I know that Frank Herbert's "God Emperor of Dune" is a divisive book among 'Dune' fans. I read it years ago, and the way I've remembered it ever since was as if it were one long discussion between Leto II and Duncan Idaho in a dark room far underground, with Leto doing most of the talking.
Due to recent business travel, I was having trouble sleeping, so while looking for a 'boring' book to read at night to help me get to sleep, I pulled 'God Emperor of Dune' off the shelf and started reading. I found it to be much, much better than I recalled. I must say, I've often read stories where authors try to come up with a "wise and mysterious" character who spouts clever enigmatic sayings (like Morpheus in 'The Matrix' for example)... such characters usually quickly wear out their welcome. Not so with Leto II, he is one of the most interesting characters I've ever read, and his 'clever and wise quips' are as engaging at the end of the story as at the beginning. Recalling something of his demise at the end of the book, my interest grew as I read, trying to decide whether Leto was trying to set up the events to happen as they did at the end of the book - and honestly, I could go either way on it.
Anyway, I'm glad I reread it... it was really worth it. It also reminded me how much Frank's writing stands HEAD AND SHOULDERS above that of his son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson's later 'Dune 7' books. I read them a few years ago in hopes of concluding the cliffhanger from 'Chapterhouse: Dune", and whoa, I was shocked how terrible they were. (At least I only borrowed them from the library and didn't buy them!) My opinion of them is even worse now having reread "God Emperor."
I read here often but very rarely post, and I haven't seen any threads in this vein recently, so I thought it was worth posting. Let me know what others think, or if anyone had a similar response to mine... in fact, I'd love to hear from people who reread it and had the opposite reaction!
Due to recent business travel, I was having trouble sleeping, so while looking for a 'boring' book to read at night to help me get to sleep, I pulled 'God Emperor of Dune' off the shelf and started reading. I found it to be much, much better than I recalled. I must say, I've often read stories where authors try to come up with a "wise and mysterious" character who spouts clever enigmatic sayings (like Morpheus in 'The Matrix' for example)... such characters usually quickly wear out their welcome. Not so with Leto II, he is one of the most interesting characters I've ever read, and his 'clever and wise quips' are as engaging at the end of the story as at the beginning. Recalling something of his demise at the end of the book, my interest grew as I read, trying to decide whether Leto was trying to set up the events to happen as they did at the end of the book - and honestly, I could go either way on it.
Anyway, I'm glad I reread it... it was really worth it. It also reminded me how much Frank's writing stands HEAD AND SHOULDERS above that of his son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson's later 'Dune 7' books. I read them a few years ago in hopes of concluding the cliffhanger from 'Chapterhouse: Dune", and whoa, I was shocked how terrible they were. (At least I only borrowed them from the library and didn't buy them!) My opinion of them is even worse now having reread "God Emperor."
I read here often but very rarely post, and I haven't seen any threads in this vein recently, so I thought it was worth posting. Let me know what others think, or if anyone had a similar response to mine... in fact, I'd love to hear from people who reread it and had the opposite reaction!
