Product ReviewsDune Ser.: Sandworms of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert (2007, Hardcover)

Completely Absurd

Having been a fan of the original Dune series, when you sit down and read all of the novels back to back in order of their timeline, you can see such a gross inconsistancy between Frank's novels and Brian and Kevin's novels, it's almost sad.

Brian and Kevin follow up their less than impressive "Hunters of Dune" with an even LESS impressive "Sandworms of Dune". By this point, Brian and Kevin have brought back most of the classic Dune characters (Alia, Vladimir Harkonnen, Paul Atreides, Liet Kynes, Stilgar, Jessica, Leto II, Thufir Hawat, etc - and even an EVIL Paul Atreides, if you can imagine that sort of nonsense). While it's nice to have a reunion with such old friends, it's disappointing that they have absolutely nothing to do throughout the novel other than stand around and fill up the empty spaces on the No-Ship.

Retconning of the original novels runs rampant throughout "Sandworms of Dune" - the fact that Norma Cenva (a character Frank Herbert wrote approximately four lines about in the original six novels, if he even wrote that much about her) is some kind of all-powerful Goddess is an insult to the intelligence of Dune fans, and if that's not bad enough, you get worms who live in water and spit out "ULTRA SPICE". To anyone with even a whit of common sense regarding what made Dune what it was in the first place, the idea of water worms and "ULTRA SPICE" is just absurdity at it's finest.

The conclusion of the novel is a pretty flagrant Matrix Revolutions ripoff more than anything else. "God Emperor of Dune" and Leto II's reasons for taking on such a heavy burden in the first place are essentially dismissed by Herbert Jr. and Anderson as "Well, Leto II was wrong" towards the climax of the novel. Without spoiling, there are more than a few "easy conveniences" that lead towards the conclusion of affairs, and the reasons given for those "easy conveniences" are unsatisfying and will leave you wondering what the point of it all was anyway.

There's honestly very little story here worth mentioning at all. You can find online a MUCH more interesting, complete, intriguing, complex and true-to-Frank's-voice continuation of the Dune saga in "Dune Revenant" (do an internet search). It is fan fiction, but if you're looking for an ACTUAL continuation of the events in "Chapterhouse: Dune", forget about Herbert and Anderson and read that instead. In the end, you'll be FAR more satisfied.Read full review...

Sandworms of Dune? Not Quite

To start, I only bought this book to finish off the series, as I made the simple mistake of starting it in the first place. I would not recommend the Dune books by Kevin Anderson or Brian Herbert to any original 'Dune' fans. In fact, I would find trouble even recommending the new books to a novice reader as well. Kevin Anderson and Brian Herbert, between them, have unfortunately decimated Frank Herbert's original masterpiece. Even by working and writing together, these two have yet to equal Frank's brilliant writing alone, or his incredible imagination. They seem to spend most of their time continuing the stories of characters originally created by Frank, without adding anything noteworthy to their characters, or rehashing old ideas put forth by Frank Herbert long ago. Brian Herbert claims to have found some old story outlines written by Frank before he died, which were unknowingly locked-away. If so, then Brian and Kevin should truly be ashamed of themselves, as they were incapable of mastering a storyline that was apparently already laid out in front of them. Frank Herbert's original writings were brilliant, as he had the uncanny ability to make his universe seem real or at least plossible. He also forced the reader to think/read at a higher level, rather than dumbing down his writing to a lower one. Brian and Kevin, unfortunately, kept their writing at a teenagers reading level, nor was their imagination much beyond that age group as well. But maybe that was their target audience afterall. Skip this whole new Dune series if at all possible, as the original Dune universe died with it's original creator. If you've already started the new series and wish to continue, then I would recommend cliff notes instead, or reading a story outline from a fan on the internet that highlites all the main points of the books. Don't waste your time actually reading it. I enjoy the occasional sci-fi novel from time to time and loved the original Dune novels, but this new series was truly painful to read. Definitely not recommended!Read full review...

Galactic

The book is in good shape, the Dune series and whos who I is a good mind exerciser, plot by plot you can get a lot of space and time travel with this tome.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale

excellent condition great addition to set

fills in a gap in series very well written

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: alibrisbooks

Sandworms of Dune ties it all together.

I discovered the original Dune series about the time Children of Dune was published. Back then you didn't go online to see when a new book was published, you walked up to the library or book store and asked if there were any new Frank Herbert books. In this way I ended up consuming all of his books as a teenager. When the prequel books started coming out a few years ago, I reread the original series. I was amazed from an adult perspective the intricate web of politics and economics that tied this science fiction series together. I knew that a follow up in prequel form or otherwise would be a major accomplishment Frank Herbert's Universe.
Well all of the prequels are written and now we have gone past Chapterhouse and somehow tied it all together. It's an amazing bit of writing and I guess it's not the end as they have another book coming out, but I am very pleased with what was written so far. I highly recommend sitting down and reading the whole series for anyone with an imagination. I don't know now whether I would start with the prequels or the original series, but that's a minor problem.Read full review...

Last time i rate a $4 used book

A good value , but my time for $ 4 , rating it?

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale

Sandworms of Dune

This book is one of the best books in the Dune series and brings to conclusion many of the elements left standing from Chapterhouse and Hunters of Dune. It is excellently written in a style that makes the reader unable to set the book down. The book moves in a fast pace with no parts of the book being 'slow'. The innovations and new characters as well as the return of old enemy, ties together the whole series from the prequel books, The original Dune chronical, and the later, newer books. There are surprises lurking around every corner and with every turn of the page. I hope that the authors continue to write more books in the series as the future of Dune is limitless.Read full review...

Entertaining

Book was in good shape, and performed as expected.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: betterworldbook...

No sleeve

Excited about the book disappointed it came without the cover ☹️

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: thrift.books

best one out of the last couple

This one is much better then the last couple of the series. Its well writen with everypage making you want to see whats coming next. It was great seeing what could have happened to the great figures of Dune.Read full review...