This is the first volume of Brian and Kevin’s Houses of Dune prequel trilogy. It reads better than the Legends of Dune trilogy that precedes it in chronological (not publication) order. I found the Legends trilogy to be mostly mean spirited with lots of wanton carnage. I suspect that was done by the authors to set the tone for why humanity bans all thinking machines. So this first book in the Houses of Dune trilogy was a refreshing change from that and, although still plot driven, had characters that seemed to this reader to be a little more fleshed out and not as cartoonish as in the Legends trilogy. Still not up to the standards of Frank Herbert but still worth reading for a Dune fan. ( )

This novel doesn't stray as far from the canon as this trilogy will. ( )

Way more enjoyable than “Children of Dune.” I couldn’t follow that one when I was a teenager; tried again now that I’m pushing 60... still couldn’t focus. House Atreides isn’t perfect, but it is entertaining. Sue me, I like backstory.

But the saga of Dune is far from over. . . . ( )

I loved this new House Trilogy written by his son. These were very good and I loved the rational backward steps he took to explain things in Dune. ( )