From the Bookshelf of Dune Fanatics…

It's been many many years since the last time I read this particular Dune book. To be honest, it's actually one of my least favorite books in the series other than Dune Messiah. Still, it amazed me just how much the book, its characters and story, had settled into my memory, so as the narrators moved through the text, it was more like a trip down memory lane than rereading.

I think one of the reasons I don't really care for this book is that as a stor

It's been many many years since the last time I read this particular Dune book. To be honest, it's actually one of my least favorite books in the series other than Dune Messiah. Still, it amazed me just how much the book, its characters and story, had settled into my memory, so as the narrators moved through the text, it was more like a trip down memory lane than rereading.

I think one of the reasons I don't really care for this book is that as a story it's extremely sedate both in theme and tone. Other that the chase/escape scene in the opening chapter and the destruction of the bridge on the Royal Road in the last chapter, there really is no action.

We don't see the God Emperor's Fish Speakers in action, we only hear about it in reports. When there is fighting in the streets of Leto's Citadel, all we know of it is the destruction of Face Dancers and the death of other, more innocent people. The Duncan Idaho ghola is forced out of an active role for pretty much throughout the book.

I do think there is a purpose to this particular madness, of course, Leto II is not only bored, he knows (both in practice as well as in prescience) what he does to his people will force the major change - part of his "Golden Path". Enforcing the sedate life on people used to action, who expect action is something akin to torture and Duncan is also angry at losing his lady love to Leto also. These are just two of the reasons the characters act the way they do in the end. 

Still, it makes for a good read and sets up the last of Frank Herbert's original series: Heretics and Chapterhouse in which we begin to see how Leto's plans come to fruition and meet one of my favorite characters in the series: Darwi Odrade.