Dune: The Butlerian Jihad

By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 23 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Frank Herbert's Dune series is one of the grandest epics in the annals of imaginative literature. Selling millions of copies worldwide, it is science fiction's answer to The Lord of the Rings, a brilliantly imaginative epic of high adventure, unforgettable characters, and immense scope. Decades after Herbert's original novels, the Dune saga was continued by Frank Herbert's son, Brian Herbert, an acclaimed SF novelist in his own right, in collaboration with Kevin J. Anderson. Their New York Times best-selling Prelude to Dune trilogy (House Atreides, House Harkonnen, and House Corrino), formed a prequel to the classic Herbert series that was acclaimed by reviewers and listeners alike.

Now Herbert and Anderson, working from Frank Herbert's own notes, reveal a pivotal epoch in the history of the Dune universe, the chapter of the saga most eagerly anticipated by listeners: The Butlerian Jihad.

Throughout the Dune novels, Frank Herbert frequently referred to the long-ago war in which humans wrested their freedom from "thinking machines." Now, in Dune: Butlerian Jihad, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson bring to life the story of that war, a tale previously seen only in tantalizing hints and clues. Finally, we see how Serena Butler's passionate grief ignites the war that will liberate humans from their machine masters. We learn the circumstances of the betrayal that made mortal enemies of House Atreides and House Harkonnen; and we experience the Battle of Corrin that created a galactic empire that lasted until the reign of Emperor Shaddam IV.

Herein are the foundations of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, the Suk Doctors, the Order of Mentats, and the mysteriously altered Navigators of the Spacing Guild. Here is the amazing tale of the Zensunni Wanderers, who escape bondage to flee to the desert world where they will declare themselves the Free Men of Dune. And here is the backward, nearly forgotten planet of Arrakis, where traders have discovered the remarkable properties of the spice melange....

Ten thousand years before the events of Dune, humans have managed to battle the remorseless Machines to a standstill...but victory may be short-lived. Yet amid shortsighted squabbling between nobles, new leaders have begun to emerge. Among them are Xavier Harkonnen, military leader of the Planet of Salusa Secundus; Xavier's fiancée, Serena Butler, an activist who will become the unwilling leader of millions; and Tio Holtzman, the scientist struggling to devise a weapon that will help the human cause.

Against the brute efficiency of their adversaries, these leaders and the human race have only imagination, compassion, and the capacity for love. It will have to be enough.

©2002 Herbert Limited Partnership (P)2002 Audio Renaissance, a Division of Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner, Science Fiction, 2003

"Offers the kind of intricate plotting and philosophical musings that would make the elder Herbert proud." (Publishers Weekly)

"Required reading for Dune fans." (Library Journal)

pretty good

I liked the story but I thought too much of it was taken up by meaningless arguments and characters in a rush to explain everything about the dune universes origins. the reading was done very well

Great way to come back to the series!

Narrator was pretty good, story was fantastic with great character development and more than a few surprises

story

if you like dune don't miss out on the history of that universe and storyline

what a great beginning

This is a wonderful prequel to Dune. The story and narrator are excellent. It explains so many things in the world of the Dune books and clears up a few mysteries.

Nice story overall

If you liked the original series you will deftly enjoy this one as well I sure did 😅

Themes are timeless, but even more relevant now because of the growth of technology.

Read when first published, and it's even better on audio. Probably listen again at future date.

If you are just starting the dune books, like me; starting here is the way to go!

When first getting into this series after seeing the amazing movies. A lot of YouTube videos warned about the dune book snobs hating on the prequels. I went into this book hoping I wouldn't struggle getting through it.

To say I was pleasantly surprised wpuld be a Huge understatement! It is a great book and a vibrant story that ties together so many details of the world of dune when we meet them in the first book of Frank Herbert's masterpiece.

Wonderful prequel to the Dune world

I listened to this book after working through the three Dune, Messiah and Children. I looked at this book because I really enjoyed the Dune books and from the summary I felt this book would be more of the same. I belive the coauthors of this book and some other prequel's to the Dune series did a good job in using a simular writing sytle and creating with Herbert's notes a vast and complex universe.

Relax about the stretches and enjoy this one.

I found this novel to be throughly enjoyable. Don't nitpick. Just relax and enjoy the story and the characters.

Quite a tale

It's been many years since I read Frank Herber's Dune and so I really didn't remember much about it. This book brought back some memories of the original and filled in the gaps. I enjoyed the Butlerian Jihad for what it was -- entertainment. I sense another book in the series.

As always, Scott Brick does a great job narrating. He's one of my favorite narrators.