of Dune. There were three subsequent books by Frank Herbert and, after his death, six prequel books by his son Brian Herbert and Paul Anderson. None of the books could meet the standard set by the first book--in content or style. However, I did love the subsequent two books.

I would like to once again completely reread the series--at least all six books by Frank Herbert (as I recall, I suffered through two and liked one or two of the book...more

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01/08/09

Bruce rated it:

bookshelves: science-fiction

Read in November, 2008

I am a huge fan of Herbert's original Dune series. The depth and breadth of the series, the ecological themes that ran through it, and the remarkable characterizations have brought me back to it several times over the past years.

When the first of the Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson books came out, I enjoyed the way they provided a new look at this world, and fleshed out the "backstory" of the various families and groups that drove the original series. The fact that much of ...more

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12/30/08

Dan rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Hopefully the last of Dune. I have read them all. None were as good as "Dune". But then you can't beat the best.

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12/01/08

Jessica rated it:

Read in December, 2008

This book was a little disapointing because Paul loses himself in his own religion in order to walk the thin path that he sees will allow mankind to survive. It is revealed in this book that Paul foresees that there is a battle that mankind will have to fight in the very far future (the final battle with Omnius after the Scattering, presumably) where the very survival of the species is at stake and that is why he chooses the course of action that he does and allows the attrocities of his war to...more

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01/10/09

John rated it:

Read in January, 2009

Never have I felt more like a nerd than reading this book on the subway. This is about the ninth book Brian Herbert has written, and I keep telling myself I'm not reading anymore... and then I do. I can't help myself. Frank Herbert's Dune series is one of the greatest SciFi series of all time (if not THE greatest), and although his son doesn't have his writing ability he does possess a great imagination (as well as his father's notes and outlines). He also possesses an all consuming passion for ...more

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03/31/09

Emily rated it:

Read in March, 2009

This book was not written by the original author of the Dune series but rather by his son. The book is meant to tell the story of the time in between the first and second books of the Dune Chronicles. Brian Herbert's writing style was much more modern than his father's, which I suppose makes sense. This had its benefits because it was more explanatory and read more like other modern novels I have enjoyed. But it also took something away from the book. The Dune Chronicles were written as tho...more

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09/25/08

Melissa rated it:

bookshelves: currently-reading

I'm a sucker for all things Dune--even if the new books are not as excellent as those by Frank.

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10/10/08

Jennifer Wardrip rated it:

bookshelves: trt-reviews

Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com

"I leave my footprints in history, even where I do not tread."

Paul Atreides, Maud'Dib to his loyal subjects, has unleashed a bloody Jihad across the universe. The old Emperor has fallen - his Imperium destroyed. It is now Paul's right and duty to erase Shaddam IV's reign from history and begin anew.

He will face many hardships along the way; assassination attempts, interplanetary wars, and deciphering who he c...more

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09/24/08

shartyrant rated it:

bookshelves: science-fiction

Read in September, 2008

recommended to shartyrant by: Just wanted to read it because of I like the Dune series
recommends it for: Dune fans but not those who don't like Brian & Kevin's writing

I will be the first to admit that this book isn't perfect and isn't in the same style as Frank's work, but I still enjoyed it. The story is written to explain how Paul went from leader of the freeman to tyrant of the known universe. There had been some people who questioned Frank Herbert on why and how this happened though I thought it was pretty evident in Dune Messiah and even the ending of Dune. This book was written for the purpose of explaining the notion according to Kevin J. Anderson and ...more

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08/20/08

Chris rated it:

Read in October, 2008

The authors tried hard to make up interesting stories about "the lost years" of Paul Atredies, alternating tales between just after Paul becomes Emperor Muad'Dib and Paul at age 12 on Calidan. They succeeded in keeping my attention and enticing me to read on despite the stiffness in dialogue and the constant uphill struggle of the Atredies clan.

As a reader I was pulled in more by the stories of Young Paul, mainly because the stories of this timeframe weren't interrupted by ...more

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03/09/09

Obadiah is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading

These Herbert/Anderson books aren't that great but I keep reading them (with the exception of the "Dune 7" novels. I still haven't finished Heretics...) It isn't amazing, but it keeps me turning the pages. I really don't like their take on Paul's character. This is the one place where I feel like they have really dropped the ball. It feels like they are trying to explain who they think he is, but I've always taken him to be someone quite different than the person presented here.

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01/05/09

Myra rated it:

Read in March, 2009

I really liked this book. I was especially impressed by Irulan and very pleased that Herbert and Anderson expanded on the character. I developed a real sympathy for her because despite the fact that she is a wife in name only, she loves her husband in her own way and is content to serve as the observer and chronicler of his life and times. The thing that I didn't like, however, was how Chani was pictured in the book. We know that Paul was utterly devoted to her, but in this part of the story...more

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01/06/09

Michael rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Not unusually for me, I read the original "Dune" series in high school and college and was really glad to see it continued by Frank Herbert's son, Brian, and K. J. Anderson, who have continued the series into the even farther flung future. This book, however, goes back to the events that occur shortly after the first book in the series, when Paul (Maud d'Ib) Atreides has begun his jihad to conquer the entire old empire. But will his conflicting feelings about the war he's started...more

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03/10/09

Dhyana rated it:

bookshelves: sci-fi

It is yet another interesting book from KJA. I LOVE HIS STYLE! No, he's not Frank Herbert, so there are not a lot of layers of psychology, religion, politics, or what have you. But it's straight to the point, and GRIPPING!!! You can't put these books down! He's become a huge influence in my writing.

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