Heretics Of Dune: The Fifth Dune Novel: The inspiration for the blockbuster film

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Indeed, not only can Lucilla administer ‘vaginal pulsing’, she can control genital temperature, and arouse the 51 excitation points (the sequencing plus the combinations number 2 008), in addition to the 205 sexual positions. I already feel that Frank Herbert’s writing style has changed, but imo I like this differing style (not better or worse, just still like it for what it is).

At last, after three books of nothing but plots, within plots, within plots, wrapped in layers upon layers of intrigues, Herbert brings some much needed action back to the series. Though he's more of a minor character in the first three books, he becomes a more central figure as the series progresses and all other bridges to the earlier volumes are washed away. Chief among these is the hidebound priesthood that adopts the seer Sheeana, whose lineage can be traced back to Siona in ‘God Emperor’ (and even further back to the aristocratic Atreides themselves.Nothing that happens in this book feels as though it was part of a flowing narrative where events move seamlessly and flawlessly along until it all comes crashing down at the end. The Bene Gesserit intends to use a Tleilaxu-provided Duncan Idaho ghola to gain control of this sandrider, and the religious forces of humanity who they know will ultimately worship her.

The main characters are a reasonable enough bunch but they just aren't very remarkable, as to the 'villains'. He tries to assassinate Taraza but Odrade convinces him that the Sisterhood shares the religious beliefs of the Bene Tleilax. Herbert instead chooses to focus on his protagonist's heightened awareness, and the character in question reminisces on childhood experiences and considers the forces at work in the universe whilst distractedly lopping off the bad guys' heads with the occasional sweep of a hand. And after this experience, I have come to the conclusion that Heretics of Dune can either be a very good book, or a soul-crushingly mediocre one depending on what you read immediately before picking it up. It lacks the original's extraordinary novelty and its mythic, archetypal plot, but this is a thoughtful, intelligent and well-structured work that stands with Herbert's best.Descended from Bene Gesserit who fled Leto II centuries earlier, I still don’t know what their end goal is. When we don't know what drives a character to do what they do, anything that they DO end up doing is confusing and pointless. I enjoy the first four books of the Dune series, but by the fifth book, I must admit something in the story is getting old. The obsessively resurrected clone of the original that has come back nearly countless times over 5k years?

It’s also funny that Brian Herbert in his introduction talks a lot about “the strong characterization of women” in the Dune series, particularly in Heretics and Chapterhouse, and how “female characters get stronger and stronger as the series develops … in Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune, women are running most of the important planets in the Dune universe. The sheer scope of time that has passed makes for fascinating reading and this is an excellent book. None of the character motivations are clear, and far too many plot points are left entirely to the reader's imagination. Well, now Herbert has gone full circle just like poor old Leto II, and gives us a supremely seductive Sisterhood that counts its sexual wiles as a key weapon in its feminine arsenal, as dangerous even as the Voice.The void left by the death of God-Emperor and the collapse of his empire resulted in the Scattering, a universal diaspora of humanity that provides Herbert an opportunity to re-tool his already complex world building and now various groups vie for power: Bene Gesserit, Bene Thleilaxu, Ix, Guild, Rakis priests and the emergence of a new and ruthless power, the Honored Matres. Anyway, despite liking this book in my younger years, I found it terribly written, convoluted, and far too vague for comfort.