A lot of your favorite characters begin to unravel in this installment. Herbert completes the original trilogy brilliantly. ( )

The third of the series that started with "Dune". Personally, I thought the first should have been left as a stand alone. This wasn't terrible, but if I'd never read it, I wouldn't feel I was missing anything. ( )

Feint within feint; plot within plot; backstabbing within backstabbing… These elements make up the driven words of Frank Herbert's Children of Dune. It was very difficult for me to put this book down. Where the first book of Dune was fascinating in plot, structure, and form, Children of Dune read like a tabloid and political manifesto joined together as one. I say tabloid because it is filled with political back-stabbing and musings into, "who is Alia sleeping with now?" And, "is Paul, our religious leader/God, really dead?"

The other thing kept happening were plans…lot and lots of plans that everyone had for each other and would be thwarted due to ill-perceived actions and rumors as to an enemy's next move. So much of the political meanderings were saturated with guesswork due to paranoia of how the next betrayal would go.

It was fun! It was fascinating just to "watch" all of these people in great positions of power lose themselves. It was an anarchist's wet dream! Well…the dream lasted until the end when it all goes a certain way, in a manner that was predicted early in the book.

I would love to read more, especially to see what happens to the Empire after Leto II's rein of power. But, alas, we all have heard the rumors: the rest of the Dune books are simply a waste of time.

I suppose I shall see. ( )

Chidren of Dune, the third book in the Dune series, is one of the weirdest Dune books you'll ever read.

Paul, now frail and blind, who should by all rights be abandoned by the Fremen whom he once led, leads a revolt against his Sister, who, thanks to a spice overdose when she was fetal, has a vivid memory of all her ancestors, including Vladimir Harkonnen. This persona takes over, and Alia is no longer in control.

Meanwhile, Paul and Chani's children, Leto II and Ghanima, must try to survive as assassins abound.

And the the weird stuff happens.

If you liked Dune Messiah, you'll like Children of Dune. And if you read and Dune book by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, then, well, Children of Dune will be a breath of fresh air compared to their stagnant, constant milking of a dead man's empire. ( )

The Preacher must preach against his own religion. Power must fight the over-extension of itself. Perpetual adaption to the fluidity of reality is essential to survival. My Skin is not my Own.

This is the 3rd book in Frank Herbert's Dune series. I have not been disappointed by one of them. In fact, Herbert has only succeeded in unifying and substantiating his creation in the expansion of it.

For me to set forth upon an enumerative voyage into the nuances of only this single book of Dune would be exhausting. The proverbs and quotes at the beginning of each chapter are simply brilliant. I was shocked at several occurrences within the story. First, the manner of manifestation of Alia's Abomination. The Golden Path of Leto II blew me away. Shai Hulud! I was also shocked at the death of 3 characters. Yet, as the Ghola Duncan Idaho showed us, we cannot be certain of the finality of death.

It was a bit disturbing to witness how instantaneous was the transformation that power brought upon Leto II. From a 9 year old boy, lost and alone in the desert, facing certain death, to a god. As Leto reveals to Farad'n Corrino, he has not escaped Abomination himself.

We can never escape the path that our ancestors have set us upon. We simply maneuver within it, searching for the Golden Way through.

As did Jessica, so I found Farad'n Corrino a likable character, much unlike his grandfather Shaddam IV. His interests in history are honorable and his fate as Royal Scribe was quite fitting—though how long will he be caged, I know not. I noted with curiosity that his father was related to Count Hasimir Fenring.

Very much looking forward to God Emperor of Dune. Arrakis awaits. ( )