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  Frank vs. Brian

  I have to admit while I was left on edge after Chapterhouse: Dune and wanted more of the story, I was worried that the novels not directly written by Frank would be lacking in that quality of story telling that I had come to enjoy so much. So, it was with some trepidation that I began Hunters of Dune but soon realized that I was so caught up in the ongoing story and the new developments that I couldnt bring myself to stop reading. Now, I am actually chomping at the bit to get into Sandworms of Dune and then the prequel trilogies. Looks like the journey continues!
  
  While there are some distinct differences in writing styles and some questionable behaviors by some of the characters at times, overall, I find the plotline and character development to be believeable and engaging.
  
  What do you think?

  Marcus W started this discussion 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Whtennisfan115 

  I have to agree with you. Its been a while since I read the final books but I definitely felt like the Brian's additions to the series were quicker paced in a way. I think maybe there was less of a focus on the politics and ecology that Frank put in to the original books and more of a focus on action.

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Ulchabhán 

  First let's note that the Dune books written after Frank Herbert's death were written by his son, Brian Herbert, and by Kevin J. Anderson.

  While all in all I love all of the Dune books, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson fall short. Quicker paced is one way to look at it. Another is just that they are simpler writers. In some cases that can be a good thing. For the Dune books I think it is not. I admit that after I backed up read the two prequel trilogies and then started re-reading the original F. Herbert's Dune books...... I slowed way down... lol.

  Furthermore, "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune", the chronological conclusions to the series, felt so rushed. All of the plot points could have been explored across four or more books. This could have allowed for the thorough exploration of humanity, that F. Herbert had always achieved, to be continued.

  B. Herbert and KJA also do a bit of spoon-feeding/foreshadowing from the narrator's voice ..... to paraphrase, sometimes as cheesy as '... and then she knew that (this) would happen. Or would it?'. F. Herbert would place substantial foreshadowing within either the dialogue or internal monologue of a character. In this method, the info may or may not end up being true as it is coming from an imperfect human source..... lol... who may or may not have the gift of prophecy.

  When a third-person omniscient narrator is used so sloppily for foreshadow.... I just feel condescended to and robbed of the journey I was hoping to take in reading the book.

  But I'll say it again..... I love all of the books in the Dune Series and I commend Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson for the courage they had to follow in the enormous shadow of Frank Herbert. Nobody could match him. There is a good reason that so many writers have been alcoholics and that's without such a daunting task.

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Kara P 

  I am, to this day, enchanted by Frank Herbert's Dune and the original series. It was profoundly moving for me.

  I enjoyed and couldn't put down Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune, however I have to agree with amam_chara: they felt very rushed. Also, there were some things in the books that were very uncharacteristic.

  ***spoiler alert***

  Personally, I felt that Murbella and the (New) Sisterhood were far too easily fooled in their dealings with Ix and obtaining the Obliterators. I don't buy that it would have ever happened if Frank had been writing.

  What ultimately upset me was how Anderson and [Brian] Herbert completely WASTED the potential for the ghola children. Who ends up being the "Ultimate Kwisatz Haderach" basically makes their existence moot AND I found it rather annoying how Paul and Leto II were referred to as "flawed kwisatz haderaches."

  Also, too many of the deaths were all too convenient and quick ends to long standing plot lines or ones that would have been interesting (e.g. Doria/Bellonda and the Alia ghola).

  What I DID like was the explanation of The Enemy, however I felt kind of as if how it was so vaguely explained is a cheap trick to get people to read Anderson and Herbert's other books. I thought the explanation of the Honoured Matres was brilliant, I liked the better explanation of the Tleilaxu, and I enjoyed the introduction of the seaworms.

  posted 7 months ago. ( reply )

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  Kara P 

  Oh, also, based on the way Sandworms of Dune ended I got the feeling there may be more books on the way... I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

  Anyone else get that feeling?

  posted 7 months ago. ( reply )

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  Alina B 

  I must say I felt the same before starting House Atreides (Brain IS NOT Frank) but I got so caught up in it I just couldn't stop. The storyline is so intense and the characters so much alive I never realised I had missed them so much.
  Questionable behaviour? Sure, like the way in which Jessica is conceived, although it does introduce the reason for the Baron's illness.I found it hard to believe Frank Herbert would have done the same. Well, in the end it all adds up quite nicely.
  Can't wait to start House Harkonnen.

  posted 7 months ago. ( reply )

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  Aaron D 

  I liked them all but theres definite differences between FH and BH / KJA's writing styles, but all are good to me. I especially enjoyed the prequel trilogies

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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  D. Williams 

  I feel the same way about the character developments and behaviors. But when I read the original books compared to Brian's books, the had the same feel as to writing style. The books written by Brian compare in terms of length and setting. But by now you have probably already read the other books.

  posted 2 weeks ago. ( reply )

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