Sandworms of Dune

Sandworms of Dune
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson

Sandworms of Dune
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Book Summary Information

Author: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-01
ISBN: 0765351498
Number of pages: 560
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction

Book Reviews of Sandworms of Dune

Book Review: A fine conclusion to the great saga of Dune.
Summary: 5 Stars

REVIEW:

This is the second part of the two-part conclusion of the Dune saga. The first part is "Hunters of Dune." If you're hungry for imaginative space-opera science fiction as good as Star Wars, these books should fill your belly. Being friendly, however, I want to warn you not to be swayed by one-star reviews and malicious comments. Though I am sure you can find such comments on other sites, here at amazon.com I have noticed a group of vandals who condemn any Dune material not written by Frank Herbert. They fling foul mud on anyone who gives a five-star review to, or who praises, Dune books by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson.

But "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune" have as many five-star reviews as they do one-star reviews, and there must be a reason for that. Certainly there's a reason for my two five-star reviews: these books are good, solid science fiction. Though the Dune universe still has its mysteries, these two books bring us to a fulfilling end. Also, Brian & Kevin's prose is proficient, without the boring passages of irrelevant discourse found in Frank's Dune books. Brian & Kevin's pace is fast, their concepts are bright, their plot is involved and has surprises, and their finale is uplifting.

One of the many entertaining concepts illuminated by these two books is that of the gholas. Even though Frank's device of genetic memory, based on Carl Jung's theory, is not scientifically accurate, it works well for fantasy. A devilish group of little people, called Bene Tleilaxu, grossly mutate women so they can serve as mindless production units for the gholas. These units, called "axlotl tanks," are artificially inseminated with genetically engineered ova. Thus, as long as their DNA is available, dead people can be resurrected.

In "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune" these tanks produce a collection of historically important persons and heroes. Some of the heroes have superpowers, like prescience, super-speed, accelerated mentation, or the ability to control sandworms. So we have a plot element resembling an assembly of superheroes from DC Comics' Justice League of America. One hero uses their special power for one event; another hero uses their special power for another event. Brian & Kevin did not originate this kind of teamwork, but their story uses it well.

"Dune 7" was the working title of Frank Herbert's seventh Dune novel. Outline and notes for this novel were discovered by Brian after Frank died. Brian & Kevin used the outline and notes as a basis for their own their "Dune 7," which comprises "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune." At the end of my review of "Hunters of Dune," I said I would withhold final judgment on whether or not Frank's "Dune 7" would have been as good as Brian & Kevin's. I now make that judgment, which is this: Frank's "Dune 7" would have been worse.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

In April of 2010, I had new bookshelves that needed filling. I contemplated buying all the Dune Books. At amazon.com, though the average ratings of the Dune books by Brian & Kevin were poor, about twenty years ago I had read the first four books written by Frank. (I forget why I never read Frank's last two Dune books.) Now, with an appetite for more Dune, I took a closer look at the ones written by Brian & Kevin. The cover art was impressive, and the books were impressively thick. Of course that does not guarantee a good read, but it indicates that the publications of these books was costly. Also, some of them had been bestsellers, and though they had many low ratings, they also had many high ratings. With my hankering for more Dune, I WANTED these books to be good. I bought all of Frank's books, four to reread and two to read for the first time. And, hoping that the good reviews were justified, I joined the publishers who were willing to gamble on Brian & Kevin. I also bought their ten books. It was a gamble I am pleased to have won.

On 6 September 2010, with "The Butlerian Jihad" I began my reading of the sixteen books. Yesterday morning, 17 November 2010, I completed my task. Frank-Herbert-worshipping vandals will probably click that this review is not helpful--not because it is unhelpful, but because I do not worship Frank Herbert--and the vandals will probably fling some muddy comments. But I know what I know. I have been reading science fiction since I was eleven. I am now 62. I have read Anderson and Asimov to Zahn and Zelazny. Also I know a little about the art of writing (I have practically memorized Strunk & White's "The Elements of Style").

I know enough to tell you that Asimov's writing style is kinky (practically his whole story is told via dialog). I know enough to tell you that cinematic-franchise books, like the initial horde of so-called Star Trek "novels," are not worth your time, let alone your money (though there are some exceptions, like Peter David's Babylon 5 trilogy, "Legions of Fire"). And having just read all the Dune books, not only do I know enough to tell you that Brian & Kevin's are worth your time, also I know enough to tell you that they are better than Frank's, except for the original one, "Dune." They are better because they do not have Frank's insertions of inappropriate, boring commentary.

Summary of Sandworms of Dune

At the end of Frank Herbert's final novel, Chapterhouse: Dune, a ship carrying a crew of refugees escapes into the uncharted galaxy, fleeing from a terrifying, mysterious Enemy. The fugitives used genetic technology to revive key figures from Dune's past--including Paul Muad'Dib and Lady Jessica--to use their special talents to meet the challenges thrown at them.

Based directly on Frank Herbert's final outline, which lay hidden in two safe-deposit boxes for a decade, Sandworms of Dune will answer the urgent questions Dune fans have been debating for two decades: the origin of the Honored Matres, the tantalizing future of the planet Arrakis, the final revelation of the Kwisatz Haderach, and the resolution to the war between Man and Machine. This breathtaking new novel in Frank Herbert?s Dune series has enough surprises and plot twists to please even the most demanding reader.

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