JUST OK, reluctant 4 stars....

Decently written but unremarkable Dune rehash, meant to pick up where Dune left off, that never manages to engage. No further insights into the vividly drawn characters from Dune, in fact they all seem rather sterile. Paul & company are disenchanted with the direction things have taken, and you will be too. If you're a Dune junkie, you may want to read this. Otherwise, probably wise to skip.

13 people found this helpful

It took me two tries ...

It took me two tries to start listening to this book - I just couldn't stand the religious zealots...then it got good - I really liked the intricate story around the Fenrings and bitterness of Shaddam. I have been a fan of the Dune universe for a very long time and I really enjoy the expanded universe that has been woven with the prequels and now this interstitial tale - and it looks like more to come. I think this story was needed - and it helped to make sense of the jump from the noble son of a duke to a messiah for which a jihad is fought.

Had some problems at first with the 2nd and 3rd parts as my bookmarks on the Zune (kept showing me Chapter 1) and my machine was not holding my bookmark when I shut the book off and had to fast forward to my position everytime I restarted.

4 people found this helpful

Great Listen but...

This will get slammed by some because it's not Frank Herbert, well guess what? Frank is long gone and there was only one of him.
Brian and Kevin are their own writers and they carry on the Dune experience in their own very exciting fashion, I really like it because while reflecting Franks original concept they really add some great ideas into the original story line. So from some of the purest I think there will be alot of gripes but for the rest of us we shall just enjoy a great book that carries on the amazing world of DUNE!

44 people found this helpful

Good back stories but not much more

A significant portion of this book where back stories of young Paul usually consisting of events that occurred prior to Dune. As others have said there is very little that adds to the story that skipping this book will make you miss. This book was written as an insert between Dune and Dune Messiah and it is clear in that respect. I think of this book as Dune 1.5 if Dune Messiah is Dune 2.

I see this book as a summer extension of a TV series. Missing this book will not cause those who follow the real seasons (Dune) and (Dune Messiah) will miss.

6 people found this helpful

A Prescient Filling in of the Gaps in Dune Lore

A strong, well-paced story that leaps back and forth provides a deeply and richly layered history of what made Paul Atreides the Kwisatz Haderach and a flawed, even tormented, but ultimately decisive emperor of the known galaxy.

2 people found this helpful

More drudge from Brian Herbert

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The only reason to listen to this is to get the back-story for the events in Dune Messiah. Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson though are amateurs whose writing seems to cater to 5th graders, they take no time to build up a story or create worlds like Frank Herbert did. There is little imagination and the story is told in a haphazard fashion.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something not by Brian Herbert.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

The narrator was fine. Not his fault the material is atrocious.

Was Paul of Dune worth the listening time?

No not really. If there were Cliffs Notes they would have been more enjoyable.

2 people found this helpful

Paul of Dune

This book is excellent in that it tells of the events in detail to set you up for Dune Messiah and the rise and fall of Paul M'uab dib. All the problems and challenges he face as the new emperor of the known universe. I have to say I really didn't like Paul in this book but it was so exciting to listen to!!!

4 people found this helpful

Why oh why did Frank Herbert die

I foolishly keep hoping that these guys will improve and pay proper homage to Frank's masterpiece. But again I am sorely dissapointed. I don't understand how you can take characters that we have come to love and them them so unloveable. If you love Frank Herbert, don't bother with this.

8 people found this helpful

Poor writing, a book for dude bros

I'm definitely struggling to finish this one. Definitely a boring listen. The pacing is poor and the story disjointed. The authors clearly don't know how to write multidimensional women, and they make an absolute mess of the one ostensibly gay character. Paul is slightly better written, but still highly one dimensional. Finally, which is one of the books greater sins, is that if you've just read or listened to Dune, you'll notice several inconsistencies in the plot and other details. The narration was good overall, but there was no female voice actor and the narrator did terrible female voices.

1 person found this helpful

this is the worst book out of the dune series.

seriously don't even bother. story jumps around and feels like they are just bringing up characters to get lovers of the series into it. avoid at all cost.

3 people found this helpful