So, I'm torn about "Hunters of Dune." Granted, it's been 15 years since I read the Dune saga in the Driver's Ed trailer during a scorching July, so my memories are a little foggy. Something about Bene Gesserits, Paul Atreides, Alia, and The Spice Must Flow. And also the sandworms, my favorite characters. I was pretty excited to see that there were two new books out to wrap up the series, and, though I only intended to read "Sandworms" I figured I'd better read both.

Some people have complained that Brian Herbert doesn't really have the same touch as his father, Frank, though "Hunters" has much the same feel as the originals. Atmospherically, it's similar; the descriptions of the planets and the characters are consistent, familiar, and compelling. It's the more revelatory moments that are somewhat infected by DaVinci Code-itis, i.e. "monologuing."

Public Service Announcement Authors of the world: Just because Dan Brown made a bajillion dollars on a book that, minus its speaking parts, is about 3 pages long, doesn't mean you should follow suit. It was the message of DVC that everyone liked, not the elementary style. The most powerful revelations in DVC were ones not spoken. Keep that in mind.

It seems like kind of a cheat to wind up to a climactic moment, have someone pop a melange wafer and, BAM, there's the answer. If it was that easy, why didn't someone think of that before? And, in case you were a little dense and missed the fairly obvious point, there's someone to spell it out in thought, and then in voice.

It really felt like the authors were treating the readers like they were a bit slow. Not only did they include the primary explanation of who each character was as they appeared, but reminded us in case we'd forgotten from chapter to chapter. Hey! Guess what? Alia was the Abomination! And you know what else? Alia was the Abomination!

I get it already.

You know what else I got? Tleilaxu males hate women. Bene Gesserits are scared of the Kwisatz Haderach. Honored Matres are wh*res and hate men. And they like fighting. Face Dancers are sneaky. Sheanna controls worms. Gholas are clones. Duncan Idaho is obsessed with Murbella. Axlotl tanks are lobotomized women. Navigators swim in tanks of spice. Ghola children don't remember their past lives. Leto II was the God Emperor. Paul and Chani 4 Ever.

It was nice to be back in Dune, so to speak, and I look forward to reading the final book. What I missed, though, was the visions and mysticism, love, conniving, families against families, truly terrifying genetics, and the thought that Dune's readers are intelligent.

Labels: Lex the Cat