Paul of Dune

Book One of the Heroes of Dune

By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 18 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Paul of Dune is a sci-fi adventure novel everyone will want to read and no one will be able to forget. "Scott Brick delivers a powerful and entertaining reading reminiscent of a theatrical performance in a brilliant one-man show. Brick's voice is ideally suited to this extraordinary tale; no doubt he studied the prose of each novel to capture the dialect perfectly. This is a superb, solid reading that will appeal to fans and newcomers alike." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

Frank Herbert's Dune ended with Paul Muad'Dib in control of the planet Dune. Herbert's next Dune book, Dune Messiah, picked up the story several years later after Paul's armies had conquered the galaxy. But what happened between Dune and Dune Messiah? How did Paul create his empire and become the Messiah? Following in the footsteps of Frank Herbert, New York Times best-selling authors Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are answering these questions in Paul of Dune.

The Muad'Dib's jihad is in full swing. His warrior legions march from victory to victory. But beneath the joy of victory there are dangerous undercurrents. Paul, like nearly every great conqueror, has enemies - those who would betray him to steal the awesome power he commands...

And Paul himself begins to have doubts: Is the jihad getting out of his control? Has he created anarchy? Has he been betrayed by those he loves and trusts the most? And most of all, he wonders: Am I going mad?

Don't miss other titles in the Dune series.

©2008 Herbert Properties LLC (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

Better than most of the original series

I was skeptical of this series at first and debated listening to one. Dune was one of the best books I've ever read but the subsequent volumes lost something. Paul of Dune comes very close to the original Dune. Perhaps its the characters and the connection to the first book, but regardless I was more enthralled in this story than most of the original series.

Dune : review.

The book would have been excellent other than the reader trying to do his own emotional voice inflection very poorly. He also don't seem to know how to pronounce character names along with other mispronounced words. To bad this was recorded over ten years ago..

Not my favorite member of the Dune Chronicles, but a still a favoring political thriller

I always appreciate the tapestry of politics, plans within plan, and expanding on ‘statecraft’ that Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson display in their Dune books. However, do to the back and forth time skips and also the brooding nature of Paul’s character, this novel in the series was perhaps my least favorite. The reader often wonders what Paul’s first years as emperor were like and how they formed into into the protagonist of Dune Messiah, and this book answers that well-enough though.

Enjoyable, but the weakest entry so far.

I enjoyed the audio book, and the performance was good. The parts that deal with Paul as Emperor are quite strong,, though I feel that one event at the end slightly cheapens one event in one of Frank Herbert's original. Still, quite good. The parts dealing with young Paul were pretty good for the most part, but one plot point goes against something established in the original Dune, and the explanation for it seemed weak. I wish they would have worked around it instead of retrofitting the canon to for their needs. Still, a passable entry.

Outstanding On Its Own; Enriches Series.

Fantastic. Simply, fantastic. I highly advise rereading/listening to the entire collection in order. The characters are so much richer and realistic with books like this one, and the Caladan prequel series.

Destiny

When one is destined, the call must be answered and the path or paths must be taken

Flashbacks filling in history

This feels like a history lesson in the Dune universe. While there are some characters you like to hear from again, the details become a little exhausting. And at the end the overall plot doesn't seem to have advanced much. But, true to the title, you get to know Paul.

Kevin J Anderson Does It Again!!!

Where does Paul of Dune rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a great story that ranks 10 on a scale of 1-10 right next to the Last Days of Krypton, also by Kevin J. Anderson. My introduction to Dune was the 1984 movie which always baffled me. Then the revamped mini series a few years ago along with Children of Dune. I would say read Paul of Dune first and then go back to House Atriedes, House Harkonen and finally House Corrino.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Paul of Dune?

The repercussions of Paul's triumph over Emperor Corrino. The Fremen are an uncontrollable monster in the making. They rampage through the empire solidifying Paul's rule as new emperor. Also his travels back to Calidan and his attempts t re-establish his relationship as Duke. Memories of Gurneys life and his new role as Paul's right hand as he attempts to control the Fremen zealots during water training is very insightful. Also Count Fenring skulking about in the peripheral is also intriguing.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Scott Brick masterfully weaves the story together, his voice captures the essence of each page of dialogue and overall storytelling.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

It took me two tries ...

It took me two tries to start listening to this book - I just couldn't stand the religious zealots...then it got good - I really liked the intricate story around the Fenrings and bitterness of Shaddam. I have been a fan of the Dune universe for a very long time and I really enjoy the expanded universe that has been woven with the prequels and now this interstitial tale - and it looks like more to come. I think this story was needed - and it helped to make sense of the jump from the noble son of a duke to a messiah for which a jihad is fought.

Had some problems at first with the 2nd and 3rd parts as my bookmarks on the Zune (kept showing me Chapter 1) and my machine was not holding my bookmark when I shut the book off and had to fast forward to my position everytime I restarted.

awesome

I loved the way you mixed past with present.... Well done