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Michael Finocchiaro's Reviews > Heretics of Dune
Heretics of Dune (Dune #5)
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Michael Finocchiaro's review
bookshelves: sci-fi, fiction, series, novels, american-20th-c
May 12, 2018
bookshelves: sci-fi, fiction, series, novels, american-20th-c
I know, you are like, wait, 5 stars? Really? And I am, like, I really enjoyed this book. I mean, I learned about much of the Dune universe that was never mentioned in the first four books (sex, Ix, the Tleilaxu, the Bene Geserit proscription of love...) and I really liked Teg and Odrade and even Lucillle and the new ghola. The action was great especially at the end (even if Teg’s capture of the Honored Matre’s no-ship was frustratingly fast-forwarded). Philosophically, there was a LOT to chew on and the tech was probably the most diverse and interesting of all the Dune series since the first one. On to Chapterhouse!
[UPDATE] I am looking forward to Denis Villeneuve's Dune in October 2021. The previews I have seen so far seem to be quite coherent with respect to the book. I was a fan of Lynch's Dune and am curious to see what Villeneuve does with this one. Feel free to comment below.
Fino's Dune Reviews
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse: Dune
[UPDATE] I am looking forward to Denis Villeneuve's Dune in October 2021. The previews I have seen so far seem to be quite coherent with respect to the book. I was a fan of Lynch's Dune and am curious to see what Villeneuve does with this one. Feel free to comment below.
Fino's Dune Reviews
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse: Dune
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Reading Progress
November 28, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
November 28, 2016
– Shelved
April 26, 2018
–
Started Reading
May 13, 2018
– Shelved as:
sci-fi
May 13, 2018
– Shelved as:
fiction
May 13, 2018
– Shelved as:
series
May 13, 2018
– Shelved as:
novels
May 13, 2018
– Shelved as:
american-20th-c
May 13, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-28 of 28 (28 new)
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message 1:
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Manny
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rated it 1 star
May 12, 2018 09:40PM
I will not react to this blatant act of provocation.
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@Manny LOL! I wasn’t being intentionally provocative@Diane thanks!
I could not wait for Chapterhouse either. Enjoy the ride.
Thanks Bryan and Mark!!
Hi there, can i read this book as a stand alone novel?
Tomas wrote: "Hi there, can i read this book as a stand alone novel?"It would be very odd and frustrating at times.
Read Dune first.
I have always been told it’s not worth reading past the first book! I’m totally rethinking this
The first book has all the gravitas of being the first one to expose this fascinating universe and to talk metaphorically about the equally dangerous fanaticisms of fundamentalism both from the east and west. The other five round out and further explain this universe over several generations, so they lend the narrative a sort of Middle Earth or Westeros kind of grandeur and pathos
Nearly done and loving it so far, excited for chapter house myself!
I haven't reread this for a while, but I wonder how it plays in 2020.The Honored Matres - do they appear as sexist cartoons?
The Bene Tleilax - are they Islamophobic caricatures?
I just finished rereading Heretics. I felt that the Tleilaxu religion storyline was interesting, but did come off a bit Islamophobic and played as a way to show their fanaticism and to show that they were "extreme" and didn't serve much purpose, especially once the Bene Gesserit use it as a way to control them--kind of made them seem "lesser" because they weren't as "developed" in their understanding of religions and the universe as the BG. As for the Honored Matres, they don't get enough play to get a great reading of them, but their obsession with controlling the world with their sex and nothing else is definitely a bit cringey.
I thought that the BG posited a rather anti-Catholic image which balanced the implied criticism of Islam in the Tleilaxu that Alex felt. But I think the series shows the weaknesses and dangers of religious fanaticism of any form.
I think the series still reads well given the ill-timed (and unwelcome) return of religious demagoguery in the public sphere and that the geeky bits are still fascinating. There is much more about the HM in Chapterhouse
Good point about the Catholic (or Jesuit) model for the Bene Gesserit.As someone with a lifelong dread of theocracy, the Tleilaxu made sense to me when I first read it.
Well, I guess it’s time for me to pick Chapterhouse back up then. I only wish Miles Teg would be there when I do. I remembered liking his character so much the first time I read it and during my recent read through I still found him so compelling and Michael, I think your analysis on the dangers of extremes in the series is spot on! That what Paul was originally afraid of becoming.
Same thing here, I love this book, same though even on the finale, that was a way tooooo fast , I even though that I slept for a while and when back �. lol
The tech, the deepening lore, an enticing cast of characters, yes, it has these things and more, enough to pique the interests and light fire to the soul of any Dune fan, but... five stars? Its plot, pacing, and often questionable (possibly misogynistic?) conclusions are enough to reduce that rating. I mean, if Dune (book 1, I mean) warrants five stars, but Heretics does, too, then are you saying there are no differences between the quality of the two?
@alex and @christian thanks!@christopher well, I did warn you that my choice would be controversial in the first sentence of the review. I wish we had a ten-star system because this would be an 8.5 which I rounded up to "5" on this 5 star scale whereas Dune is, of course, a solid 10/5.
I know that there are some disturbingly misogynistic things which I addressed in my review of some of the other books rather than here. I just thought that this one did an excellent job of filling in lots of the Dune universe that were left unfinished in the first 4.
Fair enough. I did enjoy a lot about this book, but the last third felt horribly rushed. Reading the preface by his son let us know that FH’s wife, Beverley, was going through cancer treatment at the time. It must have been difficult to balance everything.
@christophe wow, I was not aware of that!
Book was awesome I agree with your sentiments.
@gesseppi thanks!!
I'm in half of the book right now and I have to agree with your review. This book so much extends Dune Universe and it's very interesting what does it look like 6000 years after events of the first book.
im surprised by the reviews on this one, it was a 5/5 for me too! the character felt much more solid, particularly Teg, Odrade and Duncan. tho i have to agree that the no-ship capture part was straight up skipped. Still loved it for its worldbuilding
