House Corrino (Dune: House Trilogy, Book 3) by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
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Book Reviews of House Corrino (Dune: House Trilogy, Book 3)
Book Review: Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I always try to leave reviews for everything I purchase. I will make this short and sweet-because I am a very busy lady. This book is everything it promises and if you are a true Dune fan or even a new Dune fan, you really must read this and all the other books in the series.Book Review: Dune Fan!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book provides a good back story that fills in many of the unknows from the previous books. This sheds light on the Atreidies family as well as Harkonnen and others. Focus on Corrino.Book Review: A grand conclusion
Summary: 5 Stars
This section of the the pre-dune set really ties things together well and keeps you involved in everything leading up to Frank's original book. I couldn't put it down.Book Review: Better than the first two
Summary: 4 Stars
Let me start by saying it's better than the first two. Let me continue by saying that when I got to the end of this third book, I was thinking the story could have been told (and told better) in just one book by discarding the fluffy nonsense and keeping just the meat of the story.
Bad writing. It's still there, and it hasn't gotten any better. Just one example of the completely ridiculous phrases is on page 552, "hold on to the gossamer strands of her sanity." On its own, that phrase is already ludicrous; what makes it even more so is the fact that the authors had already overused (and misused) the word "gossamer" a dozen times.
Unbelievable actions. Literally millions of innocent civilians are murdered without justification, and without repercussions. A universe where governments behaved this way would not survive the reign of one emperor, let alone 10,000 years.
Hectic ending. The last 150 pages are unnecessarily hectic as the authors try to wrap up the many threads initiated by the unbelievable actions previously mentioned. House Moritani, House Harkonnen, House Atreides and Emperor Corrino are all undertaking major military operations. Furthermore, Jessica is in labor and the amal project is reaching its culmination. As if all of this weren't enough, the authors throw in an additional plot line involving the twisted Mentat Peter DeVries. The motivation for his actions in particular has gone beyond the realm of the unlikely into the neighborhood of mind-boggling-ly (is that a word?) stupid. Usually, when authors have a character do something uncharacteristic it's because of a need to move the plot forward, but this plot already had too much going on without this. This unnecessary and absurd thread seriously detracted from the ending.
Inattention to detail. I have previously mentioned that the authors sometimes appear not to have read the original Dune Chronicles series. Well, now I wonder if they've read their own work. On page 49, they write "A few years ago, distracted by a document he'd been studying, Leto had accidentally crushed the insect." But that's not actually what happened in House Harkonnen; what actually happened is that Leto was distracted FROM the document BY a guard and the document fell on the insect.
Freedom. Why do "the good guys" keep using the word "free"? Leto and Rhombur might be good enlightened leaders, but that doesn't make them any less than complete autocrats or make their peoples any more free than they would be under the Tleilaxu or Harkonnens or Corrinos. This could have provided a fruitful line of discussion had the authors been trying to paint their characters as unaware of their own failings in this regard, but Herbert & Anderson don't seem to have given this a second thought (despite their excessive use of the word "free") and never manage to move beyond their naïve notion of good versus evil to explore this idea.
Overall, I would rate it slightly higher than the first two books in the series, somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. Still no masterpiece.
Book Review: The Atreides Leave Their Mark!
Summary: 4 Stars
Brian Herbert is the son of Frank Herbert creator of Dune Saga and a sci-fi writer himself. Kevin Anderson is also a successful sci-fi writer and Dune's Saga fan.
Brian and Kevin start with this trilogy a difficult mission: revisit Dune's universe describing the events immediately preceding Dune, the first & unforgettable volume of the famous saga.
Did they succeed? Well, yes and... no. Yes because they deliver an interesting first step with all the elements of this fascinating universe; and no because the stories are not as gripping as the original Dune.
Nevertheless Dune's fans (as me) should not be too disappointed because even Frank Herbert wasn't at the same height when writing Dune Messiah, Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune and he will recover allure only with the two last books of the series.
So let us hope the same will happen with Brian & Kevin efforts in next trilogies!
The variety of themes touched by the original series is still present in this trilogy: ecology, political-religious interaction, genetic manipulation, longevity drugs and secret sisterhoods and brotherhoods.
The story is as follows.
The Scenery.
There is a Galactic Empire ruled by the Emperor. There are powerful Noble Houses that rule different planetary systems and confront each other in endless struggle, yet subject to strict rules. There is a Guild of interstellar Pilots. There is the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood following their eugenic plans and playing in backstage as advisors to all powers. Computers & AI are forbidden and replaced by human-computers called Mentat. Arrakis is Desert Planet producer of a unique substance: the Spice and it is inhabited by mysterious desert dwellers: the Fremen.
The Argument.
Consist of several threads that are mingled and interact thru the whole triad.
A Duke Leto Atreides is decided to establish his House in a dominant position at the same time Lady Jessica his concubine is pregnant.
The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood following their eugenic plans is anxiously waiting for Jessica's child certain that will be the expected girl.
Baron Vladimir head of Noble House Harkonnen, Atreides' ancestral enemy, continue staging plot after plot against the Atreides.
The Emperor Shaddam is certain that his secret plan to obtain synthetic Spice is nearing success and start launching imprudent political and military blows without the counsel of his intimate supporter Count Fenring.
The Bene Tleilax main investigator is planning to profit from "his" Spice and let down Emperor's hopes.
This book is the best of the trilogy and all threads are neatly tied at its conclusion.
I recommend this book to sci-fi lovers and general public too.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.