Chapterhouse: Dune, by Frank Herbert, is the final book of the Dune Chronicles. Better than the last two, IMHO, but still not as good as the first three. Exciting ending. I wonder what was to happen in Herbert's mind if he did not die?#

Heretics of Dune, by Frank Herbert, is the fifth installment of the Dune Chronicles.#

I did not enjoy the majority of this book, but like most books in the Dune series, the end is so compelling and so curious that you just have to want to read the next book. Luckily, there is only one more original, then I can just look at FAQs and the like for more informational cravings.#

God Emperor of Dune, by Frank Herbert, is the surprising fourth book in the Dune series.#

I very much enjoy the idea of incredibly long-term plans. Leto's plans can take place of thousands of years, because of his enhanced life-span. The idea about managing the breeding of his descendents is very curious.#

This book also contains a great deal of interesting musing about the difference between men and women, particularly with regards to woman-dominated societies and women-in-war. This and the discussion of ancestral memory and the amount of history living in everyone is very... thought provoking.#

Quotes:#

"A bad administrator s more concerned with reports than with decisions. He wants the hard record which he can display as an excuse for his errors."

"And good administrators?"

"Oh, they depend on verbal orders. They never lie about what they've done if their verbal orders cause problems, and they surround themselves with people able to act wisely on the basis of verbal orders. Often, the most important piece of information is that something has gone wrong. Bad administrators hide their mistakes until it's too late to make corrections." [p. 241]

At a completely different moment of the story:

She said: "My Uncle Malky used to say that love was a bad bargain because you get no guarantees."

"Your Uncle Malky was a wise man."

"He was stupid! Love needs no guarantees."

Surprise ending!#

The Children of Dune, by Frank Herbert, is amazing continuation of the Dune Chronicles.#

This book has much more adventure and interesting new characters. Leto II's transformation is incredibly interesting and fits well with the world Herbert created. I have a hard time putting these books down.#

Dune Messiah, by Frank Herbert, is a great follow-up to Dune.#

This book is much more about `palace intrigue' than adventure on Dune and learning about the strange things about this universe. It also had less about Maud'Dib's powers. However, I read it much faster than I read Dune, so that says something about its appeal.#

Dune, by Frank Herbert, is an intense book. Perhaps the first science-fiction book I have enjoyed in a very long time. The author did a fabulous job of creating a believable and consistent world.#

An interesting quote:#

"Grave this on your memory, lad: A world is supported by four things..." She held up four big-knuckled fingers. "...the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous and the valor of the grave. But all of these are as nothing..." She closed her fingers into a fist. "...without a ruler who knows the art of ruling. Make that the science of your tradition!"