Do the Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson Dune books get any better?
April 23, 2023 2:13 PM Subscribe
Inspired by Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune, I re-read all six of the original novels, which I loved as a teenager, and loved even more this time around. I started reading Hunters of Dune, written by Brian Herbert (son of Frank) and Kevin J. Anderson. And... it's awful. Should I continue?
I was able to appreciate so much more in the the original novels this time around; I think being older helped with understanding all of the musings on government, politics, and religion, as well as being more attuned to environment concerns than I was as a teenager. Since Chapterhouse: Dune ended on such a cliffhanger, I was excited to discover that the series had been picked up again and that it was based on an outline by Frank Herbert himself.
But then I started actually reading it, and... the characters sound wooden and not all like they did in the original series; it feels like it's all telling and no showing; the plot feels very linear, like they had a few signposts about things that were supposed to happen and then just tried to connect the dots; overall, it just doesn't feel like the same series at all. It reads like a pretty run-of-the-mill generic scifi novel that happens to be written in the same universe but without the interesting observations about humanity. It's basically all plot and no ideas, if that makes sense.
I wouldn't say I'm surprised, because the original novels are obviously a tough act to follow, but I am disappointed. My question, if I really have one, is whether it's worthwhile to finish the book (and the sequel, Sandworms of Dune, which is supposed to finish the story that Frank Herbert started). Is it going to improve? Or should I just read a summary so I know how the plot ends up, and stop subjecting myself to this? Is there some payoff? Does the story end in a satisfying way?
Please, no spoilers, in case I do decide to continue. I just want opinions as to whether it's worth it to do so. Thank you!
I was able to appreciate so much more in the the original novels this time around; I think being older helped with understanding all of the musings on government, politics, and religion, as well as being more attuned to environment concerns than I was as a teenager. Since Chapterhouse: Dune ended on such a cliffhanger, I was excited to discover that the series had been picked up again and that it was based on an outline by Frank Herbert himself.
But then I started actually reading it, and... the characters sound wooden and not all like they did in the original series; it feels like it's all telling and no showing; the plot feels very linear, like they had a few signposts about things that were supposed to happen and then just tried to connect the dots; overall, it just doesn't feel like the same series at all. It reads like a pretty run-of-the-mill generic scifi novel that happens to be written in the same universe but without the interesting observations about humanity. It's basically all plot and no ideas, if that makes sense.
I wouldn't say I'm surprised, because the original novels are obviously a tough act to follow, but I am disappointed. My question, if I really have one, is whether it's worthwhile to finish the book (and the sequel, Sandworms of Dune, which is supposed to finish the story that Frank Herbert started). Is it going to improve? Or should I just read a summary so I know how the plot ends up, and stop subjecting myself to this? Is there some payoff? Does the story end in a satisfying way?
Please, no spoilers, in case I do decide to continue. I just want opinions as to whether it's worth it to do so. Thank you!
Do not read the Brian Herbert novels. They make the Frank Herbert novels worse.
posted by infinitewindow at 2:22 PM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 2:22 PM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
No. Time to expand your horizons. So many better books out there. Why waste your time?
posted by Rash at 2:28 PM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Rash at 2:28 PM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
I read some of the prequels by the same team that came out first and they are bad. Imo these writers just don't have the juice.
posted by grobstein at 2:55 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by grobstein at 2:55 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
I read the first prequel before reading the original (heressy, perhaps, but I was a kid) and it was fine? But having read the originals now I will jump on the bandwaggon and say no, not worth it.
posted by Alensin at 2:58 PM on April 23, 2023
posted by Alensin at 2:58 PM on April 23, 2023
Best answer: Save yourself, go read A Memory Called Empire or something.
posted by wintersweet at 3:24 PM on April 23, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by wintersweet at 3:24 PM on April 23, 2023 [7 favorites]
Best answer: God, no.
Dune is a singular work by a visionary artist at his peak and these are by his son, who is just a guy who happened to inherit the rights, and Kevin J Anderson, a dependable hired gun writer known for his ability to churn out a book for any licensed intellectual property in a matter of weeks.
posted by rodlymight at 3:26 PM on April 23, 2023 [5 favorites]
Dune is a singular work by a visionary artist at his peak and these are by his son, who is just a guy who happened to inherit the rights, and Kevin J Anderson, a dependable hired gun writer known for his ability to churn out a book for any licensed intellectual property in a matter of weeks.
posted by rodlymight at 3:26 PM on April 23, 2023 [5 favorites]
Best answer: The spice does not flow
Do not stick your hands in the pain box
The Godking frowns
These books are rhythmic steps in the deep desert
posted by Jacen at 3:35 PM on April 23, 2023 [24 favorites]
Do not stick your hands in the pain box
The Godking frowns
These books are rhythmic steps in the deep desert
posted by Jacen at 3:35 PM on April 23, 2023 [24 favorites]
Best answer: If you still want more, read the fantastic Dune Encylopedia, which Herbert personally approved of and wrote a foreword to but which the estate disavowed in favor of the sequels after his death. (previously)
posted by Rhaomi at 3:59 PM on April 23, 2023 [15 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 3:59 PM on April 23, 2023 [15 favorites]
Seconding the Dune Encyclopedia.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 4:07 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 4:07 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everybody! I read the synopses on Wikipedia and I'm sure I would have been upset with myself for wasting my time. Wow. Some stones are better left unturned. I am going to dig right in to the Dune Encyclopedia, thank you all!
posted by number9dream at 6:06 PM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by number9dream at 6:06 PM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
I forget the titles, but I remember reading some of the other Frank Herbert books an finding them decent enough to not be a waste.
posted by zengargoyle at 7:21 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by zengargoyle at 7:21 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dune Encyclopedia is great!
Villeneuve's Dune is pretty good for atmosphere, but Lynch's Dune is imperfect but rather interesting (Picard with battle-pugs!). There's also the miniseries version which is okay and has some more details filled in.
Herbert's kids eat poop.
posted by ovvl at 8:36 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Villeneuve's Dune is pretty good for atmosphere, but Lynch's Dune is imperfect but rather interesting (Picard with battle-pugs!). There's also the miniseries version which is okay and has some more details filled in.
Herbert's kids eat poop.
posted by ovvl at 8:36 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
i picked one up years ago in a bnb, wanting some trash to read and forget, and didn't make it three pages before putting it down again. Ignore their existence.
Brian's 'Garbage Planet' is weirdly entertaining though, much more interesting in an outsider art kind of way.
posted by Sebmojo at 9:10 PM on April 23, 2023
Brian's 'Garbage Planet' is weirdly entertaining though, much more interesting in an outsider art kind of way.
posted by Sebmojo at 9:10 PM on April 23, 2023
Best answer: Seconding memory called empire, loved it and I'm also super i to Dune
posted by sid at 6:34 AM on April 24, 2023
posted by sid at 6:34 AM on April 24, 2023
Best answer: I *really* wish The Dune Encyclopedia was reprinted. Copies go for like $200 on eBay. And guess who gave away his copy to the library about 10 years ago thinking "eh. Used copies are everywhere". :(
And thirding "A Memory Called Empire"!
posted by Fortran at 3:19 PM on April 24, 2023
And thirding "A Memory Called Empire"!
posted by Fortran at 3:19 PM on April 24, 2023
I remember reading some of the other Frank Herbert books and finding them decent enough to not be a waste.
Break out of Arakkis and cross The Santaroga Barrier! Jaspers for the win.
posted by Rash at 6:46 PM on April 26, 2023
Break out of Arakkis and cross The Santaroga Barrier! Jaspers for the win.
posted by Rash at 6:46 PM on April 26, 2023
Response by poster: The Dune Encyclopedia is amazing, as is Rhaomi's FPP on the blue (linked above). Mefi is the best.
posted by number9dream at 5:03 AM on April 27, 2023
posted by number9dream at 5:03 AM on April 27, 2023
Response by poster: Followup: on this thread's recommendation, I read A Memory Called Empire and loved it, and I'm about to head over to the library to pick up the sequel (A Desolation Called Peace).
posted by number9dream at 12:47 PM on May 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by number9dream at 12:47 PM on May 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
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