Herbert Brian 01

Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron

Author Title Reviewed

Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson House Atriedes August 2000

Published by Price Pages

Is Prelude to Dune : House Atreides a worthy addition to the series?
So, what about Prelude to Dune : House Atreides? Are Brian and Kevin cashing in on a classic series, or is it a worthy addition to our knowledge of the Dune universe? On balance, I am giving it a thumbs up. I enjoyed it as a prequel. Particularly satisfying was the explanation of why Baron Harkonnen was a crippled hulk incapable of walking in Dune.
There was credible development of the existing characterisation, and the authors demonstrate a deep knowledge of the Dune universe. They have also taken the opportunity to develop a number of characters such as Count Fenring who are only minor characters in Dune. Experts on Frank Herbert’s style would probably be able to detect differences in the two styles, but to me it was seamless, and definitely very readable. Not as good as Dune, this first prequel is easily better than the least good of Frank’s series.

A Dune ‘virgin’ could read the prequels before Dune and lose nothing. However Frank Herbert’s story starts at a cracking pace and develops the characters very quickly. I wonder if it would work the other way round. Also, that would necessitate waiting for the next two volumes to be published. Why bother? The rest of us mortals enjoyed the series in the sequence they were written, so don’t hesitate, get stuck in there!

The excellent news is that after Brian & Kevin had started work on the Prequels, Frank’s long lost comprehensive notes for Dune VII the sequel to Chapterhouse were discovered in a couple of safety-deposit boxes. So coming soon a series (no doubt) of sequels as well.

Author	Title	Reviewed
Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson	House Atriedes	August 2000
Published by	Price	Pages

Is Prelude to Dune : House Atreides a worthy addition to the series? So, what about Prelude to Dune : House Atreides? Are Brian and Kevin cashing in on a classic series, or is it a worthy addition to our knowledge of the Dune universe? On balance, I am giving it a thumbs up. I enjoyed it as a prequel. Particularly satisfying was the explanation of why Baron Harkonnen was a crippled hulk incapable of walking in Dune. There was credible development of the existing characterisation, and the authors demonstrate a deep knowledge of the Dune universe. They have also taken the opportunity to develop a number of characters such as Count Fenring who are only minor characters in Dune. Experts on Frank Herbert’s style would probably be able to detect differences in the two styles, but to me it was seamless, and definitely very readable. Not as good as Dune, this first prequel is easily better than the least good of Frank’s series. A Dune ‘virgin’ could read the prequels before Dune and lose nothing. However Frank Herbert’s story starts at a cracking pace and develops the characters very quickly. I wonder if it would work the other way round. Also, that would necessitate waiting for the next two volumes to be published. Why bother? The rest of us mortals enjoyed the series in the sequence they were written, so don’t hesitate, get stuck in there! The excellent news is that after Brian & Kevin had started work on the Prequels, Frank’s long lost comprehensive notes for Dune VII the sequel to Chapterhouse were discovered in a couple of safety-deposit boxes. So coming soon a series (no doubt) of sequels as well.