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Heretics of Dune (Dune Chronicles #5)
Leto Atreides, the God Emperor of Dune, is dead. In the fifteen hundred years since his passing, the Empire has fallen into ruin. The great Scattering saw millions abandon the crumbling civilization and spread out beyond the reaches of known space. The planet Arrakis-now called Rakis-has reverted to its desert climate, and its great sandworms are dying.
Now, the Lost Ones ...more
Now, the Lost Ones ...more
Hardcover, 448 pages
Published
February 3rd 2009
by Ace Books
(first published January 1st 1984)
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The guards ushered Frank into the office. As usual, the Reverend Publisher was seated at her desk, writing.
So many lives touched by her decisions, he thought.
"Well?"
She looked up. He had promised himself that he would not flinch before the fire of her gaze, and once more he broke his promise.
"It is... almost finished."
"Almost." Her irony was palpable, a force. "Almost is not enough. You know that, Fran...more
So many lives touched by her decisions, he thought.
"Well?"
She looked up. He had promised himself that he would not flinch before the fire of her gaze, and once more he broke his promise.
"It is... almost finished."
"Almost." Her irony was palpable, a force. "Almost is not enough. You know that, Fran...more
view all 30 comments
Finally! I haver been dreading reading this book for ever so long, and now the alarm bells seem to have been superfluous. Lulled into a false sense of doom and with jangling nerves fostered by the utter metaphysical crap that were the second, third and fourth books of the Dune series, and God Emperor of Dune was singularly mind-numbing, this gave my jangling nerves rest.
What's different? Well, there's still a lot of obscure talk, but some of it finally is relieved with some actual AC...more
What's different? Well, there's still a lot of obscure talk, but some of it finally is relieved with some actual AC...more
It speaks volumes of this book that up until the last six pages I had absolutely no idea what the endgame was; yet throughout, I was riveted to the page. Herbert's ability to introduce you to a pre-existing world with all of its complexities and idiosyncrasies without telling you a damned thing is at its best in Heretics of Dune, which delineates the decline of the God Emperor's vast domain over which he reigned as a Tyrant for 3500 years.
Organizations at varying degrees of the grot...more
Organizations at varying degrees of the grot...more
Heretics of Dune begins a new cycle in the Dune Series. Or, more accurately, an evolution -- consequence -- of the cycle identified in Dune. I enjoyed Heretics of Dune far more than God Emperor, although God Emperor was a necessary bridge between Dune, Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune, and Heretics, as well as Heretic's sister novel, Chapterhouse Dune.
Several of the characters are fantastic, in particular Miles Teg, who provides a necessary balance (oddly enough, given the typical...more
Several of the characters are fantastic, in particular Miles Teg, who provides a necessary balance (oddly enough, given the typical...more
I had read the first three Dune books many, many times, and the fourth one once, and decided I may as well try to get through the last two. (I had heard they were pretty terrible.) I was definitely pleasantly surprised.
Heretics is probably not the book anyone was expecting, which probably led to most of the ill-feeling about it. It's much less a philosophical work and much more an action-adventure story, and I'll tell ya, the sex gets weird. It's not so much a gender-politics thin...more
Heretics is probably not the book anyone was expecting, which probably led to most of the ill-feeling about it. It's much less a philosophical work and much more an action-adventure story, and I'll tell ya, the sex gets weird. It's not so much a gender-politics thin...more
Finally! It’s taken me nine months to find the fourth sequel to Herbert’s spectacularly successful Dune and it was certainly worth the wait – I didn’t hesitate at its Kathmandu bookshop home, despite choking on the ludicrously expensive price-tag (four times Mansfield Park). I was bitterly disappointed in the preceding novel, God Emperor of Dune, a waffling wank, but Herbert has clearly taken the Dune books into sci-fi’s 1980s renaissance, with exciting and interweaved plotlines, characters I ac...more
Peter
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
science fiction fans
Shelves:
science-fiction
The fifth book in Frank Herbert's classic Dune series maintains the story well.
It's rather fashionable to dismiss Herbert's later books, particularly the later Dune books, as inferior to the originals. But that's unfair. Heretics of Dune clearly shows that Herbert's abilities were not flagging as he carried on the series; the one weakness that the book can be charged with is that it is clearly not complete in itself, but rather obviously a "middle" episode in an ongoing sa...more
It's rather fashionable to dismiss Herbert's later books, particularly the later Dune books, as inferior to the originals. But that's unfair. Heretics of Dune clearly shows that Herbert's abilities were not flagging as he carried on the series; the one weakness that the book can be charged with is that it is clearly not complete in itself, but rather obviously a "middle" episode in an ongoing sa...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 ...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
A return to the more character driven than philosophy driven style of God-Emperor. This is probably a reflection of a return to more 'regular' characters, with mortality, and more base drives in their concern, rather than the heavy mantel that the so-called Tyrant (as he is known in this book) took upon himself.
Exploration of the Bene Tleilaxu, gholas, and what happened to the people who left in the Scattering, the Fish Speakers and the various other groups that arose in the previou...more
Exploration of the Bene Tleilaxu, gholas, and what happened to the people who left in the Scattering, the Fish Speakers and the various other groups that arose in the previou...more
Compared to the questionable God Emperor of Dune, this regains some of the original Dune novels taste for plots, counter-plots, espionage, conspiracies and so on. God Emperor of Dune was too heavy with little action to break it up, and besides, it was so hard to visualise Leto II as the hybrid creature he became. Heretics of Dune however is a big return to form, with lots of action and different character focus, combined with the mysticism, religion and philosophical discourse that characterises...more
Bizarre and bizarrely compelling. I think part of what makes the Dune books so tricky is that they're profoundly unlike any other science fiction or fantasy I've ever read. Yes, there are certainly elements that are comparable--Herbert loved to invent culture, language and history as much as any author ever has--but his aims were a whole lot more complex. The time scale is also challenging. Few sagas take place over such a lengthy period, and it is Herbert's optimism about the durability of huma...more
I guess I'm not like a lot of these other reviewers. I thought this book, the fifth in the series, was fantastic and probably my second favorite after the first one. It's got that perfect Dune blend of sci-fi, politics, religion, intrigue, action, and great characters. I literally couldn't put this book down after the first 150 pages or so. The story begins some 1500 years after the death of Leto II from God Emperor of Dune and brings us up to speed on what happened in the aftermath of his death...more
It must have been difficult for Frank Herbert to write this book. It's the first book of the original Dune Saga that does not deal directly with Paul or Leto II.
We can clearly see that Herbert studied the effects of history on societies. There are lots of changes between "God Emperor of Dune" and this book...it's even a completely different universe! For thousands of years, Leto II was ruling a vast Empire and trying to save humanity by setting on the Golden Path. Since then...more
We can clearly see that Herbert studied the effects of history on societies. There are lots of changes between "God Emperor of Dune" and this book...it's even a completely different universe! For thousands of years, Leto II was ruling a vast Empire and trying to save humanity by setting on the Golden Path. Since then...more
“Дюн” на Франк Хърбърт – може би най-противоречивата фантастично-мистична сага
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/07/blog...
Месец след месец след месец… Ревюто за многологията “Дюн” на Франк Хърбърт си отлежаваше и малко по малко се насочваше към никоганаписване – така и не можах да сбера в главата си едно ясно и просто мнение за трите тома. Но книжноблогърският дълг зове и ето ме пишещ най-сетне за една от най-мащабните поредици в класическата фантастика… и най-противоречивата съ...more
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/07/blog...
Месец след месец след месец… Ревюто за многологията “Дюн” на Франк Хърбърт си отлежаваше и малко по малко се насочваше към никоганаписване – така и не можах да сбера в главата си едно ясно и просто мнение за трите тома. Но книжноблогърският дълг зове и ето ме пишещ най-сетне за една от най-мащабните поредици в класическата фантастика… и най-противоречивата съ...more
The Bene Gesserit sisterhood have waited for more than a millennium for a girl who could talk to the great god-worms of Dune. In the meantime, they keep trying to train a Duncan Idaho revenant for service on Dune, and each of their Idaho gholas is murdered. In HERETICS, they have finally found their worm communicator, and during that same time period they have managed to keep alive a Duncan Idaho. Then all hell breaks loose, propelled by the Honored Matres, wild women from the frontiers. The Hon...more
In Heretics Frank Herbert returns to the essence of what made his books so fascinating to read. All the elements of the story were at once human and vaguely alien so that I found my mind groping for connections and meanings which, by the end, opened me up just enough to take in some of the larger meaning of this work. Herbert said that writing this particular book was the greatest exercise in concentration he had yet experienced. I could feel that as I read and my own concentration increased as ...more
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Another great installment of Dune. This one is years removed from the first 4...meant to take place many years after the scattering. Duncan Idaho is still a ghola, but with some "differences" that come to light toward the end of the book. The reverend mother superior Bene Gesserit Taraza has plans for the worms and has a few "power struggles," if you will with, the Reverend Mother Odrade. Perhaps the most interesting character in this book is Miles Tegs, the Bashar (milit...more
Books 5 and 6 are a complete departure from the preceding novels, even more so than 4 was to 3. If you've read 2, 3 and 4, you know that's a good thing :).
The style is significantly different and they are set so far in the future that none of the characters and only echoes of the universe persist. Sadly, Chapterhouse: Dune was the last book Frank Herbert completed before his death leaving us with something of a cliffhanger. Despite the temptation, do not, ever, ever try the book...more
The style is significantly different and they are set so far in the future that none of the characters and only echoes of the universe persist. Sadly, Chapterhouse: Dune was the last book Frank Herbert completed before his death leaving us with something of a cliffhanger. Despite the temptation, do not, ever, ever try the book...more
All descriptions of this book make it sound far more interesting than it is. That's not to say it isn't worth reading, but by this point in the series the abstract philosophical considerations and the intensely complicated political manipulation have risen to a pitch where it's hard to keep track both of what is actually happening, and why you should actually care what's happening. I feel a little bad putting it that way because that sounds pretty harsh, and it's not half bad all things consid...more
Well. Another dune book. What an odd book. I didn't realize there was a plot to the book for the most part. I thought the plot was to get duncan to Rakis and it was such a slow plot, then at the end there was this big action scene for about the last quarter of the book and something totally different happened and everyone was acting like that was the plot all along. I've read plots with a twist at the end, but this was kindof like they just decided to pick up a different story line. I do...more
Set 1,500 years after God Emperor of Dune. Mostly it is about Bene Gesserit intrigue, both internal and in relation to the Bene Tleilax. There is a lot of new information about the Bene Tleilax. One of the major characters is another Duncan Idaho ghola sold to the Bene Gesserit. A rogue offshoot of the Bene Gesserit also appears which calls itself the Honored Matres and gets its power from a technique of enslaving men through sex.
This is suspenseful like the preceding Dune books, but...more
This is suspenseful like the preceding Dune books, but...more
Jimmy
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Dune Fans & Science Fiction Fans
Shelves:
audiobooks-itunes,
science-fiction
6-28-10: Personally, I felt this novel was too long and too slow paced for my liking. However, it deals mainly with the Bene Gesserit, which I like a lot. They raise another Duncan ghola from a small boy, while keeping a watchful eye on Sheeana on Rakis. The Bene Gesserit are threatened by the return of the Honored Matres from the Scattering, and the secret the Tleilaxu have put in the new Duncan ghola. I did like the character Miles Teg, and his amazing Mentat abilities. His involvement help t...more
Dylan
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who want to read the whole Dune series
Shelves:
sci-fi
As a whole, this series is one of my all-time favourites. However, to paraquote Richard Houchin:
"The Dune series is remarkable in that each sequel gets progressively worse until it's almost unreadable.
The first book is truly excellent. It's mantra on fear alone makes it great.
The second book a very good sci-fi novel.
The third book is not too shabby.
The fourth book is sub-par, but still interesting.
The fifth book is ...more
"The Dune series is remarkable in that each sequel gets progressively worse until it's almost unreadable.
The first book is truly excellent. It's mantra on fear alone makes it great.
The second book a very good sci-fi novel.
The third book is not too shabby.
The fourth book is sub-par, but still interesting.
The fifth book is ...more
Words cannot describe this abominable book. I should've put it down a long time ago I'll admit, but I felt obligated to finish this book since I absolutely adored the first book, but stupid me now I've polluted my mind with stupid Mr. Herbert's idea of the Bene Gesserit women. Oh and by the way, for all the people who thought liked Duncan Idaho, he turns into a new kind of Muad'dib, one without prescient powers but with an extreme ability to please women in the most sensual ways possible, leavin...more
The Adventures of Duncan Idaho: Heretics of Dune (the fifth book in the series), set over one-thousand years after the conclusion of God Emperor, continues the story of the Dune universe. This novel centers on Duncan Idaho, and further explores his adventures over the span of the series. Several new characters, concepts, and worlds are introduced in this novel, but one of the highlights is a new character by the name of Miles Teg. This new character, along with Duncan and the return of the scatt...more
Heretics of Dune is, in many ways, similar to Dune and Children of Dune - and that's a good thing. Unlike God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune is loaded with action and suspense. Although the story is quite compelling, it is also somewhat convoluted and inconsistent. Things that you expect to happen (and that you hope will happen) never do. Fortunately, there are some satisfying surprises that keep things interesting. Overall, Heretics of Dune is an excellent addition to the series and is ...more
In the 5th book in this 6 book series, a lot more nerdy stuff happens. Again it's like another 1500 years or so since the last book ended, which tends to bug me because there it's hard to stay connected in the series since most of the people in the last book (actually all of the people) are dead. There is this Ghoula that is re-creaeted over and over for generations that has now been in every book. But that just sounds super nerdy. This book took me a really long time to read, but the last 200 p...more
Delightfully complicated plot!! I was a bit dissapointed that it did not continue straight from the previous book, but oh well. Some of the main characters kept dying, so it was somewhat hard to get attached to people since you were not sure if they were the good or the bad guys.
Really enjoyed the variation of the theme: retunining lost tribes. Why were they returning? Why were they hostile? etc.
Really loved this one and lets see if I can get Bryn to read it. It is so full of stuff ...more
Really enjoyed the variation of the theme: retunining lost tribes. Why were they returning? Why were they hostile? etc.
Really loved this one and lets see if I can get Bryn to read it. It is so full of stuff ...more
Positives: best character in the whole series is introduced in this one. The angst factor is relatively low and instead there is a ton of interesting plot. Very, very awesome things happen. The only negative is that at this point, too many things have been said about the universe that Frank has to awkwardly deal with somehow, which leads to at least one big overarching contradictory wait-this-makes-no-sense problem with fundamental components of the universe as it stands in 5. But it's DUNE FIVE...more
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Critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author.
He is best known for the novel Dune and its five sequels. The Dune saga, set in the distant future and taking place over millennia, dealt with themes such as human survival and evolution, ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, and power, and is widely considered to be among the classics in t...more
More about Frank Herbert...
He is best known for the novel Dune and its five sequels. The Dune saga, set in the distant future and taking place over millennia, dealt with themes such as human survival and evolution, ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, and power, and is widely considered to be among the classics in t...more
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“ This is the awe-inspiring universe of magic: There are no atoms, only waves and motions all around. Here, you discard all belief in barriers to understanding. You put aside understanding itself. This universe cannot be seen, cannot be heard, cannot be detected in any way by fixed perceptions. It is the ultimate void where no preordained screens occur upon which forms may be projected. You have only one awareness here — the screen of the magi: Imagination! Here, you learn what it is to be human. You are a creator of order, of beautiful shapes and systems, an organizer of chaos.”
—
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“The surest way to keep a secret is to make someone think they already know the answer.”
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