• God Emperor of Dune

  • By: Frank Herbert
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (11,565 ratings)

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God Emperor of Dune  By  cover art

God Emperor of Dune

By: Frank Herbert
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Publisher's summary

More than 3,000 years have passed since the first events recorded in Dune. Only one link survives with those tumultuous times: the grotesque figure of Leto Atreides, son of the prophet Paul Muad'Dib, and now the virtually immortal God Emperor of Dune. He alone understands the future, and he knows with a terrible certainty that the evolution of his race is at an end unless he can breed new qualities into his species.

But to achieve his final victory, Leto Atreides must also bring about his own downfall.

Don't miss other titles in the Dune series.
©1981 Frank Herbert (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"A fourth visit to Arrakis that is every bit as fascinating as the other three - every bit as timely." ( Time)
"Rich fare...Heady stuff." ( Los Angeles Times)

Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks for Fans of Dune


Ever since its publication in 1965, Frank Herbert's Dune has set the bar high for epic science fiction. In fact, Herbert's beloved novel is considered to be one the best sci-fi books of all time. Dune was the recipient of multiple awards, including the inaugural Nebula Award for best novel in 1966. And in October 2021, more than 50 years after the novel's initial release, fans of Dune are being treated to a film adaptation, directed by Denis Villeneuve.

What listeners say about God Emperor of Dune

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Must be a Dune fan

When asked my favorite book, I answer Dune. I understand that it is not everyone's cup of tea.
Of the series, God Emperor is my favorite and this audiobook brought forth other aspects to consider. I enjoy contemplating Frank Herbert's writings.
If you have interest, please be sure to have checked out the others prior to this in the series: Dune, Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great performance but no chapters

Performances are stellar and of course the story is as well. However the audiobook needs chapter separations, as it’s just one long file now.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My favorite

After reading all of the Dune books, God Emperor stands ferm as my absolute favorite out of the whole saga.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Yes

It is really good. Wether reading it or listening, this story is worth checking out.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enhanced my love for Dune

If you could sum up God Emperor of Dune in three words, what would they be?

Serve Your God

What did you like best about this story?

I love how profoundly philosophical is this whole series. It's not just a masterpiece of science fiction but an astute commentary on the nature humanity.

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

I got so much out of the book that this is hard to answer but I felt perhaps a little more intensely the feelings of the Lord Leto. Simon Vance really was able to evoke emotions that are more intense than from reading print. The 'love' scene between Leto and Hwi was actually read by a different voice actor who also did a very good job.
I didn't like how raspy Simon Vance made the voice of Leto the worm, but felt that it forced me to face that the character was not a youthful human boy as we left in him Children of Dune.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I never thought it would be easy to serve God.

Any additional comments?

I'm listening to Heretics now also read by Simon Vance. Love it. Love the whole series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A profound example of the value of a told story

Read the book, and you certainly experience a profoundly alien viewpoint and a story that is both epic and deeply personal.

Listen to Simon, Scott, and Katherine read it to you, and the personal dimension deepens further without eliminating the epic. The book is reputed to have originally been written entirely in the first person, and later rewritten into its current third person limited form, with the chapter quotations from the Stolen Journals retaining the original subjectivity. As a narrated story, you really feel the subjective, emotional nature of this story.

The narration of this entire series sets the gold standard. The narrators all take their material seriously, and seem to understand it. With Herbert, that's not easy!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping me till the end

Something about this book kept me gripped and hooked till the last minute. Probably because this was the first book where I had no prior knowledge of, unlike the preceding books to this point. Overall a great book that gives much introspection.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I must listen

I will listen to this book many, many times again. I’m just beginning to skim the surface.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

the 4th dune novel

thousands of years after children of dune, letos transformation is nearly complete. contains a lot of self introspection and really requires you to think to understand the meanings of many conversations.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The best book in the series thus far.

I knew this one was favorite when the book ended. I was sad as if a friend or a coworker had moved away and I was left to carry on.
I restarted it and I'm about half way through again......so good.

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