Brian Herbert

All posts tagged Brian Herbert

Sisterhood of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert

Posted by tjhapney on May 31, 2013
Posted in: Science Fiction. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

SisterhoodOriginal review posted Friday, May 4, 2012

Description:  It is eighty-three years after the last of the thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. Great changes are brewing that will shape and twist all of humankind.

The war hero Vorian Atreides has turned his back on politics and Salusa Secundus. The descendants of Abulurd Harkonnen Griffen and Valya have sworn vengeance against Vor, blaming him for the downfall of their fortunes. Raquella Berto-Anirul has formed the Bene Gesserit School on the jungle planet Rossak as the first Reverend Mother. The descendants of Aurelius Venport and Norma Cenva have built Venport Holdings, using mutated, spice-saturated Navigators who fly precursors of Heighliners. Gilbertus Albans, the ward of the hated Erasmus, is teaching humans to become Mentats…and hiding an unbelievable secret.

The Butlerian movement, rabidly opposed to all forms of “dangerous technology,” is led by Manford Torondo and his devoted Swordmaster, Anari Idaho. And it is this group, so many decades after the defeat of the thinking machines, which begins to sweep across the known universe in mobs, millions strong, destroying everything in its path.

Every one of these characters, and all of these groups, will become enmeshed in the contest between Reason and Faith. All of them will be forced to choose sides in the inevitable crusade that could destroy humankind forever….

Review 3 of 5 Stars

I love the Dune universe and was really looking forward to this book.  In fact, I bought the hardback for my birthday since I own them all and I’ve mostly enjoyed and been entertained by the other books that Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert wrote in the Dune universe after Frank Herbert’s passing.  I wish I could say that I loved it, felt good about paying almost $30 for it and will read it over and over for years to come, but unfortunately I can’t.  There were some interesting tidbits and history, but on the whole I never was thoroughly engaged in the story presented.  The Bene Gesserit stuff was kind of blah where it seemed it should have been more exciting given the events taking place.  I most enjoyed finding out what became of Vorian Atreides after he rode off into the sunset, so to speak, in the series previously. The Harkonnen ploy for vengeance wasn’t really all that vengeful in nature or exciting.  Seemed like all the factions were just kind of blundering along trying to get their houses in order. I wish I could add something more positive as I’ve loved the series up until now.  Let’s hope that if there’s a next one that it regains the flavor that made Dune such an intriguing series to visit.