Mentats of Dune: Book Two of the Schools of Dune Trilogy

I first read Dune back in the 1970's. My first attempt ended in a sense of boredom and some frustration after about 40 pages. I sensed it was a great story but there was an ineffable quality about it that didn't seem quite right. A couple of years pasted and I picked it up once again and finished it within a couple of days. I now realize how superbly crafted Dune was. Though the story of this polymath was expanded and made far more interesting in Children of Dune, Heretics of Dune, Chapter House Dune, etc, Herbert's literary style never quite achieved the same level as his first great work. I've read all of Brian Herbert's efforts to expand on this great story. As his father clearly intended this saga is the story of the human race. It is a story that began for those of us steeped in Western Civilization with the oral history of the House of Atreus. It began with Greek tragedies. It is no accident that themes from Ancient Greece continue throughout this deep and imaginative creation. This is a tale to revival and in many ways exceed the tales of Brave Ulysses. Mentats of Dune is the best of Brian Herbert's and Kevin Anderson's efforts so far (I thoroughly enjoyed the Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, etc). It is well written, it contains subtle humor and it is nuanced. In some respects it closely approaches the level of storytelling of the first installment, Dune. The story is much wider now, and its expanse is the human universe. The characters at the opposite ends of the human experience are all deep thinkers even Half-Manford. They have their deeply held convictions and incentives. They have their visions. One of the most interesting themes to emerge is a glimmer of the path which may lead to the true corruption of House Harkonnen. It is subtle but, I think, it is there. I personally never considered Abulurd either a coward or a traitor. Vorian Atreides made a petulant and ill-considered decision when he banished that man. It was not cowardice that drove Abulurd it was nobility and a desire to save lives. It was not cowardice that Vorian could not accept; it was Abulurd's disloyalty to Vorian's immediate orders and will. Vorian started this feud. Oh and yes the feud continues and will doubtless end in more blood. I look forward to the next installment and hope that it will be as well crafted as this one. I hope it doesn't take too long.

I was satisfied with Mentats of Dune, just like I have been satisfied with the rest of the books Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have written to expand the Dune universe beyond what Frank Herbert left behind before finishing the final volume of what he intended to include in the original Dune saga. I enjoyed this book and Sisterhood of Dune before it, and I do find it kind of nice to experience the births of these individuals sects within the Imperium of Dune though I find myself a bit incredulous that these things would all be transpiring at essentially the same time. Suspension of disbelief is essential in fiction, and perhaps a bit more so with these supplemental Dune novels than with the ones Frank Herbert had published, and his included a character who melded himself with sandworm larva in order to become a giant worm himself...but at least Herbert wrote it in such a way that it felt internally consistent. My only real problem with Mentats of Dune is the same one I've had with the other volumes added by Herbert and Anderson, as authors and world builders they lack nuance and subtlety. The use of the name Quemada was a bit too on-the-head for me, regarding a character who served as an inquisititor specializing in torture. I actually almost gagged when reading anything pertaining to that character because it was just too bland and uninspired. This is a prime example of what is missing from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Dune novels...subtlety. Frank Herbert had no shortage of subtlety or imagination and he planned narratives hundreds or maybe even thousands of pages ahead, allowing for slow burns and gradual revelations. No matter how well-detailed Frank's notes and backgrounds were (and everything I know of the man serves to reinforce the belief that he was intensely meticulous), the simple fact is that his neither his son nor Anderson are the caliber of author he was, and that makes their expansions on Frank's notes and outlines feel a bit more hollow than I wish they did. These are still good books and essential reading for any real fans of Dune, but they aren't great or awe inspiring in the way that Frank Herbert's novels were. His books created a universe that readers begged to know in greater depth and detail, and these supplemental novels are the Carnival cruise that takes us through there. It's a good time but it's just not as enjoyable as you hope it will be.

Great story. Lots of complicated moving parts as well as old and new people including machines to follow. The journey continues. It feels like the author created a very complicated new world with his books. Enjoyed on both audible and kindle

Fantastic story

Frank Herbert's original Dune novel was one of the Greatest of All Time science fiction novels. For this of us fascinated by this unique universe, we can't get enough of it and the prequels and sequels fill in a rich complex history. Although, of course, part of the wonder and awe of the first novels was that there was a deep mystery to many things, a history that remained undiscovered. That joy of mystery is somewhat abated as the stories get filled in. And the genius of the original Dune can never be matched. Keeping those things in mind, Mentats is still a fascinating read as the germs of what eventually became the power centers of the universe are set out. Eighty years after the final defeat of the thinking machines, the world is still consumed with the Butlerian anti-technology jihad, a mob empowered riotous force led by Manford, a legless prophet who is carried about by his own personal swordmaster. Arrayed against the Butlerians are the Venports who run what will become the Spacing Guild with a near monopoly on space transport and a monopoly on melange, the spice from Arrakis that the space navigators must consume to see through fold space and that billions more are addicted to. The Corrinos are in the Imperial Palace but playing a weak third compared to the Spacing Guild and the Butlerians. The Bene Gesserits are weak and divided, having recently been driven to Wallach IX. The mentat school, producing human computers, has few defenses and hides a terrible secret. And, of course, we see the millennium-long feud between the Atriedes and the Harkonens play out. This novel is about these divisions and animosities playing out as the characters maneuver themselves in the struggle for power and survival. It should be seen as more of a chapter in a longer story arc rather than a self contained climatic story. Designed for readers of the Dune universe, not so much newbies with no such experience.

If you are a fan of Dune, you must read triste! The Spice must flow, always. I cant Wait to next book!

First, you must let go this idea of comparing the son to the father, of apples to oranges. Personally, I love the original Dune series but found the series almost unreadable after the death of the twins. And if you liked those last two original then please read book 7 & 8 which to me are worthless dribble. This book like Sisters is not as good as the prequel "House" series but maybe that is because some of the original characters overlap or maybe it is theses two authors were still fresh and original at this. I would love to see them toss the ball to a third party even for just one book. I would love to see an entire book written on the Dune planet. I think these new books suffer from jumping around too much and often the scene being written is predictable and filler, forcing the reader to skim. That said, this book is not as much about the Mentats as I would hope but more about the Sisters. But the sisters felt more real and developed in this book then in the last and Vor is great too even though he has a much smaller role. geez, a whole book of Vor or a whole book of any one character in the style of Bean and Ender would be mouth watering, refreshing, and super. Often these books are dragged out. I find these new series to have a fairly good first book and the.n it slowly weans in the second to almost bad in the third. The religious zealots are tiresome and boring. So one may wonder why I gave it three stars and even recommend getting it? Good question. I noted some of the pros above and won't rehash, but these books have what we want to see: the history of the space guild, the sisters, the Mentats, and Paul's ancestors. The robots and cyme is and religious zealots need to stop.....boring rehash! What we need is more sand and a whole book of sand. Please. Pretty please.

This is a wonderful addition to the ongoing Dune saga. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one!