Frank Herbert's "Dune" series is said to be the top seller among all science fiction sagas written so far. When asked to pick a favourite, I usually feel cornered to provide an honest reply because, to me, it ties with Isaac Asimov's Foundation and Arthur C. Clarke's Rama books. Dune is a totally different opus, though: Herbert created a very complex and thorough universe where one can get completely immersed or perhaps even trapped. I remember being deeply affected when I read the first book: I felt terribly guilty taking a shower after having read how scarce and valuable water was in Arrakis.
One of the biggest merits of the Dune books is their vast scope: they're not all about science or technology. They talk at length about military, politics, religion, ethics, ecology, sociology, you name it. What got me so engrossed was the fact that I was reading a fascinating story about people, individuals and societies, which at the same time made me consider all other "aspects of reality".
Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson put out this brave and bold attempt to revisit Frank's worlds, but it can't be compared to the older books. What's interesting about this one is that it details events in the near past before Dune and gives more background on characters that people came to love. It also sheds a light on the Guild, which good old Frank kept as a mysterious, obscure organization in his tomes.
All in all, it's a must read for any Dune fan, but it's not the type of book that is going to start a following on its own.
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