The Brian Herbert-Kevin J. Anderson Dune books are quite polarizing. After having read this book, I find some of the criticism valid. But it's also clear that the authors did try to flesh out the Dune universe in a way that would satisfy Frank Herbert. They're clearly not quite as good with the art of writing, but the books aren't trash.Of the criticisms I've seen, the one that most holds up is repetition and lack of subtlety in the writing. I'm not sure if this is because the book had two authors, but the book repeats itself as if worrying readers will forget. This is particularly frustrating when the book trues to use foreshadowing. Foreshadowing works when it provides subtle hints and sets a mood. However, the authors advertise future events far too clearly, undermining the suspense of the story. As if an exaggerated form of Chekov's Gun, if the book repeats that a particular thing is dangerous or important, know that it will play a role in later chapters.This book - and the other House books - doesn't have a particularly strong story. I get the sees that the House books were written more to provide backstory for the main characters in Frank Herbert's Dune than to tell its own unique story. This is both good and bad. I'm glad the books don't try to overshadow the story of Dune. Dune clearly represents the climax of a struggle, and so having a major story set just decades before might have detracted from its power.However, I do think Dune: House Atreides could have done a better job setting up a story. We learn about different characters, but even after finishing the book I'm still not entirely clear what the major conflict of the trilogy is supposed to be. There are several small-scale conflicts, but ultimately it seems our protagonists move from event to event to serve the needs of the plot. And, despite the title, this book isn't exclusively, or even primarily, about House Atreides but rather covers a range of Dune characters.That said, if you take the book as general backstory to Dune, it actually works somewhat well (small contradictions aside). Baron Harkonnen is back as his scheming self. I actually like what the authors have done with his character. Duke Paulus, Leto's father, also works as an inspiration for Duke Leto and helps explain the Atreides mindset a bit more and the House's dispute with Emperor Shaddam.The sections I most enjoyed though were those about Count Fenring and Shaddam. We only saw brief glimpses of those two characters in Dune but I was always curious about their relationship, especially because Dune seemed to imply Fenring was a key character but he doesn't actually do much in that novel. In Dune: House Atreides we finally see why Fenring is such an important player. I'm very much looking forward to House Corrino.Overall, if you read this book, set your expectations. It's not great literature, not even at the level of Frank Herbert's latter Dune novels. But if you want more Dune and you're willing to suspend disbelief, House Atreides can be a fun read. Don't expect any great philosophical insights or plot twists. I do think it's safe to expect that the books will make the Dune universe feel much larger and more complicated than what we got in the original novels.
Buddy read with Athena!Blindness can take many forms other than the inability to see. Fanatics are often blinded in their thoughts. Leaders are often blinded in their hearts. - The Orange Catholic BibleDecades before the events of the Great Dune Trilogy, we go back to the blissful times in the reign of Emperor Elrood IX. Peace and prosperity rule in the Known Universe, and on the beautiful Atreides homeworld of Caladan, young Leto Atreides is being slowly, but steadily, groomed for command.Forget all that.The emperor is dying. The Imperial family is ravaged by rumours of poison and betrayal. On Arrakis House Harkonnen prepares its malicious plans to destroy all its rivals. On the mechanical world of Ix, the ruling class is swept away by a flood of revolution and religious war. On Kaitain itself, now the heart of the empire, the halls of the Landsraad are filled with conspiracies, plots and secrecy. And amidst all this stands House Atreides, lone paragon of virtue in a universe of greed and brutality.It’s easy to be a bit skeptical when an immensely popular series is continued after the death of its author. Sometimes the result is wonderful, like in the case of Christopher Tolkien. And sometimes the result is a disastrous farce, which is the case in Sweden right now with the continuation of the Millennium trilogy. But most of the time, the series will in such a case take the leap from marvel to mediocrity. Fortunately, after having read only this one book, I firmly believe Brian Herbert (along with Kevin J. Anderson, of course) fits into the first category.This book is soaked with references to the original Dune novels. It seems as if though the authors took every single sentence Frank Herbert ever wrote and started expanding upon it. And the result is marvelous. Within these pages are the background stories for some of the most memorable characters in science fiction.An in addition to the characters, this is also a wonderful expansion of the setting. Whereas Frank Herbert mostly restricted himself to writing about events occurring on the planet Dune, which was kind of the point of his books, these prequels take us to Ix and Caladan, to Kaitain and Giedi Prime and to the ships journeying through space. One little detail I particularly enjoyed was when Duncan Idaho landed on Caladan at the wrong place entirely and had to walk for weeks to the castle of the Atreides. That’s a portrayal of scope that most sci-fi series tend to miss.This is a brilliant prequel, in that it skilfully completes the task of expanding upon the stories, characters and locations of the original novels. That said, do not think this is an introduction to the Dune series. These books were written to be read after the original Dune novels. I would say that everyone would be better off reading all six originals before this, that everyone should read at least the first trilogy before this, and that everyone must read at least Dune itself before reading this.House Atreides does not have the magic of the three first Dune novels. But that is to be expected. This book was never supposed to have an original and captivating storyline, but rather to expand upon what was already written. And it does a really good job of just that.
What do You think about House Atreides (2000)?
Dune House Atreides, a precursor to Dune, takes place decades before Paul is born. It introduces us to Paul's grandfather (Leto's father) Duke Paulus Atreides, who is murdered by the Baron Harkonnen. Leto then becomes the leader of House Atreides as a teenager and must find a way to save his Atreides empire from destruction. Thufir Hawat (the Atreides Mentat), Stilgar (Naib of Sietch Tabr), Duncan Idaho, Pardot Kynes (Imperial Planetologist assigned to Dune), the Bene Gesserit (and their secret breeding program to produce the Kwisatz Haderach), the Spacing Guild and many other characters and plots continued in Dune are all part of this excellent addition to the Dune saga. It contains the same kind of political intrigue, treachery, and complex plot found in Frank Herbert's Dune novels.
—Clark Hallman
Many people I know have read this book, so I had to see if it deserved the praise it was getting, as well as all the numerous spin-offs from Misters Herbert and Anderson: it does. This novel is set as a direct precursor to the original Dune, and it was very entertaining. This does what the first two Star Wars prequels didn't: make things interesting, even though you know exactly how things will turn out. Most interesting to me was what happens on Ix, and the adventures of young Duncan Idaho. Of absolute dread was the introduction of a certain type of spaceship in the novel's last third that seems completely out of place, and unmentioned anywhere else in the original saga: if a ship like this were to exist in the Duniverse, it would have been mentioned, and more importantly USED! It's a long book, but it's inspried me to seek out some of the other prequels and give them a shot as well, so you can obviously see that I enjoyed this book enough to seek out others of its ilk.
—Patrick Hayes
Well after I finished Chapterhouse Dune, I was pretty sure I was done reading anymore Dune books, but I decided I would give Herbert's son and Anderson a chance to wow me with the their writing, imaginations and notes left behind from Frank Herbert. Needless to say I love Herbert's Dune series, it really blew my mind on many levels. Inventiveness, technology, cutting edge class, philosophy I don't know where to stop really.So when I picked up these prequals, they really had quite a bit to overcome to satisfy my craving for more Dune. Somehow though they have done just that. As I read the books, I feel like the only thing that has changed is the director. So meaning the camera angles and perhaps some of the sketchy nature of Herbert's writings have actually cleared up to some degree. I always saw strange sketches and oblong un symetric rooms with Herbert, or chisseled poorly drawn faces. None of that mattered as it added to the depth and brevity of his novels. Anyhow so now the characters just come out smoother, almost like the ideas are flowing with even more grace. There are still some new concpets thrown in as well, and I believe these come from the notes, so it keeps things exciting. I think I did spot a few anachronisms through, but oh well it cannot be perfect. I am excited to continue reading through these novels....Also did you think it was even possible for Duncan Idaho to be even more awesome than he allready was?
—Matthew Fox
