#brian herbert and kevin j anderson

[baby-alia-speaks]

I have finally officially read the entire Dune saga.

...And feel, most irrationally, that I would like to read some of the Brian/Kevin fanfiction.

If one wanted some sweet Duncan/Alia moments and some (pretend) answers to the ending of Chapterhouse... which Brian/Kevin fanfics would provide these?

[automatic-inventor-iblis-ginjo]

Iblis Ginjo's name featured in The Machine Crusade and The Battle of Corrin books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson

[boooklover]

“The only guarantee in life is death, and the only guarantee in death is its shocking unpredictability.”

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, The Machine Crusade

[litcityblues]

The Most Boring Jihad Imaginable

I'll be honest with you, dear reader: I hated this book. It was boring, and it convinced me that you fall into one of two categories when it comes to the world of Dune. You read Dune and that's it. It's a classic of science fiction. It's a great book- even if it's a little hard to get into (it took me a couple of times to crack it) and then you move on with your life. Or, you read Dune and are so captured by the world that you promptly devour (much like the sandworms of Arrakis) all the sequels and then move on to what seems like an ever-expanding number of prequels and love them all.

This book convinced me that I'm in the first category.

I picked up The Butlerian Jihad after watching Dune Prophecy and getting mildly interested in some of the backstory the show was pulling from. (They reference 'The War Against The Machines' in the show, rather than use the term 'Jihad'). I thought, foolishly, as it turns out, that it would round out the show a little bit for me. It didn't, largely because this is a long, boring, and interminable book.

Set ten thousand years before Paul Atriedes and the events of Dune, humanity is locked in something of a cold war with an empire of thinking machines controlled by the evermind Omnius. The Synchronized Worlds are dominated by Omnius and his erstwhile allies, the Titans (who used to be human, but implanted their brains into robot bodies), who run the show on all these planets with enslaved humans. Opposing them are the 'wild humans' of the League of Nobles. The book opens with an attack on Salusa, the capital planet of the League, which is fended off by Xavier Harkonnen, who rallies the troops to drive the machines off.

The Viceroy and his charismatic daughter, Serena Butler, realize that if the machines are going to go on the offensive, maybe the free humans should as well. To that end, they begin preparing defenses of the free worlds. Most of the details aren't really all that important-- what is important are the subplots carefully laying the groundwork for the events of Dune ten thousand years in the future with all the subtlety of a brick to the back of the head. The Sorceresses of Rossak, a Matriarchal Order, perfecting their psychic powers to use against the machines- I wonder what they're going to evolve into! Who knows!

Is there an Atreides? There sure is-- Vorian Atreides, son of the Titan Agamemnon, who is eventually convinced by Serena to abandon his life of privilege on Earth (because some humans are special and some are slaves) and join the fight against the machines. Is he sort of a rival with Xavier Harkonnen? Sure is!

After the attack on Salusa is fended off, the machines strike at Giedi Prime and take the planet, which panics the League and threatens to split them as each planet looks to it's own defenses. Serena decides that she is going to personally lead a mission to save Giedi Prime or at least force the League and her now fiancé Xavier, to come and rescue her.

She's successful, partially-- Giedi Prime is saved and liberated, but Serena is captured and taken to Earth where she is given to the robot Erasmus who is studying humanity and trying to understand them (even if understanding them sometimes means butchering them in medical experiments and using their blood and viscera to make art). She realizes that she's pregnant with Xavier's child even as forces on Earth, led by slave leader Iblis Ginjo, begin to plant seeds of rebellion.

She gives birth to her baby, whom she names after her father, Manion. Erasmus gets tired of her being distracted by the baby and removes her uterus so she can't have any more children, and then, when the baby irritates him enough, kills her baby in front of her, which ignites the rebellion on Earth. Vorian and Iblis get her off planet and back to Salusa, where the jihad is declared and in response to Omnius exterminating all human life on Earth, the league responds by eradicating all machines on Earth with atomic weapons.

There's two more random subplots: a young outcast on Arrakis discovers how to ride worms, and two slaves on Poritirin survive a slave revolt and keep plotting against their masters.

Okay-- that's honestly all I want to say about this book, so let's unpack what I didn't like about this.

First, Serena Butler. Is it me, or is this character written in wildly inconsistent ways throughout this book? She's beautiful, charismatic, persuasive, a powerful and influential leader, but she's also wildly reckless and runs off to Giedi Prime to try and liberate the place and gets captured. Plus, her character doesn't appreciably shift even after her return from Earth. If someone killed my baby in front of me, I'd be fucking catatonic and unable to move or absolutely fanatical in my insistence that every fucking robot in the Universe be destroyed. She comes across as neither. I also might be just a touch more devastated that my fiancé married my sister-- though to be fair, she does have a pretty traumatic reaction to seeing their baby in the book. At the end of the book, she calls Vorian and Xavier together and tells them to put aside their love for her and go kill robots.

Second, Erasmus. I hate this character too, because although he's studying humans to try and understand them, he's a robot. He doesn't understand them. He makes it perfectly clear throughout multiple points of the book that he doesn't understand humans. His robot brain just does not compute. You see it in his disturbing medical experiments and his casual disregard for human life-- so I find it wildly inconsistent that he would kill Serena's baby in the manner in which he did. Don't get me wrong: it's a shocking moment in the book, and as an inciting incident for the jihad, it works as well. It just doesn't work with what we've seen from the character.

Third, I don't care about Selim Wormrider. I mean, I get that there are two more books in this prequel trilogy that I won't be reading, so maybe there's more to this plotline in those books, but in this book, I don't care. Same with the slave revolt on Poritrin. Don't care.

Finally, and this might sound a little strange, but I think it's important to note. There's a wild moral inconsistency here that is massively underdiscussed. Human slaves on robot worlds = bad. Human slaves on human worlds, perfectly fine? What? No one questions it. No one cares. Honestly, you can make the case that both sides of this war are equally immoral in many ways. (And these weird syncretic religions don't have anything to say about this? Zenbuddhism? Zensunnis? Zenshiites?) I don't want to get all Star Trek about this, because I know the world is not a perfect place and it's not going to be all shiny and rosy in the future, but we haven't outgrown slavery? We've got planets and space ships and laser guns and we haven't moved beyond a hierarchical structure and slavery? There's no one in this book that points out, 'hey wait a minute, are we really any better than the robots are? We enslave people too?' And again, maybe that's coming in future books that I'm not going to read, but it came across as a glaring omission to me.

Overall: This was the most boring Jihad that ever Jihaded. I'm also not reading any more of these Dune prequels, I can tell you that. My Grade: ** out of ****

[torpublishinggroup]

Release Roundup - 10.3.23

it's tuesday, and that means NEW BOOKS

we're running down everything releasing new from us today, right here 😎

👇title info below👇

Tor Books

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

After the Forest by Kell Woods

Princess of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

TorDotCom Publishing

The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu

Nightfire

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw & Richard Kadrey

Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson

Forge

Valley of Refuge by John Teschner

The Murder of Andrew Johnson by Burt Solomon

[geekcavepodcast]

Dune: Prophecy Teaser

Set 10,000 years before Paul Atreides, Dune: Prophecy follows the establishment of the sisterhood that would become known as the Bene Gesserit.

Dune: Prophecy is inspired by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Sisterhood of Dune, set within Frank Herbert's Dune.

Dune: Prophecy will premiere on Max in Fall 2024.

[demagol004]

Analysis of House Harkonnen and the Inconsistencies with Frank Herbert's Dune Series

House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, despite its intent to expand the beloved universe of Frank Herbert's Dune, egregiously undermines the original lore through blatant inconsistencies, misguided character portrayals, and a lack of fidelity to established canon. This disservice not only frustrates long-time fans but also introduces unnecessary contradictions that diminish the intricate and meticulously constructed world of Dune.

Character Interactions and Timeline Discrepancies

Jessica and Dr. Yueh's Relationship: In House Harkonnen, Jessica becomes the concubine of Duke Leto, and Dr. Yueh joins the Atreides household before Paul's birth. However, in the original Dune novel, Jessica explicitly states, "We have known each other six years," referring to her relationship with Dr. Yueh. The explanation provided by Brian and Kevin—that there are untold stories to be revealed in future volumes—fails to justify this glaring inconsistency. This discrepancy is not just a minor oversight; it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the timeline and character development established by Frank Herbert.

Gurney Halleck and Liet-Kynes' Amnesia: The friendship between Gurney Halleck and Liet-Kynes in House Harkonnen contradicts their lack of recognition in Dune. Despite the authors' attempt to rationalize this by suggesting changes in appearance and aliases over the years, it is implausible that such a significant relationship would be forgotten. This oversight demonstrates a lack of coherence and continuity in the storytelling, undermining the credibility of both characters.

Jessica's Introduction to Duke Leto: Jessica's near-compulsion to accept Duke Leto in House Harkonnen contrasts starkly with the account in Dune, where Duke Leto's buyers retrieve her from the Bene Gesserit school. This deviation disrupts the established narrative of Jessica's fear and uncertainty, integral to her character's depth and complexity. The assertion that this scene is consistent with Frank Herbert's notes does not align with the actual content of the original novels, further eroding the narrative's integrity.

Supernatural Abilities and Lore Violations

Bene Gesserit Telepathy and Invisibility: House Harkonnen inexplicably endows the Bene Gesserit with telepathic powers and the ability to render themselves invisible. These abilities are never mentioned or hinted at in Frank Herbert's novels. The introduction of such powers not only distorts the established capabilities of the Bene Gesserit but also trivializes the disciplined and strategic nature of their influence, reducing them to mere fantasy tropes.

Liet-Kynes' Confession: Liet-Kynes openly revealing his identity as "Liet-Kynes, son of Pardot Kynes" to a contrabandista defies the secrecy expected of his siech name. This reckless disclosure contradicts the clandestine operations and cultural norms of the Fremen, further indicating a superficial understanding of the intricacies of Fremen society by Brian and Kevin.

Historical and Canonical Inaccuracies

Gurney Halleck's Escape: In House Harkonnen, Gurney escapes the Harkonnen alone, while in Dune, he credits Duke Leto for rescuing him from a slave pit. This alteration not only undermines the gratitude and loyalty Gurney feels towards Duke Leto but also diminishes the dramatic and redemptive aspects of his backstory.

Duncan Idaho's First Kill: According to House Harkonnen, Duncan Idaho's first kill is a Moritani named Trin Kronos on Ginaz. However, in Dune, Duncan recounts his first kill, stating, "My sword was first blooded on Grumman."

Dr. Yueh's Greed: The portrayal of Dr. Yueh as a greedy man in House Harkonnen contradicts his depiction in Dune, where his motivations are driven by his love for his wife, not material greed. This mischaracterization diminishes the tragic depth of Dr. Yueh's betrayal, reducing a complex character to a simplistic and erroneous archetype.

Logical and Canonical Missteps

Ginaz and House Ginaz: House Harkonnen presents Ginaz as a planet governed by a swordmaster school, rather than a noble house in the Landsraad as implied in Dune. This reinterpretation not only disrupts the political landscape of the Dune universe but also introduces unnecessary confusion regarding the role and significance of Ginaz in the broader context.

Conclusion

House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson represents a significant departure from the richly layered and meticulously crafted world of Frank Herbert's Dune. Through a series of ill-conceived plot alterations, character misrepresentations, and blatant canonical violations, the authors have effectively undermined the integrity of the original series. Such deviations not only frustrate devoted fans but also jeopardize the narrative coherence and thematic depth that define Dune. Instead of expanding the universe, House Harkonnen detracts from it, leaving a legacy of inconsistency and diminished lore.

[smashpages]

BOOM! Studios has announced a third prequel miniseries for Dune, titled Dune: House Corrino. The oversized eight-issue miniseries is written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, with art by Simone Ragazzoni, colorist Dan Jackson and letterer Ed Dukeshire.

Read more

[nfcomics]

DUNE: HOUSE HARKONNEN no.4 • cover art • Björn Barends [Apr 2023]

Although Leto and Kailea’s blossoming romance brings about the expectation of their first child, political complications put a strain on their relationship, while a traitor looms in their midst. On Lankiveil, Glossu Rabban turns trophy hunting into what the Harkonnens are known for best–their brutality. And as the years pass, a shadow still follows Leto and Kailea, seeding further discontent, even as an exile from Ix comes seeking help, and maybe even liberation for the planet!

Dune Prequel is adapted by award-winning novelists Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson and artist Michael Shelfer.

[baftiisautomatedbodycontrol]

The Battle of Corrin - Brian Herbert Kevin J. Anderson

reblog if your name isn't Amanda.

2,121,566 people are not Amanda and counting!

We’ll find you Amanda.

[baby-alia-speaks]

Good grief, Brian, why do you hate my girl Alia so much?!!!

[graphicpolicy]

Power and Punishment in a Dune: House Corrino #3 preview

Power and Punishment in a Dune: House Corrino #3 preview #comics #comicbooks #dune

[theicarusconstellation]

“obviously, his father had not discussed the betrothal announcement with his mother beforehand” HUH?? H U H ? ?

in what universe would leto ever agree to a betrothal without talking to jessica, let alone take them to the planet to finalize it??

[wemlygust]

This post has caused for me the sudden realization that, while I remember enjoying 1 or more Butlerian Jihad books (Dune sequels by Frank Herbert's son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson and maybe also others idk), I remeber ZERO about what happened in any of them or who the characters were. I do remember liking them, but I know they get a lot of criticism, so maybe I should try them again; I'm curious now. I think I read them in my peak skim reading era, so who knows what percentage of the books I actually read.

LEO XIV HAS DECLARED BUTLERIAN JIHAD

[automatic-inventor-iblis-ginjo]

David Eddings books

[geekcavepodcast]

Dune: Prophecy Teaser 2

Set 10,000 years before Paul Atreides, Dune: Prophecy follows the establishment of the sisterhood that would become known as the Bene Gesserit.

Dune: Prophecy is inspired by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Sisterhood of Dune, set within Frank Herbert's Dune. The series stars Emily Watson (Valya Harkonnen), Olivia Williams (Tula Harkonnen), Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Camilla Beeput, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Jihae, Tabu, Charithra Chandran, Jessica Barden, Emma Canning, and Yerin Ha.

Dune: Prophecy will premiere on Max in November 2024.