The Winds of Dune

I dislike this novel more than other McDune/BH & KJA/Dune Universe books. Mostly because of the blatant attempt to resurrect Paul's character. FH already gave the reasons that Paul and after him Leto II God Emporer would be such hortible tyrants. FH left it to the readers themselves to decide whether they felt the ends justified the means. This is just a messy attempt at emotional manipulation that ultimately fails. As so many of the attempts made by BH & KJA in the Dune Universe.
In addition this book paints Alia as a rabid fanatic. The original books have her warped by too much spice use and *spoiler removed*. Alia is one of my favorite characters and I do not like this revamp of her character.
I did like this glance at Paul's show more childhood and adventures with Bronso of IX. I also like the clever way they wrote Bronso of IX into the story. It worked well for me. Not Bronso himself who is a spoiled brat and emerges a decade later a selfless historian. Still I enjoyed the symmetry in their friendship. This story arc took multiple books and mini trilogies. Well played for their combined writing talent.
While I do not doubt that Paul, Leto II and Alia believed their tyranny was saving mankind from extinction, I do not believe or agree. On any level. First humans are incredibly difficult to wipe out as a species. We're adaptable and historically have adapted in ingenious ways. Also multiple planets also ensures that humanity will likely survive. Perhaps in a vastly scaled back manner.
Second tyranny and oppression can NEVER be justified, ever. Third if the only other choice is death as a species better to die out than prey on our own like cannibals. To suggest otherwise is to cosign such atrocities as genocide, chattel slavery and colonialism. Brutal violent acts that caused wide spread suffering, oppression and genocide. I have no doubt those that employed 'Manifest Destiny' and other Imperialistic violence believed similarly. They were wrong. Let us all die if that's the only alternative. It's not though. Notice Caladan is not 'sterilized'. Somehow folks who believe in such practices never have to sacrifice the places and peoples they love. Paul is just a tyrant and an asshole. As is Leto II, Alia, Duchess Jessica and ALL of their supporters. However reluctantly they participate. show less

I could go on and on and ON AND ON AND FREAKING ON about all the plot inconsistencies and what not of this new book. But I'm not gonna waste my breath. I wrote a detailed review for Sandworms and Paul of Dune. I decided this time around, I'm not going to waste my time going over all the inconsistencies and finer points of BH and KJA ignoring FH's previously established Dune facts, especially when all the flaws of this book have been expounded upon by the other honest reviewers as well as the discussion threads for this book.

I'll just put down the gist of the book. Frank Herbert's characters are nearly unrecognizable, there are spades of BH/KJA characters, and more and more and MORE is retconned. Seems that now with the 'revelation' of show more FH's Dune books being no longer canon and now being 'in universe' documents (something I find mindboggling. FH's Dune saga as nothing more than some dusty story written by Irulan?) as revealed in Paul of Dune, BH/KJA are now making their retcons more blatant. It's as if the 'FH's Dune is no longer canon' retcon is seen (and abused) as a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card. Tsk tsk.

Again, there are shill reviews for this book written by accounts that have only ONE review ever written, or a account with just a few reviews, all praising the McDune or other works by KJA. Surprising? No, especially when the same technique was used for the other BH/KJA McDune books. It's really sad how many shill reviews have been posted blindly praising this book or sounding like the inside flap of a dustjacket. Come on, shills, could you possibly be any more obvious? All of their books are nothing more than 'official' fanfiction at the best, and blatant attempts at milking the cash cow of Frank Herbert's legacy at the worst.

Frank wrote 6 Dune books that spanned 5000 years and had rich and educational messages with well-formed characters and a coherent plot. Things he skipped over - the 12 years of Paul's Jihad, the first 3508 years of Leto II's rule, the 1500 years of Famine Times and the Scattering - were mentioned instead of expounded upon for a reason, because Mr. Herbert put in what he thought was relevant to the overall storyline and the messages/lessons he was giving us (that the universe should not be under one ruler, that seeing everything with prescience wasn't good, that humankind needs to scatter to prevent stagnation - which was why Leto II bred the Siona gene, or what I like to call the 'no-gene' due to the invisibility it shares with no-ships, no-chambers, etc) were all ignored by BH and KJA in their fanfiction.

Except I wouldn't call it FANfiction, because I am a Dune fan, and I respect Frank Herbert's legacy. I did write a couple of oneshot fanfiction based off his books, but I certainly don't expect others to take my tribute to Dune as canon. I wrote these for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others, based off hints left in the Dune books. A true fan shouldn't be afraid to write fanfiction, but at the same time, a true fan would respect the legacy of the author, and I have nothing but the deepest respect for Mr. Herbert.

I am a picky reader and don't even care for Star Wars or Star Trek (not saying I hate them or think they're bad - it's just my preference) and am appalled that now ten McDune books have been written - more than Mr. Herbert did, yet these ten books have so little (or nothing) in relevance, interest, and respect to the universe that Mr. Herbert created. All Mr. Herbert's messages (that I listed above) have been ignored/negated by BH/KJA (The Ultimate Kwisatz Haderach in SADworms of Dune as the prime example) Paul's Jihad was a necessary catalyst to the fate of the Universe, but it was handled poorly in Paul of Dune, and this book is no better than its predecessor.

First prequels, then sequels, now inbetweenquels. I want BH/KJA to stop writing these McDune books, yet I am also curious to see how they handle the next book and what happens with Leto II. I know, I know, it makes me sound like a masochist. But it's like slowing down on the road to get a good look at a car accident - you know there's gonna be wreckage and possibly blood but you can't help but be curious. BH/KJA, please stop! Hasn't all the critical and honest reviews you've already received tell you anything? Please, for the sake of humanity, for the sake of Frank Herbert, for the sake of Spice and the sandworms and the 'I Shall Fear No Evil' mantra, please stop! Go back to your own original writing and leave poor Mr. Herbert alone!

I had a dream. Frank Herbert was crying. I comforted him and noticed that his tears were Spice essence, so I licked them off. Nothing sexual about this, mind you. I wouldn't dream of coming between him and his wife. And the Spice was awesome. I got atop a sandworm and rode it, and it was SO FREAKING COOL. Then the sandworm ate BH and KJA and the stupid Ultimate Kwisatz Haderach and I laughed.

This book (and the rest of McDune) made me cry. But there was no one to lick my tears or comfort me. :(

Frank Herbert, we love and miss you. Let me apologize for these horrible books, you and your legacy deserve much better.
Of course, this review was deleted. But I have it saved! :D And I'll just keep posting. Hello, Ronald and Artis and Dukester and everyone else! I love you guys!

(EDIT) If there is one thing I have learned from all this McDune drama, it's this. If you're an author, then put it in your will or whatever that NOBODY may "add" to your books (unless you trust them very well and have some sort of agreement with them - and if you do, make them sign a contract saying they will only write x number of books, and cannot recon your work). Currently I am writing several novels (including sci-fi) and I am going to hire a lawyer to write a iron-clad will that will not allow anyone else, including my own family members, to "use" my notes/outlines to write books in the universes that I create. If I die early in some freak accident and a book is unfinished... too bad. I'd be willing to allow a posthumous publication of my notes, unfinished stories, and outlines for others to enjoy and ponder, but that's beyond the point.

Yes, I was sad that FH was unable to write Dune 7, but looking at what his son and so-called number one fan did only confirms my decision to take legal actions regarding my own works to ensure that this kind of BS never happens to my legacy. show less

Picking up the story after Paul's death ('Dune Messiah' by Frank Herbert) this book is a marvellous piece that fits perfectly into the Dune saga. What's striking is the depth of it all in terms of characterisation -Paul's heritage is not only explored politically but, most of all, religiously as well. It may focus principally on Jessica, but other key characters are also granted relevant and interesting parts -the regency of Alia, Princess Irulan's feelings and motive etc. - and, the introduction of Bronso of Ix, an heretic in the jihad left by Paul, is a nice touch that reveals itself full of surprise. The other little bonuses -how Dr Yueh became a member of House Atreides, the repercussions of Paul's deification on his home planet show more Caladan etc.- are greatly appreciated asides too. For whose addicted to the Dune universe this is, I think, a must read. show less

As much as I love the Dune series, I have to admit that I was bored for much of this book. Too much of the story left me just not caring. That may be a function of the fact that this book has to be shoe-horned in between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune so character development or changes are, by necessity, limited.

Brian Herbert's latest tale in the Dune saga takes place immediately after Dune Messiah. The emperor Paul Muad'dib has wandered off into the desert, presumably eaten by worms. His sister Alia is regent until Paul's new-born twins come of age.

Like Paul of Dune, this book bounces back and forth to events in Paul's life that happened pre-Dune. The purpose this time is a little more focused -- the events then have direct consequence in this story. The story predominately follows Lady Jessica, Paul's mother. The empire is not in a good place, and has not been so since Paul was still in charge. One begins to understand why his sister, Alia, goes nutty in Children of Dune. In this book, her reaction to any provocation is extreme to say the show more least.

This book fills more gaps and details. For those who can't get enough of the Dune universe, it's more brain candy. There is no joy in this book -- some characters deserve a measure of empathy,others make you wonder what happened to humanity. Even so, it is what it is...which is part of the Dune mythos. Prerequisites are Dune, Paul of Dune, and Dune Messiah. show less

A direct sequel to Dune Messiah.

This looks at Alia as she is forced to deal with the Empire after Paul so abruptly leaves. Jessica plays a big part too. Where the Dune Chronicles were big in scope and vision, these books between books by Herbert and Anderson seem to be looking at the nitty-gritty, the small. And I don't like that contrast.

Dune SHOULD be big and galactic and over-arching. I'll continue to read these other Dune books, but I have no interest in buying them. Writing about the immediate past, far past and ending the series is one thing, messing around between books is another.

It is just messy and really unprofessional.

I liked this book, which takes place in between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, just after the death of Paul Muad'ib, starting with an envoy arriving on Caladan to tell his mother Jessica. It then goes back in time and develops a new storyline involving offworld adventures of Paul as a young teen (even though purists point out he had never left Caladan in the original series.)