Stepping back from what is likely the most surprising decision in this book, let’s look at the actual intrigue itself and how it matches up against what we’ve experienced in the previous novels. Though I was ultimately sad to see Paul Atreides go as our main character, I think Herbert left us in good hands. Though they do share their father’s gifts and supernatural powers, they are their own people and move in their own directions, which made them feel unique and believable in the end. In way, his character keeps on developing despite the plot having theoretically moved on from him.Īs for the new characters we are asked to follow, his children Leto and Ghanima, it took me a bit of time to warm up to them, but as their significance to the plot kept increasing, so did my appreciation for their actions and deliberations. Time and time again he is brought up both directly and indirectly, making him come to life as an abstract deity rather than his regular self. The purpose of argument is to change the nature of truth.
Even though he is no longer present for the events of the story, the character’s aura and far-reaching influence are felt throughout the entire thing. I became accustomed to him over quite a good bit of time, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t make me worried about what directions the story might take into the future.įor starters, I was quite happy to see the story’s link to Paul wasn’t simply severed and forgotten about. In Children of Dune, Frank Herbert makes the rather brave decision to move on from Paul Atreides, the man who carried the two previous novels on his back. More often than not, this element is the protagonist, a character we can recognize and eventually relate to more and more as we follow them on their journeys. When it comes to most book series, they have the need to revolve around something specific, an element which can connect one work to the next. Moving on From Muad’Dib in Children of Dune Their visions are prophetic in nature, and Alia believes they hold the key to saving her dynasty. Though Alia’s resources are increasingly limited, she does see a potential salvation for herself: the visions of Leto and Ghanima, undoubtedly blessed in some way by their father’s powers.
The gift of words is the gift of deception and illusion. On the other hand, a mysterious figure known as The Preacher is pushing the native Fremen towards an open revolution. On one hand, House Corrino, displaced and disgraced, is plotting to regain the throne with some devilish machinations. In his stead are his twin children, Leto and Ghanima, and their aunt Alia, who rules the Empire in the name of House Atreides.ĭespite Alia’s tremendous power her tenure at the top of the galaxy doesn’t bode well for her as she begins to experience treachery on multiple fronts. This was nine years ago, and nobody has heard from him since. In any case, Paul Atreides, the hero of the last two books, has disappeared into the wasteland of the desert planet Arrakis, the sole source of the Spice drug in the cosmos. I should mention the books do need to be read in order if you are keen on following the story and understanding what’s happening unfortunately I can’t recommend you jump right into the middle, unless you’re looking to experience a once-in-a-lifetime confusion.
We’ve already looked at the first and second books of the series, which means we’re logically going to be looking at the third one, Children of Dune.
#FRANK HERBERT DUNE SERIES#
I think this alone is good enough of a reason to say Frank Herbert‘s Dune Series will likely outlive us all in terms of relevance, and keep its place in the pantheon of essential classics as long as literature exists, having essentially laid out the perfect blueprint to epic science-fiction. Most writers struggle to keep a single book cohesive, and even fewer are capable of keeping it together across several entries. Frank Herbert Proceeds with the Next Generationĭespite many authors’ unmistakable desire to write truly grand and epic (and bestselling) stories, there is a reason expansive works of science-fiction tend to be looked upon with a good deal of reverence.