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Summary
More than three thousand years have passed since the first events recorded in Frank Herbert's DUNE. Only one link survives with those tumultuous times: the grotesque figure of Leto Atreides, son of the prophet Paul Muad'Dib, and now the virtually immortal God Emperor of Dune. He alone understands the future, and he knows with a terrible certainty that the evolution of his race is at an end unless he can breed new qualities into his species. But to achieve his final victory, Leto Atreides must also bring about his own downfall . . .
I've always been a massive fan of the first three books in Frank Herbert's Dune series. However, 'God Emperor of Dune' was a bit of a slow burn. Similar to the previous Dune books, there's plenty of internal monologue, which I didn't mind when it was Paul Atreides doing the thinking. Plus, there was always some external action and a sense of high stakes. In this installment, however, the stakes feel incredibly low for an almost immortal Emperor Leto. His thoughts, despite supposedly having access to countless human memories and 3000 years of personal experience, come across as mundane, which really drags down the entire book except for the initial action-packed introduction. Additionally, Leto's use of technology (not to mention the lack of drama surrounding an immortal emperor defying the ban on thinking machines) feels outdated compared to what we have in the early 21st century on Earth. Even the exciting action elements from the first book, like Duncan Idaho's character development and knife fights, are surprisingly dull.
I wasn't a fan of the switch in voice actors. It would have been better if there were chapter breaks, just like in the previous Herbert novels, instead of having one long 15-hour file.
I really enjoyed the first three books in the Dune series, but 'God Emperor of Dune' was a huge disappointment. I don't understand why it has such high ratings. Frank Herbert really dropped the ball when it came to constructing a compelling storyline. The majority of the book is just Leto, who is now a combination of human and worm, rambling on about his god-like status as the emperor. It's possible that if you read the text, you might find some intriguing insights, but when listening to the audiobook, those ideas tend to get lost. Overall, just because something is complex doesn't mean it's deep or meaningful. This book was so boring that it actually put me to sleep.
I've been a big fan of the Dune series thus far. However, this particular book caught me off guard with an unfortunate subplot that exhibited homophobia. What bothered me even more was that it was never addressed or integrated into the main story. Had it played a crucial role in the plot or contributed to character development in any way, I could have overlooked it, similar to how I brushed off the unconventional relationship between the 10-year-old siblings in the previous book. Instead, it felt like a hateful diatribe tucked away in an otherwise enjoyable read. On a positive note, the narrator did an outstanding job.
If you thoroughly enjoyed Messiah and Children, then you might consider continuing with the series, but if not, it's probably best to stop there. Personally, after completing the sixth book, I can't help but feel disappointed with each of the five follow-ups. It's like they just progressively decline in quality as the series goes on.
The audiobook for 'God Emperor of Dune' doesn't have chapters throughout, except for the beginning and end. Besides that, there's nothing to gripe about.
I actually enjoyed 'God Emperor of Dune' more than 'Dune Messiah'. Now, I must admit that's not really saying a whole lot, but it's the only positive thing I can say about this book.
This audiobook seems to be less of a captivating story and more like a collection of conservative rants from a deranged individual. I must admit, it left me feeling incredibly disappointed and somewhat disgusted. It reads more like a lengthy essay with a feeble attempt at creating a narrative around it. What bothered me the most were the subtle hints of homophobia and sexism woven into the throwaway lines. It's disheartening to see these issues present, especially when considering the insightful anecdotes in "Dreamers of Dune." As a devoted fan of the series, it pains me to say that "God Emperor of Dune" marks the point where I've become acutely aware of the problems within it, thanks to the passage of time and my personal growth.
Furthermore, the writing itself also has its flaws. To illustrate this, I'll mention one crucial fact: although Frank Herbert embraced Buddhism, he envisions a universe where not only does the concept of self exist, but individual cells also possess the ability to contain and reproduce that self.
I'm a huge Frank Herbert fan, especially when it comes to his original works in this series. Out of all the books, I believe this one, "God Emperor of Dune," stands out the most. However, it's important to really appreciate Herbert's vision and the world he has crafted in order to fully grasp and enjoy this book. It seems that many fans of this book have a strong connection with Duncan Idaho, who serves as a bridge between the first three books and "God Emperor of Dune." Leto Atreides II, the central character, is absolutely captivating, whether you love him or hate him. The narration is top-notch, particularly the performances by Simon Vance and Katherine Kellgren. Fortunately, Scott Brick's role is limited to reading the chapter introductions, which are typically over the top. Thankfully, you can easily ignore those and focus on the rest of the narration.
I'm a huge fan of the Dune series, and I particularly enjoy the prequel books. However, this particular installment, 'God Emperor of Dune', is honestly terrible. A worm God that's been around for 4000 years? Seriously? Plus, the entire book is basically Leto Atreides going on and on without any clear direction.
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