Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Ace (1987), Mass Market Paperback, 480 pages
Description
On Arrakis, now called Rakis, known to legend as Dune, ten times ten centuries have passed. The planet is becoming desert again. The Lost Ones are returning home from the far reaches of space. The great sandworms are dying, and the Bene Gesserit and the Bene Tleilax struggle to direct the future of Dune. The children of Dune's children awaken as from a dream, wielding the new power of heresy called love.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Waianuhea
Not one of my favorites of the series. I'd rather re-read Dune Messiah.
LibraryThing member heidilove
i loved this series. one of the few i truly think will only get better with time and rereqading
LibraryThing member DCArchitect
The chance to once again inhabit Mr. Herbert's universe makes up for the lack of momentum that 'The Chronicles' exhibit after 'Dune.' While 'Dune' is required reading for any Sci-Fi fan (and highly encouraged reading for everybody) only dedicated sci-fi readers will need apply here.
LibraryThing member MSWallack
I remember reading this when it first came out in the early 1980s and finding it to be a somewhat boring and difficult book (not as difficult as God Emperor of Dune...). So, when I decided to re-read books 5 and 6 (Chapterhouse: Dune) in the series prior to reading the newly published book 7
Show More
(Hunters of Dune) I wasn't sure if my memory was correct. (I've read the first 3 books in the Dune series several times and God Emperor twice, but I'd only read Heretics and Chapterhouse when they were originally published and, frankly, didn't remember them very well.) Unfortunately, my memory was correct. The book wasn't so difficult now that I'm older, but it was still pretty boring. The action and adventure that drew me to Dune in the first place were mostly lacking from Heretics and Chapterhouse; rather, Herbert spent most of his time having his characters converse and ruminate on certain aspects of humanity. All fine and good, but a little action would have helped. I'm glad that I re-read these books as having failed to do so would have made Hunters of Dune less enjoyable, but books 5 and 6 of the DuneI/i> saga simply are not as engaging as the earlier volumes (note that I say engaging, rather than good; the books are very good if the subject matter and storytelling technique are what you want). Show Less
LibraryThing member penwing
Better to see the Bene Gesserit sisterhood doing their usual convoluted plans. Interesting to see what becomes of Teg and learning more about the Bene Tleilaxu was fun. I'm looking forward now to the next in the series
LibraryThing member aethercowboy
Leto is dead. Rakis is slowly becoming a desert planet once again, and the sandworms are starting to reappear.
And there's a girl who can control them with her dances!
While normally revered by the religious, and called Shai-hulud, Sheeana, the one who dances for the worms, calls them, instead
Duncan Idaho (and who could very well write a good Dune book without including him), or rather, his Ghola, is being raised by the Bene Gesserit, in order to make the perfect controller for the prophesied Sandrider. Though, attempts are made on the life of Idaho, and those taking charge of him must go into hiding.
Slowly, the fates of Sheeana and Idaho meet, and forever change the pattern of the known universe (but what Dune book doesn't end this way?).
Enjoyable if you liked the other REAL Dune books, and just want more. Some, though, who loved the original Dune a lot do not seem to favor the F. Herbert sequels. I haven't quite figured this one out, but plan to eventually.
And there's a girl who can control them with her dances!
While normally revered by the religious, and called Shai-hulud, Sheeana, the one who dances for the worms, calls them, instead
Show More
Shaitan, which, as you may quickly determine, grinds the gears of the religious elite.Duncan Idaho (and who could very well write a good Dune book without including him), or rather, his Ghola, is being raised by the Bene Gesserit, in order to make the perfect controller for the prophesied Sandrider. Though, attempts are made on the life of Idaho, and those taking charge of him must go into hiding.
Slowly, the fates of Sheeana and Idaho meet, and forever change the pattern of the known universe (but what Dune book doesn't end this way?).
Enjoyable if you liked the other REAL Dune books, and just want more. Some, though, who loved the original Dune a lot do not seem to favor the F. Herbert sequels. I haven't quite figured this one out, but plan to eventually.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Radaghast
The first three Dune novels had a clear direction and overarching plot. The fourth was an excellent start to something knew. But somethings missing in Heretics of Dune. Herbert's vision begins to fade. Still great, but no longer excellent.
LibraryThing member DirtPriest
Much more action here, my complaint being that the reader is simply a blind witness to a plan unfolding behind the scenes. Every new scene has, surprise, surprise, a pre-planned encounter. There was no real sense of watching a plan evolve and come to fruition, just idly watching from the background
Show More
with no involvement or trying to decipher the plot. Still, however, the great story continues on. Very satisfying and a page turner nonetheless, really ramps up the excitement for Chapterhouse: Dune, the final Frank Herbert volume. Show Less
LibraryThing member danconsiglio
I will never, ever get sick of stories about giant sand worms. Not sure what this says about me, but I'm OK with that.
This is the last of the Dune books published in Herbert's lifetime. Like God Emperor, this one takes place thousands of years after its immediate predecessor and drops the reader
In all Heretics of Dune is a good read with some very strong female characters and much more directly described action than any other Herbert book that I have ever read.
This is the last of the Dune books published in Herbert's lifetime. Like God Emperor, this one takes place thousands of years after its immediate predecessor and drops the reader
Show More
right in to a now unfamiliar history. It's obvious that Herbert had become interested in the other secret societies of his universe by the time he got to this one. The protagonists are all Bene Gesserit and we get to see much more of the Tleilaxu than in any of the other books. I'm a total sucker for overly realized universes.In all Heretics of Dune is a good read with some very strong female characters and much more directly described action than any other Herbert book that I have ever read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member PMaranci
The fifth book in Frank Herbert's classic Dune series maintains the story well.
It's rather fashionable to dismiss Herbert's later books, particularly the later Dune books, as inferior to the originals. But that's unfair. Heretics of Dune clearly shows that Herbert's abilities were not flagging as
Heretics has much of the depth of thought, characterization, and dazzling intellectual intricacy of the previous books in the series. Herbert wrestled with profound and thought-provoking concepts. It's our misfortune that he died before being able to finish unfolding his great story.
Speaking of which, if you have any respect for Frank Herbert's works, avoid anything written by his idiot son Brian as you would the plague! In every way, he's the opposite of his brilliant father, as an author; clumsy, stupid, and obvious. Apparently writing ability is not genetically transmitted - either that, or, well, delicacy forbids me from speculating on Brian Herbert's ancestry.
It's rather fashionable to dismiss Herbert's later books, particularly the later Dune books, as inferior to the originals. But that's unfair. Heretics of Dune clearly shows that Herbert's abilities were not flagging as
Show More
he carried on the series; the one weakness that the book can be charged with is that it is clearly not complete in itself, but rather obviously a "middle" episode in an ongoing saga. Heretics has much of the depth of thought, characterization, and dazzling intellectual intricacy of the previous books in the series. Herbert wrestled with profound and thought-provoking concepts. It's our misfortune that he died before being able to finish unfolding his great story.
Speaking of which, if you have any respect for Frank Herbert's works, avoid anything written by his idiot son Brian as you would the plague! In every way, he's the opposite of his brilliant father, as an author; clumsy, stupid, and obvious. Apparently writing ability is not genetically transmitted - either that, or, well, delicacy forbids me from speculating on Brian Herbert's ancestry.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
I had read the first three Dune books many, many times, and the fourth one once, and decided I may as well try to get through the last two. (I had heard they were pretty terrible.) I was definitely pleasantly surprised.
Heretics is probably not the book anyone was expecting, which probably led to
Short version: if you like the Dune books but are avoiding this one because of the bad press, take a look at it. It's not on par with the early ones in terms of depth, but the universe remains fascinating and it's a pretty decent story.
(I also understand God Emperor much better now - it's not exactly a novel in itself, it's a bridge between the familiar Empire setting of Dune and this drastically different political and social setting of the later books. That doesn't make it an easier read, but it makes me dislike it less.)
Heretics is probably not the book anyone was expecting, which probably led to
Show More
most of the ill-feeling about it. It's much less a philosophical work and much more an action-adventure story, and I'll tell ya, the sex gets weird. It's not so much a gender-politics thing (although I reflexively flinch every time someone uses the word "whores") as a sex-as-power, power-corrupts sort of deal. That being said, there are some typically interesting characters and situations (although I sort of roll my eyes every time Herbert reveals that some group is following a many-thousands-of-years-old Earth-based religion.) Short version: if you like the Dune books but are avoiding this one because of the bad press, take a look at it. It's not on par with the early ones in terms of depth, but the universe remains fascinating and it's a pretty decent story.
(I also understand God Emperor much better now - it's not exactly a novel in itself, it's a bridge between the familiar Empire setting of Dune and this drastically different political and social setting of the later books. That doesn't make it an easier read, but it makes me dislike it less.)
Show Less
LibraryThing member AuntieClio
I was Warned about this book, but didn't find it horrible and am not sorry I read it. However, I will say, there were so many factions fighting over I'm not sure what that I was confused some times.
Basically, it's 1500 years after the assassination of Leto II, God Emperor of Dune. Since then,
There's a young girl from the Arrakeen desert who can control the worms, much to the surprise and delight of two of the factions who wrestle for control over the girl. Another Duncan Idaho meant to forward the Bene Gesserit plan .... and ....
Also included, speeches about the power of sex, wealth, and religious systems. Lots of action, plots within plots within plots (as usual) ...
Basically, it's 1500 years after the assassination of Leto II, God Emperor of Dune. Since then,
Show More
humans have left Arrakis (now know as Rakis) and scattered themselves amongst the other planets of the universe. But now, the hens are coming home to roost putting the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood in competition with Honored Matres, who use super ecstatic sex to bend men to their will. There are other pseudo-religious factions involved.There's a young girl from the Arrakeen desert who can control the worms, much to the surprise and delight of two of the factions who wrestle for control over the girl. Another Duncan Idaho meant to forward the Bene Gesserit plan .... and ....
Also included, speeches about the power of sex, wealth, and religious systems. Lots of action, plots within plots within plots (as usual) ...
Show Less
LibraryThing member louiserb
Get past the boring forst couple of chapters and the story does move. Can't wait to finish it so I can go do something else instead.
LibraryThing member themulhern
There is more humour in this book than in any of the previous ones, including an interlude in which a Reverend Mother describes her sexual qualifications to another character and that character responds with dumbfounded awe. When a character develops superhuman speed he develops superhuman appetite
There is much more focus on sex in this books than in any of the preceding books. This is probably do the cultural changes during the publication of the books in the series. The first book was published in the 60s, this book in the 80s.
This book was much more of an adventure story than previous books, and thus in many ways more conventional. However the plot did not cohere. More than any of the other books it is just a prelude to the next book in the series.
The evolution of technology over the course of the books is rather well-done, as well as the slow acceptance of once forbidden technologies.
Show More
as well, which is described with all seriousness, but is pretty funny nonetheless.There is much more focus on sex in this books than in any of the preceding books. This is probably do the cultural changes during the publication of the books in the series. The first book was published in the 60s, this book in the 80s.
This book was much more of an adventure story than previous books, and thus in many ways more conventional. However the plot did not cohere. More than any of the other books it is just a prelude to the next book in the series.
The evolution of technology over the course of the books is rather well-done, as well as the slow acceptance of once forbidden technologies.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Lukerik
A sad little adition to the post-Dune corpus.
LibraryThing member bicyclewriter
I'm choosing to end this series on a good note. Short version - this one isn't as good as the original Dune, but it's close. I think Herbert wrote 2 great books - Dune and Heretics of Dune. Book 2 was good, book 3 was OK, book 4 was actually not very good. But this one - book 5 - is really
Things actually happen in this book instead of endless dialogue and introspection with nothing really happening. There's actual character development and investigation. A couple of the characters are compelling and likable.
I've read enough reviews of his 6th (and final) in the series to see that he appears to have fallen back into the more boring book 4 formula for book 6. Rather than be disappointed and have the Dune series end with a bad taste in my mouth, I'm going to stop reading now, while I feel good about the books, the author, and the story.
Show More
good.Things actually happen in this book instead of endless dialogue and introspection with nothing really happening. There's actual character development and investigation. A couple of the characters are compelling and likable.
I've read enough reviews of his 6th (and final) in the series to see that he appears to have fallen back into the more boring book 4 formula for book 6. Rather than be disappointed and have the Dune series end with a bad taste in my mouth, I'm going to stop reading now, while I feel good about the books, the author, and the story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member High_Enginseer
It is 1500 years after the death of the tyrannical God Emperor Leto. The Bene Gesserit, Bene Tleilax, Ix, and the Guild are vying for power in the resulting vacuum. After Leto's death, humanity spread out beyond the known universe, giving rise to new cultures and ideas.
Some of these Lost Ones are
More action is present in Heretics than in God Emperor, but it still has its shortcomings. The characters are flat, and those that had the most room for growth (the Duncan ghola and Sheeana) did not get much time in the spot light. The interactions of the various groups fighting to come out on top is where most of the story maintains interest. It is also refreshing to see worlds other than Rakis, formerly known as Arrakis.
Some of these Lost Ones are
Show More
returning to the Old Imperium, including the Honored Matres. This new order rose in uncharted space and came to be rivals of the Bene Gesserit. More action is present in Heretics than in God Emperor, but it still has its shortcomings. The characters are flat, and those that had the most room for growth (the Duncan ghola and Sheeana) did not get much time in the spot light. The interactions of the various groups fighting to come out on top is where most of the story maintains interest. It is also refreshing to see worlds other than Rakis, formerly known as Arrakis.
Show Less
LibraryThing member brakketh
Such amazing world building in the Dune series. Characters slightly better stepped out for me than in the first of the trilogy.
LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
Frank Herbert’s Heretics of Dune takes place approximately 1,500 years after the events of God Emperor of Dune, which in turn sets it 5,000 years beyond the events of the original Dune trilogy of Paul Muad’Dib Atreides. Like Herbert’s previous novels, Heretics of Dune examines the role of
Drawing upon the ancestry program of the Bene Gesserit and Leto II Atreides, Herbert discusses various figures whose features recapitulate those from an earlier era, including the first Duke Leto Atreides and others from the time of God Emperor of Dune. One, on Rakis, is Sheeana, who appears to be able to control the sandworms. According to the Priests of the Divided God on Rakis, she bears a physical similarity to Siona and might therefore be the chosen one (pg. 93). Herbert discusses Sheeana’s power, “Sheeana would learn in time that any person who lived through the decision to die evolved a new emotional balance. Fears were transitory. This new condition was interesting” (pg. 92). Further, the Chapter House order of the Bene Gesserit has created yet another ghola of Duncan Idaho, making him the only character to carry over from the original trilogy and God Emperor of Dune. Though Leto II Atreides does not appear, his efforts in creating the Golden Path drive much of the story’s background, with some worshipping him, other regarding him as the Great Shaitan or the Tyrant, much as he predicted during God Emperor of Dune, and the Bene Gesserit attempting to find where they fit in the Golden Path. Finding a message Leto II left for her in the remains of Sietch Tabr, Odrade of Chapter House muses, “That was how the Sisterhood might end. Taraza’s design was clear, all the pieces in place. Nothing certain. Wealth and power, it was all the same in the end. The noble design had been started and it must be completed even if that meant the death of the Sisterhood” (pg. 311). The Bene Gesserit must decide whether to sacrifice their power and preserve humanity, or cling to it and risk the end that Leto II hoped to prevent.
In a nice touch demonstrating the passage of time, Herbert explains how names have changed through linguistic drift, including Arakkis, now known as Rakis, and Giedi Prime, now called Gammu through the work of Gurney Halleck (pg. 31). Further, Caladan now has the name Dan, as “millennia tended to shorten some labels” (pg. 132). Herbert also uses the book to comment on the nature of power, writing, “Hydraulic despotism: central control of an essential energy such as water, electricity, fuel, medicines, mélange… Obey the central controlling power or the energy is shut off and you die!” (pg. 126, ellipses in original). He began discussing the power of historians in the previous novel and adds to that, “Historians exercise great power and some of them know it. They recreate the past, changing it to fit their own interpretations. Thus, they change the future as well” (pg. 380).
As interesting as Heretics of Dune is to the larger narrative of the Saga of Dune, the significant jump in time and removal of all the main characters can make it difficult to follow. This novel also primarily serves to explain the changes that have occurred in the intervening 1,500 years and to set up a conflict that will play out in Chapterhouse: Dune and Herbert’s unwritten Dune 7 (though his son, Brian Herbert, later teamed with Kevin J. Anderson to write Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune based partially on the notes for Dune 7). Also, while Herbert always portrayed his women characters with a great deal of strength – the Bene Gesserit being an obvious example – the hatred he portrays other characters possessing for the Honored Matres and their use of sexuality to control people has not aged particularly well. The Dune novels never shied away from sexuality, but everything about Herbert’s discussion of the Honored Matres feels tonally different. That said, there is still much that fans of the series and its larger themes will find to enjoy.
Show More
religion in shaping and controlling society, with each powerful group viewing the other as a heretic. Since the end of Leto II Atreides’ empire, various groups were dispersed through the universe in a process called “The Scattering.” The Honored Matres, an off-shoot of the Bene Gesserit, are now returning and aligning themselves with the Bene Tleilaxu against the Bene Gesserit in order to seize power. The Tleilax are similarly aligned with the Spacing Guild and Ix, all three of whom are almost certainly violating the terms of the Butlerian Jihad. The Bene Gesserit, having their powers limited by the lack of mélange in the years after the God Emperor’s death, developed new methods for unlocking genetic memory in order to organize their generations-long plans. One of them, a descendant of the Atreides line, composes the Atreides Manifesto leading to a new, fledgling religious tradition. Finally, on Rakis, the Priests of the Divided God worship the new sandworms that each carry a portion of Leto II’s consciousness.Drawing upon the ancestry program of the Bene Gesserit and Leto II Atreides, Herbert discusses various figures whose features recapitulate those from an earlier era, including the first Duke Leto Atreides and others from the time of God Emperor of Dune. One, on Rakis, is Sheeana, who appears to be able to control the sandworms. According to the Priests of the Divided God on Rakis, she bears a physical similarity to Siona and might therefore be the chosen one (pg. 93). Herbert discusses Sheeana’s power, “Sheeana would learn in time that any person who lived through the decision to die evolved a new emotional balance. Fears were transitory. This new condition was interesting” (pg. 92). Further, the Chapter House order of the Bene Gesserit has created yet another ghola of Duncan Idaho, making him the only character to carry over from the original trilogy and God Emperor of Dune. Though Leto II Atreides does not appear, his efforts in creating the Golden Path drive much of the story’s background, with some worshipping him, other regarding him as the Great Shaitan or the Tyrant, much as he predicted during God Emperor of Dune, and the Bene Gesserit attempting to find where they fit in the Golden Path. Finding a message Leto II left for her in the remains of Sietch Tabr, Odrade of Chapter House muses, “That was how the Sisterhood might end. Taraza’s design was clear, all the pieces in place. Nothing certain. Wealth and power, it was all the same in the end. The noble design had been started and it must be completed even if that meant the death of the Sisterhood” (pg. 311). The Bene Gesserit must decide whether to sacrifice their power and preserve humanity, or cling to it and risk the end that Leto II hoped to prevent.
In a nice touch demonstrating the passage of time, Herbert explains how names have changed through linguistic drift, including Arakkis, now known as Rakis, and Giedi Prime, now called Gammu through the work of Gurney Halleck (pg. 31). Further, Caladan now has the name Dan, as “millennia tended to shorten some labels” (pg. 132). Herbert also uses the book to comment on the nature of power, writing, “Hydraulic despotism: central control of an essential energy such as water, electricity, fuel, medicines, mélange… Obey the central controlling power or the energy is shut off and you die!” (pg. 126, ellipses in original). He began discussing the power of historians in the previous novel and adds to that, “Historians exercise great power and some of them know it. They recreate the past, changing it to fit their own interpretations. Thus, they change the future as well” (pg. 380).
As interesting as Heretics of Dune is to the larger narrative of the Saga of Dune, the significant jump in time and removal of all the main characters can make it difficult to follow. This novel also primarily serves to explain the changes that have occurred in the intervening 1,500 years and to set up a conflict that will play out in Chapterhouse: Dune and Herbert’s unwritten Dune 7 (though his son, Brian Herbert, later teamed with Kevin J. Anderson to write Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune based partially on the notes for Dune 7). Also, while Herbert always portrayed his women characters with a great deal of strength – the Bene Gesserit being an obvious example – the hatred he portrays other characters possessing for the Honored Matres and their use of sexuality to control people has not aged particularly well. The Dune novels never shied away from sexuality, but everything about Herbert’s discussion of the Honored Matres feels tonally different. That said, there is still much that fans of the series and its larger themes will find to enjoy.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SonoranDreamer
The gratuitive sex scenes distract from the epic story. I'm no prude but I found these parts boring, and couldn't wait to get back to the actual story line. Did the author lose his writing skills? While there are a few exciting reveals of the Dune world, and I'm glad I read the book just for those,
Show More
the book was a great big pornography bore. Show Less
LibraryThing member LeslieHolm
I've read tons of reviews that didn't like any of Frank Herbert's Dune Books after the 1st. I love them. I will say Heretics was more like the original than the rest in the series. But if what you are looking for is a one-hero, followed to the end type saga, this is not for you. Herbert follows
Show More
many characters, all of them flawed, and explores vast themes . . . and he makes you think. Show Less
LibraryThing member kristykay22
I am happy to report that the fifth book in the Dune series has pulled me back into the Duneiverse after the slog of God Emperor of Dune left me less than excited to carry on. 1,500 years after the dramatic demise of the Leto/worm (the best part of the fourth book), the descendants of the people of
Show More
The Scattering -- the great dispersal of people out into the universe as part of Leto's Golden Path to the survival of humanity, are returning with lots of money, lots of weird new inventions, and a bizarro version of the familiar social structures of the old civilization that continues with their old tricks. This book is heavy on the female characters, which is part of why I liked it. Who could resist the Bene Gesserit (the all-female order that has hacked their minds, bodies, and breeding system)! Lady Jessica is still one of my favorite characters of all time Show Less
LibraryThing member VincentDarlage
Intriging book. Sets up a lot of stuff for the next one. A vast improvement on God Emperor of Dune
LibraryThing member Neil_Luvs_Books
I liked Heretics of Dune on my second reread. I had forgotten how much action there is in this novel. Not as good as Dune but better than Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, and God Emperor of Dune. My sense is that FH struck gold with the first Dune and then Dune Messiah slipped a little bit then each
Show More
subsequent novel got better. I enjoyed spending time with the Bene Gesserit in Heretics of Dune and really enjoyed the Miles Teg character. Show Less
Awards
Prometheus Award (Nominee — Novel — 1985)
Prix Cosmos 2000 (1986)
Language
Original publication date
1984-04
1984
Physical description
480 p.; 4.13 x 1.02 inches
ISBN
0441328008 / 9780441328000