Dune: House Harkonnen (Prelude to Dune Book 2)

The original six books were masterfully written. Sir Arthur C. Clarke, probably the most honored science fiction author in history, famously said of Frank Herbert's Dune, "I know nothing comparable to it except Lord of the Rings."

THIS book, on the other hand, is pathetic. It is undeserving of the word "Dune" appearing anywhere in connection with this book. Not only House Harkonnen, but also all the others besides the original six.

I read several of these Brian Herbert / Kevin J. Anderson prequel/sequel efforts, and every one of them is just a sorry excuse for a novel, LET ALONE a Dune novel. It is, at best, a misguided and failed attempt to honor his father, and at worst, a greedy attempt to capitalize on his father's talent as much as possible. Either way, consider yourself warned.

Frank Herbert dealt with important topics (including sex, violence, politics, commerce, religion, etc.) with grace and eloquence. These Brian Herbert books, on the other hand, are a cesspool of gratuitous sex and violence, very poorly written, and a disgrace to Frank Herbert's legacy.

Dune is the best series of all time, hands down. The most intelligently and creatively written that it is possible to imagine. When I heard that they were coming out with prequels, I cringed. I half hoped they would be successful -- so I would be lucky enough to get more of this world again -- but I didn't want them to ruin it for me.
THEY DIDN'T.
They pulled of the incredible feat of giving us something new in the context of something old. And man, did they do a great job. It is written by two authors, one of whom is a son of the original.
Different chapters thread through the story in different areas, and it looks like one author took certain threads. Some of the threads are clearly better than others, but all are great.
The originality that they come up with was really a feat. They didn't "extend" the original, they created new stuff that is just fantastic, without compromising the later novels.
This book is about the House Harkonnen -- but contains all of the major players from the other houses. Much of the story we already know, but the fleshing out of it was fantastic.
My hats off to the authors.

This is a very complex book, with multiple plots and a number of characters who are intimately involved with the story. This causes the book to start out in a choppy manner, as the authors try to initiate all of the subplots in a short time. The flow of the book is interrupted as we rapidly switch from one plot to another. Some plots were not really needed, such as the Duncan Idaho Swordmaster plot. They were interesting and well written, but weren't germane to this book.
However, this book answers some important questions for Dune fans. I have always wondered why Jessica disobeyed her Sisterhood by bearing Leto a son. The answer lies in this book. The authors have captured the essence of the original Dune series and have created a very enjoyable book.
It has to be tough to follow a giant; a grandmaster. It must be even harder to be the son of a legend and carry on the "family business" I think Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have done a very good job in approximating the mastery of Frank Herbert. No, they aren't as good, but they are darn close.
I look forward to the next installment.

This book lacks the intellectual and emotional complexity of the original Dune books. Instead we are served up the lightest of pulp fictions, seemingly written for a ten-year-old audience. The characters are cardboard cut-outs - the good guys (Leto, Duncan, Gurney, Rhombur, Abulurd) are plucky and loyal but naive, the bad guys (the Baron, Rabban, the Tleilaxu) sadistic and scheming. We even get the staple of juvenile fiction, the arrogant, aristocratic school bully and his henchman (which seems to draw more on Harry Potter than Dune). The subtleties of character, the internal conflicts and uncertainties in the original books are absent.
In addition, the characters are almost without exception irredeemably stupid in the way they conduct their affairs. Characters react to events and act on impulse based on loyalty/frustration/personal malice rather than carefully thinking out the consequences or thinking strategically. The Baron of the original book would have eaten Leto alive by now. Further, because all the dull thoughts and clumsy actions of the major players are described in prosaic detail there is little in the way of dramatic tension or the sense which the original books had of subtle strategies being played out behind the scenes.
Even if the book is read purely as backfill for the original series, the entire Victor, Fenring, Abulurd, Ix/Tleilaxu, Ginaz and Moritani/Ecaz subplots add nothing substantive other than a growing sense of incredulity. The histories of Duncan and Gurney are so thin and unlikely that I would have preferred to remain in ignorance.

Like "Dune: House Atreides", "Dune: House Harkonnen" is a treat for "Dune" fans, not so much because of the writing style or richness found in the Frank Herbert Dune books, but because this book provides interesting information about the roots of many of the characters in the Dune series and the interrelationships between them.
As another reviewer aptly pointed out, do not read this book first. If you want to start with a "Dune: House" book, start with House Atreides. I strongly recommend, however, that if you are interested in reading in the Dune series that you start with "Dune" by Frank Herbert, then read the two prequels in order, they provide good background, but are not the 5-star material found in "Dune."
I thoroughly enjoyed the book (I have already read all of the other Dune books, including House Atreides), and think that other fans of Frank Herbert's Dune series will also enjoy it.
To Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson's credit, they have been faithful to Frank Herbert's layered writing style, and have worked deliberately to maintain as much richness and depth in this book and its prequel as possible. These are worthy additions to the Dune series, though they are a step down from the works by Dune's creator, Frank Herbert.
Things to look forward to in this book: - you learn more about the Tleliaxu and their axlotl tanks - you learn where Feyd Rautha comes from - you learn why Jessica decided to bear Duke Leto the gender of child she did - and more...
Enjoy the journey...
Alan Holyoak

My opinion of House Harkonnen is very similar to my opinion of House Atreides (see my review there). Like its predecessor, House Harkonnen is slow and has too many plot threads. Some of the most interesting ones (the fate of House Vernius; Abulurd Harkonnen's fight with his half-brother) are muffled in the huge number of stories being told -- we see Gurney Hallack and Duncan Idaho growing up, Duke Leto and Lady Jessica coming together, the birth of Feyd-Ruatha, etc. And like House Atreides, this book suffers from our knowledge of the future (spoiler warning) -- we know Leto, Gurney and Duncan aren't going to die and that Shaddam IV will still be emperor in the future.
Still, it's a decent read -- especially for Dune fanatics like myself. It fills in the history of the Imperium. And the fight between the Tleilaxu and Vernius; between the Grumman and Ecaz -- are interesting. In fact, the book might have been better had it focused entirely on these conflicts -- with Leto and the others serving merely as secondary characters.
The narrative style is improved and the higher rating I give this book is mainly due to the incredible villainy we get to see in House Harkonnen. This actually *improves* your appreciation of Dune. (Spoiler warning again). You smile knowing these monster will eventually get what's coming to them.
And, of course, I'm buying the next book -- which tells my real opinion of this one (3.5 stars).

Its a shame to say anything negative about books bearing the "Dune" name. The original series is such a superb work of art.
Perhaps these recent books will be valuable mainly in that they may bring renewed attention to the original classic series...
I would give these authors credit for devising one of the best possible Dune pre-histories, yet I would definitely not give them credit for having done a good job with the writing itself. They seemed to have put too little effort into the details that make a work like this come to life.
Basically, the authors got the broad outlines of the plot, but they fail to present it in a smooth and believeable way that is the hallmark of good writing. They had their eyes on the rights plotline goals, but the presentation of story is rather clumsy...
The original Dune story is so rich, its hard to imagine anyone getting things clsoe to such perfection again, and I suppose we should give them credit for making the effort, but I think that this work does not really merit publication as a set of books. It should have been serialized in one of the science fiction magazines, or something.
If you are a true Dune fanatic, you will probably read the books anyway, since your curiosity will get you. But I would place these recent Dune books at the bottom of my entertainment list, if I were you...
At least wait until they hit the library, so you can look at them for free...
Douglas Hemmick

The stories in Brian Herbert's "Dune" series, most developed by his father Frank Herbert, the original author of the series, are fabulous. Alas, the writing is atrocious. There are too many examples to list, so I'll mention only one. The authors repeat information as though they think the readers haven't paid any attention: in "House Harkonnen," Kailea's "emerald" eyes are mentioned so often that I figured the authors had done a "Find and Replace" search on her name....

The book is wordy and loose, not at all like the tight, crisp writing of Frank Herbert (who died in 1986). Why weren't these books edited properly? Because the story line is so good, I keep reading. I would only recommend these books to someone who could overlook form for function, just to get at the stories themselves.

I'll skip "House Corrino" when it comes out in paperback; I have too many complaints about the writing. Rather, I look forward to going back and rereading the original "Dune," just to get the taste of that terrible writing out of my mouth.

The sequel to Brian Herberts Dune: House Atredies has what other books lack; a good mix of politics, adventure, romance, and a great all-around plot. Although some people may not like these sorts of books, many others do. If you like novels with adventure, strong plots, and more than one point of view (for example: Tom Clancy: Rainbow Six) this is a great book for you. Though I am only 12 and may not have an advanced level of reading as some adults do, I highly recommend this book. However, if you have not read Brian Herberts Dune: House Atredies (the prequel) you will most likely get stuck, wondering what has happened. If you have ever heard of Brian Jaques, Tom Clancy, Stephen King, you will love Brian Herbert.

Not only does this lack the magic of the original Dune series it also lack the depth of that series. The younger incarnations of some of the Dune characters are present. They all seem to be missing something. To me Leto Atreides came across as a wuz here. He definetly was not that in the original Dune. This book does generate some sympathy for the baron's younger nephew - Feyd(sp). He was the victim of circumstances beyond his control. Also, I see Gurney Halleck in a different light. In the original Dune he hates the Harkonnens because his sister was in their slaves pits and because they killed his family. After reading this one can not help but wonder if some of that hatred is actually feelings of guilt. After all if he had kept is mouth shut a changes of events would not have been set of starting with his sister being sent to the slave pits. Eventually she is killed and so are her parents. When I read the original Dune series for the most part is was difficult to put down. This is not case with this book.

When Frank Herbert wrote Dune and the following novels, there was a sense of scope, a feeling of epic, which is unfortunately missing from this current series. Maybe it is the restrictions of playing in someone else's sandbox, but there isnt enough to make you feel that the characters you are reading today will become those that come to life in Dune. Some situations, story lines seem to be just added for dramatic effect then thrown away without any remorse. I hope the series matures into something close to it's parent books and the writers find that sense of scale before tackling the last book after the prequels. Nice try but just no cigar.

Dune: House Harkonnen is the second book in the prelude. It introduces characters such as Liet kynes, Pardot Kynes' curious son, and focuses on the Baron trying to destroy and ruin Duke Leto's life. As Leto advances in age, he faces troubles, but stands strong against his challenges. He has to handle his fears without his father. It book has a very heavy and detailed plot. Well written like the Frank Herbert's story. Beautiful and discriptive writing. Very authentic to Frank Herbert's works and writing.The plot is a sad and tragic story around the end. Creative and a world of imagination, planets, and warfare, the Dune books have been one of the best books in Sience Fiction History. I really recommend the Dune series to anybody who wants a taste of great Science Fiction.

I won't say the Dune "Prequel" Trilogy is entirely without merit. Any of the three books is an entertaining read for a cross-country train trip or a trans-Atlantic flight, like a Tom Clancy novel would be. But most people who know and love the "Dune" chronicles cannot help but be disappointed, even angry, at these pale imitations of the originals. The most striking lesson to be gleaned from these new Dune books is the difference between a truly gifted writer and a hack; between a serious work of imagination and literary skill, and airport lounge pulp fiction.
I won't detail all of the failings of the narrative - the inconsistencies with the original series, the sometimes absurd plot development, the gaping holes and internal inconsistencies in the story. Other reviewers have dealt with these at some length.
My biggest beef with these three books - all of them - is how poorly written they are (especially "House Corinno"). One would have hoped that more of Frank Herbert's literary ability would have found its way into his son's genes than apparently did. (Call the Bene Gesserit, quick! We need a new breeding program here!) The dialogue is often stilted, the character development shallow, and the structure fragmented, episodic and jerky. In contrast to Frank Herbert's elegant, even serene construction, Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have unfortunately adopted the hyperactive "jump-around" style so beloved of today's writers of second-rate entertainment fiction.
Most disappointing to me was the shallowness of these new books. Frank Herbert's "Dune" books were books of IDEAS more than books about events and action. A great deal of their narrative was occupied with people's THOUGHTS, at least as much as with their actions. Brian Herbert's & Kevin Anderson's books, by contrast, are almost entirely devoid of thought, ideas or philosophy and are entirely preoccupied with who is doing what. At best, this makes their books entertaining, something with which to while away the hours. But they are simply not in the same league with the original Dune books. For the newcomer to the world of Dune, moving from "House Corinno" to "Dune" will be like moving from Harold Robbins to Steinbeck or Hemmingway.
Reading my way through these three books, I frequently found myself wishing that one of the Tleilaxu had been around when Frank Herbert died, to grow a Ghola Herbert in their axolotl tanks. These prequels might have really been something in the hands of a gifted writer.

From the first chapter it is evident that this book was not written by Frank, but that does not stop this from being a great book. To the casual sci-fi reader the Dune series might be a little intimidating to get into, all the books and each one being rather long. And towards the end of the series it can get a little dry. But this prequel is perfect as an introduction. It has a lot more action than Frank's books. But Frank's books developed a much richer universe. Frank's work is more of a philisophical discuss on human nature and government. While Brian's work is more of a fun read. They are is different classes but that does not diminish the quality of this new series. And the new books do a pretty good job of showing how some of the old fueds and stereotypes got started, although it would be nice if they covered all of them.
When I read the original series I stopped after the fourth book. But reading House Harkonnen and House Atreides got me so excited about the Dune world again I am going to read the last three books of the Dune series - right after I read House Corrino of course.

Herbert and Anderson provide the second installment in their trilogy that is a prequel to Frank Herbert's classic Dune series. Whereas many prequels fall flat, providing little new information beyond what was originally included in the novel, this Dune series continues to offer new and engaging plot lines. In addition, despite the title, the book devotes equal time to House Harkonnen and House Atreides, as well as the events unfolding on Arrakis.

The action commences several years after the events in Dune: House Atreides. Duke Leto Atreides is restless and still considering taking a wife in a strategic political alliance. His best friend, Prince Rhombur, and Romhbur's sister Kailea, are still living in castle Atreides. As an outcast from a once-noble house that went renegade, Rhombur wishes to regain the glory that his family lost in the fall of Ix, but cannot fathom how to achieve his goals. Kailea desperately wishes to be Leto's wife (and Leto fancies her), but since her house has been disgraced, Leto would never consider such a marriage. Baron Vladimir Harkonnen continues to deteriorate from the mysterious wasting malady he acquired. However, this does not stop him from attempting to lay subtle traps for House Atreides nor does it deter him from seeking vengeance against the Bene Gesserit witches who infected him. Rabban, the baron's nephew, continues his terroristic actions in support of the House Harkonnen, clearly demonstrating how he earned his nickname "Beast." Pardot Kynes, the royal planetologist assigned to research Dune, continues his quest for its secrets, now aided by his son Liet who has been raised exclusively as a Freman.

As in the previous volume, extremely short chapters (average 5 pages) are employed to propel the various plot lines along. This format works well as the chapters bounce around between the various stories. Nevertheless, all of the plot threads are fascinating and provide many additional details and characters that were not included in the original Dune series. I literally could not put this book down!

One of the most interesting characters is Abulurd, the half brother of Baron Harkonnen. He is the exact opposite of his son Rabban since he is kind, considerate and concerned with his homeworld's population, as opposed to being focused on ways to rape the planet for its riches. Duncan Idaho's training at the Ginaz Swordmaster School and the exploits of Gurney Hallack's resistance and escape from Harkonnen enslavement provide interesting insight into the crucibles which forged these two formidable warriors.

Dune fans and non-fans alike should find this enjoyable.

The second novel of the Dune prequels picks right up where the last left off and keeps the story going. I really liked the first novel and was looking forward to this one but was a little more disappointed with Harkonnen. While it adds more to the overall trilogy it lacks little plot as a stand alone novel. Basically it plods along for 700 pages with further story from the first almost as if they are just passing time until the third. I don't like that attitude of publishing a trilogy for the sake of a trilogy and I have a nagging feeling that thats whats happening here. However the book sdoes climax well and seems to set up a good start to the final chapter.

From the first chapter it is evident that this book was not written by Frank, but that does not stop this from being a great book. To the casual sci-fi reader the Dune series might be a little intimidating to get into, all the books and each one being rather long. And towards the end of the series it can get a little dry. But this prequel is perfect as an introduction. It has a lot more action than Frank's books. But Frank's books developed a much richer universe. Frank's work is more of a philisophical discuss on human nature and government. While Brian's work is more of a fun read. They are is different classes but that does not diminish the quality of this new series. And the new books do a pretty good job of showing how some of the old fueds and stereotypes got started, although it would be nice if they covered all of them.
When I read the original series I stopped after the fourth book. But reading House Harkonnen and House Atreides got me so excited about the Dune world again I am going to read the last three books of the Dune series - right after I read House Corrino of course.

Herbert and Anderson provide the second installment in their trilogy that is a prequel to Frank Herbert's classic Dune series. Whereas many prequels fall flat, providing little new information beyond what was originally included in the novel, this Dune series continues to offer new and engaging plot lines. In addition, despite the title, the book devotes equal time to House Harkonnen and House Atreides, as well as the events unfolding on Arrakis.

The action commences several years after the events in Dune: House Atreides. Duke Leto Atreides is restless and still considering taking a wife in a strategic political alliance. His best friend, Prince Rhombur, and Romhbur's sister Kailea, are still living in castle Atreides. As an outcast from a once-noble house that went renegade, Rhombur wishes to regain the glory that his family lost in the fall of Ix, but cannot fathom how to achieve his goals. Kailea desperately wishes to be Leto's wife (and Leto fancies her), but since her house has been disgraced, Leto would never consider such a marriage. Baron Vladimir Harkonnen continues to deteriorate from the mysterious wasting malady he acquired. However, this does not stop him from attempting to lay subtle traps for House Atreides nor does it deter him from seeking vengeance against the Bene Gesserit witches who infected him. Rabban, the baron's nephew, continues his terroristic actions in support of the House Harkonnen, clearly demonstrating how he earned his nickname "Beast." Pardot Kynes, the royal planetologist assigned to research Dune, continues his quest for its secrets, now aided by his son Liet who has been raised exclusively as a Freman.

As in the previous volume, extremely short chapters (average 5 pages) are employed to propel the various plot lines along. This format works well as the chapters bounce around between the various stories. Nevertheless, all of the plot threads are fascinating and provide many additional details and characters that were not included in the original Dune series. I literally could not put this book down!

One of the most interesting characters is Abulurd, the half brother of Baron Harkonnen. He is the exact opposite of his son Rabban since he is kind, considerate and concerned with his homeworld's population, as opposed to being focused on ways to rape the planet for its riches. Duncan Idaho's training at the Ginaz Swordmaster School and the exploits of Gurney Hallack's resistance and escape from Harkonnen enslavement provide interesting insight into the crucibles which forged these two formidable warriors.

Dune fans and non-fans alike should find this enjoyable.

The second novel of the Dune prequels picks right up where the last left off and keeps the story going. I really liked the first novel and was looking forward to this one but was a little more disappointed with Harkonnen. While it adds more to the overall trilogy it lacks little plot as a stand alone novel. Basically it plods along for 700 pages with further story from the first almost as if they are just passing time until the third. I don't like that attitude of publishing a trilogy for the sake of a trilogy and I have a nagging feeling that thats whats happening here. However the book sdoes climax well and seems to set up a good start to the final chapter.

I think by reading the previous 150 reviews of the House Harkonnen that this is not a book written by Frank Herbert. We should be glad since Frank Herbert lies dead and may he rest in peace. However, it seem clear that many of the 150 or so previous reviewers were looking for Frank Herbert ghola to write more Dune clones.
I found both House Atriedes and Harkonnen books to be relatively interesting and fast paced. Its pretty obvious that they were not written by Frank Herbert so why are so many people whining about it. The new series appears to be written in totally different style. But I thought it was pretty well written. There are four different plot lines, Duke Leto's, events on Giedi Prime and House Harkonnen, events on Dune and events with the House Corrino. And of course, them little sisters of the poor. But the book was never confusing and the authors managed to intergrate all the plotlines very nicely. You have to read each book in order to get the most out of them but overall, its an entertaining reading material. Nothing serious and nothing really deep.
If someone wrote a spin off series on Middle Earth and people whine that he doesn't write like JRR Tolkien, is there any logic to that? There is only one JRR Tolkien and sadly, there is only one Frank Herbert. I think this series have to judge on its own merit and not on the merit of the original series.

As expected from reading House Atreides, these two authors again choose five or six plotlines over one (perhaps to make up for the fact that they can't make an entire good book out of one story?). Once again, the obvious is stated and re-stated dozens of times, and the dialogue is stiff and out of character.

Good things about the novel: It does continue with the lively subplots, and also continues to fill in the pre-Dune void. Characters are very developed and realistic, with even the worst of characters given personality and rapport with the reader.

With that said: Some of the plotlines I refuse to believe came from Frank Herbert. If Paul Atreides had a brother who died, wouldn't that come up in the original book? (maybe I missed it ...) If someone detonated an atomic bomb wouldn't people notice in the future? Also, this book spans an enormous amount of time for one book (about eight years), which leaves you wondering eactly how old everyone is. Its far too much for one novel.

My biggest problem with this book, though, is the highly explicit and senseless violence. We get the point that Harkonnens are cruel. Must you shove scene after scene of people being brutally murdered and tortured in our faces? It got to the point where any time I started a chapter I could point out exactly who was gong to die next, and know that it would be painful and awful.

To summarize this book: People die. Usually horribly.

The biggest problem with the Dune prequels is that they do not have the engaging writing style of the originals. Of course, Frank Herbert is dead, but his son is not completely incompetant. He knows how to tell a story, and that's what "House Harkonnen" does well. You have to read "House Atreides" to understand what's going on. This book ties up some loose ends left by that book, but leaves just as many. These, I presume, will be tied up in the third prequel "House Corrino". The plot is very complicated and jumps around from character to character, but it is also engaging. You get to find out some interesting history about some of the best characters from the original series, such as the Emporer's aide Count Fenring.
"House Harkonnen" reads like one of those Star Wars novels. This makes sense, because co-author Kevin Anderson has written several Star Wars novels. His writing style (along with Brian Herbert) just doesn't fit in well with the other Dune novels, which were known for their rich style. My other big complaint with this book is that it is chock-full of torture scenes. Why? I mean, we get it - the Harkonnens are evil. Is it necessary to give all the grisly details? Frank Herbert was far more subtle and effective in portraying good vs. evil. He did not have to resort to shock value.
Still, this book is interesting, at least for its storyline and its insights into Dune's history. I think it's a worthy read for hardcore Dune fans

After reading House Harkonnen, I came to a couple conclusions. 1. Duncan Idaho becomes cooler with each passing book. 2. The Harkonnens are some of the most insidious and hilarious enemies ever. It's true. Vladimir and Rabban are vicious killers in their own rights, but through Piter de Vries into the mix and you're bound to have some hilarity (especially with the Baron threatening to kill Piter all the time.). 3. The other major characters that appear have their own story and it's fully explained be it Liet Kynes, Gurney Halleck, Dominic Vernius, and of course the Duke Leto himself. This is by no means anything Frank Herbert would've written. However, that doesn't mean you should avoid it. If you're looking for a book equal in quality to Dune, then you're S.O.L. because no book exists. However, if you want a great story that gives insight to the events before Dune and why some events happened in Dune, this would be the place to find it. Now I've got to wait one more year for House Corrino. By the way, did you hear that Herbert/Anderson are doing another trilogy? Yeah this one's about the Butlerian Jihad and from what I've read, we're in for a treat.

The second book in second set of prequel trilogies ("Dune: House Trilogy) put out by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. This one focuses, naturally enough, on the machinations of the members of House Harkonnen that position them for the original "Dune" story. Overall I have to say that I enjoyed the first trilogy (The "Legends of Dune" trilogy) much more. The current trilogy is more about intrigue and bridging the gap between the new material and the existing Dune universe. Don't get me wrong, I am still enjoying this trilogy immensely it's just that the previous one had a far grander scale - both in terms of time period covered and in terms of the characters and events explored.

If you haven't read the "Legends of Dune" and you enjoy Dune, you really need to check it out. Then come to "Dune: House Trilogy" as a denoument.

It's almost infinitely hard to match the talent of Herbert the elder; however, Brian Herbert does a good job in trying. "House Harkonnen" fills in some of those missing gaps and provides additional info that you're left wondering about if you truly love the book "Dune." It provides additional traits about the Atreides impending rise to power and offers an intensely in-depth look at some of the main characters, and also the smaller ones, like Hasimir Fenring, which are never entirely explained in the original Frank Herbert series. The series is about as addictive as melange. Although true Dune fans will certainly be disappointed, they should recognize that nothing comes close to the Elder Herbert. It's still a stimulating fast read for those that want to be labeled as true addicts.

I had low expectations for this book. It's definitely not as good as House Atreides.

The main problem is that the characters actions don't make sense. For example, the character of Dominic Vernius is completely... manufactured, forced, contrived. I don't know which word fits best. He's supposedly a renegade smuggler with a price on his head, but yet he trusts with disclosing his plans to everyone. And he hides in the most obvious places. It really shows the creative limitations of the authors in weaving the story arcs together. I understand it's complicated and I couldn't do better, but I shouldn't be able to see things coming every time. It's not as innovative as Heretics or Chapterhouse were. I wish these authors would take the artistic license to be daring, with twists, and literary risks that make continuing the Dune franchise a worthwhile endeavor worthy of the series started by Herbert. The stories are too safe a predictable.

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS:

We cannot imagine anyone but the most die-hard Dune fan wanting to read this mean-spirited, superficial and meaningless work. If you enjoy reading the exploits of peripheral characters from better works of fiction, then this is the book for you. If you taped all the episodes of AfterM*A*S*H (both of them), then you are the demographic target of this book. Indulge yourself.

WHY YOU SHOULD PASS:

As speculative fiction goes, this is really just a harmless, banal book. What pushes it into the territory of the truly awful is its pedigree. Frank Herbert's Dune is one of the world's greatest works of speculative fiction. It is a masterpiece that stands alone and does not need any "prequels" to expound on any of its plotlines. We liken this to the necessity of writing a prequel to "Hamlet". No author would even think about committing such an affront to literature. For these reasons, the Dune prequels earn more of our ill-will than other similar mediocre works of speculative fiction.

READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AT INCHOATUS.COM

This series has really captured my imagination. I have spent my time reading these and find myself thrilled and delighted at how the characters unfold into there characters in the original Dune. I am excited to see Jessica's development in the next installment.

First a disclaimer - I am disheartened by our rejecto-matic society where only the original version has merit and it is super cool to dismiss any new effort (derritive work) as bad. I did not read "The Maine Woods" to hold it up against Thoreau's Walden. On it own House Harkonnen is a fine work. I have just read many of the reviews herein and am shocked - no doubt they are by the same folks who did not like the Star Wars prequels - I feel like they are the same folks would quip about 4, 5 & 6 if they came out today. Do not judge this work by the author's father's past works but simply on its own merit. If you are open to new and different HOWEVER - read on...

WOW the collaboration between Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson while not equal to Frank Herbert's original series, at the very least it affords more of the saga for us to delve into. More weave to the rich tapestry which is the Dune saga.

This title in explores the depth of Hakonnen depravity and even the origins of the Beast Raban, of his fall from his noble parents (whom he despised as weak) to "the dark side" of his uncle. From his earliest days of inept brutality to the unconsidered reckless behavior which resulted in his demise in the original title (Dune). It also explores in detail, how no matter a brutal regime may be, that good people will rise and one day overthrow their overloads (note this does not occur in this title but the stage for the bitter resentment which precipitates the events in future titles).

I enjoy reading every title in the series, if I had to pick only one to recommend in the "House" trilogy this is it folks...

While I found HOUSE ATREIDES to be entertaining, this book read like a confusing sci-fi soap opera. There was no story flow worth mentioning; every couple of chapters, the story advances a couple of years, with virtually nothing happening in those lost years. And there are plotlines that go nowhere; it was obviously written with a sequel in mind.
While it was nice to get introductions and backstories to some of DUNE's memorable characters (like Gurney Halleck and Feyd), they still left me somewhat disappointed, as thought there was much more that could have been said.
While DUNE is a book I could read again and again, I can't say the same thing for HOUSE HARKONNEN.

(Note - I have not read the other Dune prequels.)

Unlike you'd assume from the title, the book doesn't really concentrate on the Harkonnens. While they certainly do get a respectable amount of attention, the Atreides get as much if not more, and the same goes for a couple of unaffiliated characters. I found the structure of the book to be interesting: the chapters were all pretty short, averaging maybe 5-10 pages each, giving a tensely packed share of one character's doings and then switching to another in the next chapter. While this helped keep the pace fast and the book easy to read, I found that the atmosphere suffered somewhat. I simply didn't have the time to get emotionally involved in each scene before it already switched to the next.

From a book named "House Harkonnen", I'd have expected it to deepen the personalities of the Harkonnen characters, tell us more about their house and the society of the planets they ruled, and so on. Not so. Over on [...], there's a trope called Kick the Dog. It's that moment where an author wants to make it obvious to even the most dim-witted reader that his villain is really evil, and has the character do something blatantly cold and cruel, like kicking an innocent dog for no reason. With the exception of one character - who's viewed as an incompetent black sheep by the others, and who eventually ends up annoying even the reader for his repeated inability to look enough ahead - Kick the Dog moments are the only kind of scenes that the Harkonnen characters seem to get in the book. They get absolutely no character development of any kind, and seem more like caricatures than real people. By the time you get to the last pages, Vladimir Harkonnen's habit of executing anybody who fails him - whether by their own fault or not - has reached such exaggareted proportions that you feel more like you were watching a children's comic with a cardboard villain than reading a serious book.

The book also has the general problem that prequels easily have - you know how things will be by the time of the original series, and thus you know what world-changing plans are doomed to fail. Throughout the book, there are plans that can't succeed, characters that have to die, events that must come to nothing. At one point, a character has a ploy for assassinating both the Emperor and his whole family, an event that would be so cataclysmic and wide-reaching that you're rooting him to succeed just so you'd get to see the consequences - but then you also know that he simply cannot succeed, no matter what. It's all quite frustrating: a good prequel could give entirely new twists to what you thought you knew, giving an entire new dimension to the events in the original books. House Harkonnen does none of that - it takes tidbits mentioned in the original books and expands on them, but not enough to make them really interesting, not adding anything on them that we couldn't have easily imagined from their original description. To top it off, some of the events by which such loose threads are terminated feel all too convenient and contrived.

Despite all of this, there's something odd in the book that kept me turning the pages and wouldn't easily allow me to put it down after having started reading it. It feels a bit like the Harry Potter books - you know their literary merits aren't all that special, but you still have to keep reading. (Though I'd note that the HP books are better than this book.) Regardless of all the flaws, I'd still give it four stars out of five - simply because any 700+ page book that's good enough for me to finish in about five days deserves that amount.

Well, Brian and Kevin strike again with their second installment. after reading House Atreides, I can say (comparitively) that this one is on par with its companion. Though no one could write as eloquently as Frank, these two novels by Brian and Kevin have kept the traditions alive and well. I do rank this book highly (as I do for all Dune novels), however it still doesn't compare to the others. This is a must read for all Dune fans. However, if you are just begining to start Frank Herbert's saga, I suggest that you read Dune first to understand the complexity of what comes both before and after Dune. I will say that in reading these prequels, I have enjoyed looking at Dune in hindsight in understanding both Frank and Brian's approach

I was disappointed in all the inconsistencies between these Prequel Dune novels and the original. They're so busy building up suspense that the facts mentioned in prior novels are ignored; how Jessica was bought by the Duke's men, not placed there by the Bene Gesserit, history of the Fremen per the encyclopedia that Herbert the original put out, and many other details. They seem intent on creating a story that is growing more divorced from the original plot line the closer it comes to converging in timeline.

I love Dune. When I introduce friends to science fiction, it is one of the two or three books I recommend. I didn't expect something on the order of Dune in the prequels, but I was pleasantly surprised with House Harkonnen. I thought House Atriedes was simplistic and not overly well written, but in House Harkonnen the writing and the story line took off and gave me a compelling narrative. For the purists who complain that it doesn't approach Dune--well, nothing does. Even Dune's sequels, IMHO, weren't up to the standard of the original. House Harkonnen is good, plain, entertaining science fiction. Loved it.

Finished the book today. Brian and Kevin have done it again! At only 603 pages, the next 25 years of the Dune history is filled with excellent stories, brilliant dialogue, and a sort-of happy ending. This is nowhere near the sheer brilliance of House Atridies, yet it was finished in a year, so, I'll give them a 4 star rating. i can't wait for the sequel (Let's hope that the sequel to Harkkonenn will be the last dune book. The series is already at 8 books.)

Overall, i was pleased with both this book and its predecessor, House Atreides. As a rabid Dune fan, i voraciously gobble up any new tie-ins. Of course, reading the prequels prompts one to return to the originals and read them in a new light. So imagine my surprise when, on reading Dune 1 after reading House Harkonnen i find references to the "Duke's buyers" coming FOR Jessica on Wallach IX, instead of the story of Jessica being, rather suspiciously, "offered" by the Bene Gesserit delegation to Leto on Caladan (as told in HH). It's a little disappointing when things like this happen, especially considering Herbert's own son co-wrote these books. C'mon, do your homework, boys. Besides, would the Bene Gesserit REALLY call so much attention to Jessica by markedly delivering her to Caladan with the instructions "do with her what you will"? Never have the Bene Gesserit moved so openly, and it's highly unlikely that they would, considering their precious breeding program is at stake. It would be more like them - as is alluded to in Dune 1 - to surreptitiously plant the desire in Leto for a Bene gesserit concubine and when he sends buyers to Wallach IX make sure they leave with Jessica.
Although these books do not contain the political intricacies of the original series, that is, they are not a feint within a feint within a feint - possibly not even a very good feint - they are still worth reading if only to (p)revisit our beloved empire and all its key players.

There`s little I can say about House Harkonned that hasn`t already been said by at least thirty other people who have given the book 5-star reviews, but my deep enjoyment of the entire `House` trilogy compels me to add my own voice to the collective, particularly given the inexplicably mean reviews posted by some.

I`m a dedicated fan of the original Dune books, and, when I first heard about the new works to be written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, I honestly cringed. I did not have high hopes.

How wrong I was! The characters herein are handled superbly, ultimately making me love those that also appear in Frank Herbert`s books even more than I did before. The standard of writing is very high, too. Once you`ve started reading, it just becomes complusive. They have that "Just one more chapter before I go to sleep!" quality. Before you know it, it`s 3am and you just know you`re going to be tired as hell when you get to work.

There`s so much packed into these three books, including some moments that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

I can`t recommend them highly enough. The original Dune still stands head and shoulders above anything else except Lord of the Rings (as noted by Arthur C. Clarke), but the `House` trilogy deserves the attention of every Dune fan. Give them a shot.

I really liked this. It was classic science fiction. It was very long but it had so many different sub plots that tied together to make a complete story that it was easy to spend hours reading it. Somehow it made some of the srtangest science fiction believable because it is set thouscands of years in the future.

I have read all of the original Dune series. This is the first Dune book in a long time to hark back to the quality of the first book. What made Dune remarkable was its retelling of the classic hero story, not unlike Star Wars or any number of classics. The characters were engaging, and the writing was quite good. After the first Dune book, both the quality of writing and of the storyline declined dramatically. The hero element was quickly lost to the bizarre. Who could care about rulers mutating into large worms? The Atreides became as venal and corrupt as the rulers they replaced. Hence the demise of the heroic element of the epic.
However, Dune House Harkonnen brings back the heroic elements. On a simplistic level, its easier to tell the good guys from the bad. More importantly, however, the quality of the writing has improved from prior works, and Herbert's son treats the storyline carefully. If there are excesses in the descriptive passages, they can be forgiven in light of the lushness of the storyline.
One major complaint. I detested the movie, Dune, not only because it was utterly incomprehensible, but also because it depicted Baron Harkonnen as a disgusting physical specimen. The novel Dune depicts him as devious with a twisted, maniacal personality. The movie merely made him physically repulsive as a means of quickly establishing that he is repulsive. Well, Dune Harkonnen describes the baron's physical degeneration. It helps put the movie in context, but its at odds with the other novels. Small complaint in all.

I love Dune and the three prequels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are entertaining and an interesting look at the characters. I have Anderson's Star Wars books and like his writing style - but it is vastly different from Frank Herbert's. If you are looking for the dense prose of the elder Herbert, you will not be pleased with these books. If you are looking for a continuation of the stories simply for entertainment, enjoy.

My sister handed me House Harkonnen and not until then did I know that Frank's son was giving new life to the series. I've got 50 pages to go and I recently purchased House Atreides which is next in the firing line. It may bother some but a book, even part of a sequence needs to stand up on its own, too. Time lines and which way they're going shouldn't matter much in these days of any which way... I was hooked from the start and I fear my relationship is suffering but I just can't put it down. Pacey, what I'd call modern writing that somethings hints at being a little rushed. I lost count of the number of typo errors. I hope House Corrino (or whatever it might be called) is re-read a couple of times before being publish. Brian and Kevin keep up the good work!

Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson must have a psychic link with Frank Herbert's soul or some other unexplainable phenomenon. These two "prequels", House Atreides and House Harkonnen are outstanding! I cannot wait for the next one. I truly want to know the rest of the story. The books are very much like the originals and the writing style, as well as the political twists and turns forced me to put these two books down frequently - just so I wouldn't finish them is only one sitting.

Perusing the reviews for both House Atreides and House Harkonnen it is easy to find a common current of disatisfaction. It has in fact been noted by all of the great Frank Herbert's readership that with his passing, so to went the genius behind the most imaginative and captivating science fiction series of all time. But isn't it lovely that Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have accepted the all but impossible task of finishing the story? While neither H.A. or H.H. approach the mastery of the original Dune (deserving of 10 stars) or the philisophical complexity of God Emperor Dune (simply brilliant), they serve the story and the readers admirably by simply giving us a window into the Pre-Paul world of Arrakis. With familiar characters, explained mysteries, and a fast paced, entertaining gait, House Harkonnen is cause for the true Dune afficianado to give cheer. What's more, I recently read Dune again, and found that my further understadning of the characters gave the original series an additional depth which certainly isn't necessary, but nonetheless entirely pleasing. Naysayers will paint this book and H.A. as borrowed and simple, but in truth they reframe and carry on with all the reverenance and stylistic approximation they could possibly muster.

"Prelude" seems to be the magic word nowadays. Look around you, guys! Star Wars, The Killer Angels, Rebecca's Tale, etc. However, while some authors do it very poorly, others excel in the art of creating something original and thrilling from old classics. The latter is certainly the case of the new Dune saga by Brian Herbert.
To be honest with you, I don't read science fiction and fantasy novels quite often. Usually, I prefer to stick to mystery (I have always been an avid reader of the Sherlock Holmes cases) and historical novels. Nevertheless, like most people, I do have some weaknesses. As far as science fiction is concerned, the Dune saga is by far one of my favorites. It has it all: intriguing universe, complex characters, madness, action, love and hatred. If philosophy is your cup of tea, don't you worry. The Dune saga includes some very deep philosophical themes that will keep you awake at night.
I was first introduced to the Dune saga at the age of 14. I read all the books written by Frank Herbert with regard to the desert world. When I finally put down the last one (just before reading them all over again) I found myself asking the following questions: seriously though, how did Leto meet Jessica? Why, despite all her Bene Gesserit training, did Jessica decide to give birth to a boy? Why do House Atreides and House Harkonnen hate each other so much? How did Duncan join House Atreides? etc. Yes, my friends, you may say I am too damn curious, but I can't do nothing about it.
And, then, after I had lost all hope, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson came with the answers. "House Atreides" was an excellent novel, or, as some like to call it, a real page-turner: compelling plot, unexpected twists, interesting characters and, above all, a style so close to the original that it makes you believe old Frankie did write it after all. I was looking forward to reading the two would-be sequels. When "House Harkonnen" got out, I was among the first ones to buy it. Strangely enough, I began to read it and put it down after the first chapter. I cannot explain why. A year later, when "House Corrino" went gold, I decided to give "House Harkonnen" another chance (I can be very easy-going and complacent when I want to) and ... roughly speaking ... I liked it. Once again, Dune fans won't be disappointed. "House Harkonnen" is a very entertaining and exciting adventure. All the good and the bad guys are here, fighting the same battles, delivering the same good old speeches and plotting against each other. The main problem with this novel is that sometimes it lacks the energy of the first one. For example, at a certain point you are horrified to discover that Kailea, driven "insane" by an Harkonnen spy, plans to assassin Leto Atreides. However, while the only thing one wants is to know how everything turns out, one has to read endless chapters describing the Fremens riding their wormsands. These details may be thrilling to those who are not familiar with the Dune world, but those who are easily bored with it. Unfortunately, many chapters repeat the same mistake: cliché and déjà-vus (Fremens leading surprise attacks against Harkonnens, the Emperor gets mad and sends his soldiers, Kailea gets angry with Leto and so on). I am sorry to say that all of this could have been summarized in two books, not three. Something that really irritated me is that the authors remind us over and over again that Leto loves and cares about Kailea but cannot marry her because his father had told him to consider the best interests of House Atreides first. Hello? Most of us read "House Atreides" ... we are familiar with the problems ... no need to mention it so often. Furthermore, when reading "House Harkonnen", one sometimes gets the impression that everything goes to smoothly. Jessica and Leto fall in love too quickly; Jessica decides to give birth to a son too easily, etc. We know it all should happen (after reading Frank Herbert's Dune, of course), but it often lacks credibility.
Despite these minor negative aspects, "House Harkonnen" is a thrilling and generally well-written novel. If you are a Dune fan, read it, if only for Frank Herbert's sake. If you are a newcomer (and enjoy science fiction) you will certainly like this adventure. As far as I am concerned, as a the desert world fan, I rejoiced the chance to return to one of my favorite sagas and look forward to reading "House Corrino".

Good but not great. This and the other two 'house' books are nice accompaniments for the original series. It is a little jumbled, however, same as the others. "House Harkonnen" has events that happen with other houses as well. I get it, the inter-house politics has them irreparably intertwined, but a little more focus would've made it smoother.

This book was confusing in the beginning. It was only confusing because I didn't read the first part of the trilogy: Dune House Atradies. As I got to understand the story of the book It started to get more exciting. The book has many main characters. They are: Duke Leto Atredies, Duncan Idaho, Baaron Harkonnen, Abulurd Harkonnen (Baaron's step brother), and Liet-Kynes. Duke Leto is the leader of the Atredies house. He is a good leader and his people love him. He takes care of Pince Rhomber Vernius, the leader of House Vernius. Rhombur's Home planet Ix was taken over by the Bene Tlilax sending Rhombur into exile. Duncan Idaho is a kid who goes to the Ginaz school to learn to be a swordmaster. Baaron Harkonnen is the very cruel leader of house Harkonnen. He has a rare disease that makes his once attractive figure gain a lot of weight. Abulurd Harkonnen is the step brother of Baaron. He lives with his wife on a distant planet. He is unlike his step brother. He also doesn't take advantage of his power. In fact, he doesn't use it at all. And last is Liet-Kynes. He is a fremen and is the son of the imperial planetologist Pardot Kynes. In the book he goes throught man rough adventures with his blood brother Warrick.
I would recommend this book to anybody interested in science fiction and the Dune series.

Remember that little book, called 101 uses for a dead cat? I thought it had to the worst book even written. Had to be. Then I read the Dune House Atreides and even worse Dune House Harkonnen.

The story takes place right where Dune House Atreides Ends or 24 years before the beginning of Dune. The means that I'm stating House Atreides encoumpassed about 11 years. Dune House Harkonnen encompasses exactly 8 years. So that going to leave us 16 years before Dune. Paul is conceived at the end of the book, so that gets to 16 years before Dune, right in line with the original Dune book.

Like their other books, the authors do not try to emulate the heavy writing style of Frank Herbert. Some people call this Dune light, others call it crap. I call it smart. There's no way they could have pulled off the feat.

My issues aren't with the writing style, it's with the content. This series is supposed to be a prelude series, to explain events leading up to Dune. But instead the plot centers around events and characters which aren't even mentioned in the Dune series, such as the take over of Ix by the Tleixau and the Ixian heirs.

The book covers Duncan Idaho's seven years at the Ginaz swordmaster academy and Gurney Halleck's escape from Giedi Prime. Wasting chapters on Duncan's time in school? Come on. The problem is that there is no suspense, because assuming the reader has read the Dune books, they'll know the outcome of these events. If the reader hasn't read the Dune books they'll fail to see the connection to the other parts of the book and they'll be bored.

Kailea Vernius, the Ix princess becomes Leto's concubine, but Leto refuses to marry her, because he is reserving marriage for political purposes. This is consistent with Dune, where both Leto and his son Paul take concubines and use marriage as a political tool. I've always felt this was stupid. Using marriages to build alliances may have worked in feudal societies, but it's not something that you would expect to see in an adavanced spacefaring civilization.

Since so much of the story revolves around this tension between Kailea and Leto, the reader quickly becomes board and Leto, becomes a very unlikeable character. I kept thinking. What a jerk. Either make the marriage for political purposes or don't dally around.
Kailea may have lost everything, but she deserves to have a man who will be faithful to her. Kailea and Leto have a son named Victor. Since Victor isn't mentioned anywhere in the Dune series, chances are Victor doesn't make it past the next book alive.

Predictably, the Harkonnens, play a major role in the story. The Abulard and Emmi Rabban, the parents of Glosu Rabban are detailed in the story. The issue, that neither of them is mentioned in the Dune series, making their adventures irrelevant. Another problem, is that the Rabban's conceive a child 40 years after Glosu. That would make his mother at least 55. No way does a woman that old get pregnant. In Dune it doesn't state that Glosu and Feyd Rautha are brothers. It just states that they are both the Baron's nephew. Stupid. Apparently, the authors know as little about women as they do about writing.

Even the chapters with Liet-Kynes are screwed up. In the Dune series, Liet is the son of Pardot Kynes. However, in Dune Liet has the title of Dr. In House Harkonnen, Liet is born into Fremen society and isn't even attending school. Because Liet earned the Phd, it's far more likely that Liet grew up outside the Fremen culture and followed his father's career to Dune where he became part of the Fremen. Then again these events aren't really explained in Dune. My bigger issue with House Harkonnen, is that they failed to explain anything about how Dune could support the large sandworms. They don't have anything to eat, so unless they can process energy from the sun, there isn't anything to explain their huge bulk. In the Dune sequals, the sandworms disappear with the terraforming of Dune. But it's not explained why the sandworms need the heat or the desert. If anything their numbers would increase.

The story behind Dune is pretty lousy. Let's face it, so many of the characters and events are unrealistic. (The stillsuit idea hasn't worked in reality. The only people known to have worn them are actors from the Dune movies, with one actor calling it worse than death.)
But what made Dune great is the writing style. It's the ideas. Just an incredible depth to it. I've stated that the authors are incapable of replicating Frank. So by using some of the background behind Frank's lousy story and creating their pathetic plots lines, the authors have predictably achieved a lousy book.

For those of you hoping for any insight into Dune, into the Fremen culture, into anything, no matter how small, you'll be disappointed. Despite the fact that this book is more than 600 pages long, you'll learn nothing to help you understand the very complex and convoluted world of the Dune universe as created by Frank Herbert. I mean nothing.

Maybe I expected too much, but when I saw another Herbert associated with the Dune series, I automatically assumed that there would be deep sociological undercurrents. I thought the characters would have real, independent thoughts and actions. I was not expecting a blood-bath with predictable and rather shallow characterizations. My advice would be to re-read the other Dune books and let the classics stand by themselves.

Any Dune book is an enjoyable read, especially if one is not a diehard Frank Herbert fan hellbent on picking apart his son's efforts to continue the series. I enjoyed this book, even if it does get rather slow at times, and keep meaning to pick up the others to finish off the Dune series and haven't gotten around to it.

Let's face it: despite its brilliant plot and philosphical musings, the original Dune was not a book that you could simply sit down and read. It required thought and thorough concentration. Let's face something else: the current generation does not particularly enjoy working through a huge, complex, multi-faceted book. I think that House Harkonnen was written for kids more than adults: fast-paced and not spending much time on reflecting about the nature of the universe. Though traditionalists may wince, I think that the new book is keeping up with the times nicely. This is definetely the most readable book in the series. I've only had it for 3 days and I'm already on page 400!

First, read House Atreides then wait until you have a large block of time where reading won't get in the way of anything important. House Harkonnen is a true page turner and I was stuck with a reading addiction that led to me carrying the book with me everywhere I went. I even unplugged the phone.
The book stays true to the original Dune series in terms of plot and intrigue while improving the readability with an easier to read writing style. The fact that the book is just over 600 pages helps take the sting out of the hard cover price.
I can only hope that this writing duo will eventually leave the Harkonens and Atreides behind and branch out and create their own original series in some new part of the Dune universe or in a universe that is completely their own. Three cheers for Herbert and Anderson!

Lacks the tautness and focus of the original series. The plot is driven by coincidence, melodrama and deus ex machina, the dialog is bloated. Read by all means for background information to flesh out the Dune universe but do not expect quality on par with Frank Herbert's writings.

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson did a wonderful job taking readers on a great pre-Dune adventure. No, they're not Frank, but they are masterful storytellers. Learning more about Duke Leto, Jessica, Gurney, Idaho and the rest of the Dune cast only make rereading one of my favorite series even more enjoyable. I thought they did a brilliant job of it!

I still find the original Dune series far more complex in every way - character development, plot and even the vocabulary used. However, House Harkonnen is as good as it gets! Could not put it down, and like all Dune books, all hell begins to break loose in the last 100 pages - and all hell does break loose for the Atriedes family. Also, this is the first Dune book that has ended so very sadly. It's an interesting twist. I can't give it 5 stars, because only Frank gets 5, but I do give it 4. I loved it.

Just ok, long-winded, but interesting at times.
Just read the main Dune books and stay away from the prequels! OK ok, you can read Prequel #1 Atreides, too, but don;t read House Corrino! AK! EEGADZ!! Aweful!

Have just finished the book and loved it.They have provided a view into the history of the Imperium that was lacking from the original series and fills in some holes(i.e the Ginza training of Duncan).The greatest complaint with the book is the resolution of the House Vernius issue it lacked the expected intrigue I have come to expect from this series.I do however recommend this book to any reader of the DUNE series as a whole.

It is obvious that this guy is an apprentice, while his father
was a master. Why? I will not discuss his writing. I will just write some facts. In the book 3 "Children of the Dune", Frank Herbert wrote on page 98 that Jessica's mother name was Tanedia
Nerus, while Brian chose another person. In book 4, Lord Leto II
revealed a secret location of the planet X. I wounder how could Lord Leto (his grandfather) go to this planet for his training? There are a lot of things like this. At least Brian should read original 6 books. I mean, I am sick of greedy people
without qualities trying to make money in this way.
Dejan

Loved the original Dune. This book was a definite disappointment. The Harkonnens are brutal, stupid too. Wait until you read about The Padishah Emperor Shadam. He makes the Harkonnens look like geniuses. It does not make sense to me how two houses that treat their subjects so horribly can even hope to stay in power. I was stuck in an Airport and needed something to read and I gave it a shot. Some interesting background info but mostly a bummer. Save your money.