Customer Reviews

The Winds of Dune (Heroes of Dune #2)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I can't help but notice, and feel I should mention, that two of the authors noted as praising this book are dead. I re-iterate Arthur C. Clark and Robert A. Heinlein are dead and ,so, likely did not enjoy this book.
I read it myself and hated it's shallowness.

To begin: To anyone who follows the discussion threads, you know I don't like this new series. To those who don't follow them, I am a member of a Dune Fan site that is very outspoken against what we see to be a complete misuse, abuse, and blatant disregard for the legacy of Frank Herbert's Dune.

Winds of Dune follows in the tradition of Brian and Kevin's previous series in that the characterizations aren't just missing, they are in many cases plain wrong. I've said often that I believe that Kevin writes only for the specific moment in which the reader resides, the most microscopic form of the NOW. He completely disregards elements of the Dune universe if they do not fit the exact moment of contact that eyes transmit and brain interprets, even if 2-3 sentences before or after he has to contradict himself. The typical complaints are here: plots that would insult the intellect of a 4th grader. Characters who's only distinguishing characteristic is their name or role. IQ's are yet again non-existent.

Example? Duncan and Gurney are trying to track down Bronso. They need pictures of him because he's erased all records of himself. After about a paragraph of Duncan mentioning he needs pictures of Bronso, they magically appear: He doesn't need them, the Ixians provided him with them. The book is rife with these little micro-plots that serve no purpose other than to fill space and provide even more evidence that the authors know nothing (or just don't care) about the Universe as Frank created it.

The fact that the authors would suggest that Duncan needs pictures of what Bronso looks like also illustrates another very lacking foundation in these books: Editing. Why do they need pictures of what he looks like when:

1)Bronso's first terrorist act in the book? Making his face appear in the clouds over Paul's Funeral.
2)His second? faking his execution by allowing a Face Dancer (shapeshifter) to die in his place. Immediately after this every Face Dancer in the galaxy takes on his form. (only a few of them are detained and even fewer are executed.)

If his face is that recognizable by everyone in the universe, why do the two security men assigned to find him need pictures of him? Duncan knew Bronso as a child as well as being a witness to the funeral apparition. He's a mentat, a human computer designed to store massive amounts of data and separate relevant facts, yet he can't remember the face of someone he's seen multiple times. Guild security (which includes genetic scanners to set up a joke in one scene but never again) as well as 900 mentats specifically trained to look for him in spaceports can't find him.

The fact that the Face Dancers are creations of the distrusted Bene Tleilaxu is ignored because the book tells us that this is an irrelevant matter; Bronso hates the Tleilaxu so he obviously wouldn't work with them. Dune is a book about consequence, yet there are no consequences for anyone's actions in these books. Alia actually rewards a troupe of face dancer Jongleurs for their performance that she knows (or should know) are associated with Bronso, right after a group of face dancers interrupted her execution of Bronso. Following the logic in this book requires more suspension of disbelief than is healthy.

Duncan and Gurney know there is only 1 method of travel in the Duniverse: The Guild. Bronso's pamphlets appear magically in people's luggage after traveling on Guild Ships. It takes a Human Computer and a Security Expert 370 pages out of a 400 page novel to figure out that the crews are in league with Bronso, even after Gurney witnesses a crewman planting a pamphlet in the first 20 pages. That's like getting off a plane flight and finding a package of salted peanuts in your bag and not having the mental computation power to realize where it came from.

I believe that Brian Herbert's involvement in the actual writing of the book extends only so far as his conscience requires for him to claim co-authorship. EDIT: I've posted elsewhere that the co-authoring relationship between the two authors seems to be breaking down. This is a feeling I've had from reading the book and seeing large discrepancies in how Bronso's assault on Muad'dib godhood seems to change back and forth rapidly, not based on particular character's views, but on the moral and factual axis of Historic writing. It seems to me that Brian is beginning to regret adding as much as they have to the Dune cycle: perhaps he is starting to see it as mere fluff rather than philosophically constructive to his father's legacy.

Oh, and for the last time: Bene Gesserit DO. NOT. HAVE. PSYCHIC. POWERS. Frank himself explained voice as a method of control and authority, and pointed out its uses in our modern era. It is merely a trained extension of that, knowing who you are talking to and what motivates them, and tuning into that in order to slip commands directly into their instinctive response. A Sargent yelling "Grenade!" to his troops is a primitive form of voice: the soldiers don't think about the command, they instinctively react as they were trained to do. The Sargent isn't psychic Kevin.

I know some people are entertained by these books. Dune to me is something more, something sacred, it is a monument of Human Literature: to my friends I refer to it as a 'manual on humanity'. Therefore I see it as my duty to speak out against these philistine imitations. As a student of literature, I consider it a duty to know what I'm talking about so yes, I did read it, cover to cover.

Finished the book last night. Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have attracted considerable controversy as authors attempting to "continue the Dune universe." They have detractors who trash every novel on Amazon and other sites, claiming they hated the novels but bought and read them. Others are non-critical, praising the continuing saga. Brian and Kevin are not Frank. That can be a blessing and a curse. Early Dune novels by Frank Herbert were thoughtful stimulating reflections on life and ecology, as well as good adventure stories. His latter novels were convoluted and dealt more and more with out of the way players in the Dune universe trying to save their own positions or stop others.

Brian and Kevin started strong with the House series, which I like. But the quality of writing then went down. the tales of the Butlerian Jihad to the Battle of Corrino took forever, with a plotline straight out of Greg Benford's Galaxy Centre series (humans battle machines with horrific genocidal losses). The so-called Dune 7 novel (split into two) make no connection with the original series, save by coincidence. I liked Paul of Dune, even if the writing was not up to the House series.

Winds of Dune seems to have taken all of the negative features of the authors' writing and magnified them. The characters have no depth and are outright dumb (remember this is supposedly 25,000 years in the future and most of Frank Herbert's characters were so smart, humans evolve after all). The dialogue is wooden and stilted. The chapters are micro in size, the authors seem to shrink the size of chapters with each book. But worst of all are the inconsistencies with the original series. Follow-up authors always want to show their 'originality' and re-invent. But the incosistencies of Duncan, Jessica, and Alia undercut the novel for true Dune lovers. Supposedly in this version Alia starts to embrace the Dune equivalent of the dark side well before 'You Know Who' seduces her mind with his evil. And so it goes.

Read a public library copy of the novel if you choose to see a might have been. Frank would have given us depth not the hot breeze from the desert. For substance, try the novels of Steven Erikson, Jacqueline Carey and yes George Martin (if he ever does finish A Dance with Dragons -- here's hoping).

I could go on and on and ON AND ON AND FREAKING ON about all the plot inconsistencies and what not of this new book. But I'm not gonna waste my breath. I wrote a detailed review for Sandworms and Paul of Dune. I decided this time around, I'm not going to waste my time going over all the inconsistencies and finer points of BH and KJA ignoring FH's previously established Dune facts, especially when all the flaws of this book have been expounded upon by the other honest reviewers as well as the discussion threads for this book.

I'll just put down the gist of the book. Frank Herbert's characters are nearly unrecognizable, there are spades of BH/KJA characters, and more and more and MORE is retconned. Seems that now with the 'revelation' of FH's Dune books being no longer canon and now being 'in universe' documents (something I find mindboggling. FH's Dune saga as nothing more than some dusty story written by Irulan?) as revealed in Paul of Dune, BH/KJA are now making their retcons more blatant. It's as if the 'FH's Dune is no longer canon' retcon is seen (and abused) as a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card. Tsk tsk.

Again, there are shill reviews for this book written by accounts that have only ONE review ever written, or a account with just a few reviews, all praising the McDune or other works by KJA. Surprising? No, especially when the same technique was used for the other BH/KJA McDune books. It's really sad how many shill reviews have been posted blindly praising this book or sounding like the inside flap of a dustjacket. Come on, shills, could you possibly be any more obvious? All of their books are nothing more than 'official' fanfiction at the best, and blatant attempts at milking the cash cow of Frank Herbert's legacy at the worst.

Frank wrote 6 Dune books that spanned 5000 years and had rich and educational messages with well-formed characters and a coherent plot. Things he skipped over - the 12 years of Paul's Jihad, the first 3508 years of Leto II's rule, the 1500 years of Famine Times and the Scattering - were mentioned instead of expounded upon for a reason, because Mr. Herbert put in what he thought was relevant to the overall storyline and the messages/lessons he was giving us (that the universe should not be under one ruler, that seeing everything with prescience wasn't good, that humankind needs to scatter to prevent stagnation - which was why Leto II bred the Siona gene, or what I like to call the 'no-gene' due to the invisibility it shares with no-ships, no-chambers, etc) were all ignored by BH and KJA in their fanfiction.

Except I wouldn't call it FANfiction, because I am a Dune fan, and I respect Frank Herbert's legacy. I did write a couple of oneshot fanfiction based off his books, but I certainly don't expect others to take my tribute to Dune as canon. I wrote these for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others, based off hints left in the Dune books. A true fan shouldn't be afraid to write fanfiction, but at the same time, a true fan would respect the legacy of the author, and I have nothing but the deepest respect for Mr. Herbert.

I am a picky reader and don't even care for Star Wars or Star Trek (not saying I hate them or think they're bad - it's just my preference) and am appalled that now ten McDune books have been written - more than Mr. Herbert did, yet these ten books have so little (or nothing) in relevance, interest, and respect to the universe that Mr. Herbert created. All Mr. Herbert's messages (that I listed above) have been ignored/negated by BH/KJA (The Ultimate Kwisatz Haderach in SADworms of Dune as the prime example) Paul's Jihad was a necessary catalyst to the fate of the Universe, but it was handled poorly in Paul of Dune, and this book is no better than its predecessor.

First prequels, then sequels, now inbetweenquels. I want BH/KJA to stop writing these McDune books, yet I am also curious to see how they handle the next book and what happens with Leto II. I know, I know, it makes me sound like a masochist. But it's like slowing down on the road to get a good look at a car accident - you know there's gonna be wreckage and possibly blood but you can't help but be curious. BH/KJA, please stop! Hasn't all the critical and honest reviews you've already received tell you anything? Please, for the sake of humanity, for the sake of Frank Herbert, for the sake of Spice and the sandworms and the 'I Shall Fear No Evil' mantra, please stop! Go back to your own original writing and leave poor Mr. Herbert alone!

I had a dream. Frank Herbert was crying. I comforted him and noticed that his tears were Spice essence, so I licked them off. Nothing sexual about this, mind you. I wouldn't dream of coming between him and his wife. And the Spice was awesome. I got atop a sandworm and rode it, and it was SO FREAKING COOL. Then the sandworm ate BH and KJA and the stupid Ultimate Kwisatz Haderach and I laughed.

This book (and the rest of McDune) made me cry. But there was no one to lick my tears or comfort me. :(

Frank Herbert, we love and miss you. Let me apologize for these horrible books, you and your legacy deserve much better. <3

Of course, this review was deleted. But I have it saved! :D And I'll just keep posting. Hello, Ronald and Artis and Dukester and everyone else! I love you guys!

(EDIT) If there is one thing I have learned from all this McDune drama, it's this. If you're an author, then put it in your will or whatever that NOBODY may "add" to your books (unless you trust them very well and have some sort of agreement with them - and if you do, make them sign a contract saying they will only write x number of books, and cannot recon your work). Currently I am writing several novels (including sci-fi) and I am going to hire a lawyer to write a iron-clad will that will not allow anyone else, including my own family members, to "use" my notes/outlines to write books in the universes that I create. If I die early in some freak accident and a book is unfinished... too bad. I'd be willing to allow a posthumous publication of my notes, unfinished stories, and outlines for others to enjoy and ponder, but that's beyond the point.

Yes, I was sad that FH was unable to write Dune 7, but looking at what his son and so-called number one fan did only confirms my decision to take legal actions regarding my own works to ensure that this kind of BS never happens to my legacy.

One of the great things about dune was that it put time between the books and events that happened. Frank decided that things weren't important to narrate - so he didn't. It's frustrating to see all of the gaps filled and it feels completely unnecessary.

With the advent of these "in-between" Dune novels, I have been re-reading the original series along with the new additions. As much as I love the series/Dune universe, these novels have been disappointing.

On the surface, Winds of Dune seems to have an appropriately unambitious focus- the months following Paul's disappearance. It seemed interesting to explore the character Bronso of Ix, who is mentioned but once in a chapter preface in Dune Messiah, and how he helped achieve the discrediting of Paul's reign. Dune Messiah doesn't really expand on this process, even though Paul realizes how vital it is to destroy his God persona so as not to become a martyr.

As the book unfolds, however, the amount of revisionism becomes simply absurd. The time-line jumps to Paul's youth before he ever came to Dune, and also dabbles in the years before the Jihad ended. This last flashback seems most ridiculous, since it occurs between Dune and Dune Messiah, making one wonder why it couldn't be included within Paul of Dune. Now Kevin Anderson and Brian Herbert are revising their own revisions!

Having read Winds of Dune immediately after Dune Messiah, and since I have continued on to Children of Dune, I have also noticed several glaring contradictions which include:

* In Winds of Dune Alia is reduced to a one-dimensional heavy-handed tyrant, making it difficult to believe her reign could last the 9 years between Dune Messiah and Children of Dune.

* Jessica is portrayed as a bleeding heart do-gooder who frequently undermines Alia's ruthless orders. This makes Jessica come off as meddling and obnoxious, and it is hard to sympathize with her self righteousness. During the opening chapters of Children of Dune, however, Jessica's security entourage summarily executes members of a public audience for not bowing quickly enough. This suggests that Jessica was much more pragmatic and capable of ruthlessness in Frank Herbert's original vision.

* Jessica grows to deeply despise and outright defy the Bene Gesserit Order in Winds of Dune, making it seem unlikely that she would rejoin the ranks by the time of Children of Dune.

* During a discussion between Paul's son Leto and Jessica in Children of Dune, Leto mentions in passing who Jessica's mother was, and it was NOT Mohiam as the Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson books have established and continue to assert.

There is also the question of style. Whereas the original Herbert's writing often meandered in stream-of-consciousness explorations of thoughts, implications, etc, the younger Herbert and Anderson try to imitate this by making constant references to elements of the past that they themselves invented. Even with these self-serving advertisements for their previous books, the prose often seems thin.

Like other reviewers, I have to question the motivation behind these "midquels." I understood fleshing out the preceding and succeeding story lines, but inserting stories BETWEEN Frank Herbert's original novels seems to dishonor his original vision. Brain Herbert's admission in the new introduction to Children of Dune that he and his father were estranged and not talking when the original Dune was released makes me even more suspicious of his motivations.

This is my second time reading through the Dune series. I will probably continue to buy/read the BH/KA offerings, but may only read them once. I still enjoy the other BH/KA books that weren't constrained by immediately adjacent Frank Herbert story-lines. When I read through the series a third time, I'll probably read the Butlerian Jihad trilogy, skip the House trilogy, read Frank Herbert's six, skipping the midquels, and finish with the Hunters/Sandworms conclusion to the series. The other books are amusing, but ultimately convolute the time-line too much. Now I know how confusing Prescience must be...

"Winds of Dune" is set just after Paul Atreides' death in "Dune Messiah." Frankly, "Dune Messiah" by Frank Herbert was not one of my favorite Dune novels, and this one by Anderson and Herbert Jr. is not nearly as good as "Dune Messiah." There are some flashbacks to Paul's youth in this one, and I found the storyline there, where Paul and Bronso of Ix (son of Rhombur and Tessia) run away from home to be irritating and implausible. Not at all like Paul, despite the justification that he was carrying out his pledge to guard Bronso.

Overall, this is a slow-moving novel that really has no place to go.

Kevin Anderson and Herbert Jr.'s "House Atreides," "House Harkonnen," and "House Corrino" prequels are all better than this one, as is "Paul of Dune."

This novel fails to work at many levels. I rate this one a clean miss. RJB.