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Schools of Dune #2
Mentats of Dune: Book Two of the Schools of Dune Trilogy
In Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Mentats of Dune, the thinking machines have been defeated but the struggle for humanity's future continues.
Gilbertus Albans has founded the Mentat School, a place where humans can learn the efficient techniques of thinking machines. But Gilbertus walks an uneasy line between his own convictions and compromises in order to survive the Butlerian fanatics, led by the madman Manford Torondo and his Swordmaster Anari Idaho. Mother Superior Raquella attempts to rebuild her Sisterhood School on Wallach IX, with her most talented and ambitious student, Valya Harkonnen, who also has another goal―to exact revenge on Vorian Atreides, the legendary hero of the Jihad, whom she blames for her family's downfall.
Meanwhile, Josef Venport conducts his own war against the Butlerians. VenHold Spacing Fleet controls nearly all commerce thanks to the superior mutated Navigators that Venport has created, and he places a ruthless embargo on any planet that accepts Manford Torondo's anti-technology pledge, hoping to starve them into submission. But fanatics rarely surrender easily . . .
The Mentats, the Navigators, and the Sisterhood all strive to improve the human race, but each group knows that as Butlerian fanaticism grows stronger, the battle will be to choose the path of humanity's future―whether to embrace civilization, or to plunge into an endless dark age.
Gilbertus Albans has founded the Mentat School, a place where humans can learn the efficient techniques of thinking machines. But Gilbertus walks an uneasy line between his own convictions and compromises in order to survive the Butlerian fanatics, led by the madman Manford Torondo and his Swordmaster Anari Idaho. Mother Superior Raquella attempts to rebuild her Sisterhood School on Wallach IX, with her most talented and ambitious student, Valya Harkonnen, who also has another goal―to exact revenge on Vorian Atreides, the legendary hero of the Jihad, whom she blames for her family's downfall.
Meanwhile, Josef Venport conducts his own war against the Butlerians. VenHold Spacing Fleet controls nearly all commerce thanks to the superior mutated Navigators that Venport has created, and he places a ruthless embargo on any planet that accepts Manford Torondo's anti-technology pledge, hoping to starve them into submission. But fanatics rarely surrender easily . . .
The Mentats, the Navigators, and the Sisterhood all strive to improve the human race, but each group knows that as Butlerian fanaticism grows stronger, the battle will be to choose the path of humanity's future―whether to embrace civilization, or to plunge into an endless dark age.
672 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 11, 2014
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6087 people want to read
About the author
Brian Herbert
239 books2,140 followersBrian Patrick Herbert is an American author who lives in Washington state. He is the elder son of science fiction author Frank Patrick Herbert.
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April 17, 2022
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster”
- Nietzshe
While this trilogy is named for the great schools of the Dune universe – the formations and origins of the Bene Gesserit school, the Mentats and the Navigators, writers Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have formed another triumvirate of power that is mesmerizing in complexity and interconnectedness. Mentats of Dune, first published in 2014, describes a power struggle between the weak and ineffective Corrino empirical throne, the Venport Spacing Fleet controlled by Josef Venport (which may become the Spacing Guild) and the Butlerians led by Manford Torondo.
Torondo, who was severely injured in the assassination of Rayna Butler, takes over the movement from his mentor, and has become a monster that threatens the technological advancement of the universe, obsessed with an aversion to a supposed continued threat of thinking machine tyranny and has imposed a populist, quasi-religious suppression of free speech on all worlds. His followers’ number in the tens of millions and their penchant for riotous violence and mob rule intimidation forms a threat to the empire. It is here that the writers have their greatest success, illustrating the evils inherent in a system where due process and democratic rule is disallowed. While the Corrinos and Venport also enact their own scenes of cruelty and violence, it is Torondo who serves as the most malicious and freighting antagonist.
Also significant is the writers’ exploration of fanaticism and the depths to which some will give up there free will. The Butlerians become unthinking devotees of leader Torondo, accepting his decisions about how to think and what to believe.
This book, the second in the trilogy, also describes some outstandingly heroic characters – most notably Gilbertus Albans, the leader of the Mentat school, who struggles with a decision to stand up to the Butlerians; and the emperor’s brother Roderick Corrino, whose loyalty and competence stands in stark relief to the villainy that boils across most of the story. Albans courageous response to the Butlerian extremism, standing firm for free speech and logical thought, was a joy to read.
We also keep up with Vorian Atreides continued wanderings and his return to the ocean world of Caladan reminded me of Robert Silverburg’s Majipoor writing. Volya Harkonnen’s vendetta against Atreides is somewhat disturbing to watch and we also meet some new Fremen characters. Also fun was Erasmus’ return to create his own wrinkle in the narrative. Volya promises to remain an intriguing character in the following book(s).
Though a minor character, Ptolemy the scientist, whose own vendetta against Torondo’s Butlerians causes him to study the technology of the defeated Cymeks, steals several scenes if not the show.
Like the earlier book Sisterhood of Dune, I am again pleasantly surprised by the improved quality of this writing. I’m now off to finish the trilogy with Navigators of Dune.
- Nietzshe
While this trilogy is named for the great schools of the Dune universe – the formations and origins of the Bene Gesserit school, the Mentats and the Navigators, writers Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have formed another triumvirate of power that is mesmerizing in complexity and interconnectedness. Mentats of Dune, first published in 2014, describes a power struggle between the weak and ineffective Corrino empirical throne, the Venport Spacing Fleet controlled by Josef Venport (which may become the Spacing Guild) and the Butlerians led by Manford Torondo.
Torondo, who was severely injured in the assassination of Rayna Butler, takes over the movement from his mentor, and has become a monster that threatens the technological advancement of the universe, obsessed with an aversion to a supposed continued threat of thinking machine tyranny and has imposed a populist, quasi-religious suppression of free speech on all worlds. His followers’ number in the tens of millions and their penchant for riotous violence and mob rule intimidation forms a threat to the empire. It is here that the writers have their greatest success, illustrating the evils inherent in a system where due process and democratic rule is disallowed. While the Corrinos and Venport also enact their own scenes of cruelty and violence, it is Torondo who serves as the most malicious and freighting antagonist.
Also significant is the writers’ exploration of fanaticism and the depths to which some will give up there free will. The Butlerians become unthinking devotees of leader Torondo, accepting his decisions about how to think and what to believe.
This book, the second in the trilogy, also describes some outstandingly heroic characters – most notably Gilbertus Albans, the leader of the Mentat school, who struggles with a decision to stand up to the Butlerians; and the emperor’s brother Roderick Corrino, whose loyalty and competence stands in stark relief to the villainy that boils across most of the story. Albans courageous response to the Butlerian extremism, standing firm for free speech and logical thought, was a joy to read.
We also keep up with Vorian Atreides continued wanderings and his return to the ocean world of Caladan reminded me of Robert Silverburg’s Majipoor writing. Volya Harkonnen’s vendetta against Atreides is somewhat disturbing to watch and we also meet some new Fremen characters. Also fun was Erasmus’ return to create his own wrinkle in the narrative. Volya promises to remain an intriguing character in the following book(s).
Though a minor character, Ptolemy the scientist, whose own vendetta against Torondo’s Butlerians causes him to study the technology of the defeated Cymeks, steals several scenes if not the show.
Like the earlier book Sisterhood of Dune, I am again pleasantly surprised by the improved quality of this writing. I’m now off to finish the trilogy with Navigators of Dune.
April 5, 2014
This was a really bad book. I was very surprised. I've always enjoyed Herbert and Anderson's prequels to the original Dune books. It's varied some by series, but they've all been at least OK, some have been really enjoyable. I gave Sisterhood of Dune four stars. How did this series go from "pretty darn good" to "what the heck" so quickly?
It started off fine. I'm always stuck by the power of these archetypes, if that's the right word. I felt a bit of awe as Valya described becoming a Reverend Mother and accessing the other memories for the first time. The mentats, the navigators, the swordmasters, these positions are all so entrenched in my mind, as powerful as any myth that I can think of. I wonder how enduring they might become? It's already been 49 years. A drop in the bucket of course, compared to most myths. I've just read about Coyote in the new Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson book, and Rainbow Serpent in the new The Unwritten comic, and I saw a nutty guy get a Zeus cover-up on Tattoo Nightmares. Will these characters last too, will their myths possibly become as pervasive?
But then it just got bad. Most of the chapters are three and a half pages long. Usually I enjoy Anderson's use of frequent changes of point of view, but this time it was just unbearable because every character acted as though we hadn't been introduced to them yet and repeated and repeated and repeated their history, motivation, plans, and thoughts over and over and over and over again. It was unnecessary and unbelievably boring, heavyhanded, overbearing and just awful.. Where was their editor? It was bad. I'm serious, really bad. Bad. Are you getting the idea of how repetitively bad it was? Bad.
And the characters were terrible too. They were so black and white that they were just caricatures. They had no subtlety. They never did anything I didn't expect, there were no shades of gray. I couldn't sympathize with or relate to any of the supposed heroes much less the villains. In a good book the characters have depth but these people were all as shallow as a puddle.
And stupid! So incredibly stupid. For example, how could people as supposedly smart as Ptolomy and Josef think that recreating cymeks and Titans was a good idea? Even if they somehow thought it was going to be safe, and since Josef's grandmother is Norma Cenva it seems hard to swallow, how could they not think that it wouldn't start another war against them? People are already rioting over the idea of computers that don't even exist, how will they react to the figures of their worst nightmares returned? Plus their plans just didn't make any sense. How did anonymously attacking a small agricultural world that supported the Butlerian manifesto do anything to put a halt to it? Unless all of the planets knew that they too were going to get attacked by Titans if they support the Butlerians then it didn't accomplish anything, except more stupidity in this book from supposedly smart people. According to this book, Norma was tortured by a Titan, her husband devoted his life to fighting against the cymeks, but Josef thought that it was "ironic" that he was responsible for bringing an even more powerful version of them into being. Ironic = stupid. And Norma, prescient Norma who was tortured by a Titan, traveled with them to the first attack and watched. Uh huh, I bought into that. All of the characters in the book were all this stupid, shallowly motivated, without any complex actions, reactions, or emotions. The characterization was pitiful. Gilbertus was the only vaguely sympathetic character, and he just kept harping on the same theme the entire time, worried about his legacy, frozen by emotion and not at all using any kind of intellectual ability to make a decision and act. Erasmus was actually the most interesting character in the book, the only one who showed some levels and any ability to change.
There were also a lot of things that were really preachy, quite heavy-handed, both in the text of the story and in the quotes at the beginnings of the chapters. It got to be a bit much, but that was also a true to Frank Herbert's original vision too, as I think about it. Compared to the other problems with this book, it was hardly my biggest concern.
This was really a bad book. If it wasn't a familiar universe that was already enjoyable to me for the sake of that familiarity, building on a strong foundation, then it would have been a one star book. If I was being introduced to this universe for the first time with this book I would have quit reading part way through. I don't know what fell apart with this book, I've never read anything by Anderson that I didn't like and all of the books by Anderson and Herbert were somewhere between OK and really quite good, nothing even vaguely like this disaster. It's a big disappointment.
It started off fine. I'm always stuck by the power of these archetypes, if that's the right word. I felt a bit of awe as Valya described becoming a Reverend Mother and accessing the other memories for the first time. The mentats, the navigators, the swordmasters, these positions are all so entrenched in my mind, as powerful as any myth that I can think of. I wonder how enduring they might become? It's already been 49 years. A drop in the bucket of course, compared to most myths. I've just read about Coyote in the new Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson book, and Rainbow Serpent in the new The Unwritten comic, and I saw a nutty guy get a Zeus cover-up on Tattoo Nightmares. Will these characters last too, will their myths possibly become as pervasive?
But then it just got bad. Most of the chapters are three and a half pages long. Usually I enjoy Anderson's use of frequent changes of point of view, but this time it was just unbearable because every character acted as though we hadn't been introduced to them yet and repeated and repeated and repeated their history, motivation, plans, and thoughts over and over and over and over again. It was unnecessary and unbelievably boring, heavyhanded, overbearing and just awful.. Where was their editor? It was bad. I'm serious, really bad. Bad. Are you getting the idea of how repetitively bad it was? Bad.
And the characters were terrible too. They were so black and white that they were just caricatures. They had no subtlety. They never did anything I didn't expect, there were no shades of gray. I couldn't sympathize with or relate to any of the supposed heroes much less the villains. In a good book the characters have depth but these people were all as shallow as a puddle.
And stupid! So incredibly stupid. For example, how could people as supposedly smart as Ptolomy and Josef think that recreating cymeks and Titans was a good idea? Even if they somehow thought it was going to be safe, and since Josef's grandmother is Norma Cenva it seems hard to swallow, how could they not think that it wouldn't start another war against them? People are already rioting over the idea of computers that don't even exist, how will they react to the figures of their worst nightmares returned? Plus their plans just didn't make any sense. How did anonymously attacking a small agricultural world that supported the Butlerian manifesto do anything to put a halt to it? Unless all of the planets knew that they too were going to get attacked by Titans if they support the Butlerians then it didn't accomplish anything, except more stupidity in this book from supposedly smart people. According to this book, Norma was tortured by a Titan, her husband devoted his life to fighting against the cymeks, but Josef thought that it was "ironic" that he was responsible for bringing an even more powerful version of them into being. Ironic = stupid. And Norma, prescient Norma who was tortured by a Titan, traveled with them to the first attack and watched. Uh huh, I bought into that. All of the characters in the book were all this stupid, shallowly motivated, without any complex actions, reactions, or emotions. The characterization was pitiful. Gilbertus was the only vaguely sympathetic character, and he just kept harping on the same theme the entire time, worried about his legacy, frozen by emotion and not at all using any kind of intellectual ability to make a decision and act. Erasmus was actually the most interesting character in the book, the only one who showed some levels and any ability to change.
There were also a lot of things that were really preachy, quite heavy-handed, both in the text of the story and in the quotes at the beginnings of the chapters. It got to be a bit much, but that was also a true to Frank Herbert's original vision too, as I think about it. Compared to the other problems with this book, it was hardly my biggest concern.
This was really a bad book. If it wasn't a familiar universe that was already enjoyable to me for the sake of that familiarity, building on a strong foundation, then it would have been a one star book. If I was being introduced to this universe for the first time with this book I would have quit reading part way through. I don't know what fell apart with this book, I've never read anything by Anderson that I didn't like and all of the books by Anderson and Herbert were somewhere between OK and really quite good, nothing even vaguely like this disaster. It's a big disappointment.
January 24, 2021
The Power Struggles
Frank Herbert's original Dune novel was one of the Greatest of All Time science fiction novels. For this of us fascinated by this unique universe, we can't get enough of it and the prequels and sequels fill in a rich complex history. Although, of course, part of the wonder and awe of the first novels was that there was a deep mystery to many things, a history that remained undiscovered. That joy of mystery is somewhat abated as the stories get filled in. And the genius of the original Dune can never be matched.
Keeping those things in mind, Mentats is still a fascinating read as the germs of what eventually became the power centers of the universe are set out. Eighty years after the final defeat of the thinking machines, the world is still consumed with the Butlerian anti-technology jihad, a mob empowered riotous force led by Manford, a legless prophet who is carried about by his own personal swordmaster. Arrayed against the Butlerians are the Venports who run what will become the Spacing Guild with a near monopoly on space transport and a monopoly on melange, the spice from Arrakis that the space navigators must consume to see through fold space and that billions more are addicted to. The Corrinos are in the Imperial Palace but playing a weak third compared to the Spacing Guild and the Butlerians. The Bene Gesserits are weak and divided, having recently been driven to Wallach IX. The mentat school, producing human computers, has few defenses and hides a terrible secret. And, of course, we see the millennium-long feud between the Atriedes and the Harkonens play out.
This novel is about these divisions and animosities playing out as the characters maneuver themselves in the struggle for power and survival. It should be seen as more of a chapter in a longer story arc rather than a self contained climatic story. Designed for readers of the Dune universe, not so much newbies with no such experience.
Frank Herbert's original Dune novel was one of the Greatest of All Time science fiction novels. For this of us fascinated by this unique universe, we can't get enough of it and the prequels and sequels fill in a rich complex history. Although, of course, part of the wonder and awe of the first novels was that there was a deep mystery to many things, a history that remained undiscovered. That joy of mystery is somewhat abated as the stories get filled in. And the genius of the original Dune can never be matched.
Keeping those things in mind, Mentats is still a fascinating read as the germs of what eventually became the power centers of the universe are set out. Eighty years after the final defeat of the thinking machines, the world is still consumed with the Butlerian anti-technology jihad, a mob empowered riotous force led by Manford, a legless prophet who is carried about by his own personal swordmaster. Arrayed against the Butlerians are the Venports who run what will become the Spacing Guild with a near monopoly on space transport and a monopoly on melange, the spice from Arrakis that the space navigators must consume to see through fold space and that billions more are addicted to. The Corrinos are in the Imperial Palace but playing a weak third compared to the Spacing Guild and the Butlerians. The Bene Gesserits are weak and divided, having recently been driven to Wallach IX. The mentat school, producing human computers, has few defenses and hides a terrible secret. And, of course, we see the millennium-long feud between the Atriedes and the Harkonens play out.
This novel is about these divisions and animosities playing out as the characters maneuver themselves in the struggle for power and survival. It should be seen as more of a chapter in a longer story arc rather than a self contained climatic story. Designed for readers of the Dune universe, not so much newbies with no such experience.
April 21, 2025
Volume two continues the events from the previous one. It's as gripping as the first, but has too many repetitions of the characters past and actions, which at one point become annoying. I think it was meant to be read also as a standalone novel, but for one who has read the first, it's quite eye-rolling.
Nonetheless, we learn a great deal about the Sisterhood and Mentats, as well as their leaders' faith, and also about the course of action at the royal palace.
My only complaint about the characters is that Manford Torondo made it to the last novel... I do hate his guts.
"While animals camouflage themselves for hunting or survival, the deceptions I have observed in human endeavors rise to an extreme level."
ERASMUS, Latter-Day Laboratory Journals
"Too often Josef was disappointed by irrational human beings, the bad decisions they made, their self-destructive behavior. He mourned for the species."
Nonetheless, we learn a great deal about the Sisterhood and Mentats, as well as their leaders' faith, and also about the course of action at the royal palace.
My only complaint about the characters is that Manford Torondo made it to the last novel... I do hate his guts.
"While animals camouflage themselves for hunting or survival, the deceptions I have observed in human endeavors rise to an extreme level."
ERASMUS, Latter-Day Laboratory Journals
"Too often Josef was disappointed by irrational human beings, the bad decisions they made, their self-destructive behavior. He mourned for the species."
May 11, 2021
Some generations after the Butlerian Jihad has us firmly in this brave new universe where technology-hating Butlerians tear down everything and anything (including safe space travel) in their religious fervor.
Honestly, the setup is pretty good and if it wasn't for the fact that this is riding on the coattails of a true genius of literature *DUNE*, I might even have thought that this particular trilogy is a strong SF title all on its own.
Schools of thought, each trying to battle an upcoming dark age in the far future, reminds me delightfully of Asimov's Foundation in a way. The particular schools, the Bene Gesserit, Mentats, and Navigators, remind me in turn of some other classic SF and it is very definitely packed with some interesting, if slightly crazy, characters. The scope is pretty cool and we don't have to live up to anything huge other than simple survival and early ambition. We already know where they wind up in the classic title, after all.
Mentats kept my interest through and through, and to be clear, this trilogy feels like it's much better than the trilogy that immediately preceded it. And it's better than the Great Houses trilogy that comes right before Dune, as well.
It's odd. I thought I managed my expectations better than this. Did I expect nothing much at all and came out of this ahead, after all? Maybe so.
Honestly, the setup is pretty good and if it wasn't for the fact that this is riding on the coattails of a true genius of literature *DUNE*, I might even have thought that this particular trilogy is a strong SF title all on its own.
Schools of thought, each trying to battle an upcoming dark age in the far future, reminds me delightfully of Asimov's Foundation in a way. The particular schools, the Bene Gesserit, Mentats, and Navigators, remind me in turn of some other classic SF and it is very definitely packed with some interesting, if slightly crazy, characters. The scope is pretty cool and we don't have to live up to anything huge other than simple survival and early ambition. We already know where they wind up in the classic title, after all.
Mentats kept my interest through and through, and to be clear, this trilogy feels like it's much better than the trilogy that immediately preceded it. And it's better than the Great Houses trilogy that comes right before Dune, as well.
It's odd. I thought I managed my expectations better than this. Did I expect nothing much at all and came out of this ahead, after all? Maybe so.
April 26, 2025
*** 4.35 ***
These books take a toll on you! The dark themes continue and the prevailing emphasis on mob mentality and totalitarianism continue. So many times I was drawing comparisons with some of our current political tendencies, that if I let it, it could really bring me down... As a good friend said, these dystopian Sci-Fi/Fantasy books we read should be a warning to us and not a how-to guide...
The books in the Dune universe, starting with The Butlerian Jihad Trilogy and now this, have really been good and engaging, and I find myself really looking forward to them. I can't wait to see how this trilogy ends! 😊👍
These books take a toll on you! The dark themes continue and the prevailing emphasis on mob mentality and totalitarianism continue. So many times I was drawing comparisons with some of our current political tendencies, that if I let it, it could really bring me down... As a good friend said, these dystopian Sci-Fi/Fantasy books we read should be a warning to us and not a how-to guide...
The books in the Dune universe, starting with The Butlerian Jihad Trilogy and now this, have really been good and engaging, and I find myself really looking forward to them. I can't wait to see how this trilogy ends! 😊👍
March 22, 2014
I enjoyed this book immensely. I've been sporadic with my reading of these prequels but when I read one I want an epic scale political saga and I am always delivered it by Herbert and Anderson.
I had not read the Sisterhood of Dune, the book before this, but easily fell into the situations all the characters were in and had a blast.
This is not an action filled book, though there is some physical action, but instead this is on the political machinations of a group of individuals who feel that their decisions are the best for humanity. When they contrast that's where the fun begins.
I appreciated that the plots hatched in this novel are seen through and not pushed into the next tome. I also liked that there was definite change: people died, plans progressed--Things changed! It's such a bore when sagas make everything "safe", and I didn't get that in this book--everyone was at risk.
If you want an epic scale sci-fi yarn, this is for you.
I had not read the Sisterhood of Dune, the book before this, but easily fell into the situations all the characters were in and had a blast.
This is not an action filled book, though there is some physical action, but instead this is on the political machinations of a group of individuals who feel that their decisions are the best for humanity. When they contrast that's where the fun begins.
I appreciated that the plots hatched in this novel are seen through and not pushed into the next tome. I also liked that there was definite change: people died, plans progressed--Things changed! It's such a bore when sagas make everything "safe", and I didn't get that in this book--everyone was at risk.
If you want an epic scale sci-fi yarn, this is for you.
April 3, 2014
Ludicrous Twilight of Dune
Reading this book is like going on a commando raid at night, cutting your way through a forest with flamethrowers and light-enhancing goggles. And then, when you get to your destination, using the voice to force the people who came with you to do what they willingly came with you to do.
Perhaps I should have put a SPOILER in front of that. I'll just put it here. Spoiler's ahead.
In my review for Sisterhood of Dune I gave them the 'praise' that it was the best Dune book they had 'produced'. Aside from Dune 7's this is by far the worst. It ties up most of the storylines from Sisterhood setting up surprisingly little for the next book to do, however the way it ties them up, and the manner in which these books were setup just makes them even more pointless and essentially filler that creates a demand for it to supply. The next book is supposed to be "Swordmasters of Dune" which is an interesting choice considering we have only 1 major swordmaster character, and she's sworn her life to the Butlerians.
90% of what goes wrong in these books is due to there being maybe 2 characters that actually act in a 'rational' manner, but that is sadly par for the course. And by Rational I mean the know what they should do, but they don't do it until they are pretty much forced to.
I have to break this down by the different factions, and while I'm doing this I'd like you to think about who the protagonist is in this book.
The Butlerians are the same mindless, insane mob of fanatics they were in Sisterhood. Law where they are considered has been thrown out the window. Seriously, its not until a child of the royal family is trampled in the streets that anyone even considered trying to stop them in any serious manner. And what exactly do they want? "The mind of man is holy." And like all hypocritical fanatics they ignore some of the things they need and then destroy everything else. The level of acceptable tech varies widely depending on who and what the action is centered on.
The Bene Gesseritt--Oh god. FFS seriously these parts of the book are just atrocious. Essentially its the story of Mother Superior trying to bring the "Orthodox" sisters from Sisterhood back into the fold before she dies. Every chapter we're reminded about how close to death she is and how she's using all of her bodily control to stay alive. Except for the one chapter she feels revitalized and goes jogging. Truthsayers become the new ball to toss around, with everyone having to use 'clever' wording to get out of getting caught in a lie. Other than that one time a RM calls someone on a lie of omission. Everyone is super scared of the Truthsayers and they are 100% accurate as long as it doesn't interfere with the plot.
Valya Harkonnen actually requires her own paragraph. She becomes Wonder Mother by being the first to create Voice. She then proceeds to use it on just about everyone else in the Sisterhood. I actually can't remember if she uses it on someone that [i]isn't [/i]in the Sisterhood. She is dead set on becoming the new mother superior so she can use that power to ruin the Atreides. But she's totally 100% loyal to the Sisterhood. She just has to wait for the RM Superior to heal the breach...by threatening to kill herself. Yeah the one that is on death's door threatens to kill herself if they don't agree to reconcile. So they reconcile, the RMS tells Valya and the head of the Orthodox sisters she names them both as her successor and wants them to work together. She then gives all her OM to the Orthodox sister and dies. Valya then uses voice on her and makes her kill herself. She then tells all the Truthsayers the sister was distraught and killed herself. While being a straight up lie, they don't detect it. The Orthodox sisters use their own Truthsayers who also believe her and boom, Sisterhood is born.
Although. Lets think about this for a second. 1. Now they don't have the first RMS' OM. Cause she passed it on to someone who immediately died and had no children. Let me say this now, if a daughter of this person shows up with the OM...not only does it not work, its rather a grievous breech of their own damn story since the daughter was pretty damned pissed off about being abandoned by her birth mother and grandmother, who happened to be the RMS.
2. [i] Valya can't share her memories or have kids that become RM's OR pass on her own memories to the next RMS.[/i] Why? I don't know, maybe its because then everyone would know she murdered the co-RMS and its her fault those memories weren't passed on. Its also a rather large and continuing problem, you know because of Other Memory.
The Mentats. Well the book is named after them, and a lot happens here. This is supposed to be a school to teach humans how to use there minds to make mental projections, which I've redefined as chin scratching, because not one of them makes a projection that wouldn't make a great "Thank you Captain Obvious" meme. Basically, John Wayne Gacy* creeps into Anna's room at night in something I basically read as child molestation or rape. Its not physical, its the mental kind of manipulation a child molester uses with something he sees as a toy. Knowing who John Wayne Gacy is, that is what is happening, but the authors want you to think that Gacy is actually the protagonist of the story. Seriously, they talk about him being a psychotic murdering d-bag like its a good thing. Or at least, no one he talks to cares that he's a PSYCHOPATHIC. MASS MURDERING. SLAVER. Nope, Gacy is the god-damn protagonist. They are all worried about someone finding out he's there at the school for some reason.... but none of the people they tell even think of him as anything other than a great and true friend. Then Eddard Stark gets decapitated for being honorable, flat out refusing refusing rescue, and Princess Child Abuse and (Khal) 'Draigo' escape into the forest before the Butlerians can 'keep their word' and not murder the entire school.
Did I mention that Albans had DAYS to evacuate the school or escape? No, better to wait for the Butlerians to come siege the school, appeal to the murderous psychotic barbarians with logic and emotion, which actually works.... then refuse to leave your cell when your best student breaks...sorry [i]walks [/i]into camp and rescues you. And by cell I meant tent.
*I don't call him by the name they give him. He's a mass-murdering psychopathic child rapist, so John Wayne Gacy fits a lot better.
This book has a disturbing amount of gore-porn in it. And I'm not protesting its existence, it has its place. But here it feels like either
1. A Psychopathic writer using ink to get his jollies rather than on real people
2. A bad writer thinking that somehow horrific death/mangling will somehow make the story more edgy and mature.
3. A lazy editor who was watching Walking Dead, Saw, or Game of Thrones while they "edited".
4. All of the above.
Freemen. I'll just reiterate what I've said before: These Freemen make the Museum Fremen look like real Fremen in comparison. They wear collars and sell Fremen for their water. Then, they go emo about killing people and agree to go on one last mission to kill someone. Then in the middle of that mission they decide killing people really is wrong and quit.
Oh, and hey, the Landsraad exists...but where they might be something that would be IMPORTANT and could GET **** DONE. I think they are mentioned 2, maybe 3 times in the whole book. Not that it matters, every House we see seems to operate like a small business out of a strip mall. Aside from Directeur Venport who never uses his title but apparently has one, not one House seems to have ANY kind of feudal Lord status.
PS. Everyone sees both a dead Navigator and Norma attending the Imperial Court and while there are a few gasps, no one seems to make a big deal out of it. Other than the Butlerians, who are enraged that Venport would mutate humans to navigate a ship.
This one was really hard to finish, I literally had to take the day and sit down and force myself. I want to issue a challenge. Give me a page number, and I'll flip to it and find at least one thing wrong with the book either internally or within accepted Dune Canon.
I'm serious about that too.
Reading this book is like going on a commando raid at night, cutting your way through a forest with flamethrowers and light-enhancing goggles. And then, when you get to your destination, using the voice to force the people who came with you to do what they willingly came with you to do.
Perhaps I should have put a SPOILER in front of that. I'll just put it here. Spoiler's ahead.
In my review for Sisterhood of Dune I gave them the 'praise' that it was the best Dune book they had 'produced'. Aside from Dune 7's this is by far the worst. It ties up most of the storylines from Sisterhood setting up surprisingly little for the next book to do, however the way it ties them up, and the manner in which these books were setup just makes them even more pointless and essentially filler that creates a demand for it to supply. The next book is supposed to be "Swordmasters of Dune" which is an interesting choice considering we have only 1 major swordmaster character, and she's sworn her life to the Butlerians.
90% of what goes wrong in these books is due to there being maybe 2 characters that actually act in a 'rational' manner, but that is sadly par for the course. And by Rational I mean the know what they should do, but they don't do it until they are pretty much forced to.
I have to break this down by the different factions, and while I'm doing this I'd like you to think about who the protagonist is in this book.
The Butlerians are the same mindless, insane mob of fanatics they were in Sisterhood. Law where they are considered has been thrown out the window. Seriously, its not until a child of the royal family is trampled in the streets that anyone even considered trying to stop them in any serious manner. And what exactly do they want? "The mind of man is holy." And like all hypocritical fanatics they ignore some of the things they need and then destroy everything else. The level of acceptable tech varies widely depending on who and what the action is centered on.
The Bene Gesseritt--Oh god. FFS seriously these parts of the book are just atrocious. Essentially its the story of Mother Superior trying to bring the "Orthodox" sisters from Sisterhood back into the fold before she dies. Every chapter we're reminded about how close to death she is and how she's using all of her bodily control to stay alive. Except for the one chapter she feels revitalized and goes jogging. Truthsayers become the new ball to toss around, with everyone having to use 'clever' wording to get out of getting caught in a lie. Other than that one time a RM calls someone on a lie of omission. Everyone is super scared of the Truthsayers and they are 100% accurate as long as it doesn't interfere with the plot.
Valya Harkonnen actually requires her own paragraph. She becomes Wonder Mother by being the first to create Voice. She then proceeds to use it on just about everyone else in the Sisterhood. I actually can't remember if she uses it on someone that [i]isn't [/i]in the Sisterhood. She is dead set on becoming the new mother superior so she can use that power to ruin the Atreides. But she's totally 100% loyal to the Sisterhood. She just has to wait for the RM Superior to heal the breach...by threatening to kill herself. Yeah the one that is on death's door threatens to kill herself if they don't agree to reconcile. So they reconcile, the RMS tells Valya and the head of the Orthodox sisters she names them both as her successor and wants them to work together. She then gives all her OM to the Orthodox sister and dies. Valya then uses voice on her and makes her kill herself. She then tells all the Truthsayers the sister was distraught and killed herself. While being a straight up lie, they don't detect it. The Orthodox sisters use their own Truthsayers who also believe her and boom, Sisterhood is born.
Although. Lets think about this for a second. 1. Now they don't have the first RMS' OM. Cause she passed it on to someone who immediately died and had no children. Let me say this now, if a daughter of this person shows up with the OM...not only does it not work, its rather a grievous breech of their own damn story since the daughter was pretty damned pissed off about being abandoned by her birth mother and grandmother, who happened to be the RMS.
2. [i] Valya can't share her memories or have kids that become RM's OR pass on her own memories to the next RMS.[/i] Why? I don't know, maybe its because then everyone would know she murdered the co-RMS and its her fault those memories weren't passed on. Its also a rather large and continuing problem, you know because of Other Memory.
The Mentats. Well the book is named after them, and a lot happens here. This is supposed to be a school to teach humans how to use there minds to make mental projections, which I've redefined as chin scratching, because not one of them makes a projection that wouldn't make a great "Thank you Captain Obvious" meme. Basically, John Wayne Gacy* creeps into Anna's room at night in something I basically read as child molestation or rape. Its not physical, its the mental kind of manipulation a child molester uses with something he sees as a toy. Knowing who John Wayne Gacy is, that is what is happening, but the authors want you to think that Gacy is actually the protagonist of the story. Seriously, they talk about him being a psychotic murdering d-bag like its a good thing. Or at least, no one he talks to cares that he's a PSYCHOPATHIC. MASS MURDERING. SLAVER. Nope, Gacy is the god-damn protagonist. They are all worried about someone finding out he's there at the school for some reason.... but none of the people they tell even think of him as anything other than a great and true friend. Then Eddard Stark gets decapitated for being honorable, flat out refusing refusing rescue, and Princess Child Abuse and (Khal) 'Draigo' escape into the forest before the Butlerians can 'keep their word' and not murder the entire school.
Did I mention that Albans had DAYS to evacuate the school or escape? No, better to wait for the Butlerians to come siege the school, appeal to the murderous psychotic barbarians with logic and emotion, which actually works.... then refuse to leave your cell when your best student breaks...sorry [i]walks [/i]into camp and rescues you. And by cell I meant tent.
*I don't call him by the name they give him. He's a mass-murdering psychopathic child rapist, so John Wayne Gacy fits a lot better.
This book has a disturbing amount of gore-porn in it. And I'm not protesting its existence, it has its place. But here it feels like either
1. A Psychopathic writer using ink to get his jollies rather than on real people
2. A bad writer thinking that somehow horrific death/mangling will somehow make the story more edgy and mature.
3. A lazy editor who was watching Walking Dead, Saw, or Game of Thrones while they "edited".
4. All of the above.
Freemen. I'll just reiterate what I've said before: These Freemen make the Museum Fremen look like real Fremen in comparison. They wear collars and sell Fremen for their water. Then, they go emo about killing people and agree to go on one last mission to kill someone. Then in the middle of that mission they decide killing people really is wrong and quit.
Oh, and hey, the Landsraad exists...but where they might be something that would be IMPORTANT and could GET **** DONE. I think they are mentioned 2, maybe 3 times in the whole book. Not that it matters, every House we see seems to operate like a small business out of a strip mall. Aside from Directeur Venport who never uses his title but apparently has one, not one House seems to have ANY kind of feudal Lord status.
PS. Everyone sees both a dead Navigator and Norma attending the Imperial Court and while there are a few gasps, no one seems to make a big deal out of it. Other than the Butlerians, who are enraged that Venport would mutate humans to navigate a ship.
This one was really hard to finish, I literally had to take the day and sit down and force myself. I want to issue a challenge. Give me a page number, and I'll flip to it and find at least one thing wrong with the book either internally or within accepted Dune Canon.
I'm serious about that too.
September 13, 2024
I've been on something of a Dune run. I've finished the original series and then, in chronological order, have managed to knock out most of the other Dune books. With this book being the next to last book my journey is coming to an end. It's been a great time.
Mentats of Dune follows up on "Sisterhood of Dune". The Rossuk Sisters have split, with one set serving the Emperor as Truthsayers, while another group trains on esoteric disciplines like combat and the use of the Voice. Mother Superior Raquella seeks to bind both sides together. But Valya Harkonnen has other ideas.
Manford Toronado and the Butlerians are in a conflict with seemingly everyone- from displeasing the Emperor to fighting against VenPort Holdings and even the Mentat school. At the school, Gilbertus Albans must try to protect Anna Corrino and the gel-sphere of Erasmus.
As Venport's conflict with the Butlerians pushes him towards extreme measures, his scientists seem to be developing a new Time of the Titans. Venport also has plans to deal with Emperor Salvador.
On top of all this, Vorian Atreides is still having to deal with the Harkonnen family seeking revenge.
This is a book best read by those familiar with the original series and the "prequel" series, otherwise, the key characters and events will mean little and the hints will fall flat. The joy of these books is that they fill in on holes left from the original series and we can see where certain ideas like Bene Gesserit Weirding Way of combat or why they are the Emepror's Truthsayers or even why Mentats exist are well covered by the events of this book. A great read for fans of Dune.
Mentats of Dune follows up on "Sisterhood of Dune". The Rossuk Sisters have split, with one set serving the Emperor as Truthsayers, while another group trains on esoteric disciplines like combat and the use of the Voice. Mother Superior Raquella seeks to bind both sides together. But Valya Harkonnen has other ideas.
Manford Toronado and the Butlerians are in a conflict with seemingly everyone- from displeasing the Emperor to fighting against VenPort Holdings and even the Mentat school. At the school, Gilbertus Albans must try to protect Anna Corrino and the gel-sphere of Erasmus.
As Venport's conflict with the Butlerians pushes him towards extreme measures, his scientists seem to be developing a new Time of the Titans. Venport also has plans to deal with Emperor Salvador.
On top of all this, Vorian Atreides is still having to deal with the Harkonnen family seeking revenge.
This is a book best read by those familiar with the original series and the "prequel" series, otherwise, the key characters and events will mean little and the hints will fall flat. The joy of these books is that they fill in on holes left from the original series and we can see where certain ideas like Bene Gesserit Weirding Way of combat or why they are the Emepror's Truthsayers or even why Mentats exist are well covered by the events of this book. A great read for fans of Dune.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
Mentats of Dune, part two of the Schools of Dune series, was a hell of a lot of fun to read.
It continues the epic story of mankind's struggle (now several decades free of the thinking machines oppression), in choosing an ideological path forward for all in the empire. On one side are Joseph Venport, and other like-minded individuals, who embrace technology and all the benefits derived from it, without fear. On the other side is the Half Manford, and all of his fanatical Butlerian followers, who prey upon people's fear of the thinking machines, and demand the destruction of all advanced technology (except the stuff they find useful), claiming that it is the will of their God. This is no mere philosophical debate either; people are suffering and dying in this battle, and it only looks to get worse.
I couldn't stop reading this book. I really enjoyed it. If I had one complaint, it would be that Vorian Atreides storyline was a little weak. From the way this book ends though, there is obviously much more story to come.
If you enjoyed the original Dune novels or any of the prequel novels, you should definitely read this book.
Thank you Brian Herbert.
and
Thank you Kevin J. Anderson.
It continues the epic story of mankind's struggle (now several decades free of the thinking machines oppression), in choosing an ideological path forward for all in the empire. On one side are Joseph Venport, and other like-minded individuals, who embrace technology and all the benefits derived from it, without fear. On the other side is the Half Manford, and all of his fanatical Butlerian followers, who prey upon people's fear of the thinking machines, and demand the destruction of all advanced technology (except the stuff they find useful), claiming that it is the will of their God. This is no mere philosophical debate either; people are suffering and dying in this battle, and it only looks to get worse.
I couldn't stop reading this book. I really enjoyed it. If I had one complaint, it would be that Vorian Atreides storyline was a little weak. From the way this book ends though, there is obviously much more story to come.
If you enjoyed the original Dune novels or any of the prequel novels, you should definitely read this book.
Thank you Brian Herbert.
and
Thank you Kevin J. Anderson.
November 21, 2023
Yet another terrific political sci-fi book from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. They make the Dune universe so interesting and exciting in this series.
This book follows up book one, "Sisterhood of Dune" by putting more focus on the Mentat school. Obviously, the other schools are present, but as the title would suggest, the Mentat's really shine in this book. I really enjoyed following the character of Gilbertus Albans, as well as the robot Erasmus and Anna Corrino. Anytime they were on the page I was super excited to see them.
I also enjoyed the other plotlines, including the Manford Torondo vs Josef Venport plotline. I found myself shockingly agreeing with Venport most of the time. Anderson and Herbert do an excellent job of portraying both sides of the debate, and yet also giving their own perspective through the characters. It is an excellent exploration of the man vs machine themes explored in the first book.
The one plotline I didn't love in this book is the Sisterhood plotline, but that was mostly because it was slow going and didn't have much happen.
The last portion of the book really took off. I thought the book would end up suffering from Middle Book syndrome, but Anderson and Herbert do crank up the action and plot towards the end, and I was on the edge of my seat!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It's not quite as well done as book 1 I believe, but it is still incredibly entertaining nonetheless, still in the conversation with book 1. It was entertaining throughout. 9 out of 10! Terrific job Anderson and Herbert.
This book follows up book one, "Sisterhood of Dune" by putting more focus on the Mentat school. Obviously, the other schools are present, but as the title would suggest, the Mentat's really shine in this book. I really enjoyed following the character of Gilbertus Albans, as well as the robot Erasmus and Anna Corrino. Anytime they were on the page I was super excited to see them.
I also enjoyed the other plotlines, including the Manford Torondo vs Josef Venport plotline. I found myself shockingly agreeing with Venport most of the time. Anderson and Herbert do an excellent job of portraying both sides of the debate, and yet also giving their own perspective through the characters. It is an excellent exploration of the man vs machine themes explored in the first book.
The one plotline I didn't love in this book is the Sisterhood plotline, but that was mostly because it was slow going and didn't have much happen.
The last portion of the book really took off. I thought the book would end up suffering from Middle Book syndrome, but Anderson and Herbert do crank up the action and plot towards the end, and I was on the edge of my seat!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It's not quite as well done as book 1 I believe, but it is still incredibly entertaining nonetheless, still in the conversation with book 1. It was entertaining throughout. 9 out of 10! Terrific job Anderson and Herbert.
April 11, 2014
Many years ago, when I first read Dune, I was seriously impressed and subsequently purchased each novel in the series. Kevin Anderson has continued to honour the theme with this latest offering. It is well-written and contains a fast moving plot full of intrigue, high-quality dialogue and scenes of many dystopian worlds. Readers will be very pleased with this engrossing page turner.
September 22, 2020
I wish I could say this book is bad, but terrible would be a more appropriate word. I was one quarter into listening the audio book when I realized I've probably read this book before - this is how memorable it was. Brian Herbert has no idea how to create interesting characters, they're all two dimensional caricatures of Hollywood villains (down to the evil pondering of plans while stroking ones beard) and good to the bone heroes. We're told 80% of the time, so the occasional 20% of showing feels surprisingly good. Each chapter is an exposition dump where we catch up with what happened in the previous novels. Sadly, I started skipping entire chapters, and it didn't even matter, the action was so sparse I could catch up in subsequent chapters.
Sigh!
I thought that maybe this would be more bearable if I listened to the books, rather than waste my time reading it, but I feel like even the audiobooks may be a waste of my time. Poor Frank Herbert's legacy did not need to be soiled by these atrocious prequels and sequels.
I'm not even going to bother complaining about the plot too much, but there were several point where I wondered why the authors can't keep up with the rules of the world they've created. So truth sayers are really good at identifying when a person is lying by omission, until it's convenient for the plot that they can't? How did Valya get away with lying to A BUNCH of truth sayer sisters about the murder she committed? Gilbertus Albans couldn't get away with partial truths, so why can she? Because consistency doesn't matter to the authors, that's why.
Sigh!
I thought that maybe this would be more bearable if I listened to the books, rather than waste my time reading it, but I feel like even the audiobooks may be a waste of my time. Poor Frank Herbert's legacy did not need to be soiled by these atrocious prequels and sequels.
I'm not even going to bother complaining about the plot too much, but there were several point where I wondered why the authors can't keep up with the rules of the world they've created. So truth sayers are really good at identifying when a person is lying by omission, until it's convenient for the plot that they can't? How did Valya get away with lying to A BUNCH of truth sayer sisters about the murder she committed? Gilbertus Albans couldn't get away with partial truths, so why can she? Because consistency doesn't matter to the authors, that's why.
February 5, 2025
4.25 stars
This second book picks up straight from Sisterhood of Dune, with everything continuing to ramp up: anti-technology fanatics to the left, economic overlords to the right, a weak and ineffectual ruler in the middle, and a sprinkling of generational blood feud for good measure.
There are some exciting scenes and lots of the expected drama when so many diverse factions are fighting for their scrap of power. Mostly people get mowed down if they can’t get out of the way, but doing that is nigh impossible and so even the most calm and reasonable characters are in constant mortal peril of one kind or another.
This second book picks up straight from Sisterhood of Dune, with everything continuing to ramp up: anti-technology fanatics to the left, economic overlords to the right, a weak and ineffectual ruler in the middle, and a sprinkling of generational blood feud for good measure.
There are some exciting scenes and lots of the expected drama when so many diverse factions are fighting for their scrap of power. Mostly people get mowed down if they can’t get out of the way, but doing that is nigh impossible and so even the most calm and reasonable characters are in constant mortal peril of one kind or another.
March 13, 2015
I really don't know why first book is named "Sisters" and this one "Mentats" - they're just two parts of the same book.
And that one book talk about everything in a Dune space, Gesserit, Space Guild, Royal family, Ix, Tleilax, Fremens...
Everything other "one star" reviwers said is true but I'm hardcore fan and just using ideas and scenery presentes to fire up my own imagination and nice memories from Frank's work so I'll give these works a 2.6 stars (it look like 3 :) )
And will also read third one and any other ghost writers (I'm convinced these are not Kevin's & Brian's work) gave us.
And that one book talk about everything in a Dune space, Gesserit, Space Guild, Royal family, Ix, Tleilax, Fremens...
Everything other "one star" reviwers said is true but I'm hardcore fan and just using ideas and scenery presentes to fire up my own imagination and nice memories from Frank's work so I'll give these works a 2.6 stars (it look like 3 :) )
And will also read third one and any other ghost writers (I'm convinced these are not Kevin's & Brian's work) gave us.
Want to read
July 15, 2013I have been waiting for this book for YEARS! SO excited about the Schools of Dune series/collection!!!
December 1, 2018
Terrible literature; fun pulp fiction. Almost all of the main characters are totally psychotic.
July 14, 2025
This one is crazy weak. It FINALLY started doing stuff that is in the tv show but just barely. The characters were so flat in this. They made so many nonsensical choices. WEAK. They’ve done better.
July 29, 2016
It was so wonderful being back in the pre-Dune series. Loved the intrigue and power struggle for spice. Really shed some light on the internal workings of the political battles. I finished it too soon!!!
April 19, 2025
I think the cymeks were brought back to soon considering the end of the series
January 11, 2025
Back into the Dune Universe with the completion of Mentats of Dune. What Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have done with this far ranging series is write several trilogies, 4 in fact. Mentats of Dune is the 2nd book of the 2nd trilogy that describe the origins of the various "schools" that play such an important part of Frank Herbert's Dune. First was The Sisterhood of Dune, which is about the founding of the mysterious Bene Gesiret, a group of sisters who have learned to control their own metabolisms and have a psychic link to previous generations of what were called "sorceresses". They have honed their abilities to be able to detect lies in individuals, truthsayers. This book, Mentats of Dune, is about the founding of a school to teach humans to be, literally, human computers. When humans overthrew their machine masters in the first trilogy, all computers were outlawed. Any machine designed to imitate a human mind was destroyed. But humans traveling in space needed computers as did anybody involved in business, industry, military organizations that employed thousands of people. Thus, human computers or mentats. These mentats were taught "how" to think.
Of course, this book is far more complicated than that. We have the continuing battle between those who support technology and human advancement and those who do not. The battle is fierce and many lives are lost as these two opposites clash.
Events in this book more closely follow what was shown in the Dune: Prophecy series. At least, major events: although, there are still many differences. I plan to binge that series again to see if my reading of these two books help answer some questions.
The next book is called Navigators of Dune, which explores those mysterious figures who pilot the vast starships over the incredible distances in space. I enjoyed this book more than Sisterhood of Dune. A lot of action and the multiple story arcs are building some great suspense.
Of course, this book is far more complicated than that. We have the continuing battle between those who support technology and human advancement and those who do not. The battle is fierce and many lives are lost as these two opposites clash.
Events in this book more closely follow what was shown in the Dune: Prophecy series. At least, major events: although, there are still many differences. I plan to binge that series again to see if my reading of these two books help answer some questions.
The next book is called Navigators of Dune, which explores those mysterious figures who pilot the vast starships over the incredible distances in space. I enjoyed this book more than Sisterhood of Dune. A lot of action and the multiple story arcs are building some great suspense.
July 20, 2025
One of the books of all time.
April 2, 2014
I would begin with the downside of this novel, it will take two more years for the next installment of Schools of Dune. When you come at the end of this book and that realism hits you ut will call on a feeling of frustration.
The Expanded Dune series is not all haleluja and praise LetoII, this particular series is easily their better work of monsieurs Herbert & Anderson, even better so far than the "House of.." series. The other seven novels are more hit and sadly more miss in my humble opinion.
Anyhow this novels focuses on the school for Mentats and its headmaster who being a collaborator during the Machine -reign, a fact unknown to anybody, has decided to push mankinds more able into the ability of being a human computer as opposed to the forbidden machines. At the same time he harbours Anna Corrino who found a safe haven after her attempt at becoming a Reverend Mother. Gilbert and Erasmus try to help the lost girl and family menber of the Imperial family.
The Sisterhood is split up after the Emperor has struck at their base when theu got accused of using forbidden technology. A surviving faction has taken up residence with the Imperial family and the other insanctioned faction has taken up residence on Wallach IX. The Mother superiour will have to go to great lengths to heal the rift. Reverend-mother Valya Harkonnen still considers the sisterhood as means to extract revenge on Vorian Astreides. And she to is willing to go to great lengths.
Manford Torondo and his jihad against machines and their existance in his universe becomes more fanatic and does want to make sure that the Landsraad and Emperor will do anything to remove anything resembling a machine from the face of any planet.
Josef Venport and his foldships and mysterious navigators are the absolute opposites of Torondo and his Butlerian jihad, for him and his company machines are acceptable as their give hime power over the excisting universe and its trade. Josef and Manford are aimed at each other with each their own believe system.
Caught between the two powerfull factions of the Butlerian Jihad and Venports fleet and products are the Emperor Salvador Corrino & his brother Roderick. They ghave to tread carefully as both factions has the ability to strip them from power and might be willing to do so.
All the various characters will undoubtely run into eachother and it will make a big mess while they all are angling for power and existance.
While the Dune books of Frank Herbert are undoubtely better written and deeper in philosophy and ideas, the current Space-operatic character of the Dune-iverse does have its entertainment value. With this 2nd installment the writers deliver excitment galore and intriguing characters as well. For the experienced readers of the Dune series know that there will be a unescapable conclusion but in this novel all characters are still moving towards that cinclusion. A compliment for the writers in creating a group of interesting characters that are all grey in deeds and characterisation.
It might be a coincedence that the writers have chosen to continue with the Manford jihad against anything they believe in, and they want to destroy anybody else who has different ideas. In this books even the more liberal persons are expected to take a side even if they see the positive of both parties.
The current mood in the US is so as well where creationists want to destroy all ideas that do not match the word of the ir religion. The evolutionists do not tale them very serious as the yhave the facts and evidence on their side while the other side just believes.
It is that dilemma that the writers have chosen to use as main subject to forward their story of fledling orders and schools that will one day become important in the Corrino Empire. These books will make you think about the faults of Religion of believes vs reality and facts of evolution. Which is interesting as Frank Herbert took religion as a tool to change the face of society to the needs of humanity according to LetoII.
A highly enjoyable novel that took me back towards the world of Dune and made me enjoy it once more.
My copy has a booktitle mentioned called Tales of Dune on the page of books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson. Curious as I expected another title on the Schools of Dune series.
The Expanded Dune series is not all haleluja and praise LetoII, this particular series is easily their better work of monsieurs Herbert & Anderson, even better so far than the "House of.." series. The other seven novels are more hit and sadly more miss in my humble opinion.
Anyhow this novels focuses on the school for Mentats and its headmaster who being a collaborator during the Machine -reign, a fact unknown to anybody, has decided to push mankinds more able into the ability of being a human computer as opposed to the forbidden machines. At the same time he harbours Anna Corrino who found a safe haven after her attempt at becoming a Reverend Mother. Gilbert and Erasmus try to help the lost girl and family menber of the Imperial family.
The Sisterhood is split up after the Emperor has struck at their base when theu got accused of using forbidden technology. A surviving faction has taken up residence with the Imperial family and the other insanctioned faction has taken up residence on Wallach IX. The Mother superiour will have to go to great lengths to heal the rift. Reverend-mother Valya Harkonnen still considers the sisterhood as means to extract revenge on Vorian Astreides. And she to is willing to go to great lengths.
Manford Torondo and his jihad against machines and their existance in his universe becomes more fanatic and does want to make sure that the Landsraad and Emperor will do anything to remove anything resembling a machine from the face of any planet.
Josef Venport and his foldships and mysterious navigators are the absolute opposites of Torondo and his Butlerian jihad, for him and his company machines are acceptable as their give hime power over the excisting universe and its trade. Josef and Manford are aimed at each other with each their own believe system.
Caught between the two powerfull factions of the Butlerian Jihad and Venports fleet and products are the Emperor Salvador Corrino & his brother Roderick. They ghave to tread carefully as both factions has the ability to strip them from power and might be willing to do so.
All the various characters will undoubtely run into eachother and it will make a big mess while they all are angling for power and existance.
While the Dune books of Frank Herbert are undoubtely better written and deeper in philosophy and ideas, the current Space-operatic character of the Dune-iverse does have its entertainment value. With this 2nd installment the writers deliver excitment galore and intriguing characters as well. For the experienced readers of the Dune series know that there will be a unescapable conclusion but in this novel all characters are still moving towards that cinclusion. A compliment for the writers in creating a group of interesting characters that are all grey in deeds and characterisation.
It might be a coincedence that the writers have chosen to continue with the Manford jihad against anything they believe in, and they want to destroy anybody else who has different ideas. In this books even the more liberal persons are expected to take a side even if they see the positive of both parties.
The current mood in the US is so as well where creationists want to destroy all ideas that do not match the word of the ir religion. The evolutionists do not tale them very serious as the yhave the facts and evidence on their side while the other side just believes.
It is that dilemma that the writers have chosen to use as main subject to forward their story of fledling orders and schools that will one day become important in the Corrino Empire. These books will make you think about the faults of Religion of believes vs reality and facts of evolution. Which is interesting as Frank Herbert took religion as a tool to change the face of society to the needs of humanity according to LetoII.
A highly enjoyable novel that took me back towards the world of Dune and made me enjoy it once more.
My copy has a booktitle mentioned called Tales of Dune on the page of books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson. Curious as I expected another title on the Schools of Dune series.
March 17, 2014
When this book arrived on my kindle I didn't remember pre-ordering it. I'm so glad that past me had the prescience to foresee my absolute enjoyment of this book. I'm sure the Kwisatz Haderach would approve of my pre-order and the prescience that it required, but alas there is no mention of the human savior god in this book, just a mere hint when Reverend Mother Raquella Berto-Anirul mentions her sisterhoods great plans.
To be honest, the title of the book is misleading. It should be something more like "The many schools of Dune" or something similar. While the text does cover Gilbertus Albans and his mentor Erasmus' story at the Mentat School on Lampadas, it also goes back and forth between the Imperial Throne on Salusa Secundus and the deserts of Arrakis, while spending large sections of the book covering the schism between the Sisters of Wallach IX and the Orthodox sisters with the Emperor.
I loved the book, and I took my time to enjoy it -- and by time, I mean 6 days. Normally I'd read a novel of the same length in 2 days on a weekend, but spread this one out to enjoy it. I'll have to wait so long for a followup book, I'm worried I'll forget all the details! With a universe as large as Dune's, one does tend to need a refresher course. I think turning this whole prequel and interquel series into a full fledged sci-fi channel series would be awesome, and a great way to respect the originals while still being true to the 'brand'. I don't fear the remakes, but would like to see these original stories shared with a broader audience too!
To be honest, the title of the book is misleading. It should be something more like "The many schools of Dune" or something similar. While the text does cover Gilbertus Albans and his mentor Erasmus' story at the Mentat School on Lampadas, it also goes back and forth between the Imperial Throne on Salusa Secundus and the deserts of Arrakis, while spending large sections of the book covering the schism between the Sisters of Wallach IX and the Orthodox sisters with the Emperor.
I loved the book, and I took my time to enjoy it -- and by time, I mean 6 days. Normally I'd read a novel of the same length in 2 days on a weekend, but spread this one out to enjoy it. I'll have to wait so long for a followup book, I'm worried I'll forget all the details! With a universe as large as Dune's, one does tend to need a refresher course. I think turning this whole prequel and interquel series into a full fledged sci-fi channel series would be awesome, and a great way to respect the originals while still being true to the 'brand'. I don't fear the remakes, but would like to see these original stories shared with a broader audience too!
August 28, 2015
Having read Brian Herbert's first books of the "Dune" prequels which were hard to put down, I was disappointed in this book in so many ways by contrast. Given the title, I expected a book that would go into the origin and early exploits of the first Mentats ----- the human supercomputers featured in the Dune novels. Instead, it's really not about them, and, in truth, the portions of it dealing with Mentats are relatively sparse. The book jumps around annoyingly between various sub-plots dealing with various characters --- none of which, unlike the Herbert's "Butlerian Jihad" prequels, are fully or compellingly developed. Indeed, none of the book's characters come across as particularly interesting or likeable.
Most egregiously, this is the case with the main protagonist, Gilbertus Albans, founder of the Mentat Order. He comes across as a tragic, indecisive, vacillating man --- not at all resembling the figure profoundly impacting the course of mankind for millennia into the future.
After slogging through several hundred pages of this book, on reaching the end, you find that nothing but unsatisfyingly inconclusive loose ends --- yet none of which really create an appetite to read further books from the Schools of Dune series. All in all, an uncharacteristically disappointing work from Brian Herbert. Hopefully, his next books will be better, or, at this rate, he's going to lose a lot of Dune fans like me.
Most egregiously, this is the case with the main protagonist, Gilbertus Albans, founder of the Mentat Order. He comes across as a tragic, indecisive, vacillating man --- not at all resembling the figure profoundly impacting the course of mankind for millennia into the future.
After slogging through several hundred pages of this book, on reaching the end, you find that nothing but unsatisfyingly inconclusive loose ends --- yet none of which really create an appetite to read further books from the Schools of Dune series. All in all, an uncharacteristically disappointing work from Brian Herbert. Hopefully, his next books will be better, or, at this rate, he's going to lose a lot of Dune fans like me.
September 2, 2016
I won a copy of the book via a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway.
I've read all the Dune books up to this point, so I feel like I have a pretty good feeling for the tone and setting of the stories set far into our own future. This book fits nicely into that future universe in my mind.
One of the neat things about the "Schools of Dune" sub-series is that we're getting a chance to learn about the formation of the various factions that populate the original series, and some of the prequels. The Bene Gesserit, Mentats, Navigators, Suks, Tleilaxu, CHOAM, the Ginaz Swordmasters, and the Landsraad are all represented in some form here. Also, the Corrino, Atreides, and Harkonnen families are already central to the action.
The alliances, battles, and changing allegiances of these different factions is just as fascinating and compelling as what we find in the previous installments of the "Duniverse". Even knowing what these groups look like much later doesn't take away from the suspense and intrigue.
This book did not disappoint, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter of the series!
I've read all the Dune books up to this point, so I feel like I have a pretty good feeling for the tone and setting of the stories set far into our own future. This book fits nicely into that future universe in my mind.
One of the neat things about the "Schools of Dune" sub-series is that we're getting a chance to learn about the formation of the various factions that populate the original series, and some of the prequels. The Bene Gesserit, Mentats, Navigators, Suks, Tleilaxu, CHOAM, the Ginaz Swordmasters, and the Landsraad are all represented in some form here. Also, the Corrino, Atreides, and Harkonnen families are already central to the action.
The alliances, battles, and changing allegiances of these different factions is just as fascinating and compelling as what we find in the previous installments of the "Duniverse". Even knowing what these groups look like much later doesn't take away from the suspense and intrigue.
This book did not disappoint, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter of the series!
September 6, 2018
This book is better than the first one of the series, mostly because we now know the characters and their actions make more sense, but also because the plot is way more interesting. But, it also suffers from the problem of trying to be a sequel bestseller, the needless references to the previous book, characters making unnecessary exposition, long and boring mental monologues to refresh our memory.
Normally i don't care much about this, but on this book, it kinda threw me off a little bit. The good thing is that after the first 100 pages are done, we don't get that kind of crap anymore.
Something i HAVE to say, is that i hated the 2 characters that where forced on the first book, Vorian's brother and sister. They didn't have to exist, it was lazy and bad for the writers to invent that just to make Vorian do something.
I really want to know how they solve some stuff, as we all know how the next book is gonna end, but i want to know how they get there.
Anyway, another money grab by Brian Herbert, but at least it is better than Sisterhood.
Normally i don't care much about this, but on this book, it kinda threw me off a little bit. The good thing is that after the first 100 pages are done, we don't get that kind of crap anymore.
Something i HAVE to say, is that i hated the 2 characters that where forced on the first book, Vorian's brother and sister. They didn't have to exist, it was lazy and bad for the writers to invent that just to make Vorian do something.
I really want to know how they solve some stuff, as we all know how the next book is gonna end, but i want to know how they get there.
Anyway, another money grab by Brian Herbert, but at least it is better than Sisterhood.
April 1, 2014
Fans of the Dune series will love this. It's a solid 4 star book. I really enjoyed reading about how the Mentat school was set up, but was a little disappointed by what happened to Gilbertus. I'm guess the Spacing Guild will be the next one, and the one that features the war between the Butlerians and Venport.
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http://thebookgeekblog.blogspot.com/2...
April 6, 2014
I was blown away by this book. The plot twists surprised me and left me wanting to read right into the next one.
June 12, 2020
Gdyby tak właśnie wyglądał Dżihad Butleriański - bliżej zamysłowi Franka Herberta, dość dokładnie opisany w "Diunie", jako konflikt natury ideologicznej i filozoficzno-religijnej i zgodnie z tą ideą wojna, którą prowadzili Butlerianie prowadzona była raczej przeciwko ludziom niewłaściwie wykorzystującym maszyny myślące, ograniczające potencjał ludzkich umysłów i stawiane przez człowieka na piedestał niemal na równi z bogami, coraz bardziej od nich uzależnianego, godzącego na niewolę i decydowanie przez nie o swoim losie (coś bliskiego naszym czasom, coś o czym ostrzega chociażby serial "Black Mirror") - a nie, jak został opisany w tak jak trylogii "Legendy Diuny", będącej opowieścią o dosłownym zniewoleniu ludzi przez roboty i cyborgi, myślę że na Briana Herberta i Kevina J. Andersona nie spłynęła by taka lawina krytyki i kanonada gromów ciskanych przez fanów oryginalnych książek.
Zaskakująco, właściwszym odniesieniem do krucjaty przeciwko myślącym maszynom i temu, jak powinna zostać opisana, by pozostać w bliskości z przesłaniem Franka Herberta, jest właśnie ta trylogia - "Wielkie Szkoły Diuny". W jej drugim tomie, "Mentaci Diuny" jest to jeszcze wyraźniejsze, niemal tak, jakby Brian Herbert i Kevin Anderson chcieli "przeprosić" wielbicieli oryginalnych książek i naprawić to i owo. W powieści tej po raz kolejny bez pardonu ścierają się ze sobą stronnictwa. Corrinowie umacniają swoją władzę w Imperium, stosując wyjątkowo drastyczne metody i rozpinając sieć spisków, Bene Gesserit dzięki treningom i rozwojowi talentów wywierają coraz większy wpływ na możnych tego wszechświata, Josef Venport - założyciel protogildii kosmicznej - coraz niebezpieczniej "romansuje" z artefaktami i wiedzą pozostawioną po myślących maszynach, czym budzi coraz większą zaciekłość i brutalność zwolenników Butlerian pod wodzą fanatycznego, bezwzględnego Manfreda Torondo. Interesy poszczególnych frakcji coraz bardziej łączą się z jedną lub drugą koalicją a do tego jednostki - Valya Harkonnen, robot Erazmus i Gilbertus Albans - realizują swoje własne plany, których efekt nie pozostanie z pewnością bez szerszego znaczenia w finale tej opowieści.
Kolejna bardzo dobra książka z rozszerzonego uniwersum "Diuny". Wciąż daleka od stylu Franka Herberta, narracyjnie z naciskiem położonym na dynamikę akcji i snucie intryg z może nazbyt nachalnie i czasem niepotrzebnie wplecionymi zbyt dosłownymi i bliskimi nawiązaniami do oryginalnych książek. Po prostu, paradoksalnie, powieści Briana Herberta i Kevina J. Andersona z tego uniwersum są tym lepsze im mniej łączy ich wydarzenia, miejsca z tymi znanymi z oryginalnych książek. Jakkolwiek by nie było - polecam!
Zaskakująco, właściwszym odniesieniem do krucjaty przeciwko myślącym maszynom i temu, jak powinna zostać opisana, by pozostać w bliskości z przesłaniem Franka Herberta, jest właśnie ta trylogia - "Wielkie Szkoły Diuny". W jej drugim tomie, "Mentaci Diuny" jest to jeszcze wyraźniejsze, niemal tak, jakby Brian Herbert i Kevin Anderson chcieli "przeprosić" wielbicieli oryginalnych książek i naprawić to i owo. W powieści tej po raz kolejny bez pardonu ścierają się ze sobą stronnictwa. Corrinowie umacniają swoją władzę w Imperium, stosując wyjątkowo drastyczne metody i rozpinając sieć spisków, Bene Gesserit dzięki treningom i rozwojowi talentów wywierają coraz większy wpływ na możnych tego wszechświata, Josef Venport - założyciel protogildii kosmicznej - coraz niebezpieczniej "romansuje" z artefaktami i wiedzą pozostawioną po myślących maszynach, czym budzi coraz większą zaciekłość i brutalność zwolenników Butlerian pod wodzą fanatycznego, bezwzględnego Manfreda Torondo. Interesy poszczególnych frakcji coraz bardziej łączą się z jedną lub drugą koalicją a do tego jednostki - Valya Harkonnen, robot Erazmus i Gilbertus Albans - realizują swoje własne plany, których efekt nie pozostanie z pewnością bez szerszego znaczenia w finale tej opowieści.
Kolejna bardzo dobra książka z rozszerzonego uniwersum "Diuny". Wciąż daleka od stylu Franka Herberta, narracyjnie z naciskiem położonym na dynamikę akcji i snucie intryg z może nazbyt nachalnie i czasem niepotrzebnie wplecionymi zbyt dosłownymi i bliskimi nawiązaniami do oryginalnych książek. Po prostu, paradoksalnie, powieści Briana Herberta i Kevina J. Andersona z tego uniwersum są tym lepsze im mniej łączy ich wydarzenia, miejsca z tymi znanymi z oryginalnych książek. Jakkolwiek by nie było - polecam!
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