Hardcover, 410 pages
English language
Published April 7, 1977 by Berkley Books.
The science fiction masterpiece continues in the "major event,"( Los Angeles Times) Children of Dune. With millions of copies sold worldwide, Frank Herbert's Dune novels stand among the major achievements of the human imagination and one of the most significant sagas in the history of literary science fiction. The Children of Dune are twin siblings Leto and Ghanima Atreides, whose father, the Emperor Paul Muad'Dib, disappeared in the deserts of Arrakis. Like their father, they possess supernormal abilities—making them valuable to their aunt Alia, who rules the Empire. If Alia can obtain the secrets of the twins' prophetic visions, her rule will be absolute. But the twins have their own plans for their destiny.
Poor Alia.
Boring as hell.
Dune Messiah was a bit disappointing to me, it was slow and was too engaged with the political conflict only. This book was the sequel I wanted.
Now that Paul is gone, his children, Leto and Ghanima, are being prepared to take over his throne. But not every one wants that to happen. This book is all about how they try to come to terms with who they are and how they can keep the empire peaceful in future generations.
Unlike the previous book, this one has action actually happening. It still has a lot of politics going on but that's perfectly fine. Children of Dune strikes the same balance that made the original Dune so engaging: a science-fiction opera with political intrigue against a very fleshed out universe with some great and still novel ideas to back it up.
Je n'avais plus aucun souvenir de cette histoire et je comprends maintenant pourquoi. C'est assez mauvais, franchement pompeux et verbeux. Herbert fait en fait de la caricature d'Herbert avec des complots dans des complots dans des complots. Et le déshumanisation finale de Leto ne change rien à ça : ce qui pourrait aujourd'hui être vu comme une transformation superhéroïque est présenté ici comme la transformation d'un homme en berger de l'humanité, veillant sur elle pendant les millénaires futurs. C'est assez pesant, et trahit en fait le côté profondément rétrograde de Dune qui, c'est très visible dans ce tome, n'est pas de la sf mais beaucoup plus de la haute fantasy, où des dynasties royales décident du destin des peuples depuis leurs alcôves secrètes.
An important book. At times it can feel a bit weighed down and clunky with its stuffy political "intrigue" and extensive detail. But overall it's exciting, interesting and rewarding. Unforgettable.
