Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13100 in Books
• Published on: 1987-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

From AudioFile
Book Three in the original Dune series relies heavily upon the events and the background of the first two books. Leto and Ghanima, twin children of Paul Atreides, are old beyond their years, as they hold the genetic memories of their ancestors. Climate change on the planet Arrakis threatens the desert life of the Fremen, the sandworms, and the production of spice. Simon Vance anchors this full-cast production. He is engaged with the characters and the complex plot. His presentation of the many characters is skillful, and the narrative passages never lag. Vance has a serious but light touch and deals adeptly with suspense, dissension, philosophical musings, and fanatical ravings. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Hero of Classic Sci-fi
Rarely has a book been as beautifully and poniontly written as Children of Dune, Frank Herbert's third book in the Dune Chronicles. Filled with all of the original cast and several new charecters, Children of Dune explores like its predecessors the creation of Gods and Messiahs from men, albeit prodigal men, but men nonetheless; the creations of empires and the development of societies; and the relationships that bind people together throughout the ages.

In short, a wonderful book that I highly recommend.

Even better than Dune Messiah!
After writing a sci-fi novel on the order of Dune, it was understandably tough to follow it up with anything that would come close in Dune Messiah. While it wasn't a bad book at all, Dune Messiah? Even better. Continuing from Dune Messiah, the theme is a dark one as the Atreides twins are essentially orphans after Paul's final descent into the Arrakeen Desert and Chani's death in childbirth.

The twins hold the key to the Atreides Empire and throughout the book are plotted against, subject to manipulation, and trying to figure out how to stay a step ahead of their foes. House Corrino, the former displaced Emperor Shaddam's Great House, is looking for a return to power on Arrakis and intends to do away with the twins to get this measure accomplished by putting the Emperors grandson Farad'n on the throne.

Readers of the Dune Series up to this point will thoroughly enjoy this book as more than a few familiar faces from the Atreides household come back, including an awesome surprise from a mysterious character that preaches against Paul's empire. Who is this strange character known as The Preacher and why is he doing this?

Overall, Children of Dune takes many twists and turns as the unstable Aunt Alia of the twins becomes more and more like the Abomination that the Bene Gesserit sisterhood predicted as she succumbs to being taken over by the spirit of a past family member and becomes more and more tyrannical over the Dune Empire that Paul worked so hard to build.

The Empire is unstable on Dune, as the religious government that Paul setup is being constantly abused and tightened by Alia. The twins know that a change is in order, the question is what sacrifices will they both have to make to ensure humanities survival not only on Dune, but throughout the galaxy?

STILL RELEVANT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Just replace the product in this novel from spice to oil. Now pick up a news paper or go to a gas station to fill your car, Frank had an amazing vision. Who is the evil Baron now?