Sandworms of Dune

Unfortunately Frank was not around to wrap up the Dune books, and that is a real shame. Even more unfortunate is the fact that he was getting a little long-winded in his last two books in the series. Brian Herbert wraps up the series nicely with Sandworms and Hunters of Dune. He has a different writing style that is less complex, but it is effective at telling a story. If anything Brian's writing is more akin to the early Frank Herbert Dune books.

brian herbert ended the story of all sci-fi stories in the world created by his father frank herbert. i absolutely loved this book though i thought the ending could hav had a different end to it, but nevertheless the story was as gripping as reading the original dune. so indepth w/ the continuing story left off from chapterhouse and hunters of dune. any sci-fi fan who has never read a single dune book has to absolutely read this series, the prequels give the reader so much more detail of who the characters are and how they became who they are.

I have been waiting in anticipation for the conclusion of the Dune saga for years. I was convinced that after Chapterhouse: Dune, that the story was over, and I was never to be able to know what had happened. I was filled with delight when I found out that Kevin Anderson and Brian Herbert were going to finish the series. The fact that they were going to follow Frank Herbert's notes and outline made it that much sweeter.

While many will argue that the book was a bit of a disappointment, anyone who read Chapterhouse: Dune should know that this was the direction Frank Herbert was heading. Kevin and Brian's style isn't the same as Frank's, but they were able to take the Dune series to a grand and fitting conclusion. How do you take a classic series, that ranks among the all time literary accomplishments and put a conclusion to it? Exactly the way that Frank and Brian did here.

I have to say it is a good read. I easily digested the entire book in a couple of days, and it kept me turning the pages the whole time. If I had to nit-pick, I would say that the books were too short. The thought of Paul, Jessica, Leto II, Stilgar, etc, all walking the earth again, and it just didn't feel like they were given the time that they COULD have had.

I have to say that I am very pleased with the outcome. I would encourage anyone who is already a Dune fan to buy and read the book. And I would encourage anyone who hasn't read to the Dune series to pick it up and give it a try. It just might change your perpective on life.

I have been waiting in anticipation for the conclusion of the Dune saga for years. I was convinced that after Chapterhouse: Dune, that the story was over, and I was never to be able to know what had happened. I was filled with delight when I found out that Kevin Anderson and Brian Herbert were going to finish the series. The fact that they were going to follow Frank Herbert's notes and outline made it that much sweeter.

While many will argue that the book was a bit of a disappointment, anyone who read Chapterhouse: Dune should know that this was the direction Frank Herbert was heading. Kevin and Brian's style isn't the same as Frank's, but they were able to take the Dune series to a grand and fitting conclusion. How do you take a classic series, that ranks among the all time literary accomplishments and put a conclusion to it? Exactly the way that Frank and Brian did here.

I have to say it is a good read. I easily digested the entire book in a couple of days, and it kept me turning the pages the whole time. If I had to nit-pick, I would say that the books were too short. The thought of Paul, Jessica, Leto II, Stilgar, etc, all walking the earth again, and it just didn't feel like they were given the time that they COULD have had.

I have to say that I am very pleased with the outcome. I would encourage anyone who is already a Dune fan to buy and read the book. And I would encourage anyone who hasn't read to the Dune series to pick it up and give it a try. It just might change your perpective on life.

Finally the conclusion to an epic that started before my lifetime. A conclusion that fans have been waiting for for 20 years! Sort of like with Star Wars, only different. With Star Wars you knew where things had to go (since 4-6 had already been done, you knew that 1-3 would end up setting the stage for 4-6). This is different in that it is the end rather than the missing beginning. The twists and unexpected side currents were a joy and a delight. The pace for both Hunters and Sandworms was fast (or maybe that was just my hurry to get there). While Kevin's & Brian's style is not the same as Frank's in the original I appreciate that they didn't try to force themselves into a style that wasn't there own. I really enjoyed all 8 books these two have added to the dune universe. Adding to the history and character development of what Frank originally envisioned. The epic of Dune is great, and the final book was a delight to read. Kudos to Anderson & Herbert for a job well done!

At first I was skeptical about this book because it wasn't written by Frank Herbert. However it ended up being a great addition to the series. It really continues forward in the Dune story line. It was based on Frank's original outline and you can feel the story developing as intended. While Brian Herbert's writing style is different than his father's, I feel his writing is more clear and concise. Anyone who enjoyed the previous 6 books in this series should enjoy this one equally.

"Sandworms of Dune", and indeed the entire Dune series of books is a place so real that if it doesn't exist now; it will later, and if not here,then somewhere. The Dune universe is so real that I can easily imagine myself there moving among the varied landscapes and interestingly
complex plots subplots and characters. Way to go Brian and Kevin. This novel deserves more than a two star rating. A great end to the best science fiction saga ever.

My first reaction upon finishing this book is that at least it had a plot, unlike "Hunters of Dune." The Gholas are all grown up and they actually do something. Unfortunately, most of them don't do anything particularly interesting. Why were all of these Gholas resurrected? Sheeana claims it's to help the coming battle with the Enemy. Yet, do they really play a role?

Admittedly, there are some nice character moments. I loved seeing Dr. Wellington Yueh struggle with guilt for past actions. Again, nothing to do with the larger plot, but it gives us insight into the Yueh character, which I at least appreciated.

As for the larger plot itself... Readers of "Hunters of Dune" know that the Enemy ls the Thinking Machines. I haven't read Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's "Butlerian Jihad" trilogy so I'm probably missing some context, but for me this came out of nowhere. The struggle between man and machine is a classic sci-fi trope, but it's not a theme that appeared at the forefront of the Dune saga. I'd associated Dune with religion, charismatic leadership, social movements, etc.

For me to really buy into "Sandworms of Dune," I felt like the book really needed to do more to show me how the "man vs. machine" thread fit into the Dune universe. Otherwise, the Thinking Machines become just another villain.

Overall, I guess I'm glad that I know how the story ends. It ends on a whimper, but it's not the travesty some reviewers make it out to be. I guess my expectations were already so low after having read "Hunters of Dune." If you go through that book, you might as well go all the way.

Sadly, what began with some promise years ago - a continuation of the Dune saga - has also long ago become a deeply monodimensional money machine. These two lost sight of a "story" about 10 years ago and appear bent on simply pumping out pages of words, without regard to attributes like "characterization", " plot ", or " nuance". What made Dune and its follow-on features "classics" was how so beautifully and carefully each character was given depth and individuality by Frank Herbert. There are no different voices in this series. Not one. Every character is the same. Same stilted dialogue, same faceless, superficial paper cutout you can virtually see being moved around on a storyboard with a bio and flowchart of their genealogy. It's an exercise, not a work of imagination.

I have loved Dune for forty years, but these are a wholly different product, tasteless and devoid of reason for existence beyond maintenance of an income stream. As hard as I've tried to connect to them, it can't be done.

Title: Sandworms of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Pages: 494

Time spent on the "to read" shelf: 18 months.

Days spent reading it: 3 days.

Why I read it: After reading Hunters of Dune, I simply HAD to finish Sandworms of Dune as well. Its the sequel and concluding book in the Dune series (although now Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are going back and filling in the holes in the series).

Brief review: I have enjoyed reading Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's additions to the Dune universe. I have read both prequels and now the concluding chapters to the series. They are fun and easy reads. Like I said for Hunters of Dune, they're not literature, but they are not bad.

Having said that, I have a few more complaints about Sandworms of Dune than I did about Hunters of Dune.

First, Brian and Kevin treat the readers like they are stupid. They drop not-so-subtle hints about the direction of the story every page and I guess they hope that the readers do not put it all together before the final unveiling. At points in the novel I literally shouted out "I'M NOT STUPID!!! I GET WHAT YOU ARE HINTING AT!!!!!!!" Seriously, I'm not a kindergartner.

Second, I did not like the simple way they wrapped up some of the serious conflicts in the story. The Dune universe has been about conflict its entire existence, and at the end of this book we are supposed to believe that with a few kind words those conflicts simply disappear. Please. I envision a war torn universe and factions to emerge, not this homogenizing effect that magically happens with the thoughts of one powerful being. In my opinion the conclusion of this series was a little forced. Even if this is the conclusion Frank Herbert outlined, it was poorly executed by Brian and Kevin.

That being said, any Dune fan would consider this a must read. It was not difficult reading and it did bring a sense of closure that was lacking in Chapterhouse. Of course, if you are like me, perhaps you liked the wide open possibilities that Chapterhouse presented and would prefer to stay in a universe that is so open-ended its crazy. If that's you, don't read Hunters of Dune or Sandworms of Dune, just revel in your imaginative Dune universe.

Favorite quote: "One can always find a battlefield if one looks hard enough."

Stars: 3 out of 5.

Final Word: Lacking.

After the great disappointment of Hunters, I enjoyed this book. I thought the pacing was good and the plot twists entertaining. I would give it a five star but for two faults. First, the rabbis' identity as a shapeshifter became too obvious to be missed, and second, the last forty pages dragged on painfully. I also thought the ending was absurdly idealistic. Are these diverse factions really going to get along for very long?

Throughout my reading of Sandworms of Dune, I could not help but think of other great works of literature that sprang forth into my consciousness like so many reanimated gholas or shadowy other memories. Stories such as Oedipus, Hamlet and the novelization of the movie version of Harry Potter are on the short list of tomes that I found myself compulsively pondering as I turned each page.

The way the entire list of themes of the Frank Herbert vision of Dune was thrown away and undone in order to throw in an "enexpected" wrinkle made me envy how Oedipus reacted shortly after he discovered how he inadvertantly fulfilled the Oracle's prophecy. Once one plucks their eyes out, there is no way they could be forced to read another page of this garbage.

How these two stellar writers arranged to have an entire cast of Attreides has-beens get together for one last family reunion made me whistfully think of the final scene in Hamlet. How lucky all those Danish bastards are to be dead on the ground instead of feeling forced to finish a book just to finish a series.

Finally, one could only be reminded of the magic in Harry Potter in the hopes that an invisibility cloak could be placed over your Kindle, so you might not be able to find it again.

This is a horrible book that diminishes the memory of the great works of art that are the Dune series. There is more depth in a romance novel.

The authors' two Dune prequel trilogies were entertaining enough. But with Hunters of Dune and now Sandworms of Dune, it seems Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are not even trying.

We get more gholas brooding on the no-ship. We get more of Duncan and Sheena searching for a new Beene Jesserit homeworld. We get more Murbella (who in the authors' hands is totally bland). We do get a few engaging story beats along the way. Dr. Yueh is given a reasonable story arc in which he struggles to gain redemption. The reveal of the face dancer saboteurs and Miles Teg's subsequent efforts to save the no-ship are exciting.

But in the end, the authors sweep in with one of the worst deus ex machina endings ever. It turns out that the conflicts within Hunters and Sandworms end up not mattering much at all. Murbellas efforts to unite humanity against the Enemy didn't amount to squat in the end. The gholas from Paul's era contribute very little to the end result. Out of nowhere, all of Khrone's schemes are nullified with a hand-wave. A certain character is told that he is the final Kwitsatz Haderach, and suddenly he gains a colossal amount of power. It's a basic expectation that the conflicts within a story have some bearing on the story's ending, but Herbert and Anderson fail to deliver.

What's incredible is how Herbert and Anderson expect us to believe that this story required two 500+ page books. The no-ship could've been captured 200 pages into Hunters of Dune and the end result would've been about the same.

Writing a novel cannot be a simple task and surely both individuals poured a lot of their time and energy into developing these books. I'm not fond of tearing apart the hard work of others but after reading the books I felt like there was no attempt to synthesize their works with those of Frank Herbert's. He was an excellent writer - I did not expect them to match his style but I did expect the stories to fit.

These follow-ups just simply do not fit. As other commenters have stated, they go against the very themes that Frank Herbert constructed. It was like reading a day-time soap opera. It's as if someone wanted to make it easy to create a story that could be made into a bad book-to-movie translation down the road. I think one mistake they've made is to try to explain everything. Frank Herbert didn't, and that left an element of mysticism in an otherwise scifi universe. You never really knew the answers to some questions just as you don't in life. It was horribly predictable at times and often characters made decisions that were inconsistent with their personalities.

I was very disappointed and will always consider the original Frank Herbert novels to be the only true Dune novels.

Very well written, very interesting, could not stop until was done.
I have read some bad reviews and was not expecting something that good.
Greatly exceed my expectations
Sounds like the original Dune books (well almost and is a little easier to read by the way).
Recommended!

This book was stunning in its inept storytelling and childish prose style. It would have been considered unpublishable if not for the fact that the word Dune in the title guarentees that some bucks will be made. Brian Herbert should be ashamed of himself.....just because he's not 1/1,000th of the writer his father was doesnt mean he has to trash the DUNE legacy. Do NOT read this book if you have any love for the originals.

I recently revisited Frank Herbert's entire Dune series for the first time in close to twenty years. I re-read Dune itself every few years, and it's among the most brilliant and imaginative books I've ever read, science fiction or not. I recall being underwhelmed by the remaining books in the series. Upon rereading them, however, I came to realize how much of my problem with the five later Dune books came from my being too young (in my teens) to really understand what Herbert was trying to do, and, perhaps more importantly, why he was trying to do it. By the end of the series, the teenage version of me was essentially just flipping from one page to the next, without much actually registering--including the cliffhanger ending of Chapterhouse: Dune. I basically put the book down and immediately looked forward to reading something I could understand.

Upon my second time through the whole series, I was pleasantly surprised by how much more sense the second through sixth books of the series made. (I didn't get any smarter between my teens and thirties, but I am a better reader.) And that translated into a much more enjoyable read. The series still didn't knock my socks off--I think Herbert's reputation wouldn't have suffered, and might even have been strengthened, had he published Dune and then never written another word--but the latter books were much better-written and intriguing than I remembered.

Intriguing enough, in fact, that I felt a small surge of interest when I found that Herbert's son, Brian, and another author had used Herbert's notes to conclude the series with Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune. I was leery of the new books, because I couldn't think of many cases where something great (or close to it) can be taken over by somebody else and still maintain its greatness (Tim Burton's Batman movies in comparison to Joel Schumacher's Batman movies, for example). But nevertheless I checked both books out from the library, expecting to be moderately disappointed.

As it turns out, moderate disappointment would have been great news. I thought both of these books were awful. One of the things that intrigued me most about Frank Herbert's books is his dealing with characters that, while human, are exceptional not only physically but also mentally--even the ones not gifted with prescience are brilliant, far-seeing, controlled, and clever, their dialogue oblique, clever, and packed with meaning that it takes the average dope like myself hard work and some time to follow.

The characters in Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune have none of this. Characters that, in previous Dune novels, have represented the not just physically but also mentally advanced products of thousands of years of crafty genetic planning, are reduced to shrill, irrational, over-emotional children.

Herbert (the younger) and Anderson also seem to have no concept of many of their characters' basic motivations--motivations that have been well established over the couple thousand pages of previous novels. In Frank's hands, characters' decisions were usually made (or forced) based on a clear vision of their futures, and both their successes and their failures, their glory and their dooms, are accepted either nobly or shamefully; in Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune, decisions are made by whatever headless chicken is currently running around at the front of the pack, while the rest are often frozen by fear of the unknown.

My arguments might stand up better if I could quote specific instances of these complaints, but that'd require re-reading the books, and it's not worth it. I should have stopped with Chapterhouse: Dune and its cliffhanger ending.

[...]

Afer awhile, the story begins to drag and tries to throw everything in but the kitchen sink. Frank Herbert's Dune (The original Novel) was so much more than the sum of all its parts. Here, the story meanders aimlessly onward, trying to serve up a big whopping finale, trying to appease those fans whose imagination have gone lacking. The finesse of government, religion, industry, Machiavelli intrigues and the slavish addiction to a rare commodity has never been equaled or surpassed. Sooner or later, all things end. it is time to let go before this series is ran into the ground.

Supposedly Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune were produced using an outline written by Frank Herbert; don't believe it. This book seems like it was written for the pre-teen crowd. The plot is utterly predictable and the characters are both blind, deaf and dumb. If you love the Dune universe Frank Herbert created go to Wikipedia and get the cliff notes; don't torture yourself reading this drivel.

SANDWORMS OF DUNE is the latest entry in Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's series of DUNE fill-in-the-cracks novels. Having completed their 1950s-vintage back story for the "jihad" against artificial intelligence that was part of the unexplained matrix of the original DUNE, Herbert and Anderson project that back story into the future (relative to Herbert's final DUNE novel, CHAPTERHOUSE DUNE), completing what they started in HUNTERS OF DUNE.

It's not difficult to make fun of the stiff, sometimes comically awkward writing in these novels. It's not difficult to wail about the ridiculousness of so many of the plot developments. It's not difficult to go on and on about how abysmally silly and awful Omnius and Erasmus are as characters and as a thread in the DUNE narrative -- it just isn't possible that Frank Herbert had anything like these monstrosities in mind when he thought about humanity's rejection of artificial intelligence. But ...

It's not difficult to read this novel and enjoy at least some of it. I did not feel compelled to throw the book across the room. I did not find myself skipping over paragraphs because they were too tedious (as I have, e.g., in Charles Stross' Merchant Princes novels--and I like Stross a lot more than I like these guys). Some parts were even page-turning suspenseful. In bestselling SF novels, these are things to be happy about.

Would I rather have spent my time reading a new novel by McLeod or Stross or Asher or Reynolds any one of several other authors? Sure, but there aren't any, and until there are ... there's SANDWORMS OF DUNE.

Unfortunately the authors operate as if they were gholas, resurrected from cells of the dead writers, but without the memories or skills of the originals. Unable to imagine new characters, they paint weird versions of those described by Frank Herbert. I literally cut my copy up and trashed it, rather than subject anyone else to it.

Afer awhile, the story begins to drag and tries to throw everything in but the kitchen sink. Frank Herbert's Dune (The original Novel) was so much more than the sum of all its parts. Here, the story meanders aimlessly onward, trying to serve up a big whopping finale, trying to appease those fans whose imagination have gone lacking. The finesse of government, religion, industry, Machiavelli intrigues and the slavish addiction to a rare commodity has never been equaled or surpassed. Sooner or later, all things end. it is time to let go before this series is ran into the ground.

Supposedly Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune were produced using an outline written by Frank Herbert; don't believe it. This book seems like it was written for the pre-teen crowd. The plot is utterly predictable and the characters are both blind, deaf and dumb. If you love the Dune universe Frank Herbert created go to Wikipedia and get the cliff notes; don't torture yourself reading this drivel.

SANDWORMS OF DUNE is the latest entry in Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's series of DUNE fill-in-the-cracks novels. Having completed their 1950s-vintage back story for the "jihad" against artificial intelligence that was part of the unexplained matrix of the original DUNE, Herbert and Anderson project that back story into the future (relative to Herbert's final DUNE novel, CHAPTERHOUSE DUNE), completing what they started in HUNTERS OF DUNE.

It's not difficult to make fun of the stiff, sometimes comically awkward writing in these novels. It's not difficult to wail about the ridiculousness of so many of the plot developments. It's not difficult to go on and on about how abysmally silly and awful Omnius and Erasmus are as characters and as a thread in the DUNE narrative -- it just isn't possible that Frank Herbert had anything like these monstrosities in mind when he thought about humanity's rejection of artificial intelligence. But ...

It's not difficult to read this novel and enjoy at least some of it. I did not feel compelled to throw the book across the room. I did not find myself skipping over paragraphs because they were too tedious (as I have, e.g., in Charles Stross' Merchant Princes novels--and I like Stross a lot more than I like these guys). Some parts were even page-turning suspenseful. In bestselling SF novels, these are things to be happy about.

Would I rather have spent my time reading a new novel by McLeod or Stross or Asher or Reynolds any one of several other authors? Sure, but there aren't any, and until there are ... there's SANDWORMS OF DUNE.

Unfortunately the authors operate as if they were gholas, resurrected from cells of the dead writers, but without the memories or skills of the originals. Unable to imagine new characters, they paint weird versions of those described by Frank Herbert. I literally cut my copy up and trashed it, rather than subject anyone else to it.

I just finished "Sandworms of Dune" and am left feeling empty and angry. It is the absolute worst of all the spinoff books and had a horribly contrived and lame ending. The climax was solved by not one, but two deus ex machina endings. So much potential! Such terrible execution! This book made me want to punch Brian Herbert in the butt.

...but it just sucked. I have read the original Dune series many times and I so hoped for an ending...unfortunately I got the monkeys paw, I got what I wanted but not the way I wanted it. In this case, I got an ending but it was the worst ending for a series I have ever read...and that is saying alot. Yes I know they are not Frank, but anyone would have been a better choice as a writer. It just makes me a little bit sad that his son couldn't come up with a better ending or hell a better writing partner.

I just finished "Sandworms of Dune" and am left feeling empty and angry. It is the absolute worst of all the spinoff books and had a horribly contrived and lame ending. The climax was solved by not one, but two deus ex machina endings. So much potential! Such terrible execution! This book made me want to punch Brian Herbert in the butt.

Brian Herbert, supposedly, was asked by his father to continue the series and, according to Kevin Anderson, to flush out the Butlerian Jihad story with some prequels, so they did. However, when it came time to complete the actual series (Hunters and Sandworms)they clearly were still stuck on the Butlerian Jihad storyline they had created. They use the characters and plots they created in the prequel and superimpose them into the storyline here. The mysterious Daniel and Marty become Omnius and Erasmus, characters created by BH and KA in the prequels, and the storyline becomes saturated with the Butlerian Jihad. Plus all the gholas! A Paul ghola? Seems unlikely since he died millenia ago and you need the person's cells but ok. But Yueh, Hawat, Gurney, Chani, Alia, Stilgar, Leto II, Liet (died in a spice blow how'd they get his cells?) Baron Harkonnen?!, Serena Butler?! etc. It just seems silly and unnecessary. Did the authors ever ask themselves, "is this getting out of hand? We're just reviving everyone for little real reason." The whole work seems like a silly mess that is transparent in it's flaws.

(the store deleted this post, amongst many others. My respect for the store is diminishing...)

How could a series with so much potential and brilliance turn out so horribly?

The lack of Frank Herbert's brilliance isn't hard to miss: the studies of the inter-workings of ecology and economy, religion and politics, humanity and technology... all these things receive typical pimple-faced science fiction thoughtless application.

Take maybe the most obvious example: Qelso. Herbert the elder studied and made supreme efforts to map the fantastic Dune universe naturally to it's human history, giving it a fascinating realism by thoughtfully incorporating language relevant to the histories that characters and cultures were derived from... the Bene Gesserit and Bene Tleilaxu for instance... where as Herbert the younger seems to grab random letters from a scrabble bag to create 'science fictiony' names like Qelso. I couldn't read it without thinking of that 70's show the whole time.

I read these last two books longing at least to see Frank Herbert's vision seen through, if not through thought provoking writing, at least through the closing of the plot line - they couldn't have ruined the basic plot line, even with trite writing, could they?

I'm convinced this was not Frank Herbert's vision. The ending was absolutely sexist which is particularly disgusting, and it completely diminished all the careful work Frank Herbert had put into developing this intricate world, to have everything turn out rosy in a couple blinkings of the eyes.

And nobody learned anything. The horrifying sexist practices of the Tleilaxu Axlotl tanks continued - but now they're willing volunteers. Ecological devastation continued with exhaustive mining and manipulation of limited natural resources - but now there is a diversified portfolio. Abuse of 'lower class' citizens (the machines) continued - but now they're willing workers. Dependence on an ultimate dictator continues - but this dictator is noble and well meaning.

The one small shining light of the book - the noble work of the Qelsans (embarrassed of that name yet?)- was totally condescended and made light of when our new dictator heroically swoops in and takes them under his wing, ending their silly quest for independence and a return to ecological balance.

This ending is just insulting. I feel compelled to steal Herbert's original outline, gather together some other Dune followers who have real integrity, and humbly write and release a rogue novel that hopefully can approach the wonder of Herbert's original vision.

Sandworms of Dune has been the worst and most horribly written novel of the Dune series. And what's more, it was the grand finale. Even the Harry Potter series ended with much better expectations than this.

The House trilogies were still readable because they were a "reverse engineering" of Frank Herbert's original 6 books, the Butlerian Jihad trilogy (the pre-prequels) was pure fantasy mixed with guess-work, dropping little clues here and there to make us Dune fans go, wow, here's another clue!

The 2-book finale, was nothing from Frank Herbert's outline. Having an outline and actually writing it out properly are 2 completely different things. These 2 authors have NOT done Frank Herbert justice and I'm sorry to say, it was just another sad attempt to boost sales with an epic franchise. If they had an outline to the Dune finale, why did they need to write prequels and pre-prequels, just write the finale already. Or perhaps it was because with the way they wrote, nobody could understand the ending?

There seems to be another set of trilogy in the works, but I guess, after this novel, they won't see the light of day, I hope!

I don't know what is wrong with [...] or whether or not there's a delete rat in the listing getting good, honest reviews of this book deleted. They claim that it doesn't follow guidelines, but guess what, there are plenty of reviews in this list that don't follow guidelines and are still here.

This past weekend has seen a mass deletion of 1 star reviews which have been truthful, honest, forthcoming and played a part in helping many readers avoid a tragic waste of time to reading this book.

Perhaps [...] has some kind of status quo of how many 1 star reviews a certain item can have. Or perhaps, someone from the Herbert family, be it, immediate or extended or relative or whatever, threatened [...] with a lawsuit. Of course, these are all speculations, but justified ones.

To be fair to Herbert and Anderson, Frank Herbert had a number of dum ideas. Among the insideous creations: face dancers; gholas; axlotl tanks; and worst of all Leto II becoming a sandworm.

But what made Herbert's stories work; was that he was a great writer capable of taking the dumbest ideas and making something out of them. Something intriquing, something worth reading.

In Sandworms of Dune, readers are left with the worst of Herbert's ideas, taken by SF's worst writers, who conspire to create a terrible book in an attempt to enhance the cash hoards of Hourse Herbert and House Anderson.

In Sandworms of Dune, the no-ship continues through space with its gholas; Omnius marches through the empire destroying human worlds; the Bene Gesserit puts up a futile attempt to stop Omnius; the face dancers just infiltrate the humans making these worse; and the Oracle of Time has some mysterious purpose which is never revealed until the end. To about pg 475 of 549; everything goes against the humans.

Then the ending is a complete disappointment with human victory hinging on the help of Erasmus and the Oracle of Time, both of whom don't have any motivation to help the humans bc they both hate them.

Other than Duncan Idaho, no one on the Ithaca really does anything. And even he doesn't do much other than proclaim himself the Ultimate Kwisatz Haderach. Pretty stupid. In fact, the authors just ended up eliminating the ghola children bc they didn't know what to do with them.

Overall, poor imagination; bad writing; and stupid ideas make this book a complete failure.

If they were brave enough, Brian Herbert and his partner would publish Frank Herbert's original notes, and show what was theirs and what has his.

*** Spoiler***
Because I cannot believe that the ultimate enemy was the main character from their prequel, 20 years after his death. Really?
*** Spoiler***

I tried to read the two books. But after 100 pages of skimming the first one, I just read the synopses online and I was floored. I mean, beyond words. This is far worse than the travesties of both the Star Wars movies, and the Lord of the Rings movies. Just way beyond the pale. The story was a joke, and I won't even get into the writing. I would say these were extremely lightly based on the original notes/outlines. Just terrible.

Usually an author sits down and looks over his notes, checks his story, writes his rough draft, then goes back and edits it until it's polished and ready for publication. Somehow in the process of creating this book the authors never got as far as looking over the notes before it appeared on the shelves.
And it shows.
If you liked Dune don't get this book.
If you thought Legends of Dune was novel and cool, don't get this book.
If you thought that Hunters of Dune was readable, even still DON'T GET THIS BOOK.
A million monkeys working at a million typewriters for about 5 minutes hammered this thing out.
Go buy original Dune and imagine an ending for yourself, you will be glad you skipped finding out what this one is.