The Great Geek Manual

Book: The Winds of Dune
ISBN-10: 978-0765322722

Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
Series: Heroes of Dune interquel tetralogy
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Science Fiction/ Space Opera
Release: August 4, 2009
Length: 448 pages (Hardcover)

Rating: B (85 / 100)

Verdict

It’s astonishing how seamlessly Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have matched the tone and technique of Frank Herbert. Both the best and worst that can be said of The Winds of Dune is that is that it fits seamlessly into the original Dune series, flawlessly mimicking its style. Which is to say that Dune fans are going to rave about it, while casual readers are likely to shelf it for future use as a sleeping aide.

That’s always been true of the Dune series, though. Dune has been the series that separates out the hardcore science fiction aficionados from the tourists since it first became a series with the release of Dune Messiah. However, even those who have had difficulty reading beyond Children of the Dune (which is were most casual readers stop reading the series), are going to want to pick up this volume. It isn’t as difficult a read as most of the books of the original series, and it features blessedly few character rants. Plus, it goes a long way towards reconciling Dune’s single most glaring fault – the disconnect between the honorable character of Paul Atreides and the brutality of the Jihad he launches.

If you finished and enjoyed the first three books of Herbert’s original series, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up to complete the picture. The four books form quite a tidy story line all on their own, without the rapidly expanding labyrinth of other books being released into the series.

Pros: Puts some nice finishing touches on the Paul’s role in the Dune series.

Cons: No matter how they advertise it, the Dune series is never going to be about excitement, at best, it’s sci-fi’s answer to a political thriller.

Synopsis

In Brief: Set between Dune Messiah (1969) and Children of Dune (1976), The Winds of Dune follows Jessica through the beginning of Alia’s regency and reveals the truth behind Paul’s relationship with the notorious voice of dissent, Bronso of Ix.

The events covered by the book include:

Paul’s adventure off world as a child
The death of Romber of IX
The relationship between Paul and Bronso of Ix
How Dr. Yueh came into the service of House Atreides
Why Iralan wrote histories of Muad’Dib for children
The final fate of the reverend Mother Mohiam

Official: 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.

Review

It’s always difficult to know what to say about a Dune book. On one hand, the series is clearly a masterpiece of science fiction. On the other, it has to be the single most cerebral collection of books ever dubbed science fiction. Each book in the series is a beautifully complex web of densely packed, intricately choreographed characters politically maneuvering for control of a galactic throne. And yet, the plots of these books, though engrossing, remain unutterably frustrating for their lack of a good knock down, drag-out fight.

Still, for all the ambivalence the series sometimes inspires, The Winds of Dune stands out as a gem in the rough for addressing two of the most jarring flaws of the expansive series in one deft pass.

First, the book retroactively smooths over the jarring break in the Dune storyline that resulted in the leap between Paul walking into the desert as a proud ruler at the end of Dune Messiah and the opening of Children of Dune, in which Paul emerges from the desert a ravaged old man intent on rousing the people against the empire he built. It covers very little of the time period that passes between the two books, but it establishes the much needed character motivations that make that gap seem more like timely pacing than an glaring oversight.

Second, the book finally reveals some of Paul’s true intent regarding the Jihad, thereby reckoning the deeply honorable ideals of the House Atreides with the brutality of the Jihad that Paul eventually unleashes. (Which won’t be spoiled here.)

What’s most intriguing about this book, though, is that it was initially set to be released under the title Jessica of Dune, because it centers around Paul’s mother, beginning when she’s informed that her son has walked into the desert. Yet, rather than expanding upon her legend, as the other second generation Dune books do, the story is largely devoted to exposing the inner doubts roiling beneath her hitherto implacably stoic exterior. The doubts go a long way towards humanizing her and add a depth to her character that come as a refreshing change of pace in a series that’s been all about building the mythos of Muad’Dib.

There’s no doubt that these and a dozen other aspects of the book will send Dune fans scrabbling back to re-read the series, and that’s a sure sign of success. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have maintained the integrity of the series, while still managing to enrich the entire saga. When they’re done with Dune, there’ll probably be twenty or more entries in the series, but with The Winds of Dune, that’s starting to sound like a good thing.

Similar Books

If you enjoy this book, you may also enjoy these very similar series:

• Dune by Frank Herbert
• Paul of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Further Information

• Brian Herbert at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
• Kevin J. Anderson at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
• The official book trailer for The Winds of Dune.
• Read an excerpt from the first chapter of The Winds of Dune.
• Read a preview of The Winds of Dune on Google Books.
• Winds of Dune Author Brian Herbert on Flipping the Myth of Jihad.