This was a read for a RL book group, otherwise I would never have picked it up. I really dislike the mediocrity that is Brian and Kevin. Their writing is poor, and their characterizations are simplistic. They are nothing like Frank Herbert and they should have left the Dune series alone.

That said, I didn't hate this book, as I expected I would. Their writing has improved since the House series, which I couldn't finish. They still have problems with the depth and complexity of the characters and stories that are the hallmark of real Dune , but I don't feel like I am reading something canned and plastic and one size fits all.

This book is supposed to be the ending of the six book original series that Frank wrote. He died before completing it, and they found outlines and are trying to complete it in his absence. Brian and Kevin, with the prompting of TOR I am sure, have split the last book into 2 parts. So there is no real conclusion in this book.

This book looks at the chaos and war that was flourishing as the various groups from the human scattering returned to the old empire. There are 2 main groups that are fighting for control of humanity. The Bene Gesserit Sisters and the Honored Matres, who were a damaged offshoot developed in the scattering. They brought an un-named enemy back with them and now humanity must band together and fight or die.

One of the themes of the book is also the war between the sexes. Many of the organizations in Dune are single sex, and they have a contempt for the worth of the other sex. It is really dated, and frankly offensive.

I know the war still goes on, but not in this manner anymore. If it had been published when it was supposed to, it probably would have been fine. But its 20 years out of date. They refer to one whole group of women as the 'Whores'. Even other women adopt it. The whole aspect of sex and religion are handled in a manner that is dated and sad.

I have the second book, Sandworms of Dune and have even started it. I was hoping the momentum of book 1 would carry me through. It is also bringing back a lot of the main characters from the first 3 books as Gholas, thousands of years after they died. ( )

Apparently contrary to popular opinion, I think this is a good attempt at following in Frank Herbert's footsteps. Its only weakness, I think is the constant dotting around through time - it's hard to say how else they might have done it, but it makes you feel a bit disconnected from the plot. Also, the constant references to previous books, while an obvious attempt to ground the story in what's gone before, can be quite annoying. I think they should have just assumed that anyone reading it would at least be familiar with the original six books. Still, I look forward to reading Sandworms and finding out how it all ends. ( )

When I started reading this book I was really impressed. I thought it was quite well written. And indeed, compared to the Legends of Dune it has improved. The story ties in with the last original book written by Frank Herbert himself, Chapterhouse: Dune, where a group of refugees continues their journey through space. In two separate storylines the Outside Enemy is introduced, an anonymous threat to all mankind.

I strongly recommend you read the Legends of Dune trilogy first, before you start reading this volume!

Some things irritated me, and just like with the volumes of Legends of Dune I felt rather disappointed close to the end. Some passages are plain uncreative if not unnecessary. For example when the Outside Enemy talks about how they ended up where they are now. For one thing, the whole conversation is unnecessary, for another it is just too obvious that this is to build a bridge to previous events. But I am fully convinced that this could have been accomplished in a more elegant manner. ( )

This novel, purportedly based on notes left behind by Frank Herbert, begins a two-volume exploration of what might have happened in the seventh and supposedly final Dune novel, had he written one. Personally I was content with the open-endedness of 'Chapterhouse: Dune', but Dune is a fantastic fictional universe to revisit even when it's reduced to comic book fare. Provided you don't consider that to be a sacrilegious thing to do with the elder Herbert's creation, there's plenty of harmless fun in store. I'm enjoying the ride despite sometimes peculiar writing (chapters adding nothing to the story, paragraphs changing their subject, etc.) and frequent over-the-top violence. The bland title alone tells you they can't properly emulate the elder Herbert's grasp of what Dune's about (why not something more characteristically biblical like "Revelations" or "Epiphany"?) but they do a fine job of fan-fiction style entertainment on the level of the Star Wars expanded universe. Enter into it expecting that, and you get what you paid for. Note: to be continued/concluded in "Sandworms of Dune". ( )

While I was glad to finally learn what happened to the characters following the cliffhanger that ended Chapterhouse: Dune, as I read Hunters I kept feeling that the story wasn't really progressing. Also, I felt both thrilled and somehow violated when favorite characters from earlier books were brought back to life as gholas. It was cool and creepy at the same time. I am looking forward to see how the entire "universe" is wrapped up in the forthcoming Sandworms of Dune. ( )