Dune: Le Duc de Caladan

The Caladan Trilogy #1

by Brian Herbert

Aux sources de Dune, la légende des Atréides.

Un an avant Dune...
Avant d'être le concubin de Dame Jessica et le père de Paul-Muad'Dib, Leto Atréides est le Duc de Caladan, une petite planète de l'Imperium parmi tant d'autres. Sa patience, sa probité et sa loyauté envers l'Empereur Padishah Shaddam IV lui valent les bonnes grâces de celui-ci... et l'inimitié de nombreuses Grandes Maisons, dont celle des Harkonnen, qui voient d'un mauvais œil son ascension.
Mais là où d'autres complotent, Leto agit... Voici son histoire.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Space Opera, Adventure, Space

462 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2020

About the author

Brian Patrick Herbert is an American author who lives in Washington state. He is the elder son of science fiction author Frank Patrick Herbert.

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Boz Scaggs may have been a Frank Herbert / Dune fan:

Leto missed the boat that day
He left the shack
But that was all he missed
And he ain't comin back

At a tombstone bar
In a jukejoint car
He made a stop
Just long enough
To grab a handle off the top

Next stop Chi town
Leto put the money down let em roll
He said one more job ought to get it
One last shot 'fore we quit it
One for the road

Leto.. woah oh oh oh
He's for the money
He's for the show
Leto's waiting for the go



Anyway.

We come to Brian and Kevin’s latest Dune novel, Duke of Caladan, which takes place immediately before the events of Frank’s original. This is the first in a trilogy and I really think that as we turn the page on the third book here, The Heir of Caladan due out in 2022, we will be able to open up Frank’s 1965 masterpiece and keep going.

I very much liked the last trilogy, the Schools of Dune, which takes place 10,000 years before this setting and was epic in scale and very well written.

This one … eh … not bad, but a little low on originality. While this does spend time with Leto and Jessica on Caladan and provides more backstory, especially about the year or two preceding Dune, it was somewhat thin.

Actually, noteworthy was that this took a darker tone. Fans of the various fantasy operas have always known that the Dune Universe is darker and more mature than the others. Brian and Kevin up the ante here and get downright murky as some nefarious plots are planned, executed and investigated.

Did I like it? Yes. It’s Dune, I’m gonna like it and I’ll read the next two as well. They’re too good not to read and I am thoroughly invested.

On to The Lady of Caladan.

[Chris Haught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review now live at Grimdark Magazine

As the classic novel Dune by Frank Herbert opens, we’re introduced to the noble family of House Atreides, as they’re moving operations from their homeworld of Caladan to a new holding, the desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. We can immediately see that this family will be the source of our upcoming story, with the young protagonist Paul Atreides taking center stage. While it’s easy to pull for Paul and his family from the outset, it would have been nice to get to know these people a little before their great journey began. Dune: The Duke of Caladan gives us that experience.

Set in the year leading up to the novel Dune: The Duke of Caladan centers on House Atreides before they embark on their voyage. Duke Leto and his concubine Lady Jessica have been together for some time, coping with the struggles that the Imperium forces on their relationship. We get a good illustration of that here, as Leto is pulled by duty and his noble station, the rules of his society making it impossible for him to marry his one true love. Jessica is similarly torn, knowing she has her Duke’s love but also the rules that come with it and to add to her problems is the Bene Gesserit sisterhood where she was trained in their art and comes to realize she is a pawn in their schemes. And their son Paul is growing close to marrying age, which will open a new set of frustrations for the next generation.

The Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV is showcasing his new Imperial Museum on the planet Otorio and has invited all the noble people of rank to attend his grand opening. During this event, an act of terrorism committed by the Noble Commonwealth sets events into motion across the galaxy. Soon the industries of commerce, politics, science, and religion are at odds as the dust settles.

In Dune: The Duke of Caladan, the story is not as important as the fact of its existence. That is, while the different threads carry the narrative along, the main benefit from this read is exploring the characters introduced in the great Dune novel. There, we are only given a small bit of background before the novel’s plot kicks in, so here it is useful to learn more about the key figures in its beginning. We get a feel for how the Atreides family interact, specifically how young Paul is being brought up to be the next Duke, and the complex relationship between Duke Leto and Lady Jessica.

We’re also given some insight into the relationships between other characters too, notably those of the Atreides household such as Gurney Halleck, Duncan Idaho, Thufir Hawat, and Wellington Yueh. The novel shifts to other familiar faces too, giving us a preview to the world of Dune itself and showing how the Baron Harkonnen operates, and finally to the schemes behind the scenes of the Emperor and his advisor Count Hasimir Fenring, and the Bene Gesserit sisterhood as represented by Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, the Emperor’s Truthsayer.

Though this novel is set just before the beginning of Dune, I’d recommend reading the original novel first. There are some details here that would be spoilers to new readers, as they were surprises revealed in the original telling. It’s also a bit more of a treat to a reader that’s revisiting the Dune universe, getting extra enjoyment out of learning more about characters that Frank Herbert didn’t have time to explore in the novel.

I did find that there were references to several events from earlier works by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson set in the Dune universe, but they were explained well enough to understand the current reading without losing much. A completist might want to read those first, but I didn’t find it necessary. Dune: The Duke of Caladan is the first of a trilogy set just before Dune, and is a great entry in the series, perfect to read just before tackling a reread of the main cycle.

Thanks to Caroline Penny at Tor Books for the eARC of this novel.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific

Frank Herbert's Dune series, particularly the original title work, is one of the seminal creative works of imagination, combining science fiction, economics, political intrigue, and mysticism. Herbert followed that up with five more books and, after his death, his son, Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson added perhaps fifteen more books to the Dune universe. Duke of Caladan is the latest entre into this universe, being the first of a new trilogy chronicling the year or so leading up to the events of Dune when the Emperor assigned Arrakis to the Atriedes family, forcing the Harkonens out.

Duke of Caladan follows a number of threads as the Emperor, the Atriedes, and the Harkonens are all faced with rebellions. Duke Leto struggles with finding a match for his son and with what place his Bene Gesserit concubine Jessica will play. Paul is fourteen and starting to come of age. The Baron plots on Geidi Prime and on Arrakis. The Guild, the Landsraad, and CHOAM all have prominent roles. Count Fenring is keeping an eye on Arrakis for the Emperor. For those familiar with the Dune Universe, you can see the threads beginning to weave as these schemes become tangled and Arrakis becomes the center of the play. This, however, is part one of a trilogy, so there is far more to play out before the chess pieces find their familiar places.

[Mundy Reimer · Rating 1 out of 5]

To clue you in on the books that I rate a single ⭐, this "book" is basically a glorified doorstop and possibly could be used to press flowers if for some reason you have a strange fetish for juxtaposing the ugly with the beautiful 😅 I usually won't even rate books that I find worthless (the opposite of love is apathy after all), but if for some reason they make me *disappointed in myself* for wasting my time they get put here to help others save their time! With that said, I rarely place books here and always feel bad if I do.

Now putting aside some of the rhetorical theatrics for a bit, to give you some context, I think this will be the 20th book I've read from the Duniverse. I started reading the books when I was in high school, followed it up with quite a few of Herbert's other books, read the biographical stuff of Herbert by Tim O'Reilly (yes, the same publisher of the O'Reilly software books with the infamously cute animals on the front covers), played the Dune video games, delved into Korzybski's General Semantics for a bit (which influenced Herbert's ideas), and just recently re-read the original Dune book with my younger sister (my review here) as well as recently watching the Lynch movie as preparation for the formerly-upcoming-but-now-on-hold Villeneuve movie, so yeah, I kinda am a dedicated fan.

And as a dedicated fan, it does hurt me to say how disappointed I am in this book. Just a couple pages in I was already put off, but I told myself to have patience and that it wouldn't continue like this. But then it did. Over and over again. Now I'm already aware of the difference in qualities between the original books by Herbert and the newer ones by his son and Kevin J. Anderson, and I don't want to be one of those old nerdy farts that gatekeeps by always saying the originals are the best, but this one honestly just felt like a shameless cash grab that was rushed out to milk the potential hype catalyzed by the upcoming Villeneuve movie.

For instance, there's this thing that all beginning creative writing students learn about which causes us to roll our eyes and mumble an exasperated "duh, everyone knows that", which is *show, don't tell*. And I'm honestly okay with some authors skirting this, especially in the sci-fi genres that I enjoy that wade more into heavy philosophical waters. But these authors don't follow that piece of advice and they don't follow it in a bad way. Reading the parts about the Duke was especially comically bad. Anytime he did something it would later be followed up with "and the Duke did this because he was honorable". And this happened over and over again! Like how many times do you have to remind the reader that the Duke is a man of honor!?! And to do it so *explicitly* like it's "oh wait, yeah, I totally forgot he was a man of honor, thanks for reminding me by honking the Duke is honorable horn".

And this leading the reader by the hand like we're dune dunces extends to just about everything else in this novel. I get that some authors like to remind their readers of certain characters or plot lines, especially if they haven't published in a while and the readers need a way to jump-start their memories, but similar to honking the honorable duke horn every few pages or so, it seems the reader needs a reminder of every single character's main traits. And it's made worse by the fact that they are just so *explicit* about it! Every action is followed by an explanation of how that is representative of that character's main traits. Oh, Jessica did something? She did it because she loved the Duke so much. Oh, Gurney did something? He did it because he loves battles or music. Oh, Paul did something? He did it because he needs to prepare for when he will become Duke.

Speaking of the latter, there is an annoyingly high amount of *explicit*(!) references that foreshadow the upcoming events in the original Dune book. And I don't know if this was a further instance of just lazy or bad writing, but I don't think it can even be called foreshadowing if it's not even a hint but instead more like a giant billboard screaming out all the events that will soon occur in Dune. I really felt like this was pandering to the lowest common denominator of the Dune fan base. And worse because I originally didn't think us Dune fans were all that dumb, but seeing some of the other 4-5 star reviews of this book I'm starting to question everything. Did those other reviewers even read this book before rating it? Or have I turned into one of those nerdy elitist snobs that sniff their wines and eat the literature equivalent of caviar or whatever? Have I just lost touch and become totally uncalibrated in my expectations? Was I just deluding myself before about the quality of the previous non-Frank-Herbert books by satiating myself with more world-building? Was this ghost-written? Am I just not as empathetically considerate towards authors about the realities of the hidden forces of the publishing world that go on behind the scenes in creating a book and appealing to the masses?

Anyways, I can go on and on about the cardboard characters, the forced emotional manipulation, the lack of philosophical nuance, etc, but ugh! This was a waste of time. Let's just go ahead and squeeze the living water out of some flowers already.

[Karen’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first book in a new trilogy much more than I thought I would and can’t wait for the next books to release.

In Dune, The Duke of Caladan, the story begins about a year before the setting of Dune where we get more back story of the Imperium and Leto Atreides place within.

I always enjoy the Dune books and own and have read them all. I’m excited that there are two more coming for sure to add to my Dune collection.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.

There’s something both exciting and dreadful at the idea of revisiting characters and worlds set before the stories that are known and loved. On one hand, the thrill of discovering more about them is a high that all fans want deep down. On the other hand, the deception of unnecessary plotlines can tarnish one’s memory of all the good things associated with their favourite stories. But no one can stop these stories from being told and one can only pray that the result will be satisfactory. In anticipation of director Denis Villeneuve’s movie adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune, fans were gifted a variety of brand-new world-expanding content including the first book of a brand new trilogy written by the authors who had taken on the mantle of building up the Dune universe, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. This time around, they present to us a prequel trilogy set a year before the classic masterpiece and exposes the politics, values, and stakes that defined House Atreides.

What is Dune: The Duke of Caladan about? The story follows Leto Atreides, Duke of Caladan, father of the Muad’Dib, and ruler of Caladan. Surrounded by his bound concubine Jessica and their fourteen-year-old son Paul, he persuades those around him of his sense of leadership as he works to earn the ire of House Harkonnen’s favor while sniffing and dodging the traps laid by his enemies who fear the rise of House Atreides. Juggling both his responsibilities as a duke and the well-being of his loved ones, he finds himself in the midst of political machination and a mysterious drug war that holds a grip over his reputation and the safety of his family and himself. The question remains if he can handle the pressure of the Imperium or succumb to the assault of his adversaries.

It is highly recommended that readers pick up the original Dune novel before exploring this brand-new prequel as the authors build upon prior knowledge of upcoming tragedies and prominent characters, focusing little on introducing them but rather dissecting established bonds. In this story, fans will be able to witness firsthand how Leto Atreides operates and note down the very qualities that make him an ideal role model for the little Paul in the future. On top of better understanding his appreciation of loyalty, honour, and authority, this book exposes his interaction with his concubine Jessica and son Paul, further establishing the type of relationship that they value and maintain. The former isn’t portrayed as insignificant as readers watch her walk a fine line between respecting the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood and secretly embracing her love for Leto. The latter isn’t yet the legendary man he will turn out to be but a boy coming to terms with his faith in becoming a duke like his father. Fans will inevitably have some kick out of reacquainting themselves with these characters as it serves as a great refresher for a movie to come but won’t find the authenticity that was originally brought up by Frank Herbert.

Unfortunately, it’s the run-of-the-mill narrative that makes this a bit tedious. Set a year before the decisive events in Dune, the story explores a myriad of subplots while setting up the antagonists of this trilogy. Among many others, love is a recurring theme, explored first through Jessica’s character and her role as a concubine and responsibilities as a Bene Gesserit, and second through Paul’s predicament of a marriage alliance to establish House Atreides in a powerful political position for the future. While nothing’s wrong in infusing the narrative with a bit of emotional conflict, these sequences never really grab the reader’s attention. Often times, these authors foreshadow crucial events in Dune rather than build an organic and self-created life event. The story also tends to skip around between multiple narrative threads to focus on different schemes at play, highlighting the ongoing and eventual problems that the noble family of House Atreides has to deal with as they prepare for their mission on the desert planet Arrakis. This forces the story to play on with the objective that readers are to accept their realization rather than embrace these moments and connect with characters and events.

Dune: The Duke of Caladan is a nostalgic trip revisiting House Atreides as they rise to power before the events in Dune.

Thank you to Raincoast Books for sending me a digital copy for review!

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Anchorpete · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can watch a video of my review right here:

https://youtu.be/Uo95uc08qZs

Through the original six Dune books, Frank Herbert created a universe, a Duniverse, for us all to live in. Herbert died in 1986, but his son, Brian, would join forces with prolific Science Fiction writer Kevin J Anderson to bring us all back to the world Frank Herbert created.

I have read almost every one of the Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson Dune books, and enjoyed them thoroughly, earning both authors a spot on my Top Ten list of favorite authors.

When I learned that I would be able to read their newest Dune Adventure, The Duke of Caladan, I was super excited. Taking place just a year prior to the events of the first Dune book, The Duke of Caladan sets itself up to be a perfect primer to the recently pushed back Denis Villeneuve Dune Adaptation.

Reading through the first few chapters of the book was like coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas break. All of the locations that I spent decades of my life exploring, Arrakis, Caladan, Kaitan were all there waiting for me. Baron Harkonnen was alive and floating over his territory in Arrakis. My favorite character in the series, Duke Leto, was nearing his tragic destiny, but there is now a new adventure for him and his son Paul to go on before the events of the original Dune.

It is a strong dose of Melange tinted nostalgia, (or Maybe it is the Caladan Drug) that brings me close to the point of overdose. If Anderson and Herbert hadn’t been the ones serving as the stewards of the Dune Franchise, this could be a JJ Abrams Star Trek/ Star Wars nostalgia cash grab. They aren’t just making a point to give page space to the Bene Gesserit or give Gurney Halleck a chance to play his Baliset. They know these characters through and through, This is their universe, and it has been for over two decades.

Throughout The Duke of Caladan are chapters featuring your classic Dune characters - Paul, Jessica, Helen Mohiam, Baron Harkonnen, Shaddam IV, Count Fenring, and dozens more. Herbert and Anderson have spent over two decades fleshing out the details of each of these character’s stories, reaching back to a time when Shadam was yet to become the Emperor and Leto was just a boy.

The history of twenty years worth of novels from Herbert and Anderson is built upon in this book. Conflicts that we would have never known existed by reading the original Frank Herbert books are referenced in The Duke of Caladan. Leto’s entire life is close to being chronicled at this point, and in The Duke of Caladan we learn even more of what Paul’s life was like before becoming Maud’ Dib.

There are new characters featured in The Duke of Caladan, or characters that we have heard of, but were not featured prominently in prior books. There is the arrogant Jaxson Aru, the son of Malina Aru, the Head of CHOAM. Jaxson’s actions are the catalyst for the entire novel, kick starting the various plotlines that run throughout the book.
Shadam’s wife, Empress Aricatha, plays a major part in the book. She is very different from Shadam’s previous wives and there is much more to Aricatha than what she lets the Emperor see.
There is far more to Sardukar Chamberlain Ridando, as well. As we follow his story we learn of the connections between his past and Leto’s.

Since the novel is entitled The Duke of Caladan, Duke Leto is front and center. He has multiple antagonists to face throughout the book, including an evil that has infiltrated his beloved Caladan, and an external enemy that puts into question Leto’s commitment to the Landsraad.

Anderson and Herbert were wise to give Leto these two threats. It highlights the difficult decisions he has had to face as Duke, and moves him beyond the age old Conflict between the Harkonnens and the Atreides, which has defined his character for so many books.

I have been a fan of Dune for most of my life, and I have enjoyed Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson’s take on Frank Herbert’s characters and lore. If you love their version of Dune as much as I do, then you will enjoy The Duke of Caladan.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was under the impression this book was a standalone prequel to "Dune" but oops, it's Book One of a trilogy. My bad for not realizing that important distinction when looking for the wrap-up bridge to "Dune". It's a good story about the pre-Arrakis life on Caladan with 14 year old Paul, Leto, Jessica, Thurfur, Duncan Idaho and Gurney. Like the United States is to the wider world, Caladan is not immune from the issues and problems of the Imperium Universe ruled by corrupt Emperor Shaddam. The politics are interesting and the action is good. We learn more about the characters in the story and their motivations which is both illuminating and entertaining. I confess to being disappointed I'd have two more books to read in this trilogy before rereading 'Dune" for the third time in 30 years!

[M. E. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who could like this but die hard fans?

I have read all the Dune books. It is my favorite series, both new and old, with the exception of Ender. I think these authors work best away from the main characters. This book adds nothing to the series and seems to jump around from character to character way too much and with little value to the plot. I question if they wrote this while awake! All the little things that make the original series are missing except for the dialigue and the politics. It is like the characters are zombies with no direction to move!

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first reaction to this book was "Uh oh...Herbert & Anderson are trying to do a Lucas on the Dune universe"...but I shouldn't have worried so much. As far as prequels go, this is a fascinating look at the time of the Imperium, before the events of the original "Dune" novel. Having read all 6 original novels, with each one becoming progressively more bonkers, this feels like a refreshing reward back to a more straightforward age. It features a beautiful amount of world building, and finally gives Duke Leto a chance to shine on his own.

[Uzma Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello??? I’m quite literally obsessed. This is my first time reading the books outside of the original Herbert saga by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, and I’m addicted. I ordered the prelude trilogy to Dune immediately after finishing this because I needed more.

This book was definitely on par with the original saga. Intertwined with multiple complex stories and familiar characters, I honestly felt at home!! I was really missing Duke Leto, Gurney Halleck, and Paul, and this book rekindled my love for them. I’m honestly so glad I got to spend more time with them. Besides just being able to get new content with these beloved characters, Herbert and Anderson constructed a wonderful, gripping, action-packed novel that really pulls you in.

This book takes place one year before the events of the first Dune book, and we mainly explore Duke Leto of Caladan’s struggles with his political role. One thing we knew about him from the saga is that he prioritizes his people over all else, and he aims to protect them honorably. That quality is manifested so brilliantly throughout this book. We really got a lot of insight into why he acts the way he does, and since Duke Leto is one of my favorite characters, I was just happy I got to see a little more of him. Additionally, there are many other subplots characteristic to Frank Herbert’s Dune involving the Bene Gesserit, Emperor Shaddam IV, and the Fenring family that adds a lot more to the economics of melange on Arrakis. I thought it was wonderfully written and just a real pleasure to read. I adored it, and I can’t wait for the second book in this new trilogy to come out in September!!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read all of the Dune books so when I saw a new one I was excited but this book was very disappointing. Writing a prequel 1 year before the original Dune takes all the drama and peril out of any plot the authors could write. I know in detail what happens to all of these characters, their ancestors and their descendants so I am not worried about any near death brushes any of these characters have. The book is full of red shirts. I found it disappointing. There was not much new here and I found the foreshadowing laughable because how can it be foreshadowing if there have already been 10 sequels to this time period already written? There was a way to write this and keep the Dune universe alive but I think picking the setting as a year before the original Dune was a poor choice. They also spent so much time introducing characters that fans are already familiar with that there was very little character development. If this is supposed to be a Dune universe for beginners Encyclopedia book, then it should be marketed that way with subheadings. As a novel, it's very disjointed. I love these writers, along with Frank Herbert but this one did not intrigue me as all of the other novels have.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of the expanded Duniverse which was started of course by the original 6 novels by Frank Herbert with a first trilogy and then a bridge onto the second trilogy of which Frank completed 2/3's leaving us with a major cliffhanger.
According to Brian & Kevin they created this extended Duniverse was working up to the idea of Dune 7, which became two novels anyhow. The Duniverse consists actually out of a few trilogies and a few standalone books which were meant to fill in space between Franks Dune novels.
This book is advertised as a story about the Duke of Caladan who deserves more attention being Pauls father in Dune. Which is somehow funny as we learned a lot about Leto in the House of trilogy, which certainly was quite a good story as it turned out.
So far I've annoyed the so-called Dune-Purists as I have not yet chosen to tell that only the original books are real and the rest are fake-books.

Duke of Caladan is set before Dune happens, apperently pretty close to what happened in Franks first novel. The Duke is invited with the whole Landsraad and royalty to a planet that has been turned into a museum about the Imperial Corrino family. The opposition of the Imerpial empire takes a shot of wiping out the whole kaboodle. Having failed killing everybody of even the Emperor the consequences of that does not fail to be expensive for the universe.
This tells the story about the Bene Gesserit who are not sure what to do with their breeding program and are afraid of their breeding mistress.
CHOAM the economic backbone of the Empire has it plans and these get a setback because of the attack on the Emperor, what will they do to survive and adapt.
Duke Leto finds himself involved into the affairs of a lethal drugs that is being manufactured on Caladan and want the Duke to back of. Which he will certainly not do.
Lady Jessica gets caugth in the politics between the various houses but mostly the importance of her and her sons position. And then there are the Bene Gesserit.
Baron Harkonnen the ruler of Arrakis who feels the expensive booth of his emperor and is almost certainly going to do something about it.

Many characters from the Frank Dune novel are here, I expect that when the three books are finished we see the road to Dune for House Atreides.

This book is a fun read if one is immersed already in in the Duniverse, as a newby it does tell a tale at a pace that can easily be followed, but lacks the fun knowing the original books. So my advise remains read them first and then still wanting to know more than read the rest and leave Hunter and Sandworms of Dune (Dune 7) for last or if you feel that live has lost it meaning for you.

This one actually quite brilliant and now I have to wait two more years for it to finish, the next one is called Lady jessica of Caladan expected on the 21st of September on 2021.

[Tony Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This... is a difficult book to rate and review. Dune and Dune Messiah are my two favorite novels of all-time. Subsequent books in the original series have diminishing returns in my opinion, as the elder Herbert got lost in the miasma of his philosophical musings at the expense of good storytelling. But nothing can touch those first two incredible novels.

The "McDune" novels, written by Herbert's son and sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson, are routinely bashed by hardcore Dune fans as nothing but unnecessary cash grabs, but they must be selling well because they've published upwards of a dozen of them and counting to date. I've read a couple of them, and in my experience they're just that. The writing is fine; i.e. the dialog and descriptions. All above-board stuff. But the storytelling is lacking. There's little that's compelling and absolutely nothing is added to the Dune lore and mythology that's of any worth.

So that brings us to The Duke of Caladan. You'd think I would've learned my lesson, but a re-watch of the trailer for the upcoming film adaptation of the original novel lit a fire, and having read the original novel multiple times, I decided I to give McDune another go. *sigh*.

Like the other McDune novels I've read, this is a competently written book, but the story and storytelling are utterly lacking. None of the elder Herbert's big ideas are here. This is pure space opera, and dull space opera at that.

So how do you rate a novel that is, for all intents and purposes, solid enough on the margins but lacking even a shred of value or even basic entertainment? Two stars seems fair. Hardcore fans are likely to be turned off by the absence of depth, casual fans might find some amusement in the familiar and the fan service but ultimately dismiss the whole affair with a shrug of indifference and newbies are likely to zone out before page 50.

[Mark N. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I own all 18 Dune books, so by law I was obligated to read number 19. I enjoyed the original 6, and the 3 preludes. Not a fan of the 3 legends, and I haven’t gotten around to the most recent 6.

Problem #1: Duke Leto and Paul play “Caladan Vice” to hunt down space drug dealers. Nope not spice, Caladan weed, that’s the book. Well, it would be the book . . . except .. .

Problem #2: My book pet peeve, it’s not a whole book. It ends on a GD cliffhanger. And what little was in the book was super repetitive.

I’m in the process of culling my library for when I move/retire, and it looks like I’m outtie on this series (going to have to read the schools/heroes/chronicles series to see if they make the cut).

Anybody want my 3 prelude books?

[Nickolai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Этот роман мне понравился значительно меньше, чем другие прочитанные книги из вселенной Дюны. Какое-то всё надуманное и поверхностное. Персонажи не убедительны, особенно Джессика. Похоже, авторы начинают исписываться и просто зарабатывают деньги на раскрученной теме.

[Lewis Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

As spoiler-free as I can make it. I don't think anything will be spoiled in this review but I do talk about what I thought of the book and that requires a little bit of detail.

Duke of Caladan takes place in the year before the Atreides travel to Arrakis to take over spice production. The first book in the new trilogy picks up where the Prelude to Dune trilogy ends. You definitely don't need to read the prelude books (the house books) but it fits together with this one nicely.

Anytime I can get back into the Duniverse, I am a happy camper. This book sucked me right back there. The worst thing I can say is that it will feel like forever before I can read the next book.

I won't regurgitate the description but I will summarize it from my point of view. The book is about coming of age as Paul kind of discovers who he is, what he is capable of, what his duties are, and to a degree, what he wants from life. With Paul, Leto, and Lady Jessica it is also about integrity and honor and making the best choice when the right choice is not obvious. Loyalty and fidelity can't help but make an appearance when talking about the Atreides.

The cast you are expecting is there in various capacities. We see quite a bit of Gurney, a bit of Thufir, and not enough Duncan (although he does have a part to play). The Baron, the emperor, and Mohaim have roles to play too.

There is a new enemy. I won't spoil anything there but it is an interesting topic and takes us to places on Caladan we haven't seen before. We get some new lore and cultural details. I enjoyed the exposure to more Caladanian flora and fauna.

This is a page-turner and I burned through it. It is not a difficult read. If you liked Prelude to Dune, you will like this new trilogy. I'd say it is on par with those books. The Legends of Dune (the earliest books dealing with Omnius and the Buterlian Jihad) is my favorite set of books in the expanded Duniverse but if the second and third books in this trilogy keep pace with the first one, they will be worthy of a spot in my bookcase.

If I had to pick a nit, I can really only find one and it did not impact my enjoyment. The book ends with most conflicts unresolved. I expect the next book to pick up minutes after the first ends. That's not an issue for me as I plan to read the next two. I like that, in the end, it will be a massive related read. But I know some people are turned off by that. If you want all the conflicts resolved before you buy, wait for the trilogy to be complete.

I recommend that all dune fans add this to their library.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off I want to say I love this series as a whole. But this new start of a trilogy I feel is very unnecessary. This did answer some questions related to the first Dune book, but it felt like mostly fluff. Honestly, with the arrival of the Dune film, I feel like this was a way for the authors to cash in on that release. I really do not think Frank Herbert would have made his series be that big of a series. This will be the final book I read from here on.

[Martin Vacek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant extension of existing universe. Was a bit concerned by the fact they wanted to squeeze in another story between original novel and the "Houses prequels" books. It fits and expands the story why Jessica is a suspect in the eyes of Tufir Hawat. It is not as deep as the Schools, Jihad or Houses prequel, yet I do not regret reading it. For fans that are ok with the expanded universe, I definitely recommend it.

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

By a show of hands, who here has ever been personally victimized by Gaius Helen Mohiam?

[Bill Pentland · Rating 5 out of 5]

In building on Frank Herbert's Dune Universe, his son Brian has done so by writing books in groups of 3. The Duke of Caladan is the first of the trilogy that takes place just before the events of Dune. The Duke of Caladan is followed by The Lady of Caladan and The Heir of Caladan, both of which I expect to get this week.
This book focused on specific problems Leto faces on his planet of Caladan. This problem is a contemporary problem we face, too - drugs. A certain group on Caladan uses a local plant to enhance their religious experience, totally innocent. However, an off planet group who Leto has had mega problems with, the Tleilaxu, have infiltrated Caladan with a drug running/production operation, using genetically enhanced plants that are highly addictive and often fatal. When many of Leto's people have been killed with the drug, he takes charge and leads efforts to wipe out this scourge on his planet. Of course, it's not that easy and we find that the drug operation has connections that lead to one of the most wanted criminals in the universe.
So, another page turner. The Duke and his young son Paul, face many problems. The Bene Geserit are manipulating Paul's mother, Jessica, causing a rift between Leto and Jessica, adding to the 14 year old's worries. I look forward to finding out more.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not as rich in wisdom as the writing of Frank Herbert, the action and intrigue more than make up for what might be absent. It took a little warming up to and then I became hooked.

In Dune, we hardly got to know Leto, Duke of Caladan, so it's nice to have some backstory leading up to the events of the novel that started it all.

This is an easy-to-read Dune story and I look forward to experiencing the other two books in the trilogy.

Favorite Passages:

When do dreams become reality, and when does reality slip into dreams?
_______

The Emperor sighed. "Speak to me, Mentat, and be efficient with your words. My time is valuable."
"A Mentat is always efficient with words," Dardik retorted. "My time is valuable as well."
_______

When you listen to the voices of power, do not heed only the loudest. Those that whisper may yield greater knowledge.
_______

Some people want to know the future so they can prepare for it. But I prefer not to know. I would rather prepare myself for eventualities and move forward with the confidence that I am strong and ready to face whatever may come.
_______

The difference between delirium and insight is only a matter of perspective.
_______

There is joy in discovery, an intellectual euphoria that comes from grasping a complex concept or uncovering a thing previously unknown. But some discoveries bring with them a burden and a curse. Be careful what you seek.
_______

Freedom of choice implies that one is willing to make a given choice. But what if every option is disastrous? Is it better to make no choice at all, or to choose and then face the consequences, whatever they may be?
_______

"I want you to consider impossible choices, young Master. That is today's lesson."
_______

No matter how compelling the argument, an evil justification is still evil.
_______

Historically, great progress comes about through bold visions. Only weak leaders make decisions upon the phrase "Thus it has always been done."
_______

"We see safe paths through space," said the surreal inhuman voice, "as well as safe paths into the future . . . and this is very dangerous terrain."
_______

Risks are managed through careful training and observation. And yet the trickster universe presents us with an unavoidable fact - life itself poses a risk that will one day become fatal. For everyone. No one survives forever.
_______

In its most logical form, all life can be viewed as a decision chart of positive and negative influences, as we attempt to reach an optimal determination. But not all decisions are logical, and it is on that path that trouble often lies.
_______

The person who appears to be stark raving mad, especially a Reverend Mother with an ocean of Other Memories churning inside her head, might be much more than what she seems. Rather, she could have a sharper grasp on sanity, because she sees things no one else can see.
_______

This sort of damage, once done, cannot be undone. I can only hope for forgiveness.
_______

For a strong person, defeat is merely a matter of perspective. What some would consider a setback, others view as inspiration. Thus, I have been "inspired" many times.
_______

Supreme, death-defying challenges are never merely physical. They are mental as well, and the more severe the challenge, the more thought processes are required to overcome the obstacle and survive.

There are casualties beyond number on the battlefields of the human heart.
_______

A life spent taking no chances was not a life. Paul wanted experiences, to know the joy and the danger. He didn't want to sit back and listen to others describe exhilarating experiences and not seek them out himself.

[Steph]

This book was so exciting because I got more of what, or should I say WHO, I love: the one and only, Lady Jessica.

I was pleasantly surprised to spend so much time with ALL the main characters. I thought we’d be mainly with Leto.

I love Duncan, Gurney, and Thufir more than I did before.
I hate Fenring, Shaddam, and the Baron more than I did before.

I found myself worried for the fate of my favorite characters when I literally know all of their fates already! It’s a testament to Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s writing.

I wanna live in prequel-land forever.

[Niel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reads like a rush job for YA. Terrible book with little redeeming value. Cut out characters and dialog out of 1950's B movie.

[Glen McNamee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like a lot of the Dune prequels it's long but barely anything interesting happens.

[Bravebook · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Książę Kaladanu" to powieść zdominowana przez politykę i rozterki głównych bohaterów, które również o politykę się ocierają. Zagrywki polityczne bywają wyrachowane i bezwzględne, a tkane intrygi są wciągające. Akcja jest przez to mało dynamiczna, ale i tak potrafi dostarczyć emocji. Mamy tutaj mnóstwo różnych powiązań, skutków pewnych decyzji, działań poszczególnych bohaterów, które mają na siebie wzajemny wpływ. Wiele osób obawia się sci-fi przez wzgląd na dużo terminów związanych z technologią i niezrozumiałymi opisami, jednak w przypadku tej książki nie ma się czego bać. Elementy sci-fi są bardzo delikatne i w dobrym guście, więc moim zdaniem jest to książka dla tych, którzy trochę boją się tego gatunku, bo tutaj mogą zostać w niego gładko wprowadzeni.

Książę Kaladanu - Leto Atryda, to bohater, którego łatwo polubić, jest szlachetny i bardzo dba o swoich poddanych oraz bliskich. Nie jest zbyt ambitny, stara się być ugodowy i żyje sobie bezpiecznie na swoim Kaladanie. Pozostałe postaci również można szybko polubić, a ich kreacje są bardzo dobre. Przede wszystkim czuć, że bohaterowie są po prostu ludzcy. Mają swoją głębię, wady i zalety, przeżywają różne rozterki, popełniają błędy, jedni pożądają władzy, a inni czegoś zupełnie innego. Ja wczułam się w przeżycia postaci z tej powieści i sprawiły one na mnie wrażenie wiarygodnych ludzi.

Podczas lektury "Księcia Kaladanu" śledzimy losy kilku postaci i tych głównych możemy poznać całkiem dobrze. Realia uczciwego władcy planety, członkini zgromadzenia Bene Gesserit, prawej ręki Imperatora, przywódczyni dużej organizacji, nie do końca prawowitego dziedzica planety czy władcy, który chce trochę zarobić na boku zostały bardzo dobrze nakreślone. Czytelnik może poznać konkretne role, przywileje i obowiązki z nimi związane, a dzięki temu wszystkiemu lepiej się wczuć w uniwersum Diuny. Nie wszystko zostało napisane wprost, wiele informacji można wyciągnąć po prostu z opisywanych sytuacji czy wydarzeń, a to jest najlepszy sposób na poznanie danych postaci czy wykreowanego świata.

Styl autorów bardzo mi się spodobał, jest piękny i cały czas czułam, że stoi po prostu na wysokim poziomie. Sposób opisywania różnych spraw czy sytuacji nadawał powieści poważniejszego charakteru, wyrafinowania. Nie jest to lekki i prosty styl wyjęty z jakiejś młodzieżówki. Jest naprawdę bardzo dobry i dzięki temu książkę czytało mi się wyśmienicie.

Osoba, która od "Księcia Kaladanu" chciałaby zacząć przygodę z tym uniwersum myślę, że może to zrobić i bez problemu zrozumie fabułę, a pewne sprawy, jak specyfika Arrakis czy pozyskiwania przyprawy po prostu nadrobi podczas lektury Diuny. Ale jeśli ktoś już czytał "Diunę" to będzie mógł pełniej doświadczyć uniwersum i światów występujących w tej książce.

"Książę Kaladanu" to powieść, którą przeczytałam z prawdziwą przyjemnością. Jej tempo akcji nie jest dynamiczne, bowiem fabuła poświęcona jest polityce. Jednak przepiękny styl (trzeba to podkreślić, bo dla mnie była to literacka uczta), kreacje bohaterów z głębią, przedstawienie różnych i ciekawych perspektyw w tym interesującym uniwersum sprawiło, że całość była dla mnie wyjątkową i miłą lekturą.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all its glory and the way it changed science fiction, I feel like most fans of Frank Herbert’s titular Dune would have to admit that many things are never truly explained, and despite Herbert’s phenomenal talent at explaining a future society addicted to a hallucinogenic drug 10,000 plus years in the future, the explanation of everything was left nebulous and up to the reader to creatively interpret.

Leave it to Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to make their own attempts to describe the vast fictional universe that Frank had originally conceived. With 14 previous novels, the duo did an amazing job of injecting depth and detail into a world just as exciting as that of Star Wars or Star Trek. And regardless of anyone’s thoughts and feelings about the lack of “originality” or the way Brian apparently “desecrated” his fathers legacy, the “mcDune” books (as they are so derogatorily nicknamed by “Dune” “purists”) do continue to be solid entries into this series.

The Duke of Caladan is no different in this respect. Set only a year or so before the events of Dune, we are thrust right into the thick of political turmoil, as well as upheaval in the universe as Duke Leto juggles his loyalties to the Emperor and contemplates the obvious corruption of power, while maintaining peace on his his own planet. Meanwhile CHOAM works behind the scenes to acquire more Spice under Emperor Shaddam’s nose and a civil war is brewing as various planets and powerful families vie for important roles in the Landsrad. With all these events are in place, things are leading up the eventual placement of Leto and the rest of the Atreides family on Arrakis.

Feeling like a mashup of Game of Thrones, Star Wars and even Warhammer 40,000, Duke of Caladan is another decent book in the continuation of the Dune saga. I would wager this particular entry into the new “Caladan” trilogy isn’t necessarily “required” reading to understand the universe or events that happened in Dune since most of the characters in this one make multiple appearances in later novels) nor is it as important as the “Butlerian Jihad” trilogy, however this is an entertaining book that gives even more depth and intriguing plot to a science fiction classic that became the basis for almost everything that came after it… and honestly, who can complain about that?

[Jacek · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10
Nieodzownie świat Diuny mnie przyciąga i fascynuje, pomimo faktu, że nie są to lekkie książki, szczególnie oryginalna saga Franka Herberta.
To moje pierwsze spotkanie z serią pisaną przez jego syna. Ponoć czasem trafia, czasem nie, natomiast 1 tom prequela dziejącego się przed pierwszą Diuną czyta się bardzo dobrze, a rozpoczęte wątki zapowiadają dalsze ciekawe wydarzenia. Spotkamy tu wiele postaci z oryginału, łącznie z Paulem. Polecam

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first responsibility of a sequel is the safety of its source material.

[Kyle Carroll (i_fucking_love_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duke of Caladan, aka Leto Atreides, father of Paul "Maud'dib" Atreides. This is the story of the events preceding the classic sci-fi novel Dune. The novel delves deeper into the back story surrounding Paul and Leto, Count Fenring, Emperor Shaddam IV, Baron Harkonnen, Duncan Idaho, Gurney Halleck, and many others as they vie for power and survival in the Imperium! (Although I will admit at some points it felt like forced name-dropping to appeal to the die-hard Dune fans.) It also sets up the events which will lead to the Harkonnen's losing control over Dune and the Atreides being forced to move to Arrakis, the most powerful production planet in the Imperium.

The book is full of political intrigue and interesting subplots that all tied together leading up to the final act, and I was honestly surprised by how glued to the pages I was. I finished this in two sittings, which is rare for me. This is perfect for anyone going into the movie without knowing a thing about Dune. And for those who already are familiar with the original novels, it is definitely worthwhile to read as well. However, don't go into this expecting deep philosophical musing and intricately weaved feints within feints like in the original Frank Herbert novels. I'd liken these books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to the Star Wars Expanded Universe. There are many books, and they tend to be hit or miss, but this one is a slam dunk for me. It is quite honestly the best Dune "Expanded Universe" novel I've read to date. The ending was rather abrupt for my liking, however it was satisfying, and I cannot wait for the remainder of the trilogy!



Disclaimer: I was given an advanced copy of the ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.