Dune: The Machine Crusade (Dune)

Pathetic plots, non existent character depth, incompetent descriptions, this book has all of these and more in abundance.

I'm dreading the fact that these two incompetents are writing the follow up to Chapter House Dune.

Can Authors be charged with murdering a story? Life for Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson


Awful Cash-in   November 22, 2005
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

I am a big fan of the original Dune books. I would rate them as 9 / 10. When the Prelude to Dune books (House Atreides, Harkonnen and Corrino) came out I was slightly apprehensive that they might be cheap cash-ins. My fears proved unfounded. They may not have been as good as the originals but I would still give them 7/10. However, the Legends of Dune books left me disappointed and annoyed.
The original Dune story introduced incredible, fantastical concepts but did so in a way that made them seem believable. In comparison the Legend series presents things in a way that makes them seem laughable. Everything had a reason in the Dune books and everything was true to the Dune universe. Not so in the Legend books. The Legend books introduce some idiotic concepts which, if you actually think about them, are illogical and fly in the face of Dune canon. The dialogue appears to exist only to drag the plot along with characters randomly acting out of character for the sake of the plot.
Numerous examples come to mind but I've had to cut them out to keep under the 1000 character limit.
If you like your sci-fi to have evil robots, pulsating brains in jars and women who shoot lightning from their minds then the Legends of Dune series are the books for you. If you enjoy well thought out plots and realistic characterisation, stick to the original Dune series.


If you like dune you'll like this   August 19, 2005
dilbert for ever
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

I only recently came across the dune books, and after reading them came across the Legends of Dune. Although not written by the original author of the Dune series, that doesn't stop these been excellent, and a fitting tribute to Frank Herbert. They answer many of the questions that arise in Dune, and more importantly they just are very enjoyable to read. The machine crusade continues, where the Bultarian Jihad left off. So if you liked the original Dune series, you will properly like the Legends of Dune series.