Are the new Dune books any good?

Question

I've read Dune, Dune Messiah, The Children of Dune, and The God Emperor of Dune.

As far as I'm concerned Dune ended with the death of Leto II

Is there any incentive to reading the new books?

How do they compare?

Do the characters in the new books have the same depth as those by old Frank?

Answer 1

I'm with you on that one dude. When Frank Herbert died and the Dune saga was left unfinished I automatically selected the first four books as the best in the series.
I read the trilogy by his son (Houses Harko,Artreide, and Corrino) and they were'nt very good as far as my tastes go. specifically because they really didn't add to the mythos.
The Machine Crusade and the Battle of Corrin meanwhile went against many of the ideas and concepts stated in the Encyclopedia of Dune ( which is non-canon but made with the approval of Frank Herbert ) although I liked the main story and treated them as such: stories of a distant past.
The fifth and sixth novels I really didnt like because the characters in them were so far from the qualities of Muad'Dib that they seemed like a totally different series.
The seventh novel ( published posthumously) dealing with the Honored Matres is more of the same, leaving me unsatisfied upon finishing it. The ending wasn't elegant enough to compare to the first four books. What I really wanted was more of Paul and Leto, NOT evolved fish speakers and Tleilaxu spawn.

Answer 2

New Dune Books

Answer 3

I had the same reservations as everyone else but decided to bite the bullet when I was stuck for something to read on vacation. I got all three volumes of The Prelude to Dune in one go.

At first, I found the writing style a bit stiff but I kept going. I got Hunters and Sandworms as soon as I could. I found that towards the end, I really couldn't put Hunters down. I will say, without spoiling it for anyone, that the climax was a bit contrived - a lot like those plays where all the principal actors are brought back on stage for the final curtain.

Answer 4

I've read all the books in sequential order up to Sandworms--currently reading Sandworms of Dune, actually. Yes, the styles are very different between Frank and his son, but I enjoyed them all. If you're looking to continue with Franks style of writing, I think you'll find it with Heretics (the next one published). The story takes place thousands of years after the death of Leto II, but I still felt it quite interesting to delve into the Bene Jesserit's society and story arc.

As for Brian Herbert's books, they will not have the same "depth" you might find in Frank's book, but I still found the stories captivating. Besides, with the legends of dune and prequels of dune series, it was quiet interesting to see how all those beloved and despised characters of Franks world came about and developed.

Try reading Butlarian Jihad. If you don't like it, you won't like the rest of Brian's other dune books--all same style of writing. And I wouldn't advise trying to compare them to Frank's work. His son admits it's not going to be the same style of writing. Brian's work is good on it's own merits--namely good action.

Answer 5

I agree. The trilogy was the best of all of the Dune books. And after "The God Emperor" they really went downhill as the magic was gone...for me anyway.