Mentats of Dune

I will be fair to Brian and Kevin and say that this series is definitely better than most of the other McDune books they've written. It seems that the further you go into the past, the better the books are. Hunters/Sandworms was a utter abomination that should have never been put to paper, the Heroes series was unneccessary dreck, and the House trilogy, while not a completely horrible read into itself, was unneccessary as part of the Dune series and would have been better off if it was its own original series with original characters.

This leaves us the far-in-the-past prequels - the Butlerian Jihad trilogy and this series. This series, like the House trilogy, would have been better off as an original series set in a universe that Brian show more and Kevin created by themselves. This Schools series is a continuation of the Butlerian Jihad trilogy, about the early days of the Duneverse.

Except... this is not Frank Herbert's lovingly-crafted Duneverse. It's some... cheap, twisted, McDonald's version of it. Brian and Kevin have thus far penned what... a dozen McDune books by this point? When a ghostwriter (technically this doesn't fit Brian and Kevin since they're using their own names - thank Shai-hulud for small favors, but I can't think of a better word at the moment) writes more books than the original author, then it's definitely time to put the pen (or keyboard) down and walk away.

The Butlerian Jihad series and this one would work much better if it was completely original, set in a universe created by Brian and Kevin, with some good editing. And this book is DEFINITELY better than Dune 7 and the Heroes books, only because there's less of the original Dune to contradict, as this series is set over 10,000 years before Frank Herbet's Dune.

However, this book still only merits 1 star because it manages to have many contradictions and illogicalities. Look, Brian and Kevin aren't Frank Herbert, and I certainly don't expect them to write exactly the same as FH, or have his depth, but some parts of this book are downright ridiculous and embarrassing. Brian and Kevin simply do not have the talent to come anywhere close to Frank Herbert, nor do they show any amount of respect and care for the legacy that they're "adding" to. They don't bother to keep track of established canon or facts set in FH's Duneverse (as woefully illustrated by the Heroes of Dune and Dune 7 books) and this results in some WTF moments in this book regarding the Bene Gesserit (Valya Harkonnen and Raquella) the Mentats (ALbans isn't as smart as he is supposed to be) and even the Fremen (WTF is this I don't even...)

Frank Herbert's Dune was filled with meaning and hidden messages, meant to provoke our minds. The Dune that Brian and Kevin write is no more than badly-written fanfiction with characters who don't understand what they're doing or why they do it. Honestly, the level of sophistication in this book reminds me of Gloria Tesch's Maradonia books (and no, that is not a good thing!!!)

It was a real chore to slog through this, rarely do I come across a book where I literally have to force myself to turn the page to finish the book. show less

As readable as previous Herbert/Anderson conglomerations, this entry once again makes me wonder how many tales this duo can wring from papa's glorious Duniverse. While there are many diehards who continually pick up each new story and rip it to shreds, I really enjoy each new book. I found the descriptions of the trials that the Sisterhood and the Mentats (led by Mother Raquella and Gilbertus Albans, respectively) endured and had to overcome just to survive very enjoyable. How Directeur Venport had to fight the anti-technology zealot Torondo, and ultimately the Emperor himself, just to preserve his spice-gathering operations on Arrakis made for great story telling. My only criticism is the role of Vor Atriedes, who, while he had a tie show more in with the evil Sister Valya Harkkonen, was somewhat underused and underdeveloped within the context of this particular story. I can only assume here that the authors are relying on previous material to flesh out Atriedes here, a la Robert Jordan. show less

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.tumblr.com by express permission of this reviewer. Title: Mentats of Dune Series: Dune Author: Kevin Anderson & Brian Herbert Rating: 2 of 5 Stars Genre: SFF Pages: 448 Synopsis: A direct sequel to Sisterhood of Dune. The Mentats are truly coming into their own while placed between the battles of the Anti-Technologist Jihadis and Venport and his newly birthed Spacing Guild. At the same time Vorian Atreides is whining and whinging his way across the universe show more trying to make up with his several generations removed family. And the despicable Harkonnens set in motion the feud that will consume both families. And lots of other bits and bobs. My Thoughts: This book got the "trash" tag. Not because the grammar or writing was crap, but because Anderson and Herbert are so small minded that they can't write anything in the Dune Universe without ruining it with their banality. I've read all the sequels/prequels and forgiven this Duo quite a bit, but this was just crap. Many, many instances of something about to happen, chapter ends, then the aftermath 2-3 chapters later, while the actual event isn't written about. It was a deliberate choice, but it was a poor choice and made them look like the posers they are. I am a big Frank Herbert Dune fan. Which is why I judge these more harshly than if they were just some random SFF books. These are money makers and it shows. And as I've said before, these 2 authors don't even make one half of the writer that Frank Herbert was. Not recommended. " show less

This book has so much potential. The Dune universe and history fascinates me and the book could have done so much more. Instead, we have a book bordering on vapid and extraneous.

With quick chapters of a few pages apiece, I felt more like I reading just a clip of each chapter (like the 30 second samples of songs). There were too many story lines (think we could have done without the Fremen saboteur story line at least). The book had a feel of a pretty good fan fiction than anything else.

This book can be enjoyed without thinking too much. This is my version of what my aunt called "romantic trash" (she likes reading romance novels): inconsequential light reading that is almost embarrassing to tell people that you read.

A decent enough space opera continuing the Dune saga. The characters are generally monomaniacs pursuing single goals and there are few good guys but the plot rolls along nicely and keeps you reading. There is too much repetition - a common flaw in Dune books - but I guess as the plot and background are complicated it aids clarity. Not bad and you might as well read it if you like Dune.
For a more complete review see my post on sfcrowsnest.

This was much better than "Sisterhood of Dune," but it is difficult to relate to so many hard-headed, extremist, one-dimensional characters who largely act irrationally all the time.

Holy intrigue Batman! This is getting CRAZY!!!!!! Some big changes going on here and I really HATE the Butlerians. Can't wait to see how this works out in book 3.