The Winds of Dune [Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Brian Herbert (Author), Kevin J. Anderson (Author), Scott Brick (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set immediately after Frank Herbert's Dune Messiah (1969), this satisfying tale from Herbert's son and Anderson (Paul of Dune) follows Jessica, the mother of galactic emperor Paul Atreides, as she returns to the desert planet Dune for her son's funeral. Paul's suicide after his mistress's childbed death leaves his sister, the insane and brutal Alia, as regent for his twin children. Alia releases Princess Irulan, Paul's wife and biographer, from house arrest on the condition that she present Paul as a god, even as Bronso of Ix circulates contrasting writings focusing on Paul's humanity. Alia, Jessica, Bronso and Irulan can describe aspects of Paul, but no single narrative can capture him. Fans of the original Dune series will love seeing familiar characters, and the narrative voice smoothly evokes the elder Herbert's style. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Scott Brick delivers an impressive one-man show. Brick's voice is ideally suited to this sprawling story, the second book in the Heroes of Dune trilogy. In many scenes Brick must handle differentiating between the speech and thoughts of the various characters, and he does so with aplomb...Listeners will be glued to the high drama." - AudioFile

 

"This is actually a very good story, easy to listen to and becomes more involved as the metaphorically speaking pages are turned...Once again, Macmillan has produced a polished product and with Scott Brick narrating, you can be sure the story is well delivered." —SFcrowsnest

 

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1427207631
• ISBN-13: 978-1427207630
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #908,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

124 of 134 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor from conception to publishing, September 1, 2009

By 

Jaha (CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Winds of Dune (Heroes of Dune #2) (Hardcover)

First let me preface this by stating that I am not an Anti-BHKJA reviewer. In fact I have been pretty split over their additions to my favorite novels of all time, Frank Herbert's Dune series. I thoroughly enjoyed the prequel House trilogy and was completely turned off by the Butlerian Jihad trilogy. I was mostly satisfied with the Dune 7 compilation if not disappointed they couldn't resist bringing in their own creations from the Butlerian Jihad series.

What I ultimately find is that the BHKJA tandem has begun to grow away from what they originally seemed to want to do. They claim that they were merely finishing Brian's fathers vision based off notes they found but now it is clear they are completely just milking the franchise for income. Thats fine, they would not be the first to do it. But this latest trilogy is completely misguided and how it has passed into publication is beyond me.

Much like Paul of Dune, Winds of Dune is doomed from conception. Think about it, both novels take place in between 3 established novels I am assuming anyone reading this would also have read. So any rational person would understand that there really is no place for the story to go. We already know what happens to all of the major characters so any "in between" novel pretty much has to rely on strong story to bring anything to table. Unfortunately these novels read like glorified "fan fiction" as some others have pointed out.

In both Paul of Dune and this here in Winds we know there can be no groundbreaking conflict or major event or else Frank Herbert would have mentioned it. So Brian and Kevin are left to their own devices to create a compelling story. As one might guess it just doesn't happen. This book is boring. Hard to put it any other way. Really just a lot of people sitting around moping about Paul's "apparent" death. Thats about all one could expect. The the two concoct this ridiculous and completely out of place back story of Paul running away as a child. Now, I understand the authors HAD to create this story in order to make something here but this back story is so ridiculous. I mean Paul joins the circus? This is just insulting on so many levels.

First of all it complete defies logic, in my opinion, that the authors would choose to supplant the original series with these in between novels and then CHANGE THE CANON. Ok again I understand BH and KJA need to take some liberties in order to make some things work but both PoD and WoD go too far. You can't have a novel, Dune, tell me that Paul never left Caladan until he went to Arrakis in the story and then in the next novel tell me thats not true, he actually left Caladan several times. It just blows my mind that you would create such discrepancies so willingly. Especially considering that this book directly follows his fathers novel and precludes another one it baffles me why he decided to just create such obvious conflicts. I understand in Paul of Dune they go to great lengths to point out that Irulan changed much of the stroy from what really happened but even that is weak as far as the story would go.

If someone were to read the novels in their intended order, ie: Dune, Paul of Dune, Dune Messiah, Winds of Dune, Children of Dune, you would find so much broken syntax and absolutely no continuity or tone. I would give it a break if the story was at least interesting but it was so unbelievably weak. To be clear the basic crux of the plot of Winds is EXACTLY THE SAME as much of Children of Dune. In other words Winds really doesn't bring ANYTHING to the table. It's just an excuse to actually solidify some scenes which Frank Herbert left out like Alia's wedding, etc and it just begins Alia's digression and Paul's metamorphosis into anti-hero. Unfortunately Frank Herbert also addressed these elements and gave us plenty of information to make the appropriate inferences. These books are completely unnecessary.

To me the original House trilogy worked because Brain and Kevin had an established universe with some characters and a syntax to work with. Their creativity was limited in some regards and they created there own characters to add to the story. Those novels worked to me because they gave us the back story many of us really wanted and in many ways I felt the characters were quite good. In the Butlerian Jihad series I felt BH and KJA were left to their own devices and their short comings as authors really were highlighted. I mean they turned the Machines into cyborgs meaning they made them actually human. But I digress. I think the biggest folly of this trilogy was found directly in the conception. Their editor should have told them it was a doomed concept to begin with. They had so little room in which to work.

I personally feel that they should have tackled the much more obvious gaps. I.E. from Children to God Emperor of Dune. Here is where some real story could work. For instance, What happens to Irulan, Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Ghanima? Etc... Frank Herbert essentially let these characters disappear from the pages. Those are stories I think most fans would definitely enjoy reading but Paul and Winds of Dune are complete and utter cash grabs. Any rational reader could tell you there was nowhere for these stories to go, no true conflict to be established, and they would be a waste of time. But since Brian Herbert has never written anything of substance without his father attached I suppose he needs to maximize his income as best as possible.

I do not recommend this book at all. In fact one could completely skip Paul and Winds of Dune and not miss a thing. I still am clinging to hope the the third book between Children and God will be what I think it could. If you are a true Dune fan you will definitely hate this book. I cannot buy the glaring discrepancies and liberties BH and KJA take with Frank's work. It is insulting that they would wedge these novels in between his fathers own work and then not even be bothered to work within the boundaries his father created. It is even more insulting considering they are claiming "creative control" but then they didn't create much here. Most of the characters and the crux of the story in Winds is all Frank Herbert's creation. Only a few characters and the actual prose is BH and KJA's.

Avoid this like the plague!

116 of 138 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hot air on Dune, August 5, 2009

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Winds of Dune (Heroes of Dune #2) (Hardcover)

Apparently Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson aren't finished milking Frank Herbert's cash cow. First prequels, then sequels, and now a midquel.

In this case, "The Winds of Dune" explores the months after the blinded, grief-stricken Paul Atreides aka Muad'Dib wandered off into the desert. While Anderson and Herbert conjure some touching moments as the people in Paul's life deal with his loss, they don't manage to make the story come alive -- the prose and beloved characters are flat.

On Caladan, Jessica is shocked by the news of her son's apparent death, Chani's tragic loss, and the birth of her twin grandchildren. She rushes to Arrakis to assist Alia, now appointed Regent, and discovers that Dune has changed in many ways -- Paul's loss has only increased fanatical devotion (and equally fanatical division), and the ruthless Alia is determined to cement Paul's legacy.

Cue a novella-sized flashback about Paul's childhood, and how he and his friend Bronso of Ix ran away to join the circus... er, the Facedancer Jongleurs. No, seriously.

Unfortunately, Bronso of Ix has since become a sort of idealistic terrorist, disrupting Paul's "funeral" and spreading heretical pamphlets which seek to reveal Paul's flaws and atrocities. Jessica attempts to soften Alia's increasingly ruthless reign as her daughter prepares to marry Duncan Idaho -- but Bronso's determination to kill the legend of Muad'Dib leads to some very big new problems. But is all this Muad'Dib's will?

"The Winds of Dune" is one of those novels that might have been a decent sci-fi read if it had been based on its own universe. But as a Dune story, it seems like glorified fanfiction with a cool cover -- an attempt to fill in various plot points between "Dune Messiah" and "Children of Dune," such as Alia's marriage to the ghola Duncan Idaho and the water ceremonies.

There isn't actually much plot in "Winds of Dune" except for Alia's increasingly tyrannical actions, and Jessica's attempts to moderate her loopy attempts to deify Paul. There's a spattering of assassination plots, ceremonies (both official and Fremen), Bene Gesserit evilness, and lots of political wheeling and dealing. But without a pair of hefty flashbacks -- about a Bene Gesserit rebellion and running away to the circus -- it would be a very skinny book.

And sadly Herbert and Anderson don't bring much life to the narrative. There are some touching moments -- such as Stilgar's mystical moment with a sandworm -- but mostly it's an unexciting, flatly-written stretch, filled with weird plot twists that rarely work (guess what: Paul was adored because he used Jongleur hypnosis on EVERYBODY!). Seriously, how did they make explosive assassination attempts and hardcore spice hallucinations into half-page-long, emotionless borefests?

The characters are similarly undeveloped -- while the flashbacks temporarily resurrect beloved characters like Chani, Yueh and Duke Leto, none of them have much personality. Alia is suddenly a two-dimensional, crazy, fanatical brat, and gets engaged to Duncan with little evidence of actual romance. It's like, "Hey Mommy, I'm marrying Duncan! Surprise!"

Jessica is the one major exception, as we see her struggle with her losses, and try to keep the truth about Paul's virtues and flaws alive. Same with some minor supporting characters like the torn Stilgar and grieving Gurney Halleck (whose attraction to Jessica begins to flower).

"The Winds of Dune" is basically an official fanfiction, attempting to add plot in between Frank Herbert's original works -- babies, weddings, and collectible Muad'Dib souvenirs. It simply doesn't work.

58 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed, August 21, 2009

By 

W. Stacey "SF/fantasy fan" (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Winds of Dune (Heroes of Dune #2) (Hardcover)

Disclaimer: I am a staunch Dune fan. I acknowledge the differences with FH, and I have enjoyed almost all of the BH/KJA entries so far. I am not just another reviewer who is angry about the later books.

Nevertheless, I was very disappointed in this book.

Minor issue- Style

The writing style is even more immature than in previous entries, the short chapters essentially quick vignettes like watching scenes in a TV program. We are presented with cartoon-style explanations of exactly what people are doing and why. Oh wait, let me say that again, e.x.a.c.t.l.y. what they are doing and why. This is the antithesis of FH, though in his case he was too far the other way (we never really knew what half the characters were thinking, and in some instances, actually saying).

Major issue- Plot and characters

I have no problem accepting new canon (I really liked the House series). That is not the issue. The problem here is that at least two of the major characters (Alia and Duncan) are completely wrong. It is as if, in order to generate conflict, the authors decided to demonize them. Yes, they are the main antagonists in this book. This is not a spoiler-from the beginning, Alia is reduced to predictable tyranny, essentially throwing a childish tantrum throughout the entire book. (In that, she oddly resembles Omnius) Duncan is reduced to her henchman. Neither display compelling intelligence or redeeming qualities. The plot follows this disappointing scenario, as our protagonists strive to sneak around behind Alia's back. Really? That's what this book is about?

Keep in mind, though, that this change of heart for Alia comes BEFORE she starts listening to you-know-who-in-her-head.

So disappointing. While reading it, I was constantly reminded of watching one of those straight-to-DVD Disney "extra" movies, where a second rate cast and composer tell stories that fill in gaps of time in the original blockbuster. A new villain has to be created, strange twists in the characters occur to keep it interesting, and nobody ends up taking it seriously. BH and KJA: I've really enjoyed most of your additions to Dune. I've been a little disappointed in some decisions, but I've stood behind you. Not this time. That's not Alia. You just can't do that. 2 stars.