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Mentats Of Dune (2014)

by Brian Herbert(Favorite Author)

3.85 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0765322749 (ISBN13: 9780765322746)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Tor Books

series

Dune Universe

review 1: This book has so much potential. The Dune universe and history fascinates me and the book could have done so much more. Instead, we have a book bordering on vapid and extraneous. With quick chapters of a few pages apiece, I felt more like I reading just a clip of each chapter (like the 30 second samples of songs). There were too many story lines (think we could have done without the Fremen saboteur story line at least). The book had a feel of a pretty good fan fiction than anything else.This book can be enjoyed without thinking too much. This is my version of what my aunt called "romantic trash" (she likes reading romance novels): inconsequential light reading that is almost embarrassing to tell people that you read.
review 2: Mentats of Dune cont... moreinues the post-Jihad, pre-Frank Herbert story started in previous books. In this one, despite what the title implies, it is equally about the Mentats, the Sisterhood, VenHold, the Emperor, and, oddly enough, research scientists at a VenHold black site. All of these groups of people are intertwined and act with their own agendas, often in conflict with others. There are some secondary stories, but they take place within the context of the previously mentioned main lines. The Butlerians continue their anti-technology crusade in a seemingly blind manner (How are starships allowed?) placing them at odds with the Mentats, who value rational thinking, and the Corrino Imperial family, who can't stand the loss of power. VenHold resents the Butlerians and cannot understand why the Mentat School has an agreement with them while at the same time, loathing the Emperor for caving to Butlerian demands. The Sisterhood seems to be all over the place with the ancient Mother Superior dying, factions infighting, and petty family grudges. The Mentats have a Headmaster harboring several dark secrets, an Imperial student with personality issues, Butlerian spies/students, and, bafflingly enough, being headquartered on the Butlerian home world.This was a very mediocre read when compared to the other titles. The Butlerians are insane, and, like most religious fundamentalism, picks and chooses what they will agree with at a whim while cloaked in hypocrisy and will scream if they don't get what they want. The Corrino's FINALLY begin to assert themselves towards the end, until then, the Emperor is barely competent and overly emotional, allowing the Butlerians to walk all over him. VenHold hates the Butlerians and does everything they can to discredit or destroy them, even wiping out an entire world as retribution. The Sisterhood seems to drag on and contradict themselves (How does an ancient Mother Superior barely keep herself together while climbing hills and running? The way the book tells it, she's all-but-dead as it is.) and focuses on the infighting between the Orthodox Sisterhood on Salusa Secundus and the computer-loving Sisterhood on Wallach IX.Because it is Mentats of Dune, the Mentats represent the "Bulk" of the main story. The Headmaster and his robotic "Father" establish a school on the same planet the Butlerians use as their headquarters, knowing full well what could happen if their secrets are discovered. They even take on an Imperial family member to help, though, the robot decides to experiment with the emotions of the volatile student. All of this happens at a time when the Butlerians are inciting riots, err... festivals, demanding fealty oaths, attacking people they disagree with, and haphazardly banning technology. There were several "Well, it took you long enough" moments I had while reading the Mentat sections because, for such seemingly rational people, they thrive on not acknowledging the obvious until they are well past a point of no return with no other options... such as relocate.I found Mentats of Dune a read that kept on going past the point it really should have ended. Why do we need chapters on recruiting a corporate sabotage squad? Why do we need chapters on reuniting with your long lost family when that story can be touched upon mostly in the Sisterhood threads? I am curious as what the next book will be like, hopefully, it will be more concise and less contradictory. less

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