Heretics of Dune (Dune #5) in Dune Fanatics

Oct 27, 2022 Nina rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: one-star, with-my-review

To be honest, I finished reading this part, overpowering my “I don’t want”, I put the squeeze on just for show, tormented yourself, so to speak. Perhaps, if I had not had only one book left before the end of the cycle, then with a probability of 99% I would have abandoned the series.

If the fourth part still somehow liked me, but disappointed because of the high expectations I had too high, then the fifth is just some kind of unreasonably long book that pours everything from empty to empty, and i ...more

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Sep 15, 2021 Todd rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-century-sci-fi

My first re-read in over a decade. Long enough to remember the broad strokes but long enough for it to seem fresh again. It's strangely worse than I remember. Perhaps it's because I have read a lot more since my first read, raising my standards or because I had a gap this time between this book and God Emperor of Dune (my favourite in the series) so I wasn't riding the high of it's predecessor this time.

Anyone who knows anything about Herbert knows his prose is heavy with internal monologue, di My first re-read in over a decade. Long enough to remember the broad strokes but long enough for it to seem fresh again. It's strangely worse than I remember. Perhaps it's because I have read a lot more since my first read, raising my standards or because I had a gap this time between this book and God Emperor of Dune (my favourite in the series) so I wasn't riding the high of it's predecessor this time.

Anyone who knows anything about Herbert knows his prose is heavy with internal monologue, dialogue over action and a pace that is for the most part glacial before increasing in tempo before the end (Herbert claimed to be mimic the pace of sexual intercourse). This is by no means a bad thing. However, I found the plot of Heretics too glacial. Almost every chapter seems to start with a character remembering something or some past conversation going over information we already know about and becomes repetitious very quickly.

Nearly all the characters are boring emotionless superhumans that the reader can't relate to and not fascinating enough to keep the reader's interest. The characters are too insular by even Herbert's standards, and a good chunk of this book is characters sat in chairs having conversations, where half the chapter is devoted to inner monologue of said characters making subtle observations of the person sat opposite or ruminating on esoteric philosophy. Dune has always feature moral ambiguity, without clear cut "heroes and villains". Again, this is not a bad thing and is one of the strengths of the Dune series. It is both more realistic, relatable and interesting. It also serves to underscore Dune's main lesson of being wary of charismatic leaders, as all leaders are human and all humans are flawed. However, I found it hard to really root for any of the factions or characters in Heretics as there was none of the personal tragedy and drama to make them interesting or relatable. I have often argued that God Emperor of Dune is the "real" conclusion to the story. Not just because it was the culmination of the "Atreides" arc, but also because humanity's survival was assured through the Golden Path. Because of this, Heretics and Chapter House feel like a "post script season" and it's hard to really care what happens or why I should care about the fate of these characters.

The most jarring issue with this book is the preoccupation with sex. I am no prude, and I have read and enjoyed many books where sex plays a part in the plot. However, it is an issue here for several reason. Firstly, it is just feels so out of left field and it seems odd how EVERYTHING in this universe now seems to revolve around it. It's not that sex has been completely absent from previous Dune books, but just how front and centre and GRAPHIC it is here is a big change in tone for the series to say the least. Secondly, the writing on the topic is just cringe worthy. Frank could not write good sex scenes and reading some passages I almost feel embarrassed for him! Not only is the sex thing weird, it was the one thing, out of all the weird and wonderful aspects of the Dune verse, that really broke my suspension of disbelief. The idea that there is sex that is so good it could make you a slave for life is pretty far fetched itself. One has to wonder, even in a patriarchal society, are there no gay or aesexual men in positions of power? A more fitting and logical choice of power to give the Honored Matres would have been some variant of voice. This would have been a better parallel with the Bene Gesserit.

The only reason I am giving this two stars instead of one is the fact that there is some interesting ideas and world building. I enjoyed the fleshing out of the Tlielaxu. Miles Teg is a legitimately cool and interesting character in a book full of bland ones. There are also some genuinely good passages, such as Odrade rediscovering Sietch Tabr and Taraza playing Waff like a fiddle. However, if this book did not have Dune or Herbert's names attached I highly doubt it would enjoy such a high rating.

I feel like the last two books in the Dune series are testament to the importance of having a good editor and proof reader. I get the distinct impression Frank had neither when writing Heretics and Chapter House. I believe Frank had reached a point in his career and achieved so much success earlier that the publisher no longer mandated having either and he didn't feel like he needed them.

Recommended only for Dune completionists. Dune should have really ended with God Emperor of Dune.

TLDR: 400 pages of waffle, 100 pages of plot. The book where the series jumps the shark. ...more

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Apr 08, 2021 Todd rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-century-sci-fi

Some interesting ideas but very different in tone to the first three and the preoccupation with sex can be a little off putting. Feels like an extended epilogue to God Emperor of Dune's definitive ending to the original story arc of the first four novels. ...more

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