Hunters of Dune
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
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Book Reviews of Hunters of Dune
Book Review: Hopes dashed
Summary: 2 Stars
"I hope they do better ..." Read all my previous "prequel" Dune reviews, and you detect my wish, expressed or implied.
I realize now, they will not.
When I read the first, "Dune: House Atreides," I didn't expect a Frank Herbert novel. But when I kept reading BH/ KA novels, I expected to see more complex, developed stories. I especially hoped Hunters would harken back to the FH originals, because this was the one based on his own notes. This was a failure. Apparently the clarity of these notes was overstated.
There were some things I just didn't understand.
Hold on, spoilers here.
OK, how does one scan a planet for life signs if it doesn't run with the aid of "thinking machines?" When the story begins, we read the Ithaca's crew was so small, and the ship so big its population barely had an impact on the ship's environmental system, but the population grew, and to the discovery of the Handler's planet, it's a problem? They couldn't have added more than 20 kids at one time, not even counting the gholas! How does Richese, the weapon mass-manufacturer of the Duniverse get wiped out, and doesn't have a single vessel of their own fire as much as a stray round?
And don't get me started on the "true" identities of Daniel and Marty. A previous reviewer was right, it should have been Laurel and Hardy.
OK, I'll read Sandworms, just to see the end. But know this, the Dune novels truly ended at the end of Chapterhouse Dune. Not with the images of Daniel and Marty, but with FH's moving eulogy to Bev.
Book Review: An unexpected surprise
Summary: 4 Stars
I suffered through the six prequels, each time wondering why in the world I keep subjecting myself to such utter crap. I guess I was thinking even badly written Dune is better than no Dune.
I had vowed never to throw more of my hard earned money at these two clowns after Battle of Corrin. But, alas, I saw Hunters in the used books bin at the local library for 50 cents, and in a moment of weakness, I picked it up..I wanted to kick myself for buying it, because I fully expected yet another disappointing read.
So with those thoughts in mind, I cracked open Hunters and soon realized.... I LIKED it!!!! They must have truly been following Frank Herbert's original manuscripts, because the writing style was much closer to that of the original novels. The introspective writing gave the characters the depth I so missed from the originals, the storyline was plausible, tightly written and kept me turning the pages. It was refreshing to not have to read endless pages of graphic violence that seemed to be there simply for it's own sake.
This felt like a Dune novel, what I've been waiting for for over 20 years.
The book isn't without flaws, it was fairly easy to tell when BH and KJA wandered off the path and injected their own plot elements. The abrupt way that Murbella discovered the origins of the Honored Matres was a bit clumsy, and the Handlers seemed a little hokey to me. But overall it was a pretty good read.
Book Review: Book Seven of Eight is good but not great
Summary: 4 Stars
All the players from the first novel have returned for Hunters of Dune. The revival of the major characters, Paul, Lady Jessica and the rest, make for a compelling novel. Without giving away all the plot details, it does have a lot going for it. It was much faster paced than the original novels. The chapters are short and the dialogue does not drag on for pages. It was written for those of us who grew up from the TV generation. Back in the sixties, science fiction novels weren't as prominent as they are today. Readers are much more familiar with plots and multi part sagas.
As for all the characters, I have to say that both Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert have established ground for future novels. It would have been a mistake if they attempted to duplicate the style of Frank Herbert. I was glad to see that the original saga will conclude in Sandworms. This series won't suffer what I call the never ending saga syndrome.
Fans of the original say the new ones are pale in comparison. However I disagree. To reach a wider audience the action must be backed up with an intelligent reason behind it. I became a fan of the books after the first film. I wanted to see what the movie missed! I would like to see the day when this book is adapted into a film. I have to wonder how the producers will interpret what was presented in Hunters as well as the final volume, Sandworms of Dune.
Book Review: Fair... not great... not horrible.
Summary: 3 Stars
Dune is a complex story that was originally very cryptic and subtle. Frank Herbert had a gift to hide key story points in fragments hidden in paragraphs, usually when you least expected it, making you go back over what you read several times. His son however lacks that gift and can make the same story take twice as long by explaining everything to the point of retarded children going... OK WE GET IT!!!!
To make my point here is the simple math equation 2+2=4 as done by each author.
Frank herbert: By taking a pair and doubling it, we are given twice as much as what we were blessed with from before.
Brian herbert:
-i got two apples in this buckets.
-Really? I got two apples too!
-No way. If you take your two apples, and I take my two apples, then we would have four apples.
-Four apples is definitely twice as many as our original count of just two apples.
-Agreed. Four apples is my count added to yours.
-I love our four apples
-Me too. Let's go clone that Duncan guy.
I rest my case.
In short. I can see how this could have been a wonderful ending, if the original author tackled it. Instead we are left with an overblown synopsis that merely tells us how it ends, without really giving us the emotion behind it.
Althought I will admit to having a soft spot for the last line of the book. Well played.
Book Review: not so bad at all... not so great either....
Summary: 3 Stars
At this point I am curious to see what happens. I've been a fan of the Dune series for a very long time and sincerely speaking I really don't mind the "dumbing down" of Dune. Frankly, Hunters is a fun book and I appreciate the fact that the story could have been told more efficiently, but losing yourself in an entertaining and familiar universe for a few hundred pages works out just fine for me. The prose style is alot closer to the original and because the story is derived from an original manuscript by the mighty Frank himself I think alot of people are off the mark to roll their eyes at the return of the robotic menace. Clearly this was how Frank meant for the series to be concluded. Now those prequels layed out things pretty neatly, a little too much so; but thats a problem with the prequels.
As for the bloated nature of contemporary Science Fiction, writers making trilogies to explain events that could fit into a single densely written volume. Thats an industry problem and frankly these Dune books are not the worst offenders (Harry Turtledove). I like the Dune Universe and the characters who populate it, and don't mind it taking two or three books to work out. I've read alot of "great literature" in my life, and yes the original Dune was one of the best books I've ever read, but this doesn't have to be.
So I am glad Brian and Kevin have decided to carry on the Universe.