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Prelude to Dune #2
House Harkonnen
Don't even think about reading House Harkonnen without reading its predecessor Prelude to Dune: House Atreides; anyone who does so risks sinking in the sands between Frank Herbert's original Dune and this new prequel trilogy by Herbert's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The purist argument that had Herbert wanted to go backwards he would have done so is, at least in part, negated by the sheer narrative verve, and by the fact that Anderson and Brian Herbert manage to pull some genuine surprises out of this long-running space-opera. House Harkonnen is a massive book, and there are places where it becomes plot heavy, but in following the story of Duke Leto Atreides and the conflicts with House Harkonnen, the authors succeed in spinning a gripping adventure while going off in some unexpected directions. Anderson, who has written many successful Star Wars novels, has noted his particular admiration for The Empire Strikes Back, and his desire to emulate that film's dark take on the genre. In House Harkonnen the conflict encompasses the tragedy of nuclear war, is marked by grief and horror, vengeance and torment, and all while the complex intrigues continue to unfold.
Everything has its cost. We pay to create our future, we pay for the mistakes of the past. We pay for every change we make--and we pay just as dearly if we refuse to change.Ultimately this is the theme of a compelling game of consequences, choices and responsibility, a study of Leto's growth into power and the price of politics and love. --Gary S. Dalkin
632 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2000
556 people are currently reading
8418 people want to read
About the author
Kevin J. Anderson
1,033 books3,110 followersYes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
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February 9, 2022
House Harkonnen
(Prelude to Dune #2)
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
I really am enjoying these prequel novels. They add so much background information about the characters and added depth to the already complex characters and plots. It makes it that much richer! I wish they had been around before I read the first three books the first time! I think the Dune series would have made more since.
There are plenty of the same characters but the childhood or past is explored and not just the Harkonnens.
(Prelude to Dune #2)
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
I really am enjoying these prequel novels. They add so much background information about the characters and added depth to the already complex characters and plots. It makes it that much richer! I wish they had been around before I read the first three books the first time! I think the Dune series would have made more since.
There are plenty of the same characters but the childhood or past is explored and not just the Harkonnens.
March 22, 2015
Buddy read with Athena!
“Freedom is an elusive concept. Some men hold themselves prisoner even when they have the power to do as they please and go where they choose, while others are free in their hearts, even as shackles restrain them.”
The Imperium of the Known Universe is a place filled with plots and lies, conspiracy and murder. Emperors, noble houses and secretive orders vie for supremacy in a dangerous contest. And worst of them all is House Harkonnen, whose reputation for cruelty and treachery goes back ten thousand years.
I actually think this is one of the most tragic books I have ever read. Every chapter brings a new death, betrayal or maiming, and together they make up a tremendous collection of sadness and cruelty. It at times, it shifted between depressing and sickening me. And yet it all had to happen to get the plot moving in the right direction, and the authors have done a great job of it.
Plot-wise, the book had one major weakness and one major strength. The former is the treatment of the Lady Jessica and her relationship with Leto. This was terribly done in my opinion, and not like I had imagined it at all. I must admit to being a tiny little bit biased, as Jessica is my overall favourite Dune character, but either way, it disappointed me.
On the other hand, I am positively surprised to see that the most interesting characters in these books are actually the new ones; the ones who weren’t created by Frank Herbert himself. In the last book that refers mostly to the rogue-ish Earl of Ix, Dominic Vernius. In this book, however, Abulurd Harkonnen steals the show. Being the half-brother of the series’ main villain and the father of said villain’s most cruel henchman, Abulurd is actually something so rare as a good moral person. Despite being a Harkonnen, and the lord of a minor world, he works tirelessly to improve conditions for his subjects and sees himself as one them. And not only that, but certain actions in the book turn him into one of the greatest characters in the whole Dune series.
Like the first book in the trilogy, House Harkonnen is another typical expansion novel when it comes to writing. The writing is simple, the plots are rather straightforward and the characters mostly do what you expect them to. I did not feel that this book was as fascinating and full of interesting explanations and backgrounds stories as the last one, but it still was enjoyable to read.
“Freedom is an elusive concept. Some men hold themselves prisoner even when they have the power to do as they please and go where they choose, while others are free in their hearts, even as shackles restrain them.”
The Imperium of the Known Universe is a place filled with plots and lies, conspiracy and murder. Emperors, noble houses and secretive orders vie for supremacy in a dangerous contest. And worst of them all is House Harkonnen, whose reputation for cruelty and treachery goes back ten thousand years.
I actually think this is one of the most tragic books I have ever read. Every chapter brings a new death, betrayal or maiming, and together they make up a tremendous collection of sadness and cruelty. It at times, it shifted between depressing and sickening me. And yet it all had to happen to get the plot moving in the right direction, and the authors have done a great job of it.
Plot-wise, the book had one major weakness and one major strength. The former is the treatment of the Lady Jessica and her relationship with Leto. This was terribly done in my opinion, and not like I had imagined it at all. I must admit to being a tiny little bit biased, as Jessica is my overall favourite Dune character, but either way, it disappointed me.
On the other hand, I am positively surprised to see that the most interesting characters in these books are actually the new ones; the ones who weren’t created by Frank Herbert himself. In the last book that refers mostly to the rogue-ish Earl of Ix, Dominic Vernius. In this book, however, Abulurd Harkonnen steals the show. Being the half-brother of the series’ main villain and the father of said villain’s most cruel henchman, Abulurd is actually something so rare as a good moral person. Despite being a Harkonnen, and the lord of a minor world, he works tirelessly to improve conditions for his subjects and sees himself as one them. And not only that, but certain actions in the book turn him into one of the greatest characters in the whole Dune series.
Like the first book in the trilogy, House Harkonnen is another typical expansion novel when it comes to writing. The writing is simple, the plots are rather straightforward and the characters mostly do what you expect them to. I did not feel that this book was as fascinating and full of interesting explanations and backgrounds stories as the last one, but it still was enjoyable to read.
April 30, 2018
Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson squeezed their expansive narrative House Harkonnen, book two of the Prelude to Dune trilogy, into an anemic 733 pages.
My summary:
Liet Kynes the planetologist is cool and a badass.
Gurney Halleck is an AWESOME hero!
The Harkonnens are assholes.
The Corrinos are not much better, more aristocratic and maybe more evil. Maybe.
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen was FAT BASTARD!
Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV was also an ASSHOLE!
Duke Leto Atreides was cool and a good leader.
Duncan Idaho learns to be a badass.
The Bene Gesserit are scary as hell POWERFUL WOMEN! (I think I’m married to one – fear is the mind killer).
The Bene Tleilax are priggish shrew gnomes who have a collective mother complex. They’re ASSHOLES! too
There is a lot of delicious feudal intrigue and political machinations between the Houses.
The Dune universe is still fun as hell to immerse oneself in, escapist and intoxicating; even if Herbert and Anderson are making bank by rehashing the same old space opera, and mining Frank’s imagination like mithral in a dwarven seam, I must admit that their detailed backstory is very entertaining. Having read the originals first and then the prequels creates some delicious theatrical irony to which Herbert and Anderson play it up for effect.
Query: In a fight between a cadre of Star Wars Stormtroopers and a squad of Corrino Sardaukar, who wins? The Sardaukar of course, they are elite, fanatical troops and the Stormtroopers (especially in the first trilogy) can’t hit the broad side of a barn with a cricket bat.
For fans, and I am still very much one.
My summary:
Liet Kynes the planetologist is cool and a badass.
Gurney Halleck is an AWESOME hero!
The Harkonnens are assholes.
The Corrinos are not much better, more aristocratic and maybe more evil. Maybe.
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen was FAT BASTARD!
Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV was also an ASSHOLE!
Duke Leto Atreides was cool and a good leader.
Duncan Idaho learns to be a badass.
The Bene Gesserit are scary as hell POWERFUL WOMEN! (I think I’m married to one – fear is the mind killer).
The Bene Tleilax are priggish shrew gnomes who have a collective mother complex. They’re ASSHOLES! too
There is a lot of delicious feudal intrigue and political machinations between the Houses.
The Dune universe is still fun as hell to immerse oneself in, escapist and intoxicating; even if Herbert and Anderson are making bank by rehashing the same old space opera, and mining Frank’s imagination like mithral in a dwarven seam, I must admit that their detailed backstory is very entertaining. Having read the originals first and then the prequels creates some delicious theatrical irony to which Herbert and Anderson play it up for effect.
Query: In a fight between a cadre of Star Wars Stormtroopers and a squad of Corrino Sardaukar, who wins? The Sardaukar of course, they are elite, fanatical troops and the Stormtroopers (especially in the first trilogy) can’t hit the broad side of a barn with a cricket bat.
For fans, and I am still very much one.
March 21, 2015
Buddy read with Markus
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This was yet again another enjoyable read! Of course this book had its faults (the treatment of Jessica) but overall it was time well spent.
The Good
The progression of the story.
The Fremen.
Duke Leto Atreides
Warrick & Liet bromance
Gurney Halleck
Abulurd Harkonnen (The ONLY Harkonnen I'll ever like)
The Sandworms
Prince Rhombur Vernius
Dominic Vernius
The Bad
ALL THE DEATHS!!
The treatment of Jessica. (Did not like it!)
The Tleilaxu
Kailea
Emperor Shaddam (I don't like you)
The Ugly
Vladimir Harkonnen/The Baron
Glassu Rabban Harkonnen/Rabban/The Beast
Fenring
HARKONNEN SCUM!!!!
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.
This was yet again another enjoyable read! Of course this book had its faults (the treatment of Jessica) but overall it was time well spent.
This Book=Tragedy
The Good
The progression of the story.
The Fremen.
Duke Leto Atreides
Warrick & Liet bromance
Gurney Halleck
Abulurd Harkonnen (The ONLY Harkonnen I'll ever like)
The Sandworms
Prince Rhombur Vernius
Dominic Vernius
The Bad
ALL THE DEATHS!!
The treatment of Jessica. (Did not like it!)
The Tleilaxu
Kailea
Emperor Shaddam (I don't like you)
The Ugly
Vladimir Harkonnen/The Baron
Glassu Rabban Harkonnen/Rabban/The Beast
Fenring
Rabban, Rabban, the blustering brute,
No brain in his head but rotten fruit.
His muscles, his brawn make a thinking man yawn.
Without the Baron, he's destitute.
May 25, 2024
I am a huge fan of the original series "Dune". I have enjoyed Brian Herbert's books as well. They fill in the blanks for many of the questions people may have. This second book in the "Prelude to Dubne" Series is a very good one. Without being spoilery-here are the major points of this volume:
Baron Harkonnen finds out the Bene Gesserit caused his illness for raping Reverand Mother Mohiam. The Baron also takes custody of the sons of his well-meaning half-brother, Abulard, and raises Beast Rabban and Feyd-Rautha.
Shaddam is now Emperor. He and Count Fenring are still trying to replicate artificial melange and Hasimir is made governor of Arrakis.
A young Gurney Halleck, space from the hellish Harokonnen homeworld and starts as a smuggler and ends up in the service of Duke Leto.
The tale of the Ixian nobles comes to a close, as Rhombur, Kaleia and Dominic all have significant events happen.
Duke Leto suffers tremendous loss and betrayal and turns to his Bene Gesserit concubine, Jessica, for succor and she, out of pity, rewards him with a son- Paul.
Paradot Keynes passes the torch to his son Liet-Keynes as the Fremen seek to reclaim Dune.
Duncan Idaho graduates from the Ginaz school as a Swordmaster, though conflict will drive him back to Duke Leto.
These events shed light on the events of the original series and I really appreciated the background on some of my favorite characters.
Baron Harkonnen finds out the Bene Gesserit caused his illness for raping Reverand Mother Mohiam. The Baron also takes custody of the sons of his well-meaning half-brother, Abulard, and raises Beast Rabban and Feyd-Rautha.
Shaddam is now Emperor. He and Count Fenring are still trying to replicate artificial melange and Hasimir is made governor of Arrakis.
A young Gurney Halleck, space from the hellish Harokonnen homeworld and starts as a smuggler and ends up in the service of Duke Leto.
The tale of the Ixian nobles comes to a close, as Rhombur, Kaleia and Dominic all have significant events happen.
Duke Leto suffers tremendous loss and betrayal and turns to his Bene Gesserit concubine, Jessica, for succor and she, out of pity, rewards him with a son- Paul.
Paradot Keynes passes the torch to his son Liet-Keynes as the Fremen seek to reclaim Dune.
Duncan Idaho graduates from the Ginaz school as a Swordmaster, though conflict will drive him back to Duke Leto.
These events shed light on the events of the original series and I really appreciated the background on some of my favorite characters.
June 19, 2025
Funciona...
Es un libro que claramente agrega cosas que no se mencionan en la trilogía original, pero le dan trasfondo y más estructura a los personajes que ya teníamos.
Algunas cosas pueden ser cuestionables, pero no me han llegado a cambiar el sabor y el amor hacia este universo.
Claramente, indagando más en la familia Harkonnen, sí hacen que los odie más; son unos desgraciados, entablándose como los buenos villanos que son en la saga.
Sí me entretuvo, me gustó, me impactó y me mantiene como fiel amante de Dune, gustosamente esperaré hasta que lea el tercero. Pero primero dejaré pasar un poco de tiempo, en el que buscaré otros libros.
No repetiré cómo están escritos los libros, ya que en el primero lo mencioné, y, como decía mi título... Funciona.
Es un libro que claramente agrega cosas que no se mencionan en la trilogía original, pero le dan trasfondo y más estructura a los personajes que ya teníamos.
Algunas cosas pueden ser cuestionables, pero no me han llegado a cambiar el sabor y el amor hacia este universo.
Claramente, indagando más en la familia Harkonnen, sí hacen que los odie más; son unos desgraciados, entablándose como los buenos villanos que son en la saga.
Sí me entretuvo, me gustó, me impactó y me mantiene como fiel amante de Dune, gustosamente esperaré hasta que lea el tercero. Pero primero dejaré pasar un poco de tiempo, en el que buscaré otros libros.
No repetiré cómo están escritos los libros, ya que en el primero lo mencioné, y, como decía mi título... Funciona.
January 26, 2016
Building on his father's work Brian Herbert is a superb storyteller. A fantastic read. You finally get answers to many of the questions Dune made you wonder about. Highly recommended
October 22, 2022
Gaudawful!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2007
Utter crap. I can't believe this man ever did research into his father's books as he claimed. There are massive in consistencies with the REAL "Dune" books. House Corrino is slightly better.
April 21, 2009
Utter drivel. The only Dune fans likely to enjoy this, or any of the so-called Dune books not written by Frank Herbert, are those who read the series strictly for the action, and not any of the political and cultural ideas or sophisticated characterizations that make the original books true masterworks of SF. I'm sure Frank's happy that he's able to provide a living for his son from the grave through his work, but if I were Brian I'd feel deeply ashamed to be cashing any checks generated from this sorry enterprise.
January 4, 2020
El veredicto final es: entretenido pero ahorrable. Un libro sin más, que no recordaré como una gran aventura, ni como un gran planteador de dudas existenciales... ni como nada en especial. No he llegado a engancharme, no he llegado a empatizar con nadie, y hasta las últimas 100 páginas leía sin interés, simplemente por leer. Me gusta el universo de Dune y por eso no lo he abandonado y por eso leeré el cierre de esta trilogía, pero así como la de Leyendas me hizo vibrar, este prólogo a Dune me parece completamente de relleno. Si conoces a los personajes del Dune original y quieres conocer sus pasados pues está genial como curiosidad, pero ya está.
January 5, 2009
Dune is one of my all-time favorite books, and this is a great addition to the canon.
It's so exciting to learn the histories of the well-loved characters of Dune. Brian Herbert's writing style is very similar to his father's, so the book (and the whole prequel trilogy) doesn't seem out of place in the Dune universe.
We spend a lot of time with the young Duke Leto in this volume, along with his best friend, Prince Rhombur of the tech planet Ix. Readers also meet the loathsome Tleilaxu and learn about their horrifying true purpose.
Meanwhile, on Dune itself, a new hero grows up. Liet-Kynes is making his name and gathering followers on Dune.
Love and tragedy mix in this volume as Leto marries, has a son, and is introduced to the pivotal character Jessica.
I couldn't put this book down, and couldn't wait to get to the rest of the trilogy!
It's so exciting to learn the histories of the well-loved characters of Dune. Brian Herbert's writing style is very similar to his father's, so the book (and the whole prequel trilogy) doesn't seem out of place in the Dune universe.
We spend a lot of time with the young Duke Leto in this volume, along with his best friend, Prince Rhombur of the tech planet Ix. Readers also meet the loathsome Tleilaxu and learn about their horrifying true purpose.
Meanwhile, on Dune itself, a new hero grows up. Liet-Kynes is making his name and gathering followers on Dune.
Love and tragedy mix in this volume as Leto marries, has a son, and is introduced to the pivotal character Jessica.
I couldn't put this book down, and couldn't wait to get to the rest of the trilogy!
January 5, 2024
2023 Reread:
This is a solid book. Not great. I dislike that the secret of the Tanks is revealed, but otherwise, this doesn't too far stray from the original Dune cannon.
I find many story elements to be underwhelmingly written. I HATE the narrative regarding the conception of Lady Jessica. I was hoping for a more complex scheme from The Sisterhood.
I was equally disappointed with the way Leto & Jessica's 'love' story is treated. Why Jessica betrayed The Sisterhood is a major plot point of the original novels, and this is just like the Great Value version of what I was expecting.
I don't buy their love story. It doesn't make sense that Jessica would defy her training in that short an amount of time for really nothing. They don't seem very attached. Leto isn't charming and the scheme to get her into the house is a stretch and silly. If The Bene Gesserit were this clumsy I don't think they'd have the power they have.
In all fairness Jessica having a boy when she was supposed to have a girl AND the Sisterhood not bothering to call her in. Much less bother to check out her kid for the first 15 yrs of his life are a weak plot point in the original Dune novels to begin with. Still, this prequel enhances this plot failure rather than corrects it.
Count Fenrig is disappointingly written, he's a complex character but he's the equivalent of the twisted Mentat, Piter who is also simplified in these prequel novels.
It's definitely the Great Value version of 80's style mustachioed villains evilly twisting their mustache while scheming.
It's a meal but the original Dune novels are an expensive satisfying meal at an expensive trendy restaurant and these novels are White Castle burgers, running you directly to the toilet in gastric distress.
🤷🏾♀️
Original Review:
My favorite book in this trilogy.
This is a solid book. Not great. I dislike that the secret of the Tanks is revealed, but otherwise, this doesn't too far stray from the original Dune cannon.
I find many story elements to be underwhelmingly written. I HATE the narrative regarding the conception of Lady Jessica. I was hoping for a more complex scheme from The Sisterhood.
I was equally disappointed with the way Leto & Jessica's 'love' story is treated. Why Jessica betrayed The Sisterhood is a major plot point of the original novels, and this is just like the Great Value version of what I was expecting.
I don't buy their love story. It doesn't make sense that Jessica would defy her training in that short an amount of time for really nothing. They don't seem very attached. Leto isn't charming and the scheme to get her into the house is a stretch and silly. If The Bene Gesserit were this clumsy I don't think they'd have the power they have.
In all fairness Jessica having a boy when she was supposed to have a girl AND the Sisterhood not bothering to call her in. Much less bother to check out her kid for the first 15 yrs of his life are a weak plot point in the original Dune novels to begin with. Still, this prequel enhances this plot failure rather than corrects it.
Count Fenrig is disappointingly written, he's a complex character but he's the equivalent of the twisted Mentat, Piter who is also simplified in these prequel novels.
It's definitely the Great Value version of 80's style mustachioed villains evilly twisting their mustache while scheming.
It's a meal but the original Dune novels are an expensive satisfying meal at an expensive trendy restaurant and these novels are White Castle burgers, running you directly to the toilet in gastric distress.
🤷🏾♀️
Original Review:
My favorite book in this trilogy.
October 2, 2021
One way to approach the difference between Frank Herbert and Brian Herbert would be relating them to Pardot Kynes and his son, Liet, respectively. Like Pardot, Frank Herbert is ever the logician, leaning more towards the empiric, the descriptive and the technical. Brian Herbert (along with Kevin J. Anderson for good measure) is closer to Liet, more emotional and invested in the personal nuances rather than the overall picture. This is why Frank is better at portraying the epic scope of a hero's rise and fall from grace as he did with Paul in this grand universe of his, whereas Brian prefers to stick to the characters, the plotting and intrigues. Brian Herbert's is a departure of the original Dune formula, but not a bad one, and indeed this is a side of his father's amazing creation that the master himself did not explore in enough detail. Indeed these Prelude to Dune could be read as a separate series and stand on its own merit, as it is quite the investing political thriller with a space opera background. It's up-close and personal political backstabbing this time rather than a treaty on the grandeur (and folly) of a messianic theocracy as was the original saga, and I very much enjoy this side to one of the richest and most complex SF literary universes out there.
June 11, 2021
Having now read two novels in the prelude to Dune series and the two novels that finished Frank Herbert’s original Dune Chronicles I have come to the conclusion that anything not written by Frank is garbage. House Harkonnen does little to progress the overall plot of these prequel novels. Instead what we have is a bloated novel with characters who hardly have any bearing on the main plot. To further the problem these side characters, after hundreds of pages, are unceremoniously killed off. Their deaths only serve the purpose of getting rid of characters who do not factor into Frank’s Dune Chronicles.
In short this novel is boring, overly long, bloated, meandering, and unnecessary.
In short this novel is boring, overly long, bloated, meandering, and unnecessary.
September 3, 2008
I covered my thoughts on the 'authors' and 'writing' in my review for House Atreides.
To cover the rest of my feelings for the books these two are spitting out like mindless machines: Frank Herbert must be spinning in his grave.
To cover the rest of my feelings for the books these two are spitting out like mindless machines: Frank Herbert must be spinning in his grave.
March 2, 2008
Some worlds are not meant to be picked up by people other than the orginial author. This was one of them.
March 25, 2022
It is said that there is nothing firm, nothing balanced, nothing durable in all the universe - that nothing remains in its original state, that each day, each hour, each moment, there is change.
There is some controversy regarding the Dune Universe continuing to expand after the death of Frank Herbert, who authored the first six books. I for one among many, am enjoying the additional volumes. It's so rare to be able to continue with the same characters and settings spanning twenty books. These Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson collaborated works are filling in a lot of missing pieces and answering many questions. In fact, of the Dune books I've read so far, my two least favorite were of the original six written by Frank Herbert, specifically: Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune. The reason these two in particular did not appeal to me was the descriptive sexual scenes and prominence of sex slaves.
After enjoying the multi-award winning 2021 film, Dune Part One, I was initially only planning to read the first three Dune novels, but now I can't seem to get enough and to date have read more than twelve volumes.
In my opinion, the Prelude to Dune "House" books are better than the recent Caladan Trilogy (Dune: The Duke of Caladan, Dune: The Lady of Caladan, Dune: The Heir of Caladan).
Favorite Passages:
Shaddam's gaze moved along the paneled wall, to a bookcase that contained a stand-up holophoto of Anirul in her wedding gown, shelved next to a thick reference volume of great historical disasters She had large doe-eyes - hazel in some light, darker at other times - that concealed something. He should have noticed before.
______
In the center of the village, they encountered a festival of horrors.
The surviving victims wandered about as if insane, shrieking and snarling like animals. The noise was horrific, as was the smell. They had ripped hair out of their heads in bloody clumps. Some used long fingernails to claw the eyes out of their faces, then held the scooped eyeballs in their palms; blind, they staggered against the tan walls of dwellings, leaving wet crimson smears.
_______
His head full of romantic expectations, he envisioned the swashbuckling life he would lead, the marvelous fighting techniques he would learn. He was only twenty, and looked forward to a golden future.
Reality was quite different.
______
Special knowledge can be a terrible disadvantage if it leads you too far along a path you cannot explain anymore.
______
Impervious to distractions, he plunged deeper into his own mind. Deeper. He felt his awareness opening, an unfolding of time like the spreading petals of a flower. He flowed along a continuum, each part accessible to his brain. He saw his exact place in it.
______
The purpose of argument is to change the nature of truth.
______
Learn to recognize the future the way a Steersman identifies guiding stars and corrects the course in his vessel. Learn from the past; never use it as an anchor.
______
The Unknown surrounds us at any given moment. That is where we seek knowledge.
______
There is no reality - only our own order imposed on everything.
______
Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.
______
It is the Atreides way to be examples of honor for our children, so that they may be the same for their own progeny.
______
The Universe operates on a basic principle of economics: everything has its cost. We pay to create our future, we pay for the mistakes of the past. We pay for every change we make . . . and we pay just as dearly if we refuse to change.
______
I stand in the sacred human presence. As I do now, so should you stand some day. I pray to your presence that this be so. Let the future remain uncertain for that is the canvas to receive our desires. Thus the human condition faces its perpetual tabula rasa. We possess no more than this moment where we dedicate ourselves continuously to the sacred presence we share and create.
_______
Infinity attracts us like a floodlight in the night, blinding us to the excesses it can inflict upon the finite.
_______
The work to which we have set ourselves is the liberating of the imagination, and the harnessing of the imagination to man's physical creativity.
______
Look inside yourself and you can see the universe.
______
Heaven must be the sound of running water.
_______
We create our own future by our own beliefs, which control our actions. A strong enough belief system, a sufficiently powerful conviction, can make anything happen. This is how we create our consensus reality including our gods.
______
It requires a desperate and lonely sort of courage to challenge the accepted wisdom upon which social peace of mind rests.
______
Oh, cup of spice
To carry me
Beyond my flesh,
To a distant star.
Melange, they call it -
Melange! Melange!
______
The capacity to learn is a gift;
The ability to learn is a skill;
The willingness to learn is a choice.
______
A warrior's greatest weapons are mental and physical agility, coupled with adaptability.
______
You carve wounds upon my flesh and write there in salt!
______
Never love the dead more than the living.
There is some controversy regarding the Dune Universe continuing to expand after the death of Frank Herbert, who authored the first six books. I for one among many, am enjoying the additional volumes. It's so rare to be able to continue with the same characters and settings spanning twenty books. These Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson collaborated works are filling in a lot of missing pieces and answering many questions. In fact, of the Dune books I've read so far, my two least favorite were of the original six written by Frank Herbert, specifically: Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune. The reason these two in particular did not appeal to me was the descriptive sexual scenes and prominence of sex slaves.
After enjoying the multi-award winning 2021 film, Dune Part One, I was initially only planning to read the first three Dune novels, but now I can't seem to get enough and to date have read more than twelve volumes.
In my opinion, the Prelude to Dune "House" books are better than the recent Caladan Trilogy (Dune: The Duke of Caladan, Dune: The Lady of Caladan, Dune: The Heir of Caladan).
Favorite Passages:
Shaddam's gaze moved along the paneled wall, to a bookcase that contained a stand-up holophoto of Anirul in her wedding gown, shelved next to a thick reference volume of great historical disasters She had large doe-eyes - hazel in some light, darker at other times - that concealed something. He should have noticed before.
______
In the center of the village, they encountered a festival of horrors.
The surviving victims wandered about as if insane, shrieking and snarling like animals. The noise was horrific, as was the smell. They had ripped hair out of their heads in bloody clumps. Some used long fingernails to claw the eyes out of their faces, then held the scooped eyeballs in their palms; blind, they staggered against the tan walls of dwellings, leaving wet crimson smears.
_______
His head full of romantic expectations, he envisioned the swashbuckling life he would lead, the marvelous fighting techniques he would learn. He was only twenty, and looked forward to a golden future.
Reality was quite different.
______
Special knowledge can be a terrible disadvantage if it leads you too far along a path you cannot explain anymore.
______
Impervious to distractions, he plunged deeper into his own mind. Deeper. He felt his awareness opening, an unfolding of time like the spreading petals of a flower. He flowed along a continuum, each part accessible to his brain. He saw his exact place in it.
______
The purpose of argument is to change the nature of truth.
______
Learn to recognize the future the way a Steersman identifies guiding stars and corrects the course in his vessel. Learn from the past; never use it as an anchor.
______
The Unknown surrounds us at any given moment. That is where we seek knowledge.
______
There is no reality - only our own order imposed on everything.
______
Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.
______
It is the Atreides way to be examples of honor for our children, so that they may be the same for their own progeny.
______
The Universe operates on a basic principle of economics: everything has its cost. We pay to create our future, we pay for the mistakes of the past. We pay for every change we make . . . and we pay just as dearly if we refuse to change.
______
I stand in the sacred human presence. As I do now, so should you stand some day. I pray to your presence that this be so. Let the future remain uncertain for that is the canvas to receive our desires. Thus the human condition faces its perpetual tabula rasa. We possess no more than this moment where we dedicate ourselves continuously to the sacred presence we share and create.
_______
Infinity attracts us like a floodlight in the night, blinding us to the excesses it can inflict upon the finite.
_______
The work to which we have set ourselves is the liberating of the imagination, and the harnessing of the imagination to man's physical creativity.
______
Look inside yourself and you can see the universe.
______
Heaven must be the sound of running water.
_______
We create our own future by our own beliefs, which control our actions. A strong enough belief system, a sufficiently powerful conviction, can make anything happen. This is how we create our consensus reality including our gods.
______
It requires a desperate and lonely sort of courage to challenge the accepted wisdom upon which social peace of mind rests.
______
Oh, cup of spice
To carry me
Beyond my flesh,
To a distant star.
Melange, they call it -
Melange! Melange!
______
The capacity to learn is a gift;
The ability to learn is a skill;
The willingness to learn is a choice.
______
A warrior's greatest weapons are mental and physical agility, coupled with adaptability.
______
You carve wounds upon my flesh and write there in salt!
______
Never love the dead more than the living.
May 11, 2007
These books are complete trash and the writers should be embarrassed to be shitting on Dune's legacy.
May 15, 2008
The entire "House" series is unreadable crap and an embarrassing exploitation of the author's father's name.
June 7, 2008
God awful. I couldn't finish it. If the author's last name wasn't Herbert, security would have taken him out of the publisher's offices.
Read
January 12, 2010Awful. This was on the shelf in our house in Thailand. Totally unreadable...No stars. The original Dune series by FRANK HERBERT rules it though.
March 4, 2010
This book was so bad I couldn't make it past the second chapter. Wish I could give negative stars to this travesty.
December 5, 2024
House Harkonen continued the story of the Atreides, the Harkonens, the Corrinos, the Bene Geserit, the Freman, and the many other cultures involved in the complex Dune Universe. The book tells many stories at the same time. Each chapter is dedicated to one of the many story arcs throughout the series. House Harkonen shows us how Gurney Halleck, Duncan Idaho, Thufir Hawat become the team that helps and protects young Duke Leto Atreides. We see the continuing, seemingly hopeless struggle of the rebels on the planet Ix, taken over by the purely evil Tleilax. We follow Glossu Rabban and learn how he becomes the Beast.
There is continuing action throughout the book - heartbreak, betrayal, discovery, triumph, and love. I read this maybe 20 years ago and it seemed fresh to me. Brian Herbert is a good story teller.
There is continuing action throughout the book - heartbreak, betrayal, discovery, triumph, and love. I read this maybe 20 years ago and it seemed fresh to me. Brian Herbert is a good story teller.
May 27, 2024
Another banger in the Dune saga. Having a blast with learning more about Leto, Rachel, and the Harkonnen family. There aren’t very many series that have this much politics and treachery than Dune
November 8, 2009
*Same review for the Dune Universe*
GREAT books! VERY time consuming! Worth the time!
Ok here is the deal. If your not sure about starting a series this big, here is what I would do.
1. -- Read the 1st one by Frank Herbert "Dune" if you like it...
2. -- Read the "Legends Of Dune" series. Its 3 books written by Frank's son Brian and a author I really like by the name of Keven J. Anderson. Its a prequel that is so far in the past that it doesn't spoil the Original Dune series in any way, and you could stop after that series and be done with Dune.. but if your not done....
3. -- Go and read the "House Trilogy" series its also 3 books and is a prequel to the original dune series but just prior so you will learn about some of the characters in the 1st book you read "Dune".
4. -- By now you have committed enough time in the series that you probably NEED to finish it. Go back and re-read Dune, (trust me you will want to) then go on and read the rest of the original Dune series (Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, Chapterhouse Dune) Your devotion to the series will help push you through some of the parts that I think are slightly. Its worth it though!
4. -- You will notice the series ends up in the AIR! Frank Herbert died before finishing the series. The authors of the prequel series (his son Bryan Herbert and Keven J. Anderson) finished the series from compiled notes from Frank, Brian's experience talking to his father about the series and both Brian and Kevin's love of the Dune universe. It is very well done. Its two books (Hunters of Dune, and Sandworms of Dune.)
OK so sum up here is the order I would do the series. (which ends up being chronological except for the 1st book, even though it wasn't published this way.
Dune (to make sure you like it.)
Legends of Dune (series of 3 books)
House Trilogy (series of 3 books)
Dune (again since your restarting the original series)
The rest of the Dune series
Hunters of Dune
Sandworms of Dune
Ok have fun.
GREAT books! VERY time consuming! Worth the time!
Ok here is the deal. If your not sure about starting a series this big, here is what I would do.
1. -- Read the 1st one by Frank Herbert "Dune" if you like it...
2. -- Read the "Legends Of Dune" series. Its 3 books written by Frank's son Brian and a author I really like by the name of Keven J. Anderson. Its a prequel that is so far in the past that it doesn't spoil the Original Dune series in any way, and you could stop after that series and be done with Dune.. but if your not done....
3. -- Go and read the "House Trilogy" series its also 3 books and is a prequel to the original dune series but just prior so you will learn about some of the characters in the 1st book you read "Dune".
4. -- By now you have committed enough time in the series that you probably NEED to finish it. Go back and re-read Dune, (trust me you will want to) then go on and read the rest of the original Dune series (Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, Chapterhouse Dune) Your devotion to the series will help push you through some of the parts that I think are slightly. Its worth it though!
4. -- You will notice the series ends up in the AIR! Frank Herbert died before finishing the series. The authors of the prequel series (his son Bryan Herbert and Keven J. Anderson) finished the series from compiled notes from Frank, Brian's experience talking to his father about the series and both Brian and Kevin's love of the Dune universe. It is very well done. Its two books (Hunters of Dune, and Sandworms of Dune.)
OK so sum up here is the order I would do the series. (which ends up being chronological except for the 1st book, even though it wasn't published this way.
Dune (to make sure you like it.)
Legends of Dune (series of 3 books)
House Trilogy (series of 3 books)
Dune (again since your restarting the original series)
The rest of the Dune series
Hunters of Dune
Sandworms of Dune
Ok have fun.
November 30, 2021
A fantastic second part to the first book, this book continues with the story line of the first book, and it expands the dune universe without becoming boring at any point of time.
The parts which I loved about this book was
1. The cast of characters.
2. The transformation of Dune & Fremens.
Now let me expand on the above points
1. The cast of characters.
The Dune universe has some fantastic characters, be that be villains like the Harkonnen's or be that be heroes like the Atreides. But the book dives into the psyche of each of these characters, and gives us their motivations.
We actually come to know what exactly makes these people tick.
We also get a fascinating set of secondary characters be that be Rhombur or Dominic Vernius along with Gurney Halleck or Duncan Idaho. We get their background stories and so much more in this book.
2. The transformation of Dune & Fremens.
This a fascinating aspect of this book we get learn so much about the Desert planet of Dune and the people living there, especially through the eyes of Pardot Kynes, who literally has a dream for this planet, and who he hands that dream to his son Liet who is best of both the worlds being a Fremen planetologist.
Overall I am just loving reading these books and getting more immersed into the dune universe.
The parts which I loved about this book was
1. The cast of characters.
2. The transformation of Dune & Fremens.
Now let me expand on the above points
1. The cast of characters.
The Dune universe has some fantastic characters, be that be villains like the Harkonnen's or be that be heroes like the Atreides. But the book dives into the psyche of each of these characters, and gives us their motivations.
We actually come to know what exactly makes these people tick.
We also get a fascinating set of secondary characters be that be Rhombur or Dominic Vernius along with Gurney Halleck or Duncan Idaho. We get their background stories and so much more in this book.
2. The transformation of Dune & Fremens.
This a fascinating aspect of this book we get learn so much about the Desert planet of Dune and the people living there, especially through the eyes of Pardot Kynes, who literally has a dream for this planet, and who he hands that dream to his son Liet who is best of both the worlds being a Fremen planetologist.
Overall I am just loving reading these books and getting more immersed into the dune universe.
April 8, 2009
I really loved this book. Usually, I don't like sequels of great books because the sequel usually stain the reputation of the first book (read: "World Without an End"), but this is a case of a good prequel.
For one thing, I finally could see Duke Leto being the incredible man that everyone talked about in Dune. I felt like we couldn't really get a good feel for him in Dune; he was a good ruler according to many, but we don't see facts of that. In this book, however, we see that he really is a dedicated ruler and a good person in general.
I really felt affinity for some of the characters, like Leto, Abulurd, Emmi, Rhombur. This book does a good job in creating the foundation for characters which appeared in the original Dune, and I could understand characters which we barely saw, like Duncan Idaho (which I felt didn't have enough strength in the original). I found his journey through the several islands fascinating.
All in all, I felt this was a good prequel, and a good book, even for those who haven't read the original. It explains a great deal about old characters and even introduces new characters. It was pretty satisfying, and it makes me want to read the Dune books. :D
For one thing, I finally could see Duke Leto being the incredible man that everyone talked about in Dune. I felt like we couldn't really get a good feel for him in Dune; he was a good ruler according to many, but we don't see facts of that. In this book, however, we see that he really is a dedicated ruler and a good person in general.
I really felt affinity for some of the characters, like Leto, Abulurd, Emmi, Rhombur. This book does a good job in creating the foundation for characters which appeared in the original Dune, and I could understand characters which we barely saw, like Duncan Idaho (which I felt didn't have enough strength in the original). I found his journey through the several islands fascinating.
All in all, I felt this was a good prequel, and a good book, even for those who haven't read the original. It explains a great deal about old characters and even introduces new characters. It was pretty satisfying, and it makes me want to read the Dune books. :D
July 8, 2024
Finished another Dune book. Dune:House Harkonnen was comical with how “evil” the Harkonnens are. It’s laughable. I rolled my eyes so many times at the stupid shit they did. There were some very interesting parts of it though. Duke Leto’s motivations become so much more clear and understandable in this one. Why Paul is the way he is makes more sense too. Duncan Idaho and Gurney Haleck’s friendship comes into focus. How Leto falls in love with Lady Jessica makes more sense. You learn why Raban is called “the Beast” (he strangles his father and snaps his neck) His real name is Glossu? Which is fuckin dumb. Oh, and btw when Dr. Yue diagnoses The Baron’s space AIDS you learn he is uncircumcised. So that’s… that I guess. There are a lot of really cool things that happen and a lot of really dumb things that happen in this book.
July 12, 2008
If you are a Dune fan, this is for you. I'm reading them out of order - House Atreides goes first, but it's so great to see the characters before they get to Dune. Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson write in a style so close to Frank Herbert, that the books are easily connected to the original Dune series. You finally see why the Baron is so grotesque, Jessica had a son, why Gurney and Duncan are so loyal, and who Duke Leto is. Great Read
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