The Machine Crusade is Over!!

[Wolf72]

well, I just got The Battle of Corrin from the library ... the last of the pre-prequel Dune series.

overall it's okay, I've been able to breeze through it ... nothing has quite caught my attention and made me pay real attention to it so far.

the first book was more interesting ... the second and third just seem to be okay.

One thing I do like is how integral (in the dune universe) parts get wiped out with out a thought ... no gloating or last minute rescues ... just dead. (the poor poor cogitors, they underestimated the power of mob stupidity and megolomaniacs.)

anyone else read this series? ... or how about the 2 new books by Scott Westerfeld? (shoot ... the undying empire? can't remember the series name)

[edit: Westerfeld ... thanks for the correction!]

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

It's called The Risen Empire which is Book One of Succession. I'm on page 38, I started a couple of days ago but real life and work have cut into my reading time.

And sorry to nitpick but for anyone who might be looking for this the author is Scott Westerfeld not Westerfield. I made the same mistake looking for him on the computer at work for the next book.

 

[ddvmor]

I'm about halfway through the Battle of Corrin right now. So far I'm quite enjoying it although, as you say it's not exactly fantastic. Compared to the first set of prequels, this latest series seems somewhat rushed - almost like the first draft got published rather than on that had been through a strict editorial process - the story is great in theat the especific events, plot twists and so on work really well and keep the interest, but Anderson's narrative just isn't engaging. And we know he can do better.

Still - It's worth a read, just don't expect a great work of literature.

Has anyone read any of Anderson's Hidden Empire series? I'm considering buying the first book.

 

[Wolf72]

Risen Empire ... by Westerfeld, got it. (it's not nitpicking, you were making a simple correction)

anyway ... read the first two books, I liked first one, lots of action ... and the second one, lots of intrigue.

the universe is very interesting as well ... somewhat reminscent of the Worthing Saga (sleep long periods, awaken for a few, then back to sleep)

 

[kingamy]

One thing I do like is how integral (in the dune universe) parts get wiped out with out a thought ... no gloating or last minute rescues ... just dead. (the poor poor cogitors, they underestimated the power of mob stupidity and megolomaniacs.)

Yeah, I found that refreshing. Major characters and institutions aren't "safe" just because we've come to like them.

Like has been said, the third book felt a bit rushed. I *hope* that's because BH and KJA are hard at work on finishing up Dune 7. I met BH and KJA in 2002 (at a nice intimate book signing attended by only 15 people, so I say "met" rather than "saw"), and they said that they were going to work on that project after finishing the Jihad series.

kingamy

 

[Wolf72]

oooh Dune 7, yes! ... I remember reading the foreward (or was it the afterward), anyway ... Brian found Dad's notes for the next book and ... what you already said.

just had a thought, if you know who had done what he was suppossed to ... what would the Dune universe be like without Mentats? I mean, I'm sure something would happen to get someone/thing similiar ...

 

[DanMcS]

Like has been said, the third book felt a bit rushed. I *hope* that's because BH and KJA are hard at work on finishing up Dune 7. I met BH and KJA in 2002 (at a nice intimate book signing attended by only 15 people, so I say "met" rather than "saw"), and they said that they were going to work on that project after finishing the Jihad series.

I think it's because they got to the third book and realized they hadn't set up the predecessors for all the groups they had to set up. "Well, we kinda have the bene gesserit and the guild, but we still have to set up the suk doctors, the mentats, the corrino family, the harkonnen family, the atreides-harkonnen rivalry, need to get rid of the machines and the cymeks because they don't appear later," and on and on. The authors just ran out of space and had too many loose ends to wrap up.

I really liked the plot elements that ran from one prequel series to the next, though. For instance, you hear about the Tlielaxu in the first series, who use slaves to provide spare parts for people, while pretending they have actually cloned them. By the "House..." series, they actually do clone and grow biological stuff, but it's not until House Corrino that you really find out HOW they do it.

I need to reread Dune and then work my way through its sequels, because I don't think I ever made it all the way through them before.

 

[Wolf72]

about the last two books

Spoiler

I liked the last two books of the Dune series, although the Honored Matres kinda had a Space Sluts from Beyond aura about them.

 

[Mad Hatter]

I haven't read the prequels because it seems like it would take away from the originals; especially if they add their own thoughts and stuff and not simply write from Frank Herbert's outline and notes. Some friends of mine did say they were good books, if simple.

 

[ddvmor]

The 'House' trilogy is definitely worth a read. The Butlerian Jihad ones are not so well written, although I don't think they detract from the overall series.