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It's sooo sloooooow. This has to be the most tedious book I have ever attempted to read. Even by the new standards in glacial storytelling set by its predecessors, this stands out as a stupefyingly dull read. After a couple of hundred pages I was forced to start skimming, hoping against hope that something even remotely interesting was about to happen later on: it didn't. You'd have to have the boredom threshold of a slug on valium to make it all the way through this pretentious, verbose bit of authorial self indulgence.
Frank Herbert does indeed create "majic" The major thing that can be said about "God Emperor of Dune" by Frank Herbert is that although it isn't one of your usual sci-fi stories, and would certainly be termed an unsuccessful book by modern novel standards (as an example of what you shouldn't do in a modern novel today-i.e. more narration and description instead of more action (that readers nowadays demand), what is the magic that Frank Herbert creates in this most unusual book is that he compels you through his gifted writing skill and most unique and multifaceted character of Leto II to continue reading to find out more about Leto and his world, and especially near the end-what happens to Leto once these plots within plots have been set in motion.
This was the first Dune book in the series I felt that I (with my limited knowledge of politics and economics and religious allegories) could understand the workings of this universe better than even the first three books. And felt I understood more of what was going on and what was trying to be accomplished by all of the factions now being held under one ruler, the worm-god emperor of Leto II.
The story itself remained a bit implausible in my mind as to how this one bizarre creature, part man and part worm, could hold together this vast empire under his rule for so long. It worked mainly for me because I remembered history not too long ago with another almost god-emperor worshipped by the masses-of Hitler's Germany, and in the near-indestructableness of Leto II in his worm-encased body.
For one reader out there who can't be typified or quantified in the usual generalization of "modern reader", as one who prefers the intellectual workings of the mind and character instead of merely the actions of one, I enjoyed "God Emperor of Dune" immensely, and found it one of the most satisfying novels I have ever read.
This is what it's all about After I read the first fifty pages of God Emperor Dune, a sudden sadness overtook me. I thought of all my friends that loved Dune, but got stuck in Dune Messiah. I thought of all the other ones that made it through Dune Messiah, but got stuck in Children of Dune. Can we please have a moment of silence for these unfortunate souls.
While I did like books 2 and 3 of the series, I'm the first to admit that they were not of "Dune" quality. God Emperor of Dune, however, may be its rival. It is so rare in a series, especially in Book 4, that you think to yourself, all the other books have been leading to this one moment. Leto II's Golden Path indeed shines through. For non-sci-fi people, this series is more than sci-fi. It's an examination of political philosopy, economy, and religion. One could almost call it allegory. Herbert's characters: Maud'dib, Leto II, even Moneo (in God Emperor) are so well developed as to become Messiah's, God's, and friends in their own right. The Dune books force you to think, they entertain, and they sweep the imagination to a world millenia away from now. God Emperor of Dune itself take place 3 thousand years after Children of Dune. If you are thinking of quitting the series, I counsel you to wait until after you have read this amazing fourth book. My idea: there's now way anyone could stop now.
Frank Herbert's Masterwork YOU problably have read the three previous books of the Dune cronicles and wonder should I continue. Well the answer is yes. Herbert is the king of creating totally enrapuring characters, but with the exception of Paul Atreids there is no match for Leto II. This book is about the ultimate tyrant with the ultimate gift an incredible life span the knowledge of all his andestors and an army of zealots. I am not a huge Sci- fi fan but I am very loyal to the work of Frank Herbert. Who creates plots with in plots with in plots. Herbert shows what happens when mortals worship other mortals with godlike conviction this is worth reading alone.
If you didn't like DUNE then stop here and forget it. But I am guessing that you didn't read three books without liking them. This is Herberts Pinnicle DUNE, DUNE MESSIAH, and CHILDREN OF DUNE were the preface to this book. Only Herbert could stretch the imagination this far.
God Emperor of Dune As with the rest of the Herbert's Dune work's, a compilation of history, ecology, religion, furturism, and anthropology that excedes any of the "Fantasy" genre as of Tolkien. Based in true Science Fiction, but with a stretch of time exceded only buy such authors such as Asimov.Imagination plus+...David Williams