This may be the only Dune book where anybody laughs out of amusement rather than rapturous revenge. In particular, it's about remembering that being human is also about things that many Dune characters find sentimental and inessential: love and laughter. That's all fascinating stuff, but what makes Chapterhouse: Dune my third favorite in the series (after Dune and God-Emperor of Dune) is that it is about rediscovering humanity. A bit part of Herbert's genius is the idea that if we eschew technology in something like the Butlerian Jihad, we might radically remake ourselves (with some help from the Spice, of course). In my review of Heretics of Dune, I said that a big theme of the series is expanding humanity - pushing human nature to new heights of abilities and forms from the Guild Navigators, Bene Gesserit, Mentats, Tleilaxu, Face Dancers, Honored Matres, and more. At least until Chapterhouse: Dune, the sixth volume in the series and the last Frank Herbert wrote before his death in 1986. Dramatized with internal asides in italics!įor all their machinations and glorious battle, nobody in the Dune books really seems to be enjoying themselves in anything approaching a healthy way.

I love the books but I have to admit they're pretty bleak with all those 'plans within plans within plans' in service of the raw pursuit of power. I always enjoy a visit to the Dune universe, but it's not because I'd actually want to live in that universe. This is my third time through the original Dune series.

Chapterhouse dune