Book 6), Chapterhouse: Dune (Dune Chronicles

Reread the entire series recently. I read them originally when they were first published. This is the last one Frank wrote (as opposed to his son Brian). This one is as well written and has as interesting a plot as the others (except the first, Dune). Lots of thoughtful discussion and philosophy about religion, the purpose of life and government. A bit more action than Heretics and God Emperor. What struck me about rereading it this after all these years is how relevant a lot of it is still. (It also shows how a lot of what is written today is pretty shallow.) I won't say it is a book for everyone, but if you like serious SF, this book and series are a must read.

This is the final book in the original Dune series. It was enjoyable, but slow in some parts. I pushed through anticipating the resolution of a magnificent saga, only to be disappointed. The book ended with a total cliffhanger. I don't know if my lackluster impression of the book was secondary to having read the entire series at once, being Duned out, or Herbert being old and running out of new ideas. Still, a must read for Dune fans.

I really enjoy reading Chapterhouse: Dune as the last book in Frank Herbert's six-book Dune series. I've read the entire series more than 20 times (at least once per year since I read Dune for the first time) and I continue to enjoy all the books. Highly recommended.

I just re-read "Chapterhouse Dune" on my kindle, probably for the 3rd or 4th time. Herbert was a genius! Nothing even comes close to this except for Tolkein and Herbert made his characters much deeper and more complicated, although Tolkein's "Silmarrilion" comes close to any of the Dune books complexity. Again any Dune book by Frank Herbert is worth your time, but none are a light read.

I couldent be more pleased! I got my 1st edition chapterhouse:Dune, it came wrapped in bubble wrap and completely as advertised in near perfact condition, which is amazing for the very low price I paid, and given its a 32 year old book. I have zero complaints.

Good read. But to be clear the plot is predictable and the ghola aspect of the Dune universe has become trite. The excerpt from the next novel apparently brings back all the characters from Dune past. Ugh. Character deaths have been debased and this hurts the series as a whole. Frankly, this whole thing could have ended with the God Emperor.

I paid for the Kindle edition...and you have stolen my money. Do your damn jobs! Proofread a new edition!
I hope to see you in my ER and see the look in your eyes as you wonder if I will do my job as thoughtlessly as you have done yours.

I've read the softcover version of this book, and have now re-read it on Kindle. Everything is great, except for the occasional formatting issue. For example, italicized text where it shouldn't be, or dashes in words that shouldn't be there. Other than that, a good experience on the Kindle.

Boy, what a disappointment. The previous book promised some action, and it didn't happen till 3 chapters to the end and even then in was ho-hum. A lot of questions left unanswered and as a whole very unsatisfying.

I paid for the Kindle edition...and you have stolen my money. Do your damn jobs! Proofread a new edition!
I hope to see you in my ER and see the look in your eyes as you wonder if I will do my job as thoughtlessly as you have done yours.

I've read the softcover version of this book, and have now re-read it on Kindle. Everything is great, except for the occasional formatting issue. For example, italicized text where it shouldn't be, or dashes in words that shouldn't be there. Other than that, a good experience on the Kindle.

Boy, what a disappointment. The previous book promised some action, and it didn't happen till 3 chapters to the end and even then in was ho-hum. A lot of questions left unanswered and as a whole very unsatisfying.

The last of the great dune books.
Frank Herbert was a genius. No offense to his son but I think you should stop writing more dune books I just finished chapter house for the fifth time and jumped straight into hunters of dune and it's like night and day you just don't have the complexity that your father did. This book though is amazing.

I love Frank Hebert's real novels, but don't think you are getting the final chapter of his otherwise impeccable Dune series in reading this awful book! It's so obvious to me that it has been written by a completely different author who shared none of the novel crafting skills of Frank Herbert nor his vision of where Dune as a series was supposed to end up. The style of writing is completely different - obnoxiously amature. There is no strong central plot, let alone Frank's usual flair for multilayers. The parade of minor and forgettable characters dialogue in manic, circular and pointless ways for most of the book, before anything really happens.

Since frank's son, Brian Herbert wrote a follow-on book which he freely admitted was developed from Frank's notes, I look no further for the obvious explanation - Brian wrote this one too, while his father was sick and dying and inaccessible to lend any help to the process. Yes, there was probably an outline already, but it's very clear to me that the real author did not share Frank's understanding or even appreciation of the subject. Brian should have been more honest about it, but then money was at stake, and that seems to be the major motivation of the real author of Chapterhouse Dune. And when does Frank ever leave you hanging at the end? It was a setup to sell Brian's follow-on novel plain and simple.

It's amazing how many Dune enthusiasts miss the obvious and gush about this monstrosity! Don't bother is my advice. There are no answers in it to the burning questions Frank left us with from his previous Dune books.

It doesn’t make sense to rate this book on its own. It’s probably the weakest of the six other books if one tried. The Dune-iverse and all its data lived within Frank’s Mentat brain. This book was as satisfying as it could be given the death of his wife and, not soon after, his own death.

The only thing that would make it better would be six more books written by Frank. I might prefer relying on my own Mentat projections to the Brian Herbert series (Though, maybe some of Frank’s pearls of wisdom lay within his offspring after all). Wikipedia summary will suffice until I get the time.

Way too much philosophical verbiage for what I prefer in a science fiction novel. The action content was interrupted so frequently with this rambling that one loses the storyline, in my opinion. Maybe this is deliberate?

[Nota Bene: As Frank Herbert's last two published novels in the Dune series, Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune, along with the unwritten Dune 7, in fact comprise a single story that happened to be divided into three parts, I'll post the same review for both of the two published volumes. This review contains no spoilers.]

During the first half of his literary career, Frank Herbert focused most on coming to terms with what it meant to be conscious. The evolution of his thinking on the subject can be traced from real-world events which happened to him in his youth, through his earliest published science fiction stories, crude as they were, and on into novels like The Dragon in the Sea and the stories that would coalesce into The Godmakers, and certainly The Santaroga Barrier and Destination: Void. This line of thinking reached its fruition in the novels Dune and Dune Messiah.

Having expanded his understanding of the full spectrum of consciousness about as far as it could go (although admittedly he never stopped tinkering with the subject), in the second half of his career Herbert refocused his attention on how the limitations imposed upon individual consciousness - or perhaps it might be better to say the limited perspective encompassing a single human lifetime - leaves humanity ill-equipped to confront an infinite and ever-changing universe. In effect we end up in a continuous crisis mode, always vainly insisting that the world of tomorrow conform to the expectations of yesterday. We're persistently and comically always shocked to discover our assumptions are wrong. Elsewhere I have described this aspect of Herbert's thinking, the human failure to deal with, or even to recognize, the implications of an unbounded universe, as an absolute-infinity breach. This theme begins to emerge in Children of Dune and is especially prominent in God Emperor of Dune, for a final surmounting of the absolute-infinity breach is the primary target of Leto II's Golden Path. But we also encounter the concern in Herbert's final trilogy: Heretics of Dune, Chapterhouse: Dune, and (by implication) in the unwritten Dune 7.

It is a hallmark of Herbert's imagination that he pursues an ever-elaborating expanse of concerns, always tracing a spectral pathway across a continuum of broadening bandwidth, chasing after considerations of widening implications across grander and grander scales of magnitude. An original interest in a fleeting moment of hyperconsciousness ultimately led Herbert into defining consciousness, hyperconsciousness and subconsciousness in all their aspects and dramatizing what he had learned and concluded in his stories; likewise his contemplations of the diverse implications of the absolute-infinity breach. And it might be added that he pushed his spectral analytical approach through time as well, so the Dune saga becomes probably the most temporally discontinuous series ever written. The first three novels take place roughly around the year 21,200 AD. The drama of God Emperor of Dune unfolds 3,500 years later, and that of the last three books (Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune are difficult novels, and attempting to distinguish them as separate novels, or independent from the unwritten Dune 7, is an artificial and arbitrary exercise) takes place an additional 1,500 years after that, placing us circa 26,200 AD.

As the primary goal of Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune was to shatter the innate mythmaking in humanity that compels us to conservative convergence, these last three books are intended to unveil the consequences of living in a multiverse that has become irreparably divergent. This divergence followed in the wake of the downfall of the God Emperor and the subsequent Scattering of humanity not throughout multiple star systems or galaxies, but across multiple universes which are discontinuous with one another. Any threat can now come upon our heroes and heroines from any direction, but with all the eggs no longer in one basket, no matter what catastrophe might befall locally, the whole story can never come to a final end.

In Heretics of Dune (1984) and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985), the Bene Gesserit has recovered substantially from the tribulation of the era of the God Emperor, and now we're allowed a far more intensive view of the inner workings of the Sisterhood than ever before. But the Bene Gesserit and the remnants of the old Imperium, as ever, are confronted by a host of power-hungry enemies, new and old, in the usual style of Herbert's Machiavellian plotting. It is these plots-within-plots that seemingly all other reviewers have focused on, and I'll forego doing the same here.

Herbert said it wasn't until he was writing Children of Dune that he came to understand that an important role of an author was to entertain his readership. That will come as surprising news to some of you who like Herbert, and not to some of you who don't. But it's important to note that the word "entertainment" carries different connotations for readers than it does for hacks or more seriously-aspiring authors. Entertainment is something that is doled out to the action-adventure-thriller crowd, to those who love reading or going to the movies in no small part for the sheer escapism of the thing. Now I'm not overly bigoted about this. There's nothing more boring than a book that's, well, boring. But I think what Herbert was getting at was that as he matured as a writer he came to see, as many writers do, that plot per se is less interesting than character, no matter how many car chases or lasgun exchanges are involved.

I for one can't separate a reading of the last books of the Dune series from knowledge of what was going on in Herbert's life as he wrote them, which he did, by that way, at an absolutely furious pace. This happened to be during the most stressful part of his entire life. His wife, Beverly, had been dying for ten years, and the last two years of her life were especially painful for her and for her husband, both physically and emotionally. I believe that, had he lived, Frank Herbert would have easily written the Dune 7 novel to complete the series. I am less sanguine that he could ever have written another coherent novel after that one.

By the time God Emperor of Dune was published in 1981, and with the signed contracts for the later Dune novels in hand, Herbert was financially secure but, as I've suggested, he was suffering from increasing emotional instability. Furthermore, I can't help believing he was struck by a supreme irony, which is that, like Paul Maud'Dib, he now found himself hemmed in by the conservative mythology of his own image which he himself had created. To this day you can still see this in reviews of his later books, wherein readers who were born after Herbert's death still bemoan the fact that his later books are not like Dune in style. Everyone wanted, and continues to want, Frank Herbert to write books that seem like quote-unquote Frank Herbert books: everyone wanted, and wants, Herbert to remain frozen unchanging in 1965. But in his later years Herbert, with his financial security, felt free to try to break out of that myth regardless of the demands and expectations of his fans, and for this I applaud him. I'm sure he did have basic plot elements in mind for the last three books of the series - call this the "entertainment" necessary to bring the masses along - but it's quite obvious that he had already grown more interested in character development than in weaving such masterful webs of palace intrigue anymore.

Herbert wanted to change course, but he had not yet found a new direction. I see hints of this in Children of Dune, in which Duncan Idaho tells Alia about the practice of setting out blocks of marble in the desert to be etched by the blowing sand of a Coriolis storm. Idaho argues that the sculpted pieces produced are beautiful but they are not art, as they are not carved according to human volition. But in the latter books it is Sheeana who creates an abstract sculpture she calls "The Void," which is art. How might these two kinds of sculpture compare? What is the symbolic significance of Sheeana's abstract work? The question is particularly relevant, it seems to me, when Sheeana's piece is recognized as a symbol set in tension with a Van Gogh which, at the end of Chapterhouse: Dune is carted off into a new, uncharted universe. Clearly, I think, the matter can be read as a form of self-psychoanalysis undertaken by the author. "The Void" is the primitive and unformed new expression welling up inside him; the old and familiar, even conventional Van Gogh has been let slip away with a fond farewell.

A kind of quantum uncertainty pervades Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune which are, after all, a single story occupying multiple volumes. We do not have enough pieces to interpret this story, which must therefore remain finally unadjudicated and unjudgeable. This is because the unwritten Dune 7 was also to have comprised a full third of the complete tale. We can see that Herbert was bending writing to a new direction, and we can hazard some educated guesses about (entertaining) plot elements that would have informed the third book, but we can never know. The best we can do is ponder any written records or notes that Herbert may have left behind as poles in the sand to mark the path he intended to follow. Anyone who possesses any such notes, it seems to me, can be a good steward to the memory of Frank Herbert only by publishing them in unexpurgated form: lacking that, Herbert's career accomplishments can never be properly assessed. And that is an injustice to an important 20th century American writer.

Bob R Bogle
Author of Frank Herbert: The Works

I found this to be the most difficult Dune book to get through. Long stretches of the story were spent inside the characters' heads (a problem in the earlier books as well). The dialogue is too often stilted and clipped. The action, when it does happen, is mostly anti-climatic. The story remains interesting enough to keep you plodding along (especially when you've invested the time reading the first five books), but it could have been pruned by about 100 pages. Chapterhouse's ending is a cliffhanger, with multiple plot lines unresolved, and unfortunately Herbert died before he could write the next book.

Frank Herbert wrote three good Dune novels: DUNE, DUNE MESSIAH, and HERETICS OF DUNE. He also wrote three poor ones: CHILDREN OF DUNE, GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE, and CHAPTERHOUSE: DUNE. None of the others--by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson--are bad. More Dune novels are planned, but the chronological order of the seventeen that exist as I write can be found here: http://www.the store.com/Dune-Saga-Chronological-Order/lm/1COADLEGRZEOC . Read them in that order, and read the poor ones too. The sludge requires patience, but the story elements contribute to an impressive epochal concept.

CHAPTERHOUSE: DUNE closely follows the preceding HERETICS OF DUNE. The old interstellar empire of humanity, once subjugated to the peaceful autocracy of the God Emperor, wavers on the edge of extermination. It is threatened by the newly established human realms of the Scattering. Traditional factions, like the Spacing Guild and the Bene Gesserit, all face slavery...or liquidation.

But if you are looking for science fiction that is exciting, or at least interesting, from beginning to end, look elsewhere. CHAPTERHOUSE: DUNE requires labor and patience. Pages and pages of talk about government, law, and religion are inappropriate. This is supposed to be science fiction, not a social studies textbook. Still, some of the book is absorbing, and if you endure the boredom, you emerge with a valuable frame of mind.

This appears to be the time that the "tyrant" Leto II saw for the need of the Golden Path. Unfortunately, Frank Herbert passed away after the writing of this book. However, his son (Brian Herbert along with Kevin J. Anderson) has announced that he has found the notes for the remaining book(s) and am currently writing two more books to finish off the Dune series. Therefore, while this book does end in a bit of a cliffhanger, this may be resolved within the next couple of years.

This book resumes a few years after Heretics of Dune and the death of Miles Teg and destruction of Dune. The main focus on this book is the Bene Geseret as they attempt to turn their home planet into a replacement for the Dune Sandworms and also to battle the Honored Matres.

It all leads to a wonderful ending that is actually quite the cliff-hanger with many unanswered questions. The biggest question concerns the Honored Matres. While the Honored Matres are wiping out the Bene Geseret, they appear to be fleeing from another enemy themselves. The enemy is not revealed by the end of this book, but I believe that this is the underlying purpose of Leto II's Golden Path.

So, that begs the question. Should this book be read knowing that this ends in a huge cliffhanger? Because the conclusion to the book is in the works I would say whole-heartedly "Yes!" Because Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are writing from the notes of Frank Herbert, the final books should contain the original story that Frank wanted to portray.

Also, if you have read the other five books and are debating whether to read this one, well, you would be nuts to stop at the end of the fifth book and should not hesitate to continue on to this book.

I did find this an enjoyable read, though difficult and slow. I have no regrets reading this book, even if it wasn't being concluded.

"Chapterhouse: Dune" concludes the "Dune Chronicles" several years after the preceding story. In his final book, Frank Herbert continues his exceptional writing style with a fine mixture of politics, warfare, and individual introspection. Sadly, the death of the author for this fascinating series might have abruptly ended the series.

I enjoy following a new ghola introduced specifically for this chronicle. Sheeana has matured quite a bit, taking on the Reverend Mother qualities traditionally expressed in the past. The Duncan and Murbella relationship has evolved nicely, giving the Bene Gesserit a handle on the Honored Matre. Reading the view of the Great Honored Matre and the Mother Superior, respective leaders of their schools, gives great insight into the differences and similarities between the two.

I get the impression another book was to follow this one since several strong characters weren't utilized to their full potential and questions left unanswered. Duncan Idaho's regulated actions by the Bene Gesserit fearing he might be a Kwisatz Haderach limit the use of his Weapons Master abilities. Also Scytale and two mysterious characters in Duncan's visions become a non-factor. The series has evolved with spice addiction falling into the background, although the sandworm is not as common as millennium past. No appendixes conclude the novel but still a glossary would have sufficed. A detailed map of the significant terrains, especially with the climate transformation, would have been useful.

I highly recommend the series to any fan of the science fiction genre.

Thank you.

The Honored Matres have returned from The Scattering and have shaken the very foundations of the Bene Gesserit. The numerical superiority of the Matres is causing the Bene Gesserit to fight what seems to be a losing battle. The novel concludes with a desparate ploy to save the Bene Gesserit and will determine the future of the Old Empire.

This is Frank Herbert's last novel prior to his passing. This is a comprehensive work that is worthy of the remainder of the Dune series (though ironically Dune was destroyed in the fifth book.) Herbert's writing is detailed and compelling, as always. If you have read the first five books in this series, you must read this one. One question I have that will never be answered is this: did he intend this to be the end considering this was finished about the time his wife passed away, or was he intending on continuing the series. The book definately concludes with an opening for continuation of the series. However, while Herbert's son has written various "prequel" books, I hope he does NOT continue this series. It would seem to show grave disrespect to the man who must certainly be considered one of the two greatest science fiction writers (along with Isaac Asimov) of the twentieth century.

It appears at God Emperor Leto II's Golden Path has brought the destruction of not only Dune, but humanity itself. The Bene Gesserit are, slowly, turning their beloved planet Chapterhouse into a haven for sandworms, but the whorish Honored Matre's are breathing down their neck and the ax is raised. The last of the Atredies must find a way to escape into the Scattering or be trapped forever beneath the thumb of a chaos worse than any that has come before...

This book is slow, tedious, confusing, and utterly captivating. From someone who finishes 2 or 3 books a day if they're good enough, this one took me 2 weeks to finish and, circa page 275, helped me towards a nice hour-long nap. The last chapter only adds to the confusion, one in which I've yet to decide the old couple the most recent ghola-Idaho sees throughout this novel are emancipated Face Dancers, the elderly couple from American Gothic, aliens from the Scattering, or what-not.

Still, if you're a fan of the series, you'll want to read this last work of F. Herbert's before his death.

For almost half a year I read Frank Herbert's six DUNE books. When I started out with DUNE, I only read it because I loved the David Lynch movie. But I was hooked.
Now, it's all over. No more DUNE for poor me. Oh sure, there's the Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson DUNE books, but they're nothing compared to the brilliance of Frank Herbert. Don't get me wrong, they're good in their own respect, but they lack the depth & meaning that the original six had.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, as one of my favorite DUNE characters Miles Teg had been killed, and Dune itself destroyed.
But thankfully, Frank Herbert's magic is readily apparent. Not only do you get to read an incredible story, but you get to amass a wealth of knowledge about humanity that no Humanities class could ever teach.
I would've loved so much to find out more about those people Duncan see in his visions, but I probably never will. It's too bad, that would've made a great book.
Many people have talked about how unfinished the DUNE legacy is because Frank Herbert died before he could write another book, but I think it better this way.
Frank Herbert's imagination gave us the DUNE universe, and by not finishing it, I think he gave us a doorway into that universe, to interpet as we see fit. We can use our own imagination to finish what Frank Herbert started, and that's perhaps the greatest gift Frank Herbert could ever give.

This is the last volume of the saga. The Reverend Mothers of the Bene Gesserit are confronted to the Honored Matres. The twist is the capture of one Honored Matre, in the previous volume, and her training as a Reverend Mother, so that she can join the physical capabilities of the Horored Matres and the psychological and mental capabilities of the Reverend Mothers. So the two hostile orders, after a swift war, with the victory of the Bene Gesserit first, immediately reversed into the victory of the Honored Matres, are joined into one by this ex-captive Honored Matre become Reverend Mother. She hence becomes the leader of both orders and she can fulfill the plan of her predecessors, in the Bene Gesserit as well as of the Honored Matres, in joining the two by teaching diplomacy to the Bene Gesserit and by educating the barbaric Honored Matres. A new phase in the development of both orders will be reached by the synthesis of both, through symbiosis. But we also have the explanation of the origin of the Honored Matres. They are the descendants, in the Scattering, of the Fish Speakers who were the guards of the Tyrant Leto II issued from the religion of the sister of Muabdib, the father of Leto II. This religion, dominated by a woman, was an administrative democracy turned dictotarial, and in the Great Scattering that followed the death of the Tyrant Leto II, these Fish Speakers that Leto II had recuperated from his « aunt » join forces with wild Reverend Mothers and Scattered Reverend Mothers. They joined the physical power of the Fish Speakers and the sexual obsession of the Abomination who created the religion from which they originated. They, on the other side, neglected the mental element of the Reverend Mothers, the Bene Gesserit, by being cut from this Bene Gesserit. So they are mentally underdeveloped and they are only aiming at controling the world through violence, that they had brought to an unrivaled level, and sex. They turned criminal and conquering when they were pushed back, into the Old Empire, from the Scattering by new beings probably created by some genetic manipulation devised by the Bene Tleilaxu, the famous Futars (half cats and half men) that can only behave, have a coherent action if they have their Handlers behind, these Handlers being the humans who are programed to control them. This plan succeeds, but four people refuse it and decide to escape : the last Tleilaxu Master who was the prisoner of the Bene Gesserit and never submitted (he carries a whole bank of ghola cells that he managed to keep secret from the Bene Gesserit) ; the last Ghola of Idaho Duncan who had always refused to submit to the Bene Gesserit and willfully take part in their plans, though he helped them but always as a prisoner and because of his « love » for the ex-Honored Matre turned Reverend Mother ; the last descendant of Leto II, the Tyrant, who has the power to dominate the sandworms, who saved one from Dune when Dune was destroyed, and who started reviving the worm civilization on Chapter House, with the benediction of the Bene Gesserit, but also as a well-hidden challenge to that Bene Gesserit, and she takes a few of those « baby » worms to the Scattering with her ; and finally the ghola of Teg Miles, the Bashar of the Bene Gesserit who managed their final attack and victory turned defeat and then turned victory back again. In other words the last remnants of the Atreides family escape from the new order of the alliance between the Reverend Mothers of the Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres. When the mental powers of the Bene Gesserit are joined to the physical and sexual powers of the Honored Matres, leading to an enlightened dictatorship, the only sensible attitude is to escape and fly away, and there are always some accomplices in such a situation. So they succeed. We will never know the following phase, that is to say the foreseeable confrontation of the new Bene Gesserit and Honored Matres order on one hand and the new civilization the escapees are going to produce in the Scattering. But well, a saga is never finished. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.

Who loses? The reader. This is a surprisingly weak book to follow the brave and bold Heretics of Dune, a novel in which Frank took his ideas further than any reader might have imagined. Only one year elapsed between the release of Heretics and Chapterhouse. Frank may have been trying to capitalize on the success of his Dune franchise by getting another book on the shelf quickly. This reads as though the author had run out of ideas and was playing for time. Very little occurs in the first three-quarters of the novel. Almost all of the action takes place in the final hundred pages of the book, ending in that tantalizing cliffhanger. I think this could have been a much better novel had Frank waited and allowed his ideas sufficient time to germinate, but then again, if he had waited too much longer, Heretics would have been the end of the series. Given the strength of that novel, that may not have been a bad outcome.

This was the last DUNE book that Frank Herbert would ever get to write, and it's a good thing that he even got to finish it, because he died shortly after. The title of the book was given by his wife, Bev, who died before Frank did. I've read all the books in the series, some of them more than once. Although I liked this book, I wouldn't say it's Dune's equal. But it is definitely worth reading and is one of the best endings to a series that I've read. What I mean is that I found the ending very appropriate. THE FOLLOWING MAY BE SPOILING MATERIAL IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ALL OF BOOK FIVE--HERETICS OF DUNE. As you know, at the end of book 5, Dune is destroyed completely. In book six, another planet is being transformed into Dune. Forests and jungles are being stripped away in favor of the desert. At least one sandworm was salvaged from Dune and is being placed on this "new" Dune. But the primary focus of book six is on a new threat known as the HONORED MATRES. These are powerful females, very much like the Bene Gesserit. As in most of the Dune books, the battles aren't so much physical as they are verbal and psychological. Some old characters make reappearances in this book and some new characters are introduced. I'm not sure if Herbert intended this to be his last Dune book, but from what I've read, it's a very fitting ending to a fantastic series!

this book details the seeming hopeless struggle of the Bene Gesserit against the Honored Matres, who have destroyed Arrakis and driven the Bene Gesserit into hiding on the hidden planet Chapterhouse. there, the Bene Gesserit are creating a new Dune and attempting to breed a new population of the great sandworms.
as usual, Herbert has severely altered his focus between books, although this time not quite as drastically. still, it is wise while reading Herbert to not become attached to characters, alliances or situations as they are subject to drastic change, indeed even complete obliteration, at any given moment- heros become villains, villains become heros, main characters become mere pawns. perhaps most frustrating this time around is the virtual imprisonment of Duncan Idaho within a no-ship to hide his presence from the Matres. still, he is vitally important to the main thrust of the novel and to the conclusion, which is perhaps the most brilliant and perplexing twist Herbert has ever thrown at us. after much head-scratching and pondering, it seems to me the perfect end to the greatest sci-fi epic ever.

This book is perhaps the best in the entire series. Although starkly different from the original, Chapterhouse:Dune is rich in philosophy, religious commentary, and novel science fiction concepts. Darwi Odrade is perhaps the best-drawn character in the entire Dune universe; although Duncan and Sheeana can also be considered the main characters, it is Darwi that gives true force to this book.

The ending, although considered a cliffhanger, can in fact serve as a concrete conclusion. (Note: Spoilers ahead.) This is the last book Frank Herbert wrote before his death, and some people have said that Daniel and Marty are actually Frank and his wife Beverly in disguise waving goodbye. This being said, I could have done without Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's awful 'Hunters of Dune.' It did not feel like a continuation of the Dune saga at all; I felt that the whole 'omg Omnius is back' twist completely betrayed the original Herbert's vision.

Chapterhouse is fascinating at every turn; the looming confrontation between Odrade and the Honored Matre Spider Queen was more than enough to hold my interest. Dune fans (if they've read the first five books) will not be disappointed with Chapterhouse.

In the past twelve years (since the HERETICS OF DUNE), the Honoured Matres have devastated the Bene Gesserit to the point their adversaries are nearing extinction; their last enclave is a slowly changing Chapterhouse into the desert realm like they once had on Dune. The desperate Bene Gesserit Mother Superior Darwi Odrade knows her Sisterhood is in deep trouble. Their only hope resides with technology taken from the now almost extinct Bene Tleilax whose last survivor Scytale is in captivity.

The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood creates a ghola of Miles Teg, but no one knows how to use it against the enemy only that they must train the ghola to be their counter weapon as he has been used in many lifetimes before. Meanwhile the Sisterhood also mentors with training the application of the Coda ex Honoured Matre Murbella and her lover Duncan Idaho in hopes that they prove useful. However a tribe of Jews offer to help the Bene Gesserit as they know what the final solution means to them if the Honoured Matres win as seems likely.

This is a reprint of the 1985 final book written by Frank Herbert in the Dune Chronicles with the concentration about 90 plus percent on Odrade and her efforts to save her group by correcting a major defect in all of the Bene Gesserit that leaves them vulnerable to the enemy. This is a fascinating well written tale; however that focus also means minimal appearance by the Honoured Matres so the big theme never moves forward much. The completion of that overarching saga was done in collaboration by the late great author's son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson based on notes left behind. Fans should read previous Dune books before Chapterhouse and the collaboration of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson starting with HUNTERS OF DUNE to obtain the full flavor as this entry is a betweener tale.

Harriet Klausner

In re-reading the entire series of Dune novels (most for the first time in 30 years), I have come from them with a renewed sense of their depth, flawless writing, and wonderful action. In this 6th book in the series, a direct follow-on to Heretics, the Bene Gesserit are in danger of annihilation by the Honored Matres, the savage empire run by females with new powers of seduction and sex. By far the best part of the book is the continued explication of the BG: what they really want, how they are changing their philosophy and tactics, how they do what they do. It is one of the most complete imaginative constructions in scifi, fascinating from the first page to the end. In addition to their thoughts, there are wonderfully enigmatic epigrams throughout; the density of ideas and concepts is rivaled only by Octavia Butler in my view. It is akin to reading ancient literature from an alien culture, say, the classical greeks with their polytheistic universe.

The plot - how to save the sisterhood and perhaps even the Golden Path - is packed with action and surprises. The Bene Tleilax and all other original powers are either destroyed or hopelessly co-opted. Odrade, confirmed in her role as mother superior, is hatching a plan to deal with the deluge of the Matres, who are ruthlessly violent and utterly devoid of morals. The captured young Matre, Murbella, has been trained in the BG way as a new kind of hybrid, though her loyalty to the BG is indisputed. Meanwhile, Odrade is working on a diplomatic mission, to get into the heart of the barbarian empire to hatch her plan, very possibly at the cost of her life. It is a terrible, desperate gamble that remains deliciously difficult to discern right to the very end.

I don't want to reveal what happens, of course. At any rate, the results are splendidly ambiguous. On the one hand, the sisterhood appears poised to survive, but at great cost that may transform them fundamentally. That being said, a cohort escapes, which includes Duncan and Teg (gholas both) as well as the original cast as clonable cells within the last surviving Tleilaxu master. There are also the mysterious Face Dancers who continually appear to Duncan, a development that is completely unexplained.

Clearly, Herbert intended to write another volume or two but passed away before he could. Nonetheless, I believe that this book offers so many clues as to what it all means - the search to diversify mankind to such an extent that no one will ever rule them all again - that it is indeed complete. That being said, it is impossible that the follow-on volumes by his son and the inferior hack, Kevin Anderson, can match the intellectual and dramatic density of the original series. Only Frank Herbert could have continued it, so their knock-offs will fall way short of the mark.

Recommended with the greatest enthusiasm.

The other books of the Dune series pale in camparison to this one. Of my memories of the entire seies this stands out the most vivid and magnifiecent of all of them. Frank Herbert is at his best in "Chapterhouse Dune". It is for the intellectual with its series of mind muddling and complex, intricate plots that are devilish in their severe twists and turns. For once it is not a book with simplistic and overused plots. It also provokes a variety of raw, primal emotions throughtout that cotradicts the intellectuality of the work, but however when thse two are combined a surprising compound is prodced (as proved).We cry at the Sea Child's death, and with joyous uproar greet Rebecca's arrival and existence. One is able to relate to the events of the book, it is realistic with a grasp of material matters and emotions beyond that of any other author. I liked this one the best (obviously!)!!

The only way I've managed to describe the writing style in this book has been, the rantings of a man who has seen the face of God and is struggling against the limitations of the English language to capture it. The wording is precisely vague dancing around a meaning that makes you feel as though you understand but woder why it can't said outright. So many things exquisitely detailed and defined yet the plot the true meaning of the book is more profound and hidden under layers. At first you think is about sex, then you see its about us being controlled by our most base urges and needing to evolve past that to expand. It's an difficult read that I found engaging with its mystery but ultimately me unfulfilled.

Some have said that this book ended with another book intended to follow it. While I tend to agree, those who say the ending isn't satisfying obviously don't appreciate Frank Herbert or his visions. This review is mainly for experienced Dune fans: those who know what the "Scattering" was, well, this is like the final Scattering. The characters branch out in different directions, with different destinations and unknown fates ahead of them. Rather than complain about this, and ask for a typical happy ending where you know exactly what happens, why not appreciate the genius of a final Scattering? Let your imagination run wild. The characters are thrust into unknown futures.. end of story. A whole world of possibilities exists, considering the people who depart and the intentions they have. I won't add any plot spoilers here for those who haven't read it yet, but let me just say this is a wonderful book. Maybe it was hard to appreciate the ending the first time I read it, but on the second, and especially the third read I was fully content with it. Unfortunately, I am deathly afraid that Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson will now attempt to write a Dune "conclusion" even more horribly bastardized than their Dune "prequels". The only problem I had with this novel was Frank Herbert's introduction of the Jews into it, once he did that, he laid a foundation for his son to introduce all of these "Terran" (ancient earth) ideas into all of his crappy books. Anyways, long story short, don't listen to the bad reviews, this is a fascinating book, _every bit_ as excellent as the other five. Nothing ever has, or ever will rival these books.

This review is not just a review of the audio version of Chapterhouse Dune, it is also a review of the Dune Chronicles and my experiences with re-reading the entire series.

In January last year my close friend, Joel, and I set out to re-read the Dune series. We are both big fans of the series and we wanted to re-read them from the very first book taking us right up to Chapterhouse Dune (or if we wanted to right up to Hunters of Dune). We decided to not read them back to back, but split them apart and read other books in between. It was going to be a year of excellent science fiction reading. Along the way we took breaks as our personal lives intruded and Joel welcomed the birth of their second child. However the Dune re-read continued. In so many ways 2012 was a really hard year for me in my own personal life but the Dune re-read pushed me through the hard times. Last night I turned the final page on Chapterhouse Dune. So it took us over a year but we got there!

I am a Dune nerd. I have a large Sandworm tattoo that starts at my ankle and runs up to my knee encompassing Shai Hulud with Paul Atreides. I have travelled thousands of miles to meet Kevin J Anderson, who continued with the Dune series, and I quite often quote Dune in my everyday life. I am to Dune what many people are to Star Wars and Star Trek. I can't recall how many times I've re-read it. At least six times, but I expect the accurate figure must be closer to ten. I discovered the series in 2000, and for the last 13 years I have loved re-reading it.

I love every single re-read. I notice more. Novels that I didn't enjoy as much the first time (like Dune Messiah) I have loved and appreciated more the second and third and fourth times. It still stands out for as the best and most epic science fiction series in the world. It is a timeless classic, and I'm sure my friends and husband are sick of me raving about it. But it is a classic!

With this re-read I decided to switch from my paperback copies to the audio for the original six novels. I am so glad I did. The voices of the narrators in these novels are extraordinary. They voice Dune the way I've never imagined it before. Especially in Chapterhouse Dune. Narrators Euan Morton, Katherine Kellgren, Scott Brick and Simon Vance are some of the best narrators I've ever listened to and they do justice to this epic final book in the Dune Chronicles. I will be coming back to the audios again and again, even just for the voice of the Great Honoured Matre! For me the narrators were an excellent choice and I intend to look up other books by these narrators.

If you are a science fiction fan and haven't read Dune or listened to the audios, I highly recommend it. It is adventure, romance (yes there is even romance - the decision Duncan must make at the end of Chapterhouse Dune is enough to well up any romantic), and some of the best thought provoking fiction out there. You won't be disappointed.

The Dune Chronicles are by far thee Greatest Series ever written. I have read the entire series many times and for their depth, perception, layers of subtlety, demanding desire to make you want to understand EXACTLY what is going on, I would stack them against any series, any book. This series caused me to become a Sci-Fi fan and very few books since have stood at the same level as DUNE. Thank you Frank Herbert and also thanks to his wife Beverly (Both have left this world and gone on to the next.) Now it is in Brian Herberts hands and I'm sure that with his Fathers Notes and Training along with co-writer Kevin Anderson he will continue to awe and inspire us.
I wish them (Brian and Kevin) nothing but luck and hope they know that thousands (millions perhaps??) are waiting for DUNE:7.
I will definitely be buying it when it comes out!!

In the past twelve years (since the HERETICS OF DUNE), the Honoured Matres have devastated the Bene Gesserit to the point their adversaries are nearing extinction; their last enclave is a slowly changing Chapterhouse into the desert realm like they once had on Dune. The desperate Bene Gesserit Mother Superior Darwi Odrade knows her Sisterhood is in deep trouble. Their only hope resides with technology taken from the now almost extinct Bene Tleilax whose last survivor Scytale is in captivity.

The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood creates a ghola of Miles Teg, but no one knows how to use it against the enemy only that they must train the ghola to be their counter weapon as he has been used in many lifetimes before. Meanwhile the Sisterhood also mentors with training the application of the Coda ex Honoured Matre Murbella and her lover Duncan Idaho in hopes that they prove useful. However a tribe of Jews offer to help the Bene Gesserit as they know what the final solution means to them if the Honoured Matres win as seems likely.

This is a reprint of the 1985 final book written by Frank Herbert in the Dune Chronicles with the concentration about 90 plus percent on Odrade and her efforts to save her group by correcting a major defect in all of the Bene Gesserit that leaves them vulnerable to the enemy. This is a fascinating well written tale; however that focus also means minimal appearance by the Honoured Matres so the big theme never moves forward much. The completion of that overarching saga was done in collaboration by the late great author's son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson based on notes left behind. Fans should read previous Dune books before Chapterhouse and the collaboration of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson starting with HUNTERS OF DUNE to obtain the full flavor as this entry is a betweener tale.

Harriet Klausner

In re-reading the entire series of Dune novels (most for the first time in 30 years), I have come from them with a renewed sense of their depth, flawless writing, and wonderful action. In this 6th book in the series, a direct follow-on to Heretics, the Bene Gesserit are in danger of annihilation by the Honored Matres, the savage empire run by females with new powers of seduction and sex. By far the best part of the book is the continued explication of the BG: what they really want, how they are changing their philosophy and tactics, how they do what they do. It is one of the most complete imaginative constructions in scifi, fascinating from the first page to the end. In addition to their thoughts, there are wonderfully enigmatic epigrams throughout; the density of ideas and concepts is rivaled only by Octavia Butler in my view. It is akin to reading ancient literature from an alien culture, say, the classical greeks with their polytheistic universe.

The plot - how to save the sisterhood and perhaps even the Golden Path - is packed with action and surprises. The Bene Tleilax and all other original powers are either destroyed or hopelessly co-opted. Odrade, confirmed in her role as mother superior, is hatching a plan to deal with the deluge of the Matres, who are ruthlessly violent and utterly devoid of morals. The captured young Matre, Murbella, has been trained in the BG way as a new kind of hybrid, though her loyalty to the BG is indisputed. Meanwhile, Odrade is working on a diplomatic mission, to get into the heart of the barbarian empire to hatch her plan, very possibly at the cost of her life. It is a terrible, desperate gamble that remains deliciously difficult to discern right to the very end.

I don't want to reveal what happens, of course. At any rate, the results are splendidly ambiguous. On the one hand, the sisterhood appears poised to survive, but at great cost that may transform them fundamentally. That being said, a cohort escapes, which includes Duncan and Teg (gholas both) as well as the original cast as clonable cells within the last surviving Tleilaxu master. There are also the mysterious Face Dancers who continually appear to Duncan, a development that is completely unexplained.

Clearly, Herbert intended to write another volume or two but passed away before he could. Nonetheless, I believe that this book offers so many clues as to what it all means - the search to diversify mankind to such an extent that no one will ever rule them all again - that it is indeed complete. That being said, it is impossible that the follow-on volumes by his son and the inferior hack, Kevin Anderson, can match the intellectual and dramatic density of the original series. Only Frank Herbert could have continued it, so their knock-offs will fall way short of the mark.

Recommended with the greatest enthusiasm.

The other books of the Dune series pale in camparison to this one. Of my memories of the entire seies this stands out the most vivid and magnifiecent of all of them. Frank Herbert is at his best in "Chapterhouse Dune". It is for the intellectual with its series of mind muddling and complex, intricate plots that are devilish in their severe twists and turns. For once it is not a book with simplistic and overused plots. It also provokes a variety of raw, primal emotions throughtout that cotradicts the intellectuality of the work, but however when thse two are combined a surprising compound is prodced (as proved).We cry at the Sea Child's death, and with joyous uproar greet Rebecca's arrival and existence. One is able to relate to the events of the book, it is realistic with a grasp of material matters and emotions beyond that of any other author. I liked this one the best (obviously!)!!

The only way I've managed to describe the writing style in this book has been, the rantings of a man who has seen the face of God and is struggling against the limitations of the English language to capture it. The wording is precisely vague dancing around a meaning that makes you feel as though you understand but woder why it can't said outright. So many things exquisitely detailed and defined yet the plot the true meaning of the book is more profound and hidden under layers. At first you think is about sex, then you see its about us being controlled by our most base urges and needing to evolve past that to expand. It's an difficult read that I found engaging with its mystery but ultimately me unfulfilled.

Some have said that this book ended with another book intended to follow it. While I tend to agree, those who say the ending isn't satisfying obviously don't appreciate Frank Herbert or his visions. This review is mainly for experienced Dune fans: those who know what the "Scattering" was, well, this is like the final Scattering. The characters branch out in different directions, with different destinations and unknown fates ahead of them. Rather than complain about this, and ask for a typical happy ending where you know exactly what happens, why not appreciate the genius of a final Scattering? Let your imagination run wild. The characters are thrust into unknown futures.. end of story. A whole world of possibilities exists, considering the people who depart and the intentions they have. I won't add any plot spoilers here for those who haven't read it yet, but let me just say this is a wonderful book. Maybe it was hard to appreciate the ending the first time I read it, but on the second, and especially the third read I was fully content with it. Unfortunately, I am deathly afraid that Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson will now attempt to write a Dune "conclusion" even more horribly bastardized than their Dune "prequels". The only problem I had with this novel was Frank Herbert's introduction of the Jews into it, once he did that, he laid a foundation for his son to introduce all of these "Terran" (ancient earth) ideas into all of his crappy books. Anyways, long story short, don't listen to the bad reviews, this is a fascinating book, _every bit_ as excellent as the other five. Nothing ever has, or ever will rival these books.

This review is not just a review of the audio version of Chapterhouse Dune, it is also a review of the Dune Chronicles and my experiences with re-reading the entire series.

In January last year my close friend, Joel, and I set out to re-read the Dune series. We are both big fans of the series and we wanted to re-read them from the very first book taking us right up to Chapterhouse Dune (or if we wanted to right up to Hunters of Dune). We decided to not read them back to back, but split them apart and read other books in between. It was going to be a year of excellent science fiction reading. Along the way we took breaks as our personal lives intruded and Joel welcomed the birth of their second child. However the Dune re-read continued. In so many ways 2012 was a really hard year for me in my own personal life but the Dune re-read pushed me through the hard times. Last night I turned the final page on Chapterhouse Dune. So it took us over a year but we got there!

I am a Dune nerd. I have a large Sandworm tattoo that starts at my ankle and runs up to my knee encompassing Shai Hulud with Paul Atreides. I have travelled thousands of miles to meet Kevin J Anderson, who continued with the Dune series, and I quite often quote Dune in my everyday life. I am to Dune what many people are to Star Wars and Star Trek. I can't recall how many times I've re-read it. At least six times, but I expect the accurate figure must be closer to ten. I discovered the series in 2000, and for the last 13 years I have loved re-reading it.

I love every single re-read. I notice more. Novels that I didn't enjoy as much the first time (like Dune Messiah) I have loved and appreciated more the second and third and fourth times. It still stands out for as the best and most epic science fiction series in the world. It is a timeless classic, and I'm sure my friends and husband are sick of me raving about it. But it is a classic!

With this re-read I decided to switch from my paperback copies to the audio for the original six novels. I am so glad I did. The voices of the narrators in these novels are extraordinary. They voice Dune the way I've never imagined it before. Especially in Chapterhouse Dune. Narrators Euan Morton, Katherine Kellgren, Scott Brick and Simon Vance are some of the best narrators I've ever listened to and they do justice to this epic final book in the Dune Chronicles. I will be coming back to the audios again and again, even just for the voice of the Great Honoured Matre! For me the narrators were an excellent choice and I intend to look up other books by these narrators.

If you are a science fiction fan and haven't read Dune or listened to the audios, I highly recommend it. It is adventure, romance (yes there is even romance - the decision Duncan must make at the end of Chapterhouse Dune is enough to well up any romantic), and some of the best thought provoking fiction out there. You won't be disappointed.

The Dune Chronicles are by far thee Greatest Series ever written. I have read the entire series many times and for their depth, perception, layers of subtlety, demanding desire to make you want to understand EXACTLY what is going on, I would stack them against any series, any book. This series caused me to become a Sci-Fi fan and very few books since have stood at the same level as DUNE. Thank you Frank Herbert and also thanks to his wife Beverly (Both have left this world and gone on to the next.) Now it is in Brian Herberts hands and I'm sure that with his Fathers Notes and Training along with co-writer Kevin Anderson he will continue to awe and inspire us.
I wish them (Brian and Kevin) nothing but luck and hope they know that thousands (millions perhaps??) are waiting for DUNE:7.
I will definitely be buying it when it comes out!!

The first Dune book by Frank Herbert was wonderful. The second and third not so much. They seemed like they were written to pay the bills. With God Emperor of Dune Frank Herbert was back. Heretics of Dune and this book are similarly wonderful. The author leaps ahead millennia and what was strong before is now weak and vice-versa because all things evolve. The ending was magical. It reminds one that no matter how advanced you are there are always other mysteries out there. Unfortunately his heirs do not have anything like his talent and I refuse to read anything else of theirs.

Truth may indeed be stranger than fiction, as the old saying would have it, but fiction has the last laugh: it's truer than truth. This book proves it.
First, though, a warning. Don't read this book if you don't like seeing what makes things tick. Remember in The Wizard of Oz when our heroes discover that the Wizard is a sham? That his effects are all put-ons? Remember how the next time you saw the movie the effects were still scary? Even though you knew now what was really going on? The moral is: knowing how powerful effects are achieved is not the death of their power. Knowing that the Dune Series was created within the imaginations of an otherwise-unremarkable couple in northwestern Washington State does NOT reduce the power of the books. If anything it enhances it. And THAT is, believe it or not, what this book is about. That's why there can never be another sequel-- why Herbert's son has produced only prequels-- why so many of my fellow reviewers have been bewildered by the ending of this, the sixth and forever-last book of the series. Herbert is saying-- "Look, these were all puppets. Here are the strings. See? Nothing here was ever real-- the effects were created in my, and now YOUR, the reader's, imagination." And yet, of course, you as the reader, and he as the author, both know that it can never be that simple. Like the title character in Stravinsky's Petrouchka, the sawdust-filled puppet can move us by its 'death' as much as by its antics.
And yet, while it's the perfect ending to a wonderful series, that very message is the weak point of this book as an independent book-- the plot can have no consistent resolution of its own, in order that the series as a whole CAN have one. Which is why I can give it only four stars. If I rated the series as a whole, I'd of course award the full five. But the more powerful ending that would have fulfilled the plot of this book AND the whole series TOO was not provided, so that we could be given the truer ending that brings the series to an even more emotionally resonant close. Within itself, with no reference to the previous five books, this one ends in disappointment, but the Dune series as a whole ends masterfully, as only a true puppet-master could end it. The Dune series considered as a whole is certainly the most remarkable achievement in the history of science fiction. It heads my 'top six science fiction works of all time' picks.
Goodbye, Frank. May you rest in something even greater than peace. May you go to a place that may be truer and possibly even more interesting than this one. May you go to Dune!

Chapterhouse Dune is the last in the Dune series by Frank Herbert. The story continues closely after the end of Heretics of Dune. The Bene Gesserit are slowly transforming there home planet to replicate Dune in order to monoploize the Spice. But it is a race against time, their enemies the Honored Matres are closing in. And there may be even greater powers than either lurking in the Galaxy.

This was a disappointing end to the series. It is never clear why the Bene Gesserit are so inferior militarily to the Honored Matres when they are superior in every other way. The final showdown between the two was anti-climactic (what was the Honored Matres ultimate weapon? it was never explained) and the ending was little bit puzzling. Herbert ends this book pretty much as he ended the previous one, a small group flying away with a sandworm to start a new Dune somewhere else in the galaxy. And why did Herbert throw in those god-like beings in the story? That whole subplot didn't make much sense.

The series as whole was enjoyable for its scope, politics, religion and ecology, but it was never clearly written, leading to frustration at times.

I read this book when I was a teen - I read the first four Dune books in one week while I was sick during Spring Break one year. Reading them almost "in one sitting" is intoxicating in that you realize the breadth and scope of the Dune novels as they cover millenia yet connect time and space through familiar themes. As a child of the Radical Reformation in Christianity, the theme of overthrowing religious tyrants only to have new ones attempt to arise from within the reformation is all too familiar. The temptation to abandon personal responsibility to a "superman" (or "superworm")is one of the central struggles of the 20th century. Frank Herbert's genius is to remove us from our familiar surroundings to show us the dynamics of the abandonment of freedom.

What happened to this series? The first three books made a good story. The last three sketched only the barest outlines of any plot at all, simply as a framework for 1500 pages of Herbert's ideas on philosophy and politics. These stories are apparently suppoesd to have some significance since people always start dying at a ridiculous pace near the end of the books, but by then I didn't even care. The characters are one dimensional at best, simply used as pawns in Herbert's debates. Some of the ideas discussed are well presented, which is why the books rate at least two stars, but putting these discourses under the category of a "Dune" story is just ridiculous. And can anyone, anyone at all, give a clue what that last chapter is supposed to mean??

While I liked the plot of Chapterhouse, the execution was severly lacking. %75 of this book is boring, cryptic dialogue--absolutely nothing happens until the very end. I looked forward to the dialogue in the other Dune books, but this was hardly bearable.
For all it's focus on the Bene Gesserit, we only get a more superficial view of them. We get meaningless details like what Mother Superior's favorite meal is. In fact, the Bene Gesserits come off more as caddy, self-absorbed witches than anything else. As the mystical overtures of Dune fade into a life and death match, we learn that the Bene Gesserit really aren't that great.
While overall this is a far superior series to anything I've ever read before, all the things I felt were flaws with the series come to a head in Chapterhouse. Herbert has this habit of skipping wonderful oppurtunities to develop a part of the universe in exchange for focusing on one aspect that wasn't really all that interesting to begin with. He also likes to skip the parts where anything important actually happens--prefering instead to describe the results of those parts. Herbert's mastery of dialogue slips in this book. The characters are one dimensional and just spout out philoshophical one-liners.
I don't think this book takes the series anywhere new. Everything it deals with was already introduced in Heretics. I admit, it does goes into a lot of political philosophy--but I didn't feel like this had any weight behind it. I was the most dissapointed after I realized that the series didn't really have an end goal in mind. After God Emporer, the series meanders and looses it's direction. I was hoping that Chapterhouse would pull the series together and tie up all those strings that have been left dangling. It seem like more of an afterthought than anything else. Maybe I was expecting something when I shouldn't have been.

Go back to the begining! To Arrakis, Dune, Desert Planet. Just when you thought you'd gotten past one book, they pull you back IN! I don't think you can read just one book and leave it at that. It's like research. I have found myself wondering if this was truly the end of the great saga? This book continues in that fashion of answering previous questions and making you ask new ones. The insight of the Author into most matters of our life is very interesting. Obviously he was one who really gave great, deep thought to the matters of humanity, religion, government, politics, and mystrey. In this book he reveals more of those thoughts in the deeply related series of books that you must take as a whole to fully appreciate.

An alternative title to this novel may have been: Darwi Odrade, a portrait.

Maybe a little melodramatic, but I think it might explain why many people find themselves not liking this novel. This is a landscape painting of Chapterhouse, and all of those connected to it. The planet is personified by Odrade herself. Changing course slowly, secretly, making plans inside of plans. One so devious and intricate that no one sees the true purpose or goals until after they had been attained. Willing participation in the golden path.

While there are two more novels written by different authors, honestly though Chapterhouse Dune stands in its own unique way as a fitting conclusion to Herbert's portion of the golden path. Its continuation being your own responsibility.

Reading the novel is like watching a painter, stroke by stroke, creating a piece of art. Paralleling the Van Gogh painting in Odrade's possession. While the thing is being made you can appreciate the technique and the form and skeleton of the composition, and only after it had been admired and examined from a distance can it be truly finished and appraised.

What may have seemed a frivolous dialogue about clam soup in the novel is finally seen as something integral as the piece is finished - it becomes a singular brushstroke that is a part of the whole - which can never be complete without that brush stroke.

The novel barks at form of metaphysics throughout that is explaining, brushstroke by brushstroke, how to decipher the piece as a whole by constantly reminding you how the masterpiece could be made up of seemingly frivolous parts strung along threads of poetry, binding together the multifaceted galaxy shaking events casually referred to, smashing into a momentary denouement that immediately splinters into a new series of threads leading off into the unknown.

The inner workings of the Bene Gesserit have never really been ignored in the previous Dune Books, but their prominence in this Novel was genius.
ONE OF THE TOP 2 BOOKS IN THE DUNE SERIES
I was absolutely riveted by the plot twist involving the Honored Matres, and the Bene Tleilax.
The ability of Frank Herbert to essentially start over and reinvent a whole new context for the plot to take place in was fantastic. I'm amazed simultaneously by his skill and his daring.
It would be so easy to rest on your laurels and extend a successful franchise -- the most successful in history. The fact that he stretched himself spoke volumes about his confidence and creativity.
Saying thank you to him just doesn't seem like enough.
Mr. Herbert, Thanks (a whole whole lot).

This story takes everything you've thought about in the last five books, and twists it on it's ear. You can tell that he's really building in many elements that you know is going to go beyond anything he'd done before in any of his work. The style and depth of the text is almost spooky when you think that this was developed in one man's head. It's an incredible journey that left me on the edge of my seat for years until his son Brain and Keven J. put the crown jewel on top of this wonderful storytellers crown. Since reading this series back in the early to late eighties, I've read everything that Frank wrote that's in print. This book is just wonderful and I honestly miss his talent in the market today.

Masterful conclusion to the Dune series. If you want a good read go through this series in order - ending with Chapterhouse Dune. The author gives a wild tale interlacing his view on pertinent affairs of government, populations, power, and a host of other things and viewpoints all created with his masterful genius. This is a series that is even better the second time through it.

Remember, three stars does indicate a better than average book--it just looks low around all these fives. Chapterhouse: Dune was plagued by the same problems as HoD: it meandered and the philosophy seemed out of place in the plot. However, this time the complex threads of politics actually approached being as revealing as those in Dune, and the characters began to get a little more real. Herbert must have had some great insights into politics, economics, and human nature to write this book, yes, but he could have expressed it better. At least there were no more "dependencies and key logs" here. I wish he had lived to write the seventh Dune book!

We can argue about this but for my money, Chapter House Dune is the best of the Dune novels. It focusses on the Bene Gesserit (their Chapter House is in the title) and it ties together many of the ideas about prescience and the power of the mind and body displayed by the Bene Gesserit. I will not give the plot away but I will say there are a few surprises to say the least.
If you enjoyed any of the other books you can be guaranteed to enjoy this one.

I looked forward to reading Chapterhouse Dune, but I was disappointed. The story line is very slow moving until the end of the book when Odrade, the Bene Geserrit Mother Superior, Murbella and the rest of their party go to Junction to meet the the Spider Queen, the Honored Matre's leader. Mother Superior Odrade is killed on Junction by the Honored Matres and Murbella becomes the new Mother Superior as well as the Great Honored Matres in a stunningly quick turn of events. Duncan Idaho and the others take off from Chapterhouse in the no ship and thus begins the Hunters of Dune. Personally, I did not like the nearly three hundred page build-up and the rapid resolution at the end of the book of the tension. I'm not sure that I will re-read Chapterhouse Dune.

This is a wonderful story filled with just as much intrigue as the previous 5. You sense something new and different in Herbert's writting style and while it's difficult to place you know you like it. While the ending of this book isn't quite how Herbert intended to end the serious I like it. And I pray Brian Herbert doesn't make a horrible attempt at completing the serious he has already proved he never understood his fathers vision. I would buy this book if only to read the dedication at the end to Frank Herberts wife, it will bring tears to your eyes...it did mine.

Book Review
I usually do not consider literature as a favorite pass-time but sometimes there are books that cannot be put down until you your eyes are sore tired, and Frank Herbert's Dune is one of them. Although the book is in the science fiction genre, it is a great pick for anyone who appreciates a good story, and the book also includes quit a bit of mystery and romance which fits in perfectly in the world that grips you in and does not let go even after you are done with the book. I am a big fan of the science fiction genre, especially the Start Trek and Star Wars series. Actually most of my reading revolved around those two names, so when I stumbled upon Dune, I was not very enthusiastic to say the least. The book was large and very long (almost made turn away right there), complicated, and dated, but since I did not find anything new in the two categories mentioned above, I picked it up to pass my time during the holidays, and because I like to spend my free tome in front of my computer I though that I might not even start on the book, boy was I wrong. I started reading during the second week of the not so long holiday. I was instantly possessed by the storyline, which was impossible to predict but satisfied with what it revealed to you. The story is a bout a Royal Family Atreides who has to leave their paradise of a planet to govern a desert planet, which is full of the most valuable substances in galaxy. The story twist from there on into betrayals, mystery, romance and finally revenge. I finished the book in less than three days, and the book was almost five hundred pages long. I had little time to do anything during those three days, and I must admit I was never that devoted to a book before. The best part about is the ending. It ends the story in passion able way, and although one can draw a conclusion with it, it acts a lot better as an opener to the continuation of the saga. In fact the book created four sequels (I am already into the second book in the serious) and prequel. The reason for all deviation/continuations is due to a very high critical success of the book and enormous sales that it generated, in fact all of the sequel and the recent prequel have scored very well with the fan base. Due to the big popularity of the book, there was a motion picture created based on the book back 1989, and featured some big stars such Sting himself (I did not know that he acted either), but did not do the book justice and failed in the box office, and it was very recently recreated a six hour special edition show on the Sci-Fi channel, and although a much better than the first was still somewhat out of place. I guess some things have to be left to your imagination.

I wrote a review below for the book Dune by acident and i decided to write one on chapterhouse to make up for it.
You probaly are familar with the other Dune books and this is the last book. If you haven't read the first five books this book will make little sense. It is defeniatly worth reading if you read the first five books.
This book is about a war between the Bene Geseret and the witches of the great scattering. This book focuses on Bene geseret intently. The story is intense because of the fact that sand worms are cultivated outside dune and revened mothers start using AXOL tanks for creating Golas based on the Bene Telaxu technology. They are able to recreat Milites Teg the great BG general.
This book sadly is the last book because of Frank Herberts death. The book leaves a big door open at the ending that screams for another book (which his son and others may hopefully write)

The old powers are no more...the Atriedes are hated by most and revered by few...the venerable Bene Tleilax are no more, and the powerful Bene Gesserit are beginning to crumble.
This is one of my less detailed reviews - for all of this book's majesty, words fail me. All I can say is; this is what would happen. An intense feeling of devastation, desolation, sadness - and for all that, a spark of hope - fills the reader as they finish this epic conclusion to an epic series. Don't miss it.

again, this Dune book is for afficiandos and would make little sense without knowledge of the previous Dune books, especially God Emperor of Dune and Heretics of Dune. It leaves open sequels based on the new unknowable universe. I found many of the characters such as the Rabbi and Rebecca very hard to understand and place.

I don't know how long after Leto II died, Chapterhouse deals with the Bene Gesserit and their many machinations throughout the uncountable universes now occupied by mankind. The main focus however is their struggle with a powerful new enemy, the Honored Matres; a group of women who study and train all of their lives in the arts of sexual manipulation and deadly combat skills who have taken over nearly everything and burned Arrakis into slag. Intricate and bizarre in the coolest way.

You think you understand what's going on in the Universe, and Frank Herbert twists things on their head in the last three pages. I love it.
Others have done a marvellous job of reviewing the plot and elements, so I shall not belabor the point and will only add a few quick impressions, having just finished the book at about 4 o'clock EST in North America.
Dune 6 is a slow, meditative, and at times frustratingly slow book; the last 100 pages finally pick up; and in the last 3 pages Frank Herbert tells me this: "You've read the other 5 books, and you think the Universe is BIG? Well, think again, because you/I/we will NEVER be able to fathom the wonders of the Universe!"
Any Dune fan MUST read CH:Dune, or else they will ...... Naah, I can't tell you what the "or else" is.
Your Spirits be Happy, Frank and Bev

Just when you think you have it all figured out, Frank messes with you mind. I finished reading this book while I was stationed in South Korea in 2001, and after I was done reading it, all I could do was stare at the wall and ponder what had just happened. In three short pages he had changed the dynamic of the entire Dune universe. I have never seen 3 pages of one book be so hotly contested as to what the reader was trying to convey. Even though, the ending left me yearning for more and changed the way I thought about the previous stories. In the earlier books, we are make to believe that humans were the center of the universe and it was there's for the taking, but after the last two chaper of Chapter House, we see a more dynamic universe of infinite possibilities. I am desperately looking forward to Dune 7, even though it will be writen by Frank's son. I don't care much for him as writer, being that I've read all 4 prequels that he has writen, but he does have a talent for peaking the readers intrest. As long as Dune 7 can give us even a modest idea of what was going through Franks mind when he wrote Chapter House, it will be a book worth waiting for.
Everyone should read all of the Dune books, there insites into politics and religion will change the way you see thing around you, thank you Frank for opening my mind to new possibilities

This is simply one of the best authors to ever write science fiction, and Chapterhouse Dune, the last book in a marvellous series, is the culmination of an epic story, which started with Dune. To thoroughly enjoy this book at it's best, it is advised that the reader read at least one other of Frank's Dune Saga. None the less, Chapterhouse is a superb book and Tetu & Wolfe (Literary Agents) are happy to recommend this title to any would be reader.
Alexandra Wolfe

I loved Dune. I enjoyed Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. My brain was stretched by God Emperor of Dune (perversely my favourite in the series). Heretics of Dune was exciting and promised good things for the final chapter.
Then I read Chapterhouse: Dune.
I once read a review which stated "This is not a book to be set aside lightly. It should be thrown, with emphatic force." Now I understand.
I slogged through the slowest of the slow (and let's face it, the Dune books are meditative at the best of times), most plodding book I have ever read, hoping that maybe something on the next page would redeem it. People that I came to care about in previous installments just stopped mattering to me. By the end I was reading just so I could say I'd read the whole series.
And let's face it, we can tell that Herbert was ramping up for another couple books with this one, can't we. So many things left hanging, knots untied, events unexplained.
I'll probably read the series again, but I'll stop with Heretics. Colour me unimpressed.

Dune by Frank Herbert/ Science Fiction; Chilton Book Co., 1965:
Sometimes one man can make every single person?s lifelong dream come true. This notion is effectively conveyed in Frank Herbert?s science fiction masterpiece, Dune, published in 1965. Just like many science fiction novels, Dune takes place at an unknown time. Dune could have taken place many years ago or could take place many years in the future. Dune is the story of the Ducal heir, Paul, of House Atreides, later called Muad?Dib. Herbert tells of Paul?s quest to avenge his family?s demise, and about the consequences of such a quest. Laced into this epic tale are elements of theology, and the majestic power one single prophecy can hold over an entire race. The prophecy was that a man would come who would change the face of the desert planet, Arrakis, the capital of House Atreides. This man would fulfill humankind?s most impossible dream, water on Arrakis. He would also be the rightful ruler of all humankind. He would be called the Lisan al-Gaib ? Guess what? Paul is the Lisan al-Gaib. Herbert writes in a highly detailed and logical fashion. Although Dune is an extremely descriptive book, Herbert writes in such a way that a reader cannot help but remember all the small details in Dune. This quote from page 466 shows Herbert?s writing style: ?He was warrior and mystic, ogre and saint, the fox and the innocent, chivalrous, ruthless, less than a god, more than a man. There is no measuring Muad?Dib?s motives by ordinary standards.? The same can be said of Herbert?s writing, it surpasses ordinary standards. In my opinion, Dune is one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time. Touching on religious and superstitious beliefs, Dune almost undetectably deals with issues that were happening when Dune was written. I believe that Dune gives a person incentive to do something with his/her life. It inspires a person by showing that nothing is impossible if a person tries hard enough. Herbert?s omnipresent view of conserving resources, especially water, will make one think about conservation. The reader of Dune is like a fish; once you are caught, it is hard to escape. --Ben Mandel, Greenwich CT.

As a big fan of the Dune series I enjoyed "Chapterhouse: Dune." Nevertheless, I'm one of those who felt the series should have ended after "Good Emperor of Dune." With Leto II's Golden Path accomplished after the end of the fourth Dune novel, humanity could never again be threatened with extinction. In order to keep the series going, Herbert made the Bene Gessert the protagonists in the last two books. I never really liked them to begin with, so my enjoyment of "Heretics of Dune" and "Chaperhouse: Dune" was less than it was with Dunes 1-4. But your mileage may vary.

Herbert gives all the necessary clues to the sequel. The goal is for each next phase of humanity to become an unidentifiable living mirror of the universe. Leave no tracks for any to follow. Heighten all the important human abilities: consciousness, sex, speed, emotion. Maintain resistance to the lures of these enhancements. Sheeana undergoes the Shai-hulud metamorphosis on a new Dune-like world. She weeds the future populations for better mimesis. Scytale recreates the entire Tleitaxu population as well as the original Dune characters. Teg's abilities for speed and to see the no-ships spread quickly to succeeding generations. Sheeana breeds a biological mimic that can hide from Teg's descendents and from the Face Dancer/Handlers of the Scattering. Better No-ships are invented, restoring invisibility, by having navigational abilities held within the consciousness, not on circuits. The descendents return to Murbella's universe and wrest control from the Handlers. Scytale and Duncan Idaho create more serial gholas with extraordinary abilities, they become a parallel development to the Handlers of the old universe. The Golden Path continues, more stasis and weeding followed by explosive scattering. Sheeana's dance of propitiation is converted to biological reflexive mirroring of the universe, the predators go hungry.

I read the first of Dune series 14 years ago, and had no conception of the breathtaking distances that the author would take towards the "last" book of the Dune Chronicles. While it is conceivable that someone with sufficient patience can read Chapterhouse Dune and fully appreciate it with no other Dune Chronicles exposure, it would seem criminal to recommend this book to someone without ensuring they had read the first five beforehand. Or, for something of a treat, read Chapterhouse, and then jump to the first five as "prequels"! I recently did something similar when I read the second and third Dune Chronicle books for the first times in 14 years, having reread the last two books in the last few months: quite an enthralling effect! The hardest part of reading this book was coming to the ending, and feeling selfishly deprived regarding the prospect of finding out What Will Happen Next as a result of the author's death, which in turn came shortly after the death of his wife following a long fight with cancer. Herbert created an astonishing world of breathtakingly evolved characters and contexts to appreciate them in. I have reread this book and others of the series numerous times. As is the case for meeting interesting characters in real life, it is poignant getting to know these characters only to lose the ability to anticipate being in touch with them later on, to find out how they're doing... The formidable detail and richness of perspectives is such that while reading it I was at times fearful of discovering a gimmick or a cliche to undo the trance worked by the book. This never happened. The publishing of the Dune Prequels is quite exciting in itself, and I hope that somewhere in the late elder Herbert's notes, are some detailed indications of SEQUELS, future Atreides audacities, Bene Gesserit contemplations and plotting, and passionately drawn characters to fall in love with and be fascinated by all over again.

I have begun re-reading the entire series after 6 years. After all of the intense, and intricate pages that precede the final chapter of the final book, the ending although (seemingly) simple on the surface actually shows us the utterly complicated nature of the universe, and that is, although layered and complicated, the truth of things IS simplicity, and that endings are never just endings, read between the lines, you'll understand.

SPOILERS
To say I was disappointed by this final book in the DUNE series written by Frank Herbert is an understatement. I loved all the other books and it started out promising. However, Herbert was obviously rushed and seemed to forget whole plots and characters as he raced to the ending. As I writer I would guess he was under publishing pressure? And what about adding the Jewish contingent? It comes out of nowhere in this series and doesn't seem to mesh. The "wild" sister is an interesting element but her rabbi is merely annoying. The Tleilaxu is completely forgotton and Ghola Miles Teg (literally) cast aside at the climax. What of Duncan Idaho? He seems more and more a simple keyboard jockey in the last book and a half of the series. He should be the coolest character and is also left adrift blasting off into space with the character that should have been the heroine of the last two books, Sheeana of Dune (Rakis). Sheeana was akin to the Fremen and had a much more interesting background and possible future than Darwi Odrade, the sentimental, bureaucratic heroine of the last two books (until also murdered and cast aside at the last moment). I found the final book even cloying. What was Herbert thinking? The epilogue by the author with the dedication to his recently deceased wife was far more compelling than the whole book! It just shows that the farther you go from the planet Dune the weaker the series ....

Please don't tell me to read the continuing series written by others. What did George Lucas say about those who wrote or created other STAR WARS stories? To paraphrase: "STAR WARS is the gospel, the rest is gossip." What a publisher does to meet the bottom line does not interest me, even if they hire the original writer's son.

Still, we have the first four books which are SF masterpieces and the first, DUNE, will go down in history as a monumental achievement, so we have the elder Herbert to thank for hours of enjoyment in the DUNE universe.

Long live the fighters!

Let's get this straight; Frankie boy was a genius, plain and simple. He would think nothing of writing a book for the sake of building a series and it shows itself in this effort, the sixth Dune novel. While a fantastic story (deep into politics and the nature of survival), you still get the feeling that he was building up to a climax with this book being the penultimate one. Well, in 1999 (I think), Brian Herbert discovered Frank's notes for the unreleased 'Dune 7', which included a complete outline and story for what was to be the final book in the series.
Yes! I hear you say...well...we'll have to wait a bit longer I'm afraid because Brian and Kevin Anderson are doing their Butlerian Jihad series first (3 books), which won't be over until about 2004. Well we got used to waiting for Frank's books I suppose...
I found this story to be the most sinister one. In every chapter there is a revelation or some indication of what is to happen next: characters like the Face Dancers and Honoured Matres shrouded in mystery, the Handlers and Futars (who bred them?), the (still) unknown qualities of the Reverand Mothers. Herbert liked to tease, and the by now infamous last chapter is still pondered over to this day. I've seen literally hundreds of different analytical studies of this chapter alone, nevermind the book or the series. Because of the open ending, the book, more than any other, has taken on a cult feel; I've seen people even try to finish the story off themselves on many different websites and forums.
Addictive in the extreme, I've always got one of Frank's books (usually Dune ones) on the go at any time. I may take a week to read them, I may take a month or two...but each and every one is a sci-fi classic in its own right. My personal favourite was 'Heretics' (so well plotted and action packed and, dare I say it, even more readable than 'Dune'!).
If you like Star Wars, you must get these books. In fact, you will be laughing at how primitive Star Wars is in the face of these masterpieces. Star Wars always borrowed heavily from this anyway :P

This book was really part II of Heretics. We continue with the same characters as we further explore the Bene Gesserit. This time we're in their home as Herbert explains more of the secrets behind the matriarchal society. The book, as is par for Herbert, focuses on introspection and social dynamics, but in his normal interesting venue. While there is a conclusion of sorts, as usual, the door is left open for more.. but sadly no more will come... you'll have to write your own stories now!

Herbert and Bev wind down the greatest Sci Fi series of them all in grand style.
The Bene Gesserit are in deep trouble and their survival may require changes that not all find acceptable.
Even Dune/Arrakis has been destroyed as the awesome powers of the people of The Scattering
are realised. An optimistic end to a rich series, designed to leave us forever wondering...

Herbert gives all the necessary clues to the sequel. The goal is for each next phase of humanity to become an unidentifiable living mirror of the universe. Leave no tracks for any to follow. Heighten all the important human abilities: consciousness, sex, speed, emotion. Maintain resistance to the lures of these enhancements. Sheeana undergoes the Shai-hulud metamorphosis on a new Dune-like world. She weeds the future populations for better mimesis. Scytale recreates the entire Tleitaxu population as well as the original Dune characters. Teg's abilities for speed and to see the no-ships spread quickly to succeeding generations. Sheeana breeds a biological mimic that can hide from Teg's descendents and from the Face Dancer/Handlers of the Scattering. Better No-ships are invented, restoring invisibility, by having navigational abilities held within the consciousness, not on circuits. The descendents return to Murbella's universe and wrest control from the Handlers. Scytale and Duncan Idaho create more serial gholas with extraordinary abilities, they become a parallel development to the Handlers of the old universe. The Golden Path continues, more stasis and weeding followed by explosive scattering. Sheeana's dance of propitiation is converted to biological reflexive mirroring of the universe, the predators go hungry.

I read the first of Dune series 14 years ago, and had no conception of the breathtaking distances that the author would take towards the "last" book of the Dune Chronicles. While it is conceivable that someone with sufficient patience can read Chapterhouse Dune and fully appreciate it with no other Dune Chronicles exposure, it would seem criminal to recommend this book to someone without ensuring they had read the first five beforehand. Or, for something of a treat, read Chapterhouse, and then jump to the first five as "prequels"! I recently did something similar when I read the second and third Dune Chronicle books for the first times in 14 years, having reread the last two books in the last few months: quite an enthralling effect! The hardest part of reading this book was coming to the ending, and feeling selfishly deprived regarding the prospect of finding out What Will Happen Next as a result of the author's death, which in turn came shortly after the death of his wife following a long fight with cancer. Herbert created an astonishing world of breathtakingly evolved characters and contexts to appreciate them in. I have reread this book and others of the series numerous times. As is the case for meeting interesting characters in real life, it is poignant getting to know these characters only to lose the ability to anticipate being in touch with them later on, to find out how they're doing... The formidable detail and richness of perspectives is such that while reading it I was at times fearful of discovering a gimmick or a cliche to undo the trance worked by the book. This never happened. The publishing of the Dune Prequels is quite exciting in itself, and I hope that somewhere in the late elder Herbert's notes, are some detailed indications of SEQUELS, future Atreides audacities, Bene Gesserit contemplations and plotting, and passionately drawn characters to fall in love with and be fascinated by all over again.

I have begun re-reading the entire series after 6 years. After all of the intense, and intricate pages that precede the final chapter of the final book, the ending although (seemingly) simple on the surface actually shows us the utterly complicated nature of the universe, and that is, although layered and complicated, the truth of things IS simplicity, and that endings are never just endings, read between the lines, you'll understand.

SPOILERS
To say I was disappointed by this final book in the DUNE series written by Frank Herbert is an understatement. I loved all the other books and it started out promising. However, Herbert was obviously rushed and seemed to forget whole plots and characters as he raced to the ending. As I writer I would guess he was under publishing pressure? And what about adding the Jewish contingent? It comes out of nowhere in this series and doesn't seem to mesh. The "wild" sister is an interesting element but her rabbi is merely annoying. The Tleilaxu is completely forgotton and Ghola Miles Teg (literally) cast aside at the climax. What of Duncan Idaho? He seems more and more a simple keyboard jockey in the last book and a half of the series. He should be the coolest character and is also left adrift blasting off into space with the character that should have been the heroine of the last two books, Sheeana of Dune (Rakis). Sheeana was akin to the Fremen and had a much more interesting background and possible future than Darwi Odrade, the sentimental, bureaucratic heroine of the last two books (until also murdered and cast aside at the last moment). I found the final book even cloying. What was Herbert thinking? The epilogue by the author with the dedication to his recently deceased wife was far more compelling than the whole book! It just shows that the farther you go from the planet Dune the weaker the series ....

Please don't tell me to read the continuing series written by others. What did George Lucas say about those who wrote or created other STAR WARS stories? To paraphrase: "STAR WARS is the gospel, the rest is gossip." What a publisher does to meet the bottom line does not interest me, even if they hire the original writer's son.

Still, we have the first four books which are SF masterpieces and the first, DUNE, will go down in history as a monumental achievement, so we have the elder Herbert to thank for hours of enjoyment in the DUNE universe.

Long live the fighters!

Let's get this straight; Frankie boy was a genius, plain and simple. He would think nothing of writing a book for the sake of building a series and it shows itself in this effort, the sixth Dune novel. While a fantastic story (deep into politics and the nature of survival), you still get the feeling that he was building up to a climax with this book being the penultimate one. Well, in 1999 (I think), Brian Herbert discovered Frank's notes for the unreleased 'Dune 7', which included a complete outline and story for what was to be the final book in the series.
Yes! I hear you say...well...we'll have to wait a bit longer I'm afraid because Brian and Kevin Anderson are doing their Butlerian Jihad series first (3 books), which won't be over until about 2004. Well we got used to waiting for Frank's books I suppose...
I found this story to be the most sinister one. In every chapter there is a revelation or some indication of what is to happen next: characters like the Face Dancers and Honoured Matres shrouded in mystery, the Handlers and Futars (who bred them?), the (still) unknown qualities of the Reverand Mothers. Herbert liked to tease, and the by now infamous last chapter is still pondered over to this day. I've seen literally hundreds of different analytical studies of this chapter alone, nevermind the book or the series. Because of the open ending, the book, more than any other, has taken on a cult feel; I've seen people even try to finish the story off themselves on many different websites and forums.
Addictive in the extreme, I've always got one of Frank's books (usually Dune ones) on the go at any time. I may take a week to read them, I may take a month or two...but each and every one is a sci-fi classic in its own right. My personal favourite was 'Heretics' (so well plotted and action packed and, dare I say it, even more readable than 'Dune'!).
If you like Star Wars, you must get these books. In fact, you will be laughing at how primitive Star Wars is in the face of these masterpieces. Star Wars always borrowed heavily from this anyway :P

This book was really part II of Heretics. We continue with the same characters as we further explore the Bene Gesserit. This time we're in their home as Herbert explains more of the secrets behind the matriarchal society. The book, as is par for Herbert, focuses on introspection and social dynamics, but in his normal interesting venue. While there is a conclusion of sorts, as usual, the door is left open for more.. but sadly no more will come... you'll have to write your own stories now!

Herbert and Bev wind down the greatest Sci Fi series of them all in grand style.
The Bene Gesserit are in deep trouble and their survival may require changes that not all find acceptable.
Even Dune/Arrakis has been destroyed as the awesome powers of the people of The Scattering
are realised. An optimistic end to a rich series, designed to leave us forever wondering...

Rereading Herbert's second Dune trilogy--God Emperor, Hertics and now, Chapterhouse Dune--was a wonderful trip back for me. And in Chapterhouse, the Bene Gesserit are going back as well. They've rescued worms from the now destroyed Arrakis, and have moved them to Chapterhouse. Even as they try to move back, they're forced to confront the future and deal with the Honored Matres. A great read, set in a world that feels like coming home to me.

I am a new fan to the Herbert Series. After being initially disappointed with the first book, I recently started reading up on the later books. From Dune Messiah to ChapterHouse, I was held to my seat. Each novel getting better. I felt Herberts style became more pronounced, character development was much more a focus then plot. The mulit layer politics kept the pages turning. Just when you thought it would slow down, he throws another teaser at you. Riviting from begining to end. No there wasn't much action, but I think there was more to the story to keep things going. The unnknowns kept you guessing on how it was going to end. I would recommend this series to anyone, but becareful, you will seldom find a plot as drawn out with as many twists. You may find the rest of the world too boring:)

This is another typical Dune novel. A lot of philosophy with a conserative bent. Focus on the reverand mothers more than other novels in the Dune series. A lot of sub plots to keep you interested throufhout the book. Enough scifi to satisfy readers with that focus.

Frank Herbert ends the series with a bang. If you thought the climax of Heretics left you drained, think again! Chapterhouse will throw so many delicious curves that...well, if you've read the series this far, you're an addict like me, so you don't need my advice. But for those who haven't read the series yet, life is short, so read it now!

I recommend this novel for all fans of the saga. Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune are my two favourites so far. I wish Frank Herbert and his wife had lived to continue writing the final chapter of this amazing story. Nonetheless, the following two novels (Dune 7) and their characters were at least outlined by Frank Herbert himself, even though they were eventually written by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. I will start reading now Dune 7, hoping to enjoy it as much as I did what F. Herbert originally wrote. Chapterhouse: Dune's cliffhanger has really caught my imagination, which now craves for a culmination to the saga. I'll try to be open to whatever change in writing style is expected given the new team of writers. Bottom line, if you've come so far in this saga, you definitely need to read Chapterhouse: Dune, it won't disappoint you.

I'm afraid this was the only Dune series book I read, and so it was a little confusing to me. I had a limited knowledge of the whole story and Ive learned a lot from it. I can only say it was a breathtaking, epic, science-fiction adventure that many times reached perfection. Frank Herbert masters the science-fiction adventure literature.

Okay. Flat out... is it as good as the original? No way. Is it worth reading? Yes. The story does go on though the plot thas shifted from the epic mythos of the Kwisatz Haderach, but hey, there's finally a strong female character who doesn't get killed off. The multilayered politics will keep your brain actively involved.

Yes, Herbert had some great insights. But they were out of place in the Dune univese, and the plot was a little too slow to remain gripping. I enjoyed some of the philsophical dialogue. Herbert has discovered a way to tell a story entirely through internal monologue (half of which is in _incredibly_ annoying italics.)

In Chapterhouse Herbert leaves us with clear and consice political and social statements about who we are and what we may become if we only have the courage to try like Duncan. Chapterhouse leave us with a vision of hope for the future of the Dune universe. All in all a very well constructed and compelling book.

Dune is astounding. I read it at age 15 from cover to cover. I'm now 21, and have just begun reading it for a second time. Set in science fiction--but with enough H20 molecule-sized, real-life metaphors to fill an empty glass--Dune is an almost unbelievable marvel in literature. The manifold italicized character thought-processes nestled within allowed me to truly feel as one with the characters, to actually understand them, and to almost feel as though it is the year 10,191. To say this novel has outstanding character development is like saying the human body has only 1/3 water. I look forward to re-reading this novel and may post more reviews in the future.

Unanswered questions? Sure, there are always many. But the thing that capitivated me about this book, was what I realized when I finished it. The Tyrant knew what was up. The Golden path is something that humans cannot escape, because eventually, life must start over. Duncan, Sheeana, Scytale, et al. escape into an uncharted universe, and that is all there is to it. What better finish than to know that autonomous decision making was the best human trait one could have? They left the sisterhood(who at that point were the only controlling force in the universe), to do what the BG couldn't: choose self over society. THey made an escape, and I was all smiles the second time I read the ending. Not to mention the face dancers who learned after many minds claimed to control their own fate. Frank Herbert was a genius.

Although Dune is my favorite novel, I have to admit that book 6, Chapterhouse Dune, is a bit of a let-down when compared to the first 5 novels. It's still a good read and much better than most of the science fiction that gets turned out nowadays by the publishing companies. The storyline this time focuses on the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. A more appropriate title for this novel could have been "The adventures of Dar and Tar," but I guess Chapterhouse will do. I would reommend this novel to all who like the first 5 Dune novels or Frank Herbert.
[...]

The end of the "Dune" series will change you forever, especially if you've read all the other books beforehand. A God among books. Sublime. Though, you really should read all the other "Dune" books first so you'll fully be able to understand "Chapterhouse".

Not being corny. Since I started reading the Dune saga I saw Herbert's social and spiritual commentary and it meshed perfectly with my own observations, concerns and doubts about the directions we are all headed. It makes you think beyond anything pop culture would limit.
A good thing nowadays.
Besides, it's great storytelling and great exercise for the imagination.

I could go on reading Dune forever. Frank Herbert 's work is a gift to us all. I would hope he is required reading for those being educated. It is a study in critical thinking as well as highly entertaining.

More than your basic sci-fi romp, Frank Herbert's commentary on what makes up and binds society (and also tears the same apart) gave me food for thought to nourish the well-balanced dogma I call my own...thank you Frank for making me a better person! "Fear is the mindkiller. It is the little death that brings on total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will allow fear to pass through me and to pass around me. When fear is gone by I shall turn to see fear's path. Only I will remain."....Benegeserit Litany Against Fear NOW BE A GOOD STUDENT AND READ THE BOOKS!!!!!!

This book was the greatest most intricate novel I have ever read. Save "The Lord of The Rings". The book was not an overnight job. It had Tons of info to back up every event in the book. It is a whole world with a long history and a reason for every event. It shows what good and bad things can come from ultimate power. The Long animosity between House Aterdies and House Harkonnen came to a climax in the Harkonnen attack on the Atredies. Paul survives by falling in league with the fremen and comes back to defeat the Harkonnens and the Padish Emperor.

I am a man of 32 years of age and I have read this book and all of its brothers and sisters many times.
My first read of the series happened when I was in my early twenties. I fell in love.
I can't stop reading the series. Nothing else seems to matter as much as the beautiful universe created by Frank Herbert and his wife.
Perhaps the most gut-wrenching and emotional moments in all of the books is the end of this one. Words are not enough to describe the complete and utter sense of loss I had when I read the final pages and knew there would be no more.
My friends, my companions, my lovers where all entwined in this mans vision.
"Bless the Maker and His passing"

Chapterhouse Dune is basically about a planet (Chapterhouse) colonized by the Bene Gesserit. Dune itself has been destroyed and the Bene Gesserit are turning Chapterhouse into a desert by releasing the Sandtrout so they can produce the spice, melange. At the same time the Bene Gesserit are busy fighting a sect of women known as the Honored Matres. I am a fan of Dune but I found the book to be boring and depressing. Paul Atreides his son Leto II are hated by everyone including their own descendants. If you liked the Bene Gesserit you'll probably like this book--I liked the Atreides

....although I enjoyed the characters and plot twists, particularly the military reversal toward the end, can someone help me out with what "the bitter medicine of a Sheeana future" is? Anyhow, awesome book.

One of the first science-fiction books I ever read, this novel interested me in that entire genre of literature. Its setting on a foreign planet in a time-frame immeasurably distant from our own forces the reader to let go immiediately of reality and accept Frank Herbert's universe.
And it is quite a universe. Herbert conveys very effectively the atmosphere and setting. His excellent descriptive capabilities combined with an exciting, well-woven, and intricate plot make for a fabulous piece of literature for anyone interested in science-fiction.

Good conclusion, Frank herbert really delivered on the hole series, i do hope that his son finishes the books and doesn't mess them up. I was kind of sad when Arrakis was distroyed at the end of Heretics, since it was something there through all the books, and it's on character. Thanks for the good books you left us Frank, you did a good job.

When i finished to read this last book, i have started to think what the writer was trying to say.
1. Even if you have a wild nature, after learning to control yourself, you could be useful for the human life?
2. If you leave the path of the truth, you would find yourself in the middle of nothing?
3. There is no rule in the universe when it comes to be or not to be?
4. Even your enemy can rule you if you teach her/him the reason of your existence?
5. Just read me and have fun and let some more intelligence go into your brain?
6. we create the God? or God created us? think about it.
anyway it was wonderful to read this DUNE series. Enjoy it.

I've read and re-read the DUNE series including books done by Brian Herbert. I've read Frank's original DUNE series up to Heretics about 3 times or more. I've always wondered why I can't remember anything abpit Chapterhouse Dune until I started reading it again. It is booooooriiing - that's why. I don't think I ever finished it and I probably made 2 attempts. I finally found the audiobook for it just to force myself to listen to the book while driving - big mistake. The book was putting me to sleep. I have since been listening to the audiobook only when I take public transport - or sometimes when I want to fall asleep at bedtime. God Emperor of Dune was a tedious read for me the first time but I found myself able to read it again and enjoy it now. This book though just doesn't get me excited or interested. I'm only listening to it now so I can read Brian H's sequel - Sandworms and Hunters of Dune. I just wish I could find an abridged version of this book. I think it can be summed up in 2 or 3 chapters. There's just so much pages wasted on people's thoughts, musings, endless talking, etc. that doesn't capture my attention after the first paragraph of a page. I'm still plodding through this book and hopefully will be done with it. I would like to google and see if I can find a really really short version of this book someone hopefully posted online and save myself the misery.

u cant go on without watching this ending part, so u will have to read this one too, just keep in mind awhile that FRANK was also ending during he was striving to end this end... Read my fingers, I FEEL SORRY COS I AM OVER WITH THAT PRESANTATION OF F.H. CONTINUUM..

As I read the first Dune books, I was fascinated by the Bene Gesserit. When Chapterhouse Dune came out, totally dedicated to them, it was terrific. As other reviewers have said, "If you like the Bene Gesserit, their mystery, their centuries- long dedication, you'll love Chapterhouse. If you don't, you won't." Makes onewonder if a Bene Gesserit type group is really "behind things" in our world, too. Maybe. Maybe not. Hmmmmmmm?

This was a good book, However as with heretics, it has a lot of meaningless crap that didn't have to be in there. What made me upset is he never really explained things clearly in either heretics or chapterhouse. For example whats the connections between the bene tleilax and the Zensunni. Why does Sheanna have these powers. What happened to Waff? What was he talking about in Heretics about a Tleilaxu savior coming and conquering all thier enemies. Why the hell are those wierd face dancers at the end of the book. As for the Futars he never explained, rather he just threw them in there and said "they kill honored matres". WHo was the enemy The honored matres were fleeing? Why did Sheanna,idaho and teg leave at the end? If it was Odrades plan why would Sheanna be against it. And most important what the hell weapon did the Honored matres use to be victorious over the Bene Gesserit even though thier armies had been crushed. Also to think that the from 1500 years of scattering, that the universe would become infintely populated by humans is farfetched. Humans would never just leave thier homes and then severe all contact with it. Even if there was amss famine. I would Like to see a series of books dealing with what actually happened right After Leto II died. Like how many people died in the famine. WHich people left the empire and why. How did various factions recover from the Leto's death etc....

A really interesting final story in this series. I found it as engrossing and readable as the first book. The characters seem to be more thoroughly fleshed out then in any of the other 5 books. It left me wanting more.

The people of the original time of Dune are now an antiquated minority. The Bene Gesserit must bargain to stay alive and all the rest are subjugated or dead. But small pockets of resistance may hold the key to escape with some legendary figures coming back into play. Frank Herbert finally puts to rest his greatest creation, leaving us with a tear in the eye and a reluctant farewell to our well-loved heroes. Prepare to recite the "litany against post-Dune come-down"

The beauty of Herbert's work lies not only in the sheer pleasure and entertainment of reading that this book has in abundance, or in the magic and wonder of his fictional universe, but in the implications concerning the reality we live in. Chapterhouse:Dune gives us a different insight and awareness of the intricacies of politics, philosophy, religion, and truth ; the humanity in survival, evolution, and growth-- the issues that concern us all

This book is thin, watery, crap! The original "Dune" was a multi-layered fabric; wholly engrossing, compelling enough to spawn ever-less-interesting sequels, but clearly, Hebert had run dry by this book.

Don't be fooled by the "Bestseller!" status. It's not "flawed", it sucks.

Reverend Mother Odrade wanders around the titular "Chapterhouse" planet, fretting, musing, wondering, and talking to an incredibly boring assortment of inner ancestors, going on and on about gardening and the love-hate relationship the Bene Gesserit have with bureaucracy, all for hundreds upon hundreds of pages.

You'll find yourself rooting for the bad guys to wipe them all out!

Despite the waste of forests of pages, she never actually tells us what her great big mighty important plan is. But don't worry; it's blaringly obvious from page twenty on. In fact, sit down at your local bookstore, read the first chapter and the last two, and save yourself a colossal waste of time.

Oh, and we forgot to tell you, there are Jews in the future! Why? No good reason, adds absolutely nothing to the book at all, but if they ever make a movie, they can cast Judd Hirsch if he does the stereotypically Jewish father from "Independence Day" (but only if he cranks the stereotype up even further).

I'm embarrassed for Herbert.

"Dune" was one of my all-time favorite books, and I LABORED through the next three sequels only to be very pleasantly surprised by the last two, "Heretics of Dune" and this book, "Chapterhouse: Dune."
This and Heretics are the only books Herbert has written that live up to the original "Dune." I highly recommend them both.

I am an Asimov fan, but a friend recommended this book to me. I read it and found myself going back and forth from the library until I was done with the sixth book, CHAPTERHOUSE: DUNE. DUNE is action packed and opens up another scifi universe that is equally complex and eye opening...a book that will keep you up until 3 am on the weekend finishing it.

I have had this and all the other dune books for many years I have read all of them so many times and each time I find something that I missed in this book you find that there is a sub plot about the scattering that you never thought about and it makes you wonder if Mr Herbert was going to write one more book about dune If you are a real fan this is a must book for your collection

An alert reader may well ask, if I thought the last four books in this series were that bad, why did I read them all?

That's a darn good question.

Well, I read the original "Dune" in high school some 30 years ago, and I have re-read it a couple of times since, considering it to be a true masterpiece. The sequel, "Dune Messiah," is every bit as good, and I agree with some interpretations that this novel should be considered a companion novel or extension of the original "Dune," since it basically picks up soon after the conclusion of the first, and completes the story of the rise and fall of Paul Atreides. In other words, the first two books could be combined into one novel, and we would have one of the truly great works of science fiction on our hands.

Still, the seeds of stupidity had already been sown in the original "Dune," and brought out further in "Messiah" with the plot twists involving the Alia character. These came to the fore in "Children of Dune," which is Part III of the series. Basically, as anyone who hated the Wesley Crusher character in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," or the Anakin Skywalker kid in "Star Wars: the Phantom Menace" can tell you - NEVER portray little kids with superhuman powers that exceed the capabilities of the adults around them because no matter how you try to spin it, it will not be credible. It violates the rules of "internal consistency" or some such thing that every created fictional universe must follow. But Herbert didn't follow that rule and gave these little kids super powers and it was kind of like "Mighty Mouse in Outer Space," only sillier. Especially when one of the kids starts morphing into a baby sandworm. I am not making this up. So basically, after reading "Children of Dune" in the early 1980s, I gave up on the series for awhile and forgot about it.

Around 1990 I came across "God Emperor of Dune" in a bargain bin in a bookstore and decided just for the heck of it that I would give it a shot. I actually read the whole thing. It was weird, consisting basically of three hundred pages about the 3000 year old kid from "Children of Dune" who had turned into a mutant boy-worm with no testicles suddenly discovering, after seeing a particularly hot space chick, that he can't get laid and maybe regretting he had set the universe on a course that he called "the Golden Path." I never figured out what the "Golden Path" was supposed to be, he never got laid, and in the end he fell into a river and bad things happened to him, or maybe they weren't so bad because this is what he had planned all along for the past 3000 years, because, you know, he had prescient powers and all...

So Book IV was a let-down, which probably has anyone who is still with me here wondering why I kept going. Okay. Fast forward about ten years to the year 2000 or so. I am in the airport in Moscow, getting ready to fly back to the United States with nothing to read and a ten hour flight staring me in the face, and there, in front of me, next to the giant rack of porno mags, is a copy of "Heretics of Dune. This would be Part V of the series, for those of you keeping track. I would summarize this by saying that if I had bought a copy of this in Russian it would have made about as much sense. (Or maybe I should have gone with one of the porno mags.) It is now about 8000 (or maybe 10,000?) years beyond the events of the original Dune, as if that matters, but there are still all these Bene Gesserit women around. Only they seem to be warring for control of the galaxy with another group of women with super powers called Honored Matres or some such thing. The Honored Matres appear to really good in bed and can somehow control men if they have sex with them. Must have good kegel muscles or something. Did I mention that the incidental Duncan Idaho character who was killed about halfway through the first "Dune" novel keeps showing up as some sort of resurrected zombie guy through all these novels, because some group of bio-engineering geniuses with an unpronounceable name like Bene Tleilaxu or something can clone him from a single surviving cell? Anyway, it turns out that the climactic moment of this novel, no pun intended, is when this zombie Idaho guy has sex with an Honored Matre and he is so good at it that SHE falls under HIS control. And somehow his ability to be the greatest lover in the galaxy since Wilt Chamberlain becomes the key to the future of the universe, although after reading this I still have no idea what the hell the Golden Path is supposed to be or if all this sex has anything to do with it. And the worst part of it is that Herbert can't even write a decent sex scene, considering how much sex seems to be a factor to the plots of these stories. Where is Ken Follett when you need him?

Okay, so finally it is 2008. I know that Frank Herbert has passed away, and while his son is apparently busily and simultaneously writing several hundred sequels and prequels and sequels to prequels to the Dune series, all supposedly based on his father's notes, I know that this copy of Chapterhouse Dune I'm looking at on the library shelf in front of me represents the last thing Frank himself ever wrote. So I say to myself - okay - how bad could it be? And I've read all the other ones - maybe I should see how it all turns out.

Well - it was as silly as I imagined, and then some. The Bene Gesserit and Honored Matres are still at war. Another one of the Duncan Idaho zombie guys (or maybe it's the same one) is still having lots of sex. There are Jews running around, and apparently these are actual, bona-fide Jews, although Herbert never discloses whether they are still conducting bris ceremonies on their eight day old male infants, so maybe they're not so Jewish after all, oy vey. In the end, one of the Honored Matres turns into a Bene Gesserit of sorts, uses her martial arts skills like some futuroid version of Jacqueline Chan to dispatch some of the uber-bitch servants of the head Honored Matre, who is cleverly named "THE Honored Matre," and presumably peace breaks out all across the universe. And that is how it all turns out, 10,000 years later, and man I wish I could have had some of what this guy was smoking...

Now if any of you think I gave away any spoilers here, well I didn't, because NONE of this makes any sense. Though I suppose there is at least one fan boy out there somewhere who could probably explain all of this to me, but then this would likely be the same guy who would argue that there is actually some deep meaning to the Matrix movies or the Lost series on TV.

My advice to you is let me serve as a warning to you all. Stop reading Dune books after number two. No - they don't get any better. Just like Rocky movies or Alien movies they just get progressively dumber and dumber, in a Mystery Science Theatre 3000 kind of way, which is why I give this book two stars instead of one. It was so bad it was almost good, if only Saturday Night Live or MST3K could get a hold of it....

I loved the character development of Duncan Idaho. It was interesting that though all the series Idaho was continually cloned and made just a bit player. I think it's great he's the main hero in this book. It made me root for him more because he was usually just a lap dog who got killed in the other books.

Make sure you read the other books first or you'll be lost. This book reads pretty slow and doesn't have the drive found in earlier novels. It seems to be losing speed but at the same time keeping the reader entertained by Herbert like cultural dimensions, science and good writing. I recommend it to any hard core Dune fan but otherwise don't bother.

God Emperor of DUNE is by far the best of all the DUNE books. The Plot, the character development and the sheer scope of Herbert's imagination. I found myself hating Leto all through the book until the end when he finally explains everything. At that point I understood why he did the things he did. All other DUNE books fails to compare.

THis book is the conclusion to Dune. I believe that Frank Herbert had more in store for his readers before he died because he leaves you hanging with no clue what will happen. It is a great book but a bad conclusion to a great series. But, who is to blame for that?

The story lets your mind travel and tour Arrakis thousands of light years away. Imagine a life so magnificent yet challenging. Stricly recommend to die hard sci-fi readers to read other books by Mr. Herbert. Simply Brilliant !!!

This book, and the series that precede it are masterful. But especially this book, and more so the ending. Read the series just so you can get to the mindblowing end. The book shows you infinity. It's the same gut punch, Wow. I can't say anymore.

After a very slow start, the book draws your interest and really gets moving - resurrecting the spirit of the early books. But it utterly fails in the end. The conclusion is unbelievable, frustratingly open-ended, and poorly written. In the end, Herbert disappoints with weak characters, unforgivable plot holes, and just plain flat out hokiness.