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Heroes of Dune #2
The Winds of Dune
With their usual skill, Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have taken ideas left behind by Frank Herbert and filled them with living characters and a true sense of wonder. Where Paul of Dune picked up the saga directly after the events of Dune, The Winds of Dune begins after the events of Dune Messiah.
Paul has walked off into the sand, blind, and is presumed dead. Jessica and Gurney are on Caladan; Alia is trying to hold the Imperial government together with Duncan; Mohiam dead at the hands of Stilgar; Irulan imprisoned. Paul's former friend, Bronso of Ix, now seems to be leading opposition to the House of Atreides. Herbert and Anderson's newest book in this landmark series will concentrate on these characters as well the growing battle between Jessica, and her daughter, Alia.
Paul has walked off into the sand, blind, and is presumed dead. Jessica and Gurney are on Caladan; Alia is trying to hold the Imperial government together with Duncan; Mohiam dead at the hands of Stilgar; Irulan imprisoned. Paul's former friend, Bronso of Ix, now seems to be leading opposition to the House of Atreides. Herbert and Anderson's newest book in this landmark series will concentrate on these characters as well the growing battle between Jessica, and her daughter, Alia.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2009
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7769 people want to read
About the author
Brian Herbert
239 books2,141 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
January 20, 2021
No matter how competently a novel can be written, and this is absolutely a COMPETENT novel, it must still fit in the full chronology of the original series.
Yes, this is a very special case. Yes, this slips in between the 2nd and 3rd novels of Frank Herbert's Dune series. Yes, it attempts to slide around in that delicate area of Paul's EMPIRE and Paul's full decline.
In THEORY, this might have been a fine novel. In THEORY, I might have even LOVED the ideas presented here, building the reasons for the full political nastiness in Children of Dune, the reversals, the tragedies.
But what we've got here is not only Dune-lite, but a larger embellishment of Bronso, the Ixian, which had no mention in the originals. Sure, we've got the continuation of the separation of Paul the man and Paul the legend, but that had already been happening naturally and even more impressively during God Emperor of Dune, with more tongue-in-cheek, better analysis, and better heartbreaking commentary. I loved Leto II. He may have been a monster, but he was a monster fulfilling his father's Terrible Purpose.
Bronso, on the other hand, is rather ... ahem... mild. Sure, we give Paul more credit for the effort he put into his own downfall, but that was pretty damn clear in the originals already. And Leto II knew it clearly, too, even as a kid.
The reveal, too, in Children of Dune, was a lot more powerful. Did we really want all the reveals before the novel unfurls?
Personally, I wouldn't recommend reading this novel in chronological order. Read it after the original series or as a curiosity AFTER God Emperor of Dune, perhaps, as a 20/20 hindsight thing while being fully aware that it is filler with just a few stop-gap plot fill-ins and an otherwise fine SF adventure that would have been perfect in an unrelated series.
Harsh?
Maybe. But as a fan of the originals, I must protect my own.
Yes, this is a very special case. Yes, this slips in between the 2nd and 3rd novels of Frank Herbert's Dune series. Yes, it attempts to slide around in that delicate area of Paul's EMPIRE and Paul's full decline.
In THEORY, this might have been a fine novel. In THEORY, I might have even LOVED the ideas presented here, building the reasons for the full political nastiness in Children of Dune, the reversals, the tragedies.
But what we've got here is not only Dune-lite, but a larger embellishment of Bronso, the Ixian, which had no mention in the originals. Sure, we've got the continuation of the separation of Paul the man and Paul the legend, but that had already been happening naturally and even more impressively during God Emperor of Dune, with more tongue-in-cheek, better analysis, and better heartbreaking commentary. I loved Leto II. He may have been a monster, but he was a monster fulfilling his father's Terrible Purpose.
Bronso, on the other hand, is rather ... ahem... mild. Sure, we give Paul more credit for the effort he put into his own downfall, but that was pretty damn clear in the originals already. And Leto II knew it clearly, too, even as a kid.
The reveal, too, in Children of Dune, was a lot more powerful. Did we really want all the reveals before the novel unfurls?
Personally, I wouldn't recommend reading this novel in chronological order. Read it after the original series or as a curiosity AFTER God Emperor of Dune, perhaps, as a 20/20 hindsight thing while being fully aware that it is filler with just a few stop-gap plot fill-ins and an otherwise fine SF adventure that would have been perfect in an unrelated series.
Harsh?
Maybe. But as a fan of the originals, I must protect my own.
May 20, 2016
I must not have a conscience. Conscience is the sales killer. Conscience is a minor detail, that brings forth needless complications.
I must not fear my conscience. I must jovialy piss on my father's grave. And when I finish my hack-writing job, only character derailment, soulless crap and disgrace to a once great book series will remain...
I must not fear my conscience. I must jovialy piss on my father's grave. And when I finish my hack-writing job, only character derailment, soulless crap and disgrace to a once great book series will remain...
May 26, 2020
Okay, I always strive to be generous in my ratings and reviews, not to be overly negative, and to always find something interesting to say about a particular book. We all know that reading is a crapshoot at the best of times, and that nothing is more dispiriting than choosing a dud.
Then comes the agonising decision of ‘should I’ or ‘shouldn’t I’ continue … Well, when it came to The Winds of Dune, I had no choice but to give this turkey only one star (which, according to the Goodreads rating system, means I ‘didn’t like it’, which is very polite).
A long time ago I read the concluding two volumes to the original Dune saga penned by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. I wasn’t impressed enough to read the new trilogies they developed, but did give Paul of Dune a whirl when it was published. That was so lacklustre I gave up on these books as a lost cause.
Then with all of the excitement about the first pictures from Denis Villeneuve’s two-part movie adaptation, Dune nostalgia kicked in and I decided to dust off the second volume in the Heroes trilogy. Surely it could not be as indifferent as Paul of Dune, I thought.
This is billed as an ostensible ‘plug the gap’ novel between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, which already raises a bit of a red flag. Whatever Herbert left out was surely omitted for sound authorial and editorial reasons. Of course, what one cannot change in plugging these so-called gaps is the accepted chronology of events. Well, one would have thought so.
Herbert and Anderson find a neat way around this conundrum by postulating that what we know of Paul from the original trilogy has been filtered through the propaganda of Irulan. This raises the possibility that the very facts of Paul’s life have been doctored to fit the prevailing narrative.
Hence a huge chunk of Winds of Dune is a back story about Paul’s teen years on Caladan, when he effectively ran away from home with his friend Bronso on a heighliner lark. Falling in with a troop of jongleurs, we are told that here is where Paul learnt the crowd-control techniques that came so handy in his personal jihad against the galaxy.
Okay, Herbert was quite clear in Dune that Paul had never left his home world until the family was ordered to Arrakis. In fact, it is this very innocence that underpins his remarkable transformation to Fremen leader and ultimately emperor of the known universe.
If he did have all sorts of youthful dalliances and adventures, surely this would have impacted his character development in quite a significant manner. Herbert and Anderson go so far as to postulate that the Bronso friendship is key to dismantling the Muad’dib mythos, and therefore he plays a major role in Winds of Dune.
This does mean, of course, that the writers have to clear the stage of any extraneous characters to make way for the events of Children of Dune, which does rob the narrative of some sense of urgency. By all means tell the story of Lady Jessica’s return to Arrakis in the wake of her son’s disappearance in the desert, and her subsequent interaction with Alia and the twins.
But then why use this as a mere bookend to delve into the very cracks of the Dune universe to pull sand trout out of a hat? It just seems so … unnecessary. I suppose one has modern fandom to blame, who are no longer satisfied with the mere text on a page or the movie on the screen, but who want to know everything that there is possible to know, let alone imagine.
Then comes the agonising decision of ‘should I’ or ‘shouldn’t I’ continue … Well, when it came to The Winds of Dune, I had no choice but to give this turkey only one star (which, according to the Goodreads rating system, means I ‘didn’t like it’, which is very polite).
A long time ago I read the concluding two volumes to the original Dune saga penned by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. I wasn’t impressed enough to read the new trilogies they developed, but did give Paul of Dune a whirl when it was published. That was so lacklustre I gave up on these books as a lost cause.
Then with all of the excitement about the first pictures from Denis Villeneuve’s two-part movie adaptation, Dune nostalgia kicked in and I decided to dust off the second volume in the Heroes trilogy. Surely it could not be as indifferent as Paul of Dune, I thought.
This is billed as an ostensible ‘plug the gap’ novel between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, which already raises a bit of a red flag. Whatever Herbert left out was surely omitted for sound authorial and editorial reasons. Of course, what one cannot change in plugging these so-called gaps is the accepted chronology of events. Well, one would have thought so.
Herbert and Anderson find a neat way around this conundrum by postulating that what we know of Paul from the original trilogy has been filtered through the propaganda of Irulan. This raises the possibility that the very facts of Paul’s life have been doctored to fit the prevailing narrative.
Hence a huge chunk of Winds of Dune is a back story about Paul’s teen years on Caladan, when he effectively ran away from home with his friend Bronso on a heighliner lark. Falling in with a troop of jongleurs, we are told that here is where Paul learnt the crowd-control techniques that came so handy in his personal jihad against the galaxy.
Okay, Herbert was quite clear in Dune that Paul had never left his home world until the family was ordered to Arrakis. In fact, it is this very innocence that underpins his remarkable transformation to Fremen leader and ultimately emperor of the known universe.
If he did have all sorts of youthful dalliances and adventures, surely this would have impacted his character development in quite a significant manner. Herbert and Anderson go so far as to postulate that the Bronso friendship is key to dismantling the Muad’dib mythos, and therefore he plays a major role in Winds of Dune.
This does mean, of course, that the writers have to clear the stage of any extraneous characters to make way for the events of Children of Dune, which does rob the narrative of some sense of urgency. By all means tell the story of Lady Jessica’s return to Arrakis in the wake of her son’s disappearance in the desert, and her subsequent interaction with Alia and the twins.
But then why use this as a mere bookend to delve into the very cracks of the Dune universe to pull sand trout out of a hat? It just seems so … unnecessary. I suppose one has modern fandom to blame, who are no longer satisfied with the mere text on a page or the movie on the screen, but who want to know everything that there is possible to know, let alone imagine.
July 30, 2024
The "Winds of Dune" was pretty good. It really focuses on Paul and his relationship with Bronso of Ix. This story is told in two different time frames that we jump back and forth between. In the first sequence, Paul is young and spends time getting in adventures with Bronso of Ix. They develop a deep friendship. The second sequence takes place immediately after the death of Paul and the start of Alia's regency. This shows the conflicts between Alia and the Lady Jessica, as well as the reasons why Paul wanted Bronso to counteract the myth of his godhood.
I enjoyed this book as it does fill in some of the blanks that occur in between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. A good addition to the lore.
I enjoyed this book as it does fill in some of the blanks that occur in between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. A good addition to the lore.
January 16, 2022
Alia and Duncan >>>>> everything else in this book.
August 8, 2025
In the expansive universe of Dune, The Winds of Dune offers a crucial bridge between the original series and the extended lore developed by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. This installment provides readers with a deeper understanding of the events that transpire after "Dune Messiah," making it an essential read for anyone invested in the intricate dynamics of the Dune saga. As always, I suggest new Dune readers start with The Butlerian Jihad to fully appreciate the prequels and grasp the comprehensive history of the Dune universe. Starting there you are able to understand much better the deeper lore of the Dune Universe.
The Winds of Dune thrusts readers into a period of political upheaval and personal turmoil. The narrative focuses on Lady Jessica and Gurney Halleck as they navigate the complex aftermath of Paul Atreides' disappearance. The authors weave a multifaceted story filled with political intrigue, personal reflections, and the ever-present tension of a universe in flux.
At the heart of The Winds of Dune lies the exploration of loyalty, leadership, and the burdens of power. The book raises thought-provoking questions about the legacy of Paul Atreides, the challenges of maintaining power, and the personal sacrifices required to uphold a dynasty. Through the lens of Jessica's and Gurney’s experiences, the story delves into themes of duty, resilience, and the enduring impact of Paul's reign on his followers and the broader universe.
The characters’ arcs are marked by introspection and growth. Lady Jessica's internal struggle with her son’s legacy and her role within the Imperium adds depth to her character, making her journey both compelling and relatable. Gurney Halleck’s loyalty and dedication are tested as he grapples with the shifting political landscape and his memories of Paul. These personal stories are interwoven with the larger narrative, ensuring that the characters' experiences resonate long after the final page is turned.
The Winds of Dune is a thought-provoking and enriching addition to the Dune saga, offering readers a deeper understanding of the events that shape the series. With its compelling characters, intricate plotting, and richly imagined world, this book continues to expand the epic narrative of the Dune universe. It also further deepens the understanding of what a Kwisatz Haderach must endure. While not a focus it will also help latter with understanding of Leto in the God Emperor of Dune.
The Winds of Dune thrusts readers into a period of political upheaval and personal turmoil. The narrative focuses on Lady Jessica and Gurney Halleck as they navigate the complex aftermath of Paul Atreides' disappearance. The authors weave a multifaceted story filled with political intrigue, personal reflections, and the ever-present tension of a universe in flux.
At the heart of The Winds of Dune lies the exploration of loyalty, leadership, and the burdens of power. The book raises thought-provoking questions about the legacy of Paul Atreides, the challenges of maintaining power, and the personal sacrifices required to uphold a dynasty. Through the lens of Jessica's and Gurney’s experiences, the story delves into themes of duty, resilience, and the enduring impact of Paul's reign on his followers and the broader universe.
The characters’ arcs are marked by introspection and growth. Lady Jessica's internal struggle with her son’s legacy and her role within the Imperium adds depth to her character, making her journey both compelling and relatable. Gurney Halleck’s loyalty and dedication are tested as he grapples with the shifting political landscape and his memories of Paul. These personal stories are interwoven with the larger narrative, ensuring that the characters' experiences resonate long after the final page is turned.
The Winds of Dune is a thought-provoking and enriching addition to the Dune saga, offering readers a deeper understanding of the events that shape the series. With its compelling characters, intricate plotting, and richly imagined world, this book continues to expand the epic narrative of the Dune universe. It also further deepens the understanding of what a Kwisatz Haderach must endure. While not a focus it will also help latter with understanding of Leto in the God Emperor of Dune.
February 9, 2025
*****3.5*****
I picked this book up at the used bookstore because it's Dune, and it features Lady Jessica, one of my favorite characters. I knew it wouldn't be the same as anything Frank Herbert wrote, but I've been reading the Dune comics, written by the same duo, and I enjoy them, so I figured this would be entertaining and fun if nothing else.
There is some level of philosophy in this book though not to the complex and mystifying level of Frank Herbert's philosophy. The book is mostly entertaining, especially as it brings back old characters and fills in gaps in storylines. I enjoyed reading about Paul's time with the Jongleurs and with Bronso of Ix, and I enjoyed reading more about Jessica, Alia, Gurney, and Duncan. Overall, the book is satisfying. It's well-written for the most part, and I like the flashbacks and short chapters. The quotes from various publications in the Imperium before each chapter are memorable, and I have pages dog-eared. I don't feel compelled necessarily to read the other books in this specific trilogy though I would read them if I came across them. I have a copy of House Atreides, though, and I will definitely be reading that as I enjoyed the House Atreides comics series.
Overall, I got something out of this book, and it was fun to revisit the Duniverse. I only recommend it if you've read at the least the first two books of the main series, though. Otherwise, you'll likely be lost with the contents. You don't have to read the whole original series to understand this book's plot.
I picked this book up at the used bookstore because it's Dune, and it features Lady Jessica, one of my favorite characters. I knew it wouldn't be the same as anything Frank Herbert wrote, but I've been reading the Dune comics, written by the same duo, and I enjoy them, so I figured this would be entertaining and fun if nothing else.
There is some level of philosophy in this book though not to the complex and mystifying level of Frank Herbert's philosophy. The book is mostly entertaining, especially as it brings back old characters and fills in gaps in storylines. I enjoyed reading about Paul's time with the Jongleurs and with Bronso of Ix, and I enjoyed reading more about Jessica, Alia, Gurney, and Duncan. Overall, the book is satisfying. It's well-written for the most part, and I like the flashbacks and short chapters. The quotes from various publications in the Imperium before each chapter are memorable, and I have pages dog-eared. I don't feel compelled necessarily to read the other books in this specific trilogy though I would read them if I came across them. I have a copy of House Atreides, though, and I will definitely be reading that as I enjoyed the House Atreides comics series.
Overall, I got something out of this book, and it was fun to revisit the Duniverse. I only recommend it if you've read at the least the first two books of the main series, though. Otherwise, you'll likely be lost with the contents. You don't have to read the whole original series to understand this book's plot.
August 13, 2009
It was a good book. Originally titled Jessica of Dune, Jessica does play a major part in the story, which is fun. There is a lot of Gurney and Duncan and Alia as well. It felt comfortable and familiar, like a visit with old friends.
The most enjoyable part was watching how the authors wove this new story in between the previously existing tales. This book takes place after book 2 of the Dune saga and before book 3 begins. It adds layers to the characters, and their histories and motivations that read true. It felt like watching a circus act in a way, as the stories wove in and out of the previously established truths.
The bad part is the rather heavy handed writing. There are a lot of coincidences and characterizations that do not read true. The masses of people are repeatedly portrayed as plain stupid, buying "relics" by the billions that were supposedly owned by Paul. Bronso is the most wanted fugitive in the universe, yet late in the book he runs around without bothering to disguise his red hair, a very distinguishing feature. Most of all, Jessica travels to the Bene Gesserit home world and just happens to run into the last person they would allow her to have contact with, a person under huge amounts of security (as shown later in the book). Plus Gurney, who was hunted by the Harkonens, is now a hunter himself, which really felt off. I loved the mention of gaze hounds (similar to greyhounds or wolfhounds) and the love people can feel for their dogs, but that Gourney would enjoy personally running in a hunt for fun just doesn't ring true. There were just a lot of times in the book where it felt like the authors took easy ways to get to their desired plot points or used simplistic characterizations to make a point. It felt like they thought I was dumb enough to fall for their slight of hand tricks, and was a bit offensive.
Which is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book or wouldn't recommend it. If you like Dune and the new Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson entries in the series, you will like this. It was better than Paul of Dune and an enjoyable read.
In addition, I read an interesting quote from a website about the original Dune books and Frank Herbert's ideas: "Evolutionary priorities take precedence over man's desires for an ideal world." I thought this sums up a lot about the series and the dark turn it takes after Dune. From http://tim.oreilly.com/herbert/ch07.html
The most enjoyable part was watching how the authors wove this new story in between the previously existing tales. This book takes place after book 2 of the Dune saga and before book 3 begins. It adds layers to the characters, and their histories and motivations that read true. It felt like watching a circus act in a way, as the stories wove in and out of the previously established truths.
The bad part is the rather heavy handed writing. There are a lot of coincidences and characterizations that do not read true. The masses of people are repeatedly portrayed as plain stupid, buying "relics" by the billions that were supposedly owned by Paul. Bronso is the most wanted fugitive in the universe, yet late in the book he runs around without bothering to disguise his red hair, a very distinguishing feature. Most of all, Jessica travels to the Bene Gesserit home world and just happens to run into the last person they would allow her to have contact with, a person under huge amounts of security (as shown later in the book). Plus Gurney, who was hunted by the Harkonens, is now a hunter himself, which really felt off. I loved the mention of gaze hounds (similar to greyhounds or wolfhounds) and the love people can feel for their dogs, but that Gourney would enjoy personally running in a hunt for fun just doesn't ring true. There were just a lot of times in the book where it felt like the authors took easy ways to get to their desired plot points or used simplistic characterizations to make a point. It felt like they thought I was dumb enough to fall for their slight of hand tricks, and was a bit offensive.
Which is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book or wouldn't recommend it. If you like Dune and the new Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson entries in the series, you will like this. It was better than Paul of Dune and an enjoyable read.
In addition, I read an interesting quote from a website about the original Dune books and Frank Herbert's ideas: "Evolutionary priorities take precedence over man's desires for an ideal world." I thought this sums up a lot about the series and the dark turn it takes after Dune. From http://tim.oreilly.com/herbert/ch07.html
October 23, 2009
Centering on Lady Jessica, and through her, Paul Maud-Dib; it paints a deeper portrait than previously seen. I love the new additions to Dune. And The Winds of Dune is yet another excellent addition the the Duniverse I love with all my heart. With each interquel, I get a better understand of the main characters and what drives them. I will never get enough of Dune. I hope it continues forever, as long as it stays interesting.
Perfect closing line: In time, all things came back to Dune.
We can only hope....
February 21, 2016
could have done without this book, done to cash in for a few extra dollars!
August 4, 2009
The Dune universe is such a beloved item for fans, ever since the first novel Frank Herbert wrote there have been followers, all the way to the new series by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. For the last ten years Brian and Kevin have made an epic scope, from the Prelude series set before Dune to the Legends of Dune where they showed the Butlerian Jihad—the war against the machines, then after setting up the massive back story they tackled the sequel to Chapterhouse Dune, with two fantastic novels: Hunters and Sandworms, rounding out the climax of Frank’s original series. Now after all this time they are going back to fill in the years in between the novels Dune and now Dune Messiah. Last years Paul of Dune filled in the years between Dune and its sequel, Winds of Dune begins just after Dune Messiah.
The Winds of Dune is a return to the Dune that Frank Herbert made famous, set after the events of Dune Messiah it involves the rise of Paul Muad’dib’s sister Alia’s leadership, with Stilgar—the Fremen warrior at her side, as Paul's old friend Bronso of Ix comes to test them by trying to destroy the myth that Paul Muad’dib left behind on Arrakis and in his Empire.
Dune is best when it is political, filled with wonder and assassination attempts. This novel brings back that vibe; Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert have made a thrilling tale that will not only appeal to Dune fans but to fans of Sci-Fi in general.
The Winds of Dune is a return to the Dune that Frank Herbert made famous, set after the events of Dune Messiah it involves the rise of Paul Muad’dib’s sister Alia’s leadership, with Stilgar—the Fremen warrior at her side, as Paul's old friend Bronso of Ix comes to test them by trying to destroy the myth that Paul Muad’dib left behind on Arrakis and in his Empire.
Dune is best when it is political, filled with wonder and assassination attempts. This novel brings back that vibe; Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert have made a thrilling tale that will not only appeal to Dune fans but to fans of Sci-Fi in general.
September 13, 2010
This book was nowhere near the caliber of Mr. Herbert's father. All through the book there were hints of something to come, and when I got to the end of the book, I saw there was no purpose to those hints within the book (probably to be continued in the next book).
I didn't appreciate the way the authors included that bit of extra story leading up to nothing.
I could also tell this book didn't have the depth of story that Frank Herbert incorporated in his books.
Overall though, I thought it was a decent book to eat some boredom.
I didn't appreciate the way the authors included that bit of extra story leading up to nothing.
I could also tell this book didn't have the depth of story that Frank Herbert incorporated in his books.
Overall though, I thought it was a decent book to eat some boredom.
November 11, 2009
I almost feel guilty for reading this book. Sheesh. Same issues as the other Dune Junior books, repetitive in places, somewhat shallow and generally disappointing. It's as if I were introduced to the ocean, then shuffled off to the kiddie pool.
June 20, 2021
3 stars
Slow start, looking like it was going to be more of the same thing. But the pace picked up, there were some interesting intrigues. Though certain details didn’t seem right/logical to me.
Slow start, looking like it was going to be more of the same thing. But the pace picked up, there were some interesting intrigues. Though certain details didn’t seem right/logical to me.
December 25, 2024
And so, the book that fills the gap between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune is read. This finishes the latter stages of the Dune cycle of books, starting with Dune, ending with Sandworms of Dune. The Winds of Dune, with Paul already having walked off into the desert, deals with the Regency of his 16 year old sister, Alia of the Knife, and her involvement with the ghola of Duncan Idaho, and her relationship with her mother, Jessica. The story deals largely with Bronsis, the son of the late Rhombur of Ix, and his mysterious attempt to discredit Muad Dib and his Jihad, which has terrorized the Universe. Stilgar, Gurney Halleck, Shaddam IV, Hassam Fenring and his wife, Margot, and the Bene Geserit all are involved. Caladan, Arrakis, Salusa Secondus, and the nomadic Guild heighliners carrying the Wagyu and Jongleurs to numerous planets provide the backdrop for the action. Plans within plans within plans. Secrets hidden within secrets. Face Dancers everywhere.
Once again, I was captivated by the immensity of the story and the characters, some of which I will miss. I enjoyed Winds of Dune. Next up, Sisterhood of Dune, upon which the HBO series Dune; Prophecy is based, set some 10,000 years before Dune and Paul Atreides.
Once again, I was captivated by the immensity of the story and the characters, some of which I will miss. I enjoyed Winds of Dune. Next up, Sisterhood of Dune, upon which the HBO series Dune; Prophecy is based, set some 10,000 years before Dune and Paul Atreides.
October 30, 2017
I dislike this novel more than other McDune/BH & KJA/Dune Universe books. Mostly because of the blatant attempt to resurrect Paul's character. FH already gave the reasons that Paul and after him Leto II God Emporer would be such hortible tyrants. FH left it to the readers themselves to decide whether they felt the ends justified the means. This is just a messy attempt at emotional manipulation that ultimately fails. As so many of the attempts made by BH & KJA in the Dune Universe.
In addition this book paints Alia as a rabid fanatic. The original books have her warped by too much spice use and *spoiler removed*. Alia is one of my favorite characters and I do not like this revamp of her character.
I did like this glance at Paul's childhood and adventures with Bronso of IX. I also like the clever way they wrote Bronso of IX into the story. It worked well for me. Not Bronso himself who is a spoiled brat and emerges a decade later a selfless historian. Still I enjoyed the symmetry in their friendship. This story arc took multiple books and mini trilogies. Well played for their combined writing talent.
While I do not doubt that Paul, Leto II and Alia believed their tyranny was saving mankind from extinction, I do not believe or agree. On any level. First humans are incredibly difficult to wipe out as a species. We're adaptable and historically have adapted in ingenious ways. Also multiple planets also ensures that humanity will likely survive. Perhaps in a vastly scaled back manner.
Second tyranny and oppression can NEVER be justified, ever. Third if the only other choice is death as a species better to die out than prey on our own like cannibals. To suggest otherwise is to cosign such atrocities as genocide, chattel slavery and colonialism. Brutal violent acts that caused wide spread suffering, oppression and genocide. I have no doubt those that employed 'Manifest Destiny' and other Imperialistic violence believed similarly. They were wrong. Let us all die if that's the only alternative. It's not though. Notice Caladan is not 'sterilized'. Somehow folks who believe in such practices never have to sacrifice the places and peoples they love. Paul is just a tyrant and an asshole. As is Leto II, Alia, Duchess Jessica and ALL of their supporters. However reluctantly they participate.
In addition this book paints Alia as a rabid fanatic. The original books have her warped by too much spice use and *spoiler removed*. Alia is one of my favorite characters and I do not like this revamp of her character.
I did like this glance at Paul's childhood and adventures with Bronso of IX. I also like the clever way they wrote Bronso of IX into the story. It worked well for me. Not Bronso himself who is a spoiled brat and emerges a decade later a selfless historian. Still I enjoyed the symmetry in their friendship. This story arc took multiple books and mini trilogies. Well played for their combined writing talent.
While I do not doubt that Paul, Leto II and Alia believed their tyranny was saving mankind from extinction, I do not believe or agree. On any level. First humans are incredibly difficult to wipe out as a species. We're adaptable and historically have adapted in ingenious ways. Also multiple planets also ensures that humanity will likely survive. Perhaps in a vastly scaled back manner.
Second tyranny and oppression can NEVER be justified, ever. Third if the only other choice is death as a species better to die out than prey on our own like cannibals. To suggest otherwise is to cosign such atrocities as genocide, chattel slavery and colonialism. Brutal violent acts that caused wide spread suffering, oppression and genocide. I have no doubt those that employed 'Manifest Destiny' and other Imperialistic violence believed similarly. They were wrong. Let us all die if that's the only alternative. It's not though. Notice Caladan is not 'sterilized'. Somehow folks who believe in such practices never have to sacrifice the places and peoples they love. Paul is just a tyrant and an asshole. As is Leto II, Alia, Duchess Jessica and ALL of their supporters. However reluctantly they participate.
August 12, 2022
The Winds of Dune is set between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. It goes back and forth between Paul’s teen years and to the time right after he disappears, blind, into the desert.
Being obsessed with Dune, I enjoyed the read, but it really doesn’t add too much to the Dune story. I guess we do get a little insight as to why Paul behaved as he did in Dune Messiah.
This book delves into Jessica finding out about Paul’s death, and Alia’s transformation into becoming who she was in Children of Dune. Also more about Irulan and the History of Paul that she’s writing.
I loved the performance of Scott Brick so choosing to reread by audio was a no brainer. I’ve been doing a binge reread of all of the Dune books by audiobook and I plan to keep going as long as I have Scott to listen to.
Being obsessed with Dune, I enjoyed the read, but it really doesn’t add too much to the Dune story. I guess we do get a little insight as to why Paul behaved as he did in Dune Messiah.
This book delves into Jessica finding out about Paul’s death, and Alia’s transformation into becoming who she was in Children of Dune. Also more about Irulan and the History of Paul that she’s writing.
I loved the performance of Scott Brick so choosing to reread by audio was a no brainer. I’ve been doing a binge reread of all of the Dune books by audiobook and I plan to keep going as long as I have Scott to listen to.
August 17, 2017
Picking up where Dune Messiah left off, The Winds of Dune focuses on the Empire post Paul Muad'ib. The end of Paul's rule left planets destroyed and his legacy as a Messiah was encouraged by his sister, Alia, the new ruler. As Bronso of Ix, the best friend from Paul's childhood, attempts to undermine the glorification of Paul's as the Messiah, the Lady Jessica (Paul's mother) secretly sides with Bronso. Why? You'll have to read the book the find out!
December 22, 2017
I've really enjoyed this book and the previous Paul of Dune which fills in some gaps in the original Dune series. The political intrigue is good and I like how various side characters are getting fleshed out in these books. If you love the original series, you'll enjoy this book and how it draws out some of the more hidden characters.
June 20, 2021
Peaked my interest when it started but then they did the same thing as in Paul of Dune and went with several timelines.
Again the book feels like they had elements of the story they didn't want to go to waste and just crammed them into this book.
The plot is barely there and very weak. And a lot of the pages are wasted on uninteresting characters that add nothing to the story.
Again the book feels like they had elements of the story they didn't want to go to waste and just crammed them into this book.
The plot is barely there and very weak. And a lot of the pages are wasted on uninteresting characters that add nothing to the story.
August 4, 2009
The Dune universe is such a beloved item for fans, ever since the first novel Frank Herbert wrote there have been followers, all the way to the new series by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. For the last ten years Brian and Kevin have made an epic scope, from the Prelude series set before Dune to the Legends of Dune where they showed the Butlerian Jihad—the war against the machines, then after setting up the massive back story they tackled the sequel to Chapterhouse Dune, with two fantastic novels: Hunters and Sandworms, rounding out the climax of Frank’s original series. Now after all this time they are going back to fill in the years in between the novels Dune and now Dune Messiah. Last years Paul of Dune filled in the years between Dune and its sequel, Winds of Dune begins just after Dune Messiah.
The Winds of Dune is a return to the classic Dune era that Frank Herbert made famous, set after the events of Dune Messiah it involves the rise of Paul Muad’dib’s sister Alia’s leadership, with Stilgar—the Fremen warrior at her side, as Paul's old friend Bronso of Ix comes to test them by trying to destroy the myth that Paul Muad’dib left behind on Arrakis and in his Empire.
Jessica--now Duchess and based on Caladan races to Arrakis with the venerable weapons master Gurney Halleck working with Princess Irulan she tries to get to the heart of what happened to her son and what his true plans for his empire were, what she will find in it's place is a revelation even she didn't realise.
Dune is best when it is political, filled with wonder and assassination attempts. This novel brings back that universal vibe; Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert have made a thrilling tale that will not only appeal to Dune fans but to fans of Sci-Fi in general.
The Winds of Dune is a return to the classic Dune era that Frank Herbert made famous, set after the events of Dune Messiah it involves the rise of Paul Muad’dib’s sister Alia’s leadership, with Stilgar—the Fremen warrior at her side, as Paul's old friend Bronso of Ix comes to test them by trying to destroy the myth that Paul Muad’dib left behind on Arrakis and in his Empire.
Jessica--now Duchess and based on Caladan races to Arrakis with the venerable weapons master Gurney Halleck working with Princess Irulan she tries to get to the heart of what happened to her son and what his true plans for his empire were, what she will find in it's place is a revelation even she didn't realise.
Dune is best when it is political, filled with wonder and assassination attempts. This novel brings back that universal vibe; Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert have made a thrilling tale that will not only appeal to Dune fans but to fans of Sci-Fi in general.
October 9, 2009
I can't put my finger on why, but I really liked this book. Perhaps more than the others the authors have written that keeps the Duniverse alive. This book came out after Paul of Dune but it follows Dune Messiah chronologically. Given the title Paul of Dune I thought this book would have been called "Jessica of Dune", since she was the central character. The next book to come out is called "Throne of Dune" and will probably come out next year, I am looking forward to it. It is likely to be the direct prequel to Children of Dune.
January 10, 2020
As McDune novels go, this was markedly better than average. As a follow up to Dune Messiah, The Winds of Dune chronicles what happens to the universe after Paul Muad’Dib exits the stage. Alia takes the position of Regent of the
Empire, working to advance Muad’Dib’s Jihad and keep his Empire together by religious fanaticism, ruthlessness, and violence. In the meanwhile, Bronso of Ix leads the dissidents front by going against the godlike image created for Muad’Dib, and Lady Jessica inexorably moves to occupy a vacuum of humanity and sanity at the center of it all.
The book presents flashbacks into Paul’s adolescence and gaps in the story between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. Unlike the most rabid members of Frank Herbert’s Qizarate, I enjoyed it. McDunes read like fan-fiction in the Dune universe and I make sure to wall them off as such so that they don’t distort the canon of Frank’s Dune novels.
Empire, working to advance Muad’Dib’s Jihad and keep his Empire together by religious fanaticism, ruthlessness, and violence. In the meanwhile, Bronso of Ix leads the dissidents front by going against the godlike image created for Muad’Dib, and Lady Jessica inexorably moves to occupy a vacuum of humanity and sanity at the center of it all.
The book presents flashbacks into Paul’s adolescence and gaps in the story between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. Unlike the most rabid members of Frank Herbert’s Qizarate, I enjoyed it. McDunes read like fan-fiction in the Dune universe and I make sure to wall them off as such so that they don’t distort the canon of Frank’s Dune novels.
December 17, 2019
Winds of Dune is a decent read that highlights the best and worst aspects of Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson's Dune efforts. On the one hand they have creative ideas and are able to craft a unique story that further builds on Frank Herbert's legendary universe. On the other, their writing style, use of quotes and symbolism is extremely lacking and makes sections of the book difficult to read. Worth a read for the concept despite the poor writing.
August 11, 2017
Ugh. I wish they'd stop already. Did we really need this book to fill up some supposed missing gaps between "Dune" and "Children of Dune"? I don't think so. Absolutely nothing useful is being added.
It's written pretty much okay-ish, but someone please stop diluting the Duniverse!
It's written pretty much okay-ish, but someone please stop diluting the Duniverse!
October 30, 2017
This book continues the pattern of Paul of Dune wherein inconsistencies in the expanded universe are blamed on the original books and Princess Irulan. Also did not like the revamping of Alia as a mindless evil oppressor.
March 2, 2011
I got about 1.5 chapters in to this and decided I couldn't myself through it. It felt like watching a b-grade movie with bad actors. :(
September 28, 2020
Im a massive dune fanboy but these were so inconsistent with the world and original story line
December 1, 2024
I read this for the first time during a chronological read-through of the entire series. Dune is a masterpiece, but unfortunately many of the books written by his son Brian and co-author Kevin J. Anderson are very mediocre by comparison. They can still manage to be somewhat fun, but this book is one of their worst yet.
Initially I was happy to revisit some of my favorite characters by BJ/KJA, especially Prince Rhombur of House Vernius. I enjoyed seeing Gurney and the ghola of Duncan Idaho figure out their renewed chemistry. And I thought the book did a good job with the main premise, which centered around the difficulty those in power have reconciling the need to balance their brutality and mercy, and the struggle to do hard but necessarily cruel things to keep stability in their respective kingdoms. There were some nice parallels, and I actually thought it wrapped up somewhat okay in the last few chapters.
But I have some real issues with this book. BH/KJA have always struggled to maintain cohesive plots throughout their narratives. Oftentimes they rely on ridiculously contrived plot devices to keep the story moving along, and they can often be so jarring as to take you completely out of the story. That happened to me several times here.
Paul acts so out of character embarking on his “Jongleur” adventure with Bronso. Come on, this is egregiously poor writing. The kids run away from the fucking planet and NO ONE can find them? (Are you serious?) Rhombur mopes about it and turns into a sobby puddle the rest of the time we know him, even allowing his wife to be taken? So much awful character development here. And the web between characters and jilted back-and-forth timelines are so overdrawn that it beggars both patience and common sense. There were several points of contradiction (like when characters are routinely denied access to Guild passenger manifests, and at other times access them with total ease). It doesn’t just happen with events, but with characters themselves. They act completely unlike how we know them to be. The authors keep inventing new supernatural phenomenon we’ve never heard of in every book they’ve written before (Jongleurs…psychic tornadoes…guilt-casting), and these are always a mixed bag of unbelievable and unbelievably corny. But in the end, nothing is as magical and mysterious as the uncanny ability young Paul has to continually save the day, all while navigating the world of inept adults around him. (He’d give Scooby Doo and the Mystery Gang a real run for their money.) It’s cheap as hell, honestly, and this book is a mess.
Part of the problem is that the authors have decided to limit themselves to such a narrow window by continuing to tell stories that couldn’t possibly occur between the events of the original books. While I can somewhat buy the notion that they can change history freely by simply saying that the events in the original series were a result of Irulan’s “propaganda”…they have completely altered the original stories beyond recognition. A lot is lost when Paul is no longer the inexperienced boy from Caladan prior to arriving on Arrakis. It completely changes his trajectory and character motivations. To keep the stories somewhat cohesive, they have to jam pack things in between events that were already implausible in the other books they’ve written. You wonder if there was ever a moment where something extreme wasn’t happening in Paul’s life. The real story at this point would be if the Atreides ever had a normal weekend!
To me, these prequels read like fanfiction, and they are making a butcher’s work of it. As much as I love Dune, I think it’s time that they shelve their pens. But if not… one would hope that in a universe of 1,000,000 worlds spanning over 10,000 years they might be able to come up with something better than what they have so far. They are missing a huge opportunity by limiting themselves to continuing to tell stories about Paul. Stahppppp!
2 stars for having some good moments…but this was truly abysmal compared to some of their other books.
Initially I was happy to revisit some of my favorite characters by BJ/KJA, especially Prince Rhombur of House Vernius. I enjoyed seeing Gurney and the ghola of Duncan Idaho figure out their renewed chemistry. And I thought the book did a good job with the main premise, which centered around the difficulty those in power have reconciling the need to balance their brutality and mercy, and the struggle to do hard but necessarily cruel things to keep stability in their respective kingdoms. There were some nice parallels, and I actually thought it wrapped up somewhat okay in the last few chapters.
But I have some real issues with this book. BH/KJA have always struggled to maintain cohesive plots throughout their narratives. Oftentimes they rely on ridiculously contrived plot devices to keep the story moving along, and they can often be so jarring as to take you completely out of the story. That happened to me several times here.
Paul acts so out of character embarking on his “Jongleur” adventure with Bronso. Come on, this is egregiously poor writing. The kids run away from the fucking planet and NO ONE can find them? (Are you serious?) Rhombur mopes about it and turns into a sobby puddle the rest of the time we know him, even allowing his wife to be taken? So much awful character development here. And the web between characters and jilted back-and-forth timelines are so overdrawn that it beggars both patience and common sense. There were several points of contradiction (like when characters are routinely denied access to Guild passenger manifests, and at other times access them with total ease). It doesn’t just happen with events, but with characters themselves. They act completely unlike how we know them to be. The authors keep inventing new supernatural phenomenon we’ve never heard of in every book they’ve written before (Jongleurs…psychic tornadoes…guilt-casting), and these are always a mixed bag of unbelievable and unbelievably corny. But in the end, nothing is as magical and mysterious as the uncanny ability young Paul has to continually save the day, all while navigating the world of inept adults around him. (He’d give Scooby Doo and the Mystery Gang a real run for their money.) It’s cheap as hell, honestly, and this book is a mess.
Part of the problem is that the authors have decided to limit themselves to such a narrow window by continuing to tell stories that couldn’t possibly occur between the events of the original books. While I can somewhat buy the notion that they can change history freely by simply saying that the events in the original series were a result of Irulan’s “propaganda”…they have completely altered the original stories beyond recognition. A lot is lost when Paul is no longer the inexperienced boy from Caladan prior to arriving on Arrakis. It completely changes his trajectory and character motivations. To keep the stories somewhat cohesive, they have to jam pack things in between events that were already implausible in the other books they’ve written. You wonder if there was ever a moment where something extreme wasn’t happening in Paul’s life. The real story at this point would be if the Atreides ever had a normal weekend!
To me, these prequels read like fanfiction, and they are making a butcher’s work of it. As much as I love Dune, I think it’s time that they shelve their pens. But if not… one would hope that in a universe of 1,000,000 worlds spanning over 10,000 years they might be able to come up with something better than what they have so far. They are missing a huge opportunity by limiting themselves to continuing to tell stories about Paul. Stahppppp!
2 stars for having some good moments…but this was truly abysmal compared to some of their other books.
March 10, 2024
PL:
Na pewno 4 to ma, ale muszę sobie to jeszcze przeprocesować głównie przez zakończenie
Dobra Brian....Dowiozłeś...Naprawdę bardzo monstrualnie i błyskotliwie przemyślabiebi opakowane w taką wielokształtnością i szczegółów zostało tu ograne wiele tajemnic i....zaskakująco są bardzo powiązane Nie tylko z Paul of Dune, ale z Dune bazowym też...Nie czytałbym na waszym miejscu tego, jeśli nie macie za sobą Dune/Diuny Dune messiah i Paul of Dune , bo zaspoilerujecie sobie bardzo dużo i może wzbudzić zamęt w odbiorze. Generalnie pięknie tłumaczy wiele procesów w związku z okiereszowaniem pewnych zdarzeń i zwyczajów...Choć już mogę powiedzieć, że czuć inną stylistykę u Syna Herberta i w ogóle szytość i podstawy książki i povhylania się nad tym. Nie oznacza to, że jest to gorsze oczywiście, bo mimo, że teraz ciężko mi się wgryźć i się oswoić i połączyć elementy układanki tego uniwersum - będąc jednak na etapie jego dalszego rozwoju, przemian....Sądzę, że może to się przełożyć w sposób przybierania i nabierania wagi pewnym sprawom etc. I też mimo pewnych nieścisłości, sądzę, że może być lepiej
Edit: A niech ma tę piątke....zasługuje i to bardzo
EN:
4 definitely has it, but I still need to process it, mainly because of the ending
Okay Brian.... You nailed it... Really a very monstrous and brilliant idea, packed with so much variety and detail, many secrets have been explored here and... surprisingly they are very related not only to Paul of Dune, but to the base Dune as well... .If I were you, I wouldn't read this if you haven't read Dune/Dune, Dune messiah and Paul of Dune, because you'll spoil a lot and it may cause confusion. Generally, it beautifully explains many processes related to the arrangement of certain events and customs... Although I can already say that you can feel a different style in Herbert's Son and in general the simplicity and basics of the book and reflections on it. This does not mean that it is worse, of course, because although now it is difficult for me to get used to it and connect the elements of the puzzle of this universe - however, being at the stage of its further development and transformation... I think that this may translate into a way of assuming and giving importance to certain matters, etc. And despite some inaccuracies, I think it can be better
Edit: Let this book have this five... he deserves it very much
Na pewno 4 to ma, ale muszę sobie to jeszcze przeprocesować głównie przez zakończenie
Dobra Brian....Dowiozłeś...Naprawdę bardzo monstrualnie i błyskotliwie przemyślabiebi opakowane w taką wielokształtnością i szczegółów zostało tu ograne wiele tajemnic i....zaskakująco są bardzo powiązane Nie tylko z Paul of Dune, ale z Dune bazowym też...Nie czytałbym na waszym miejscu tego, jeśli nie macie za sobą Dune/Diuny Dune messiah i Paul of Dune , bo zaspoilerujecie sobie bardzo dużo i może wzbudzić zamęt w odbiorze. Generalnie pięknie tłumaczy wiele procesów w związku z okiereszowaniem pewnych zdarzeń i zwyczajów...Choć już mogę powiedzieć, że czuć inną stylistykę u Syna Herberta i w ogóle szytość i podstawy książki i povhylania się nad tym. Nie oznacza to, że jest to gorsze oczywiście, bo mimo, że teraz ciężko mi się wgryźć i się oswoić i połączyć elementy układanki tego uniwersum - będąc jednak na etapie jego dalszego rozwoju, przemian....Sądzę, że może to się przełożyć w sposób przybierania i nabierania wagi pewnym sprawom etc. I też mimo pewnych nieścisłości, sądzę, że może być lepiej
Edit: A niech ma tę piątke....zasługuje i to bardzo
EN:
4 definitely has it, but I still need to process it, mainly because of the ending
Okay Brian.... You nailed it... Really a very monstrous and brilliant idea, packed with so much variety and detail, many secrets have been explored here and... surprisingly they are very related not only to Paul of Dune, but to the base Dune as well... .If I were you, I wouldn't read this if you haven't read Dune/Dune, Dune messiah and Paul of Dune, because you'll spoil a lot and it may cause confusion. Generally, it beautifully explains many processes related to the arrangement of certain events and customs... Although I can already say that you can feel a different style in Herbert's Son and in general the simplicity and basics of the book and reflections on it. This does not mean that it is worse, of course, because although now it is difficult for me to get used to it and connect the elements of the puzzle of this universe - however, being at the stage of its further development and transformation... I think that this may translate into a way of assuming and giving importance to certain matters, etc. And despite some inaccuracies, I think it can be better
Edit: Let this book have this five... he deserves it very much
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