-
Mentats of Dune
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 22 hrs and 14 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $41.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Navigators of Dune
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The story line tells the origins of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood and its breeding program, the human-computer Mentats, and the Navigators (the Spacing Guild), as well as a crucial battle for the future of the human race, in which reason faces off against fanaticism. These events have far-reaching consequences that will set the stage for Dune, millennia later.
-
-
Amazing conclusion to the Great Schools of Dune
- By Charles on 09-16-16
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
Dune: The Duke of Caladan
- The Caladan Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leto Atreides, duke of Caladan and father of the Muad’Dib. While all know of his fall and the rise of his son, little is known about the quiet ruler of Caladan and his partner, Jessica. Or how a duke of an inconsequential planet earned an emperor’s favor, the ire of House Harkonnen, and set himself on a collision course with his own death. This is the story. Through patience and loyalty, Leto serves the Golden Lion Throne. Where others scheme, the duke of Caladan acts. But Leto’s powerful enemies are starting to feel that he is rising beyond his station.
-
-
I keep hoping they will measure up...
- By Josh Steenson on 10-19-20
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
Mind numbing !
- By melissa on 07-19-19
By: Craig Alanson
-
Hellhole
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Only the most desperate colonists dare to make a new home on Hellhole. Reeling from a recent asteroid impact, tortured with horrific storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and churning volcanic eruptions, the planet is a dumping ground for undesirables, misfits, and charlatans…but also a haven for dreamers and independent pioneers. Against all odds, an exiled general named Adolphus has turned Hellhole into a place of real opportunity for the desperate colonists who call the planet their home.
-
-
Very Good Series Intro
- By Dan on 03-30-11
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
The Dark Between the Stars
- The Saga of Shadows, Book One
- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 22 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Twenty years after the elemental conflict that nearly tore apart the cosmos in The Saga of Seven Suns, a new threat emerges from the darkness. The human race must set aside its own inner conflicts to rebuild their alliance with the Ildiran Empire for the survival of the galaxy. In Kevin J. Anderson's The Dark Between the Stars, galactic empires clash, elemental beings devastate whole planetary systems, and factions of humanity are pitted against one another.
-
-
Crank It Up Again!
- By Trip Williams on 08-09-14
-
Hidden Empire: The Saga of Seven Suns, Book 1
- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 20 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An explosive new science fiction series by New York Times best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson, Hidden Empire is the first volume in The Saga of the Seven Suns, modeled after the Star Wars and X-Files universes. Anderson has become the foremost science fiction writer of the century, bringing to life vivid characters and worlds that delight his fans across the galaxy.
-
-
Great Listen
- By Anonymous User on 01-14-05
-
Navigators of Dune
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The story line tells the origins of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood and its breeding program, the human-computer Mentats, and the Navigators (the Spacing Guild), as well as a crucial battle for the future of the human race, in which reason faces off against fanaticism. These events have far-reaching consequences that will set the stage for Dune, millennia later.
-
-
Amazing conclusion to the Great Schools of Dune
- By Charles on 09-16-16
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
Dune: The Duke of Caladan
- The Caladan Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leto Atreides, duke of Caladan and father of the Muad’Dib. While all know of his fall and the rise of his son, little is known about the quiet ruler of Caladan and his partner, Jessica. Or how a duke of an inconsequential planet earned an emperor’s favor, the ire of House Harkonnen, and set himself on a collision course with his own death. This is the story. Through patience and loyalty, Leto serves the Golden Lion Throne. Where others scheme, the duke of Caladan acts. But Leto’s powerful enemies are starting to feel that he is rising beyond his station.
-
-
I keep hoping they will measure up...
- By Josh Steenson on 10-19-20
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
Mind numbing !
- By melissa on 07-19-19
By: Craig Alanson
-
Hellhole
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Only the most desperate colonists dare to make a new home on Hellhole. Reeling from a recent asteroid impact, tortured with horrific storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and churning volcanic eruptions, the planet is a dumping ground for undesirables, misfits, and charlatans…but also a haven for dreamers and independent pioneers. Against all odds, an exiled general named Adolphus has turned Hellhole into a place of real opportunity for the desperate colonists who call the planet their home.
-
-
Very Good Series Intro
- By Dan on 03-30-11
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
The Dark Between the Stars
- The Saga of Shadows, Book One
- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 22 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Twenty years after the elemental conflict that nearly tore apart the cosmos in The Saga of Seven Suns, a new threat emerges from the darkness. The human race must set aside its own inner conflicts to rebuild their alliance with the Ildiran Empire for the survival of the galaxy. In Kevin J. Anderson's The Dark Between the Stars, galactic empires clash, elemental beings devastate whole planetary systems, and factions of humanity are pitted against one another.
-
-
Crank It Up Again!
- By Trip Williams on 08-09-14
-
Hidden Empire: The Saga of Seven Suns, Book 1
- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 20 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An explosive new science fiction series by New York Times best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson, Hidden Empire is the first volume in The Saga of the Seven Suns, modeled after the Star Wars and X-Files universes. Anderson has become the foremost science fiction writer of the century, bringing to life vivid characters and worlds that delight his fans across the galaxy.
-
-
Great Listen
- By Anonymous User on 01-14-05
-
The Jesus Incident
- The Pandora Sequence, Book 1
- By: Frank Herbert, Bill Ransom
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 16 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The last survivors of humanity have just been deposited on Pandora, a horrific, poisonous planet rife with deadly nerve-runners, hooded dashers, airborne jellyfish, and intelligent kelp. The determined colonists attempt to establish a bridgehead on the deadly, inhospitable planet, but more trouble arises. Their sentient ship - backed up by an impressive array of armaments - has decided it is God and is insisting the colonists find appropriate ways to worship it.
-
-
So what's happening here?
- By ErikI on 04-15-16
By: Frank Herbert, and others
-
Hyperion
- By: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, and others
- Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all.
-
-
Well written but boring
- By surfgoat on 08-06-18
By: Dan Simmons
-
The Fellowship of the Ring
- Book One in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Rob Inglis
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume in the trilogy, tells of the fateful power of the One Ring. It begins a magnificent tale of adventure that will plunge the members of the Fellowship of the Ring into a perilous quest and set the stage for the ultimate clash between the powers of good and evil.
-
-
Audiobook version better than I had hoped
- By James W. on 10-31-18
By: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
The Dosadi Experiment
- By: Frank Herbert
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Generations of a tormented human-alien people, caged on a toxic planet, conditioned by constant hunger and war - this is the Dosadi Experiment, and it has succeeded too well. For the Dosadi have bred for vengeance as well as cunning, and they have learned how to pass through the shimmering God Wall to exact their dreadful revenge on the Universe that created them....
-
-
Interesting, but too many leaps.
- By Burgermeister on 08-07-14
By: Frank Herbert
-
Unfinished Tales
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien - editor
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 21 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring and provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the 20th century’s most acclaimed popular author.
-
-
Editorial roadblocks
- By William C. Watson on 05-15-21
By: J. R. R. Tolkien, and others
-
The Hobbit
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Andy Serkis
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of 13 dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day, to whisk him away on a journey "there and back again". They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.
-
-
Andy Serkis Was Sheer Perfection
- By Barbara Lunz on 09-22-20
By: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
The Last Wish
- By: Andrzej Sapkowski
- Narrated by: Peter Kenny
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin. And a cold-blooded killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous-looking is evil, and not everything fair is good...and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
-
-
Better than the show, of course!
- By Cheryl Dias on 01-07-20
-
Rendezvous with Rama
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim, Robert J. Sawyer - introduction
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredibly, an interstellar spacecraft. Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence.
-
-
Mixed feelings
- By Tricia on 01-07-10
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
A Game of Thrones
- A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1
- By: George R.R. Martin
- Narrated by: Roy Dotrice
- Length: 33 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King's Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert's name. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse - unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season. Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances....
-
-
Everybody is apparently a chain smoking old man.
- By Althea on 11-04-13
-
Ruins of the Earth
- Ruins of the Earth, Book 1
- By: Christopher Hopper, J. N. Chaney
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A secret buried in the Antarctic. A puzzle unsolved for thousands of years. And a Brooklyn-born master gunnery sergeant who's royally pissed that he has to babysit the researchers sent to figure it all out. But when Patrick "Wic" Finnegan finally sees what the team has uncovered, he can't believe his eyes, nor is he prepared for the violence to come. Soon, the portal opens and unleashes a storm of unbridled fury upon humanity.
-
-
I really wanted to like this.
- By Jeremy Korpi on 04-06-21
By: Christopher Hopper, and others
-
On Basilisk Station
- Honor Harrington, Book 1
- By: David Weber
- Narrated by: Allyson Johnson
- Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Honor Harrington has been exiled to Basilisk station and given an antique ship to police the system. The vindictive superior who sent her there wants her to fail. But he made one mistake: he's made her mad....
-
-
First half a 3, last half a 5
- By AudioAddict on 07-16-13
By: David Weber
-
Steel World
- Undying Mercenaries, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 20th century Earth sent probes, transmissions, and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers....
-
-
Not plausible. Even for science fiction.
- By Smurfberry on 09-28-19
By: B. V. Larson
Publisher's Summary
In Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Mentats of Dune, the thinking machines have been defeated but the struggle for humanity’s future continues. Gilbertus Albans has founded the Mentat School, a place where humans can learn the efficient techniques of thinking machines. But Gilbertus walks an uneasy line between his own convictions and compromises in order to survive the Butlerian fanatics, led by the madman Manford Torondo and his Swordmaster Anari Idaho.
Mother Superior Raquella attempts to rebuild her Sisterhood School on Wallach IX, with her most talented and ambitious student, Valya Harkonnen, who also has another goal - to exact revenge on Vorian Atreides, the legendary hero of the Jihad, whom she blames for her family’s downfall.
Meanwhile, Josef Venport conducts his own war against the Butlerians. VenHold Spacing Fleet controls nearly all commerce thanks to the superior mutated Navigators that Venport has created, and he places a ruthless embargo on any planet that accepts Manford Torondo’s anti-technology pledge, hoping to starve them into submission. But fanatics rarely surrender easily . . . The Mentats, the Navigators, and the Sisterhood all strive to improve the human race, but each group knows that as Butlerian fanaticism grows stronger, the battle will be to choose the path of humanity’s future - whether to embrace civilization, or to plunge into an endless dark age.
Featured Article: The Best Sci-Fi Book-to-Film/TV Adaptations
Beyond raising fascinating possibilities, the best works of science fiction ask big questions: What does it mean to be human? What will the future look like? What mysteries does the universe hold, and what do they mean for life on Earth? Whether you choose to escape via audiobook, movie, or television, these science fiction stories are truly out of this world—in all their incarnations.
More from the same
What listeners say about Mentats of Dune
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cliff
- 04-16-14
Ok story, but very flawed.
Overall, this is a decent book but is in no way is up to the level of Frank Herbert. The novel is entertaining and it was worth reading to see how the story plays out. Especially since the previous novel was left on a complete cliff hanger and nothing was resolved. It's worth a listen if you are a hardcore dune fan, but be prepared for a long slog (23 hours). If you aren't a major Dune fan or seriously invested after the previous novel pass on this one.
Not to nerd out, but I did have some problems with factual inconsistancies in the story, for example, Dortea finds out information about herself from genetic memory despite the fact that it occurred after a point at which it would have been in her genetic memory from mom or grandma.
Plus, the level of cunning and intelligence just isn't there for the characters. The story is chock full of points where you go , man that is just stupid. I could give quite a few examples but I don't want to spoil anything. Still I am invested enough from the previous book to carry on. This is defintiely a step backward from the quality of books in the machine crusade series.
The pacing is slow.. Glacier slow.. I've had to put this one down and come back several times. The novel is also very repetative, repeating the same facts about the characters over and over again almost like the authors were padding the book to make it longer. It is decently written but I don't know if I will be willing to continue on with the series after this one. Still if you liked the first novel you will get closure on most major issues.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Scraper101
- 03-24-14
Too much repeat not enough original meterial
Any additional comments?
I wish the authors of this book would stop repeating the same material over and over again. Every time you read about Vorian Atreides I am tired of hearing about how he regrets the events that caused the downfall of house Harkonnen. I am tired of every time we hear about Valya Harkonnen and how she wants to cause Vorian harm because of things he never did. This go on and on with other charters as well. I just want the story to move along. I don't need you to explore every possibility of every charter in the book every time you bring them up. Cut the book down by a forth to a half and it would be a 5 star book. I love the history in the book but I just half to wade through a lot of unneeded info to get to it. Please in your next book more story and less filler.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Stephan Hughes
- 02-13-15
well read.
Scott brick does an amazing job reading. He breaths life into the characters. the overall story is good. Nothing fantastic, but an appropriate continuation of the series. once again, the reader brings such a life into the story making the characters tangable. I want more.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cozy Reader
- 03-17-14
Those Humans Never Learn!
I'm a longtime fan of the Dune series and even though I have started with the House trilogy (written by Kevin J Anderson & Brian Herbert) I have read the original Dune books (many, many times) and I continue to read/listen to new books as they come available.
Mentats of Dune follows Sisterhood of Dune, and the mayhem that is flooding the new empire until the rule of Salvatore Corrino. He ordered the Sisterhood to disband and now they are split into two factions, the Harkonnens are still trying to unleash their fury at the Atreides and at the Mentat school, the headmaster is holding onto a very dangerous secret. There is a lot going on and forever Arrakis stays the same as Venport Holdings retrieve the spice and have their expanded fleet travel across the Empire.
This is not the original Dune and I don't know if this is how Frank Herbert would've written it. I feel like even though humans never learn from their mistakes, I wonder if they would've made this many mistakes. It will be interesting to see how all of this unravels in Navigators of Dune.
The original Dune book is an amazing novel of political intrigue and ecological debate. This new series tends to focus more on the houses and the schools and less on Arrakis. They are vastly different, with the same characters. While I like that Kevin J Anderson & Brian Herbert have continued on with the series, I will still love the original books more. Having said that I will continue to read/listen because I'm curious to see how it all plays out.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- L. Cross
- 02-27-21
Gotta have me some DUNE
Brian & Kevin have done immense justice to Franks stories. Very well written and true to the overall Dune saga.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 08-04-22
Wow!
Honestly this book series so far has surpassed my Expectations. It is beautifully written and well-thought-out. Before I even made it to the end of this book I was already looking forward to the next one. I am reading these in the time line order (just Google to find that order) and I will suggest to anyone that wants to start this series to also do so, it will help explain things a lot more more effectively.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- NotaMetalfan
- 07-03-22
Continued awe
The saga gets better and better. Happy to see the sisterhood progress but troubled about it's future. The imperium is going to change drastically and Vor has his work cut out. Love every chapter, beautifully written.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Daniel Woolridge
- 06-27-22
Did not disappoint
Excellent story with unexpected, and also expected twists. I could palpably understand different motivations behind each character’s intricate narrative.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Actual user of the product
- 06-20-22
OK Let's Do some Really Dumb Stuff!
OK story then.... main characters killed off etc by doing uncharacteristically dumb things. I had to take a loooong break before coming back to this series and the review for the next one signals "skip". Why, spend so much time revisiting all this history just to do a shitty job of it?
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- LexTaliones
- 05-07-22
Painful and insulting.
I’ll get to the spoiler-laden specifics (and try not to get too deep) later, but I’ll give you the general reasons for my dislike and ultimate abandonment of the series first. This review covers the mess of the first five books as they get worse and worse.
TL/DR: Are you a fan of the original Dune series by Frank Herbert? Are you looking for the brilliant writing, complex interplay of politics, faith, human emotion and adventure of the originals? Need to feed that hunger for themes of deep meaning displayed through engaging and incredible dialogue? You won’t find it in the prequels. These books are a shameless money grab written by a relative of the brilliant creator of the originals (assisted by another writer, if you can believe it.). One dimensional/one track minded characters who barely qualify as caricature, nonsensical plot devices driven by characters who ignore their nature and abilities to further the plot, childish dialogue, convoluted paths that struggle to explain the rich history leading up to the original masterpieces written by Frank Herbert, amateurish writing in general. Stay away from these monstrosities if you loved the first books. I found myself constantly cringing, rolling my eyes, and arguing out loud as I listened to the few I struggled through before I completely gave up and dropped them in the middle of the fifth book, and that was far too long to suffer through these. It was a painful slog and a waste of time and money.
SPOILERS:
I’ll try not to make this too long. I read the physical copies of the first three Dune Prequel books years ago and remember not being fond of them then. I had a lot of problems with them, but with the new film being released I got excited and thought that I might listen to the entire run of prequel books up to the epic originals. I’m kind of a completionist when it comes to anything like books, games, films, etc. I thought maybe I could digest and appreciate them better through audiobooks as I am now an avid audiobook/audible fan. I was wrong and I made a huge mistake by buying the entire series before the attempt.
The books are filled with one-dimensional characters who never grow and never change and are driven by narrow and overly simplistic motivations. They rarely waver from being cartoonish rubber stamps of personality. I can think of one single character who “develops” in the entire book and their development is really just another one of the series’ absurd plot devices. The characters seem to be modeled after the most basic of archetypes and have the depth of a hair’s width. We have the “driven woman”, the “megalomaniac”, the “noble hero”, the “misguided villain awaiting redemption”, the “religious zealot”, the “glory-hound scientist”, the “unnoticed genius” (yes, she’s even malformed and ugly), etc. There’s even a sociopathic robot who tortures & kills human beings over, and over in an what is feebly described as “research” and over. (In one scene he vivisects some humen beings, fills a vat with their blood and organd, and uses the glop to paint a “masterpiece” in a parody of being a brilliant artist). It’s ridiculous. Most (all) of the characters constantly ignore their intelligence, training and abilities to make purely stupid decisions, or ignore the obvious to further the plot. One character is supposedly a nearly omniscient super-computer that it’s remarked more than a few times makes trillions of calculations a second before making decisions to predict outcomes and solve problems, and yet it also makes some truly laughable decisions and obvious solutions are completely overlooked.
The only time the plot isn’t predictable is when it goes off the rails and something that makes you shake your head takes place. I’ve literally seen much more interesting and better constructed plots in comic books. The writing? Ugh. The dialogue, inner monologues, and third person narration is almost childish. There’s none of the emotion, complexity, genius or subtlety of the original books written by Frank Herbert.
Speaking of lack of subtlety. The narrator, Scott Brick annoyed me through all of it. Though he gets a little better by the third book, it’s not by much. He hams everything up and overacts every line of dialogue to a cringe-worthy level. He speaks like he’s reading a children’s book to a class of toddlers. He’s almost patronizing in his delivery and I felt condescended to with every goofy exclamation and faux sentiment he barely tried to convey. Anyone remember that SNL character by John Lovits, the “ACTIIIING!” guy? Yeah, that was what he made me think of through the entire ordeal.
For the record, I WANTED to like these books. I REALLY wanted to! I’m pretty good at suspending my disbelief when I’m enjoying any book or visual media. I can make all kinds of concessions and explain away things that are “iffy” to allow me to accept things so I can appreciate what I’m given, but this was a constant ordeal of trying and ultimately giving up until I was literally arguing or exclaiming out loud how stupid something was as I listened. I finally quit about ¾ way through Mentats of Dune. It was a huge waste of time.
Related to this topic
-
Navigators of Dune
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The story line tells the origins of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood and its breeding program, the human-computer Mentats, and the Navigators (the Spacing Guild), as well as a crucial battle for the future of the human race, in which reason faces off against fanaticism. These events have far-reaching consequences that will set the stage for Dune, millennia later.
-
-
Amazing conclusion to the Great Schools of Dune
- By Charles on 09-16-16
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
Dune: The Machine Crusade
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 27 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than two decades have passed since the events chronicled in The Butlerian Jihad. The crusade against thinking robots has ground on for years, but the forces led by Serena Butler and Irbis Ginjo have made only slight gains; the human worlds grow weary of war, of the bloody, inconclusive swing from victory to defeat. Get ready for Dune: The Machine Crusade.
-
-
Not bad but no Frank Herbert
- By S A on 10-27-03
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
Hidden Empire: The Saga of Seven Suns, Book 1
- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 20 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An explosive new science fiction series by New York Times best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson, Hidden Empire is the first volume in The Saga of the Seven Suns, modeled after the Star Wars and X-Files universes. Anderson has become the foremost science fiction writer of the century, bringing to life vivid characters and worlds that delight his fans across the galaxy.
-
-
Great Listen
- By Anonymous User on 01-14-05
-
A Question of Will
- Aliomenti Saga, Book 1
- By: Alex Albrinck
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Will Stark is a self-made multibillionaire, happily married, and a proud father. He arrives home to find his house destroyed and his family murdered and is himself rescued from certain death by a mysterious trio. His rescuers are part of a splinter faction of a centuries-old secret society that has developed incredible technological advances and unlocked the method to release humanity's innate potential. Will was mistakenly believed to be a key dissident and fugitive, on the run from the primary group, known as the Aliomenti.
-
-
WOW! What a great creative story!
- By Allen Anthony on 06-18-16
By: Alex Albrinck
-
Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic I: Remnant
- By: Shane Dix, Sean Williams
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the ashes of the New Republic, torn to shreds by the savage Yuuzhan Vong forces, the newly formed Galactic Alliance has risen, determined to bring peace to the entire galaxy. But first the Yuuzhan Vong must be contained once and for all. And so Luke Skywalker seeks a world long lost to legend: Zonama Sekot, a sentient planet believed to have repelled an invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong decades ago. Deciphering the enigmatic secrets of Zonama Sekot just might turn the tides of a relentless war.
-
-
Good, but needs more information
- By Chris on 01-12-11
By: Shane Dix, and others
-
Dune
- By: Frank Herbert
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and others
- Length: 21 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
-
-
This classic deserves better
- By Matthew Salvo on 07-01-21
By: Frank Herbert
-
Navigators of Dune
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The story line tells the origins of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood and its breeding program, the human-computer Mentats, and the Navigators (the Spacing Guild), as well as a crucial battle for the future of the human race, in which reason faces off against fanaticism. These events have far-reaching consequences that will set the stage for Dune, millennia later.
-
-
Amazing conclusion to the Great Schools of Dune
- By Charles on 09-16-16
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
Dune: The Machine Crusade
- By: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 27 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than two decades have passed since the events chronicled in The Butlerian Jihad. The crusade against thinking robots has ground on for years, but the forces led by Serena Butler and Irbis Ginjo have made only slight gains; the human worlds grow weary of war, of the bloody, inconclusive swing from victory to defeat. Get ready for Dune: The Machine Crusade.
-
-
Not bad but no Frank Herbert
- By S A on 10-27-03
By: Brian Herbert, and others
-
Hidden Empire: The Saga of Seven Suns, Book 1
- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 20 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An explosive new science fiction series by New York Times best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson, Hidden Empire is the first volume in The Saga of the Seven Suns, modeled after the Star Wars and X-Files universes. Anderson has become the foremost science fiction writer of the century, bringing to life vivid characters and worlds that delight his fans across the galaxy.
-
-
Great Listen
- By Anonymous User on 01-14-05
-
A Question of Will
- Aliomenti Saga, Book 1
- By: Alex Albrinck
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Will Stark is a self-made multibillionaire, happily married, and a proud father. He arrives home to find his house destroyed and his family murdered and is himself rescued from certain death by a mysterious trio. His rescuers are part of a splinter faction of a centuries-old secret society that has developed incredible technological advances and unlocked the method to release humanity's innate potential. Will was mistakenly believed to be a key dissident and fugitive, on the run from the primary group, known as the Aliomenti.
-
-
WOW! What a great creative story!
- By Allen Anthony on 06-18-16
By: Alex Albrinck
-
Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic I: Remnant
- By: Shane Dix, Sean Williams
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the ashes of the New Republic, torn to shreds by the savage Yuuzhan Vong forces, the newly formed Galactic Alliance has risen, determined to bring peace to the entire galaxy. But first the Yuuzhan Vong must be contained once and for all. And so Luke Skywalker seeks a world long lost to legend: Zonama Sekot, a sentient planet believed to have repelled an invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong decades ago. Deciphering the enigmatic secrets of Zonama Sekot just might turn the tides of a relentless war.
-
-
Good, but needs more information
- By Chris on 01-12-11
By: Shane Dix, and others
-
Dune
- By: Frank Herbert
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and others
- Length: 21 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
-
-
This classic deserves better
- By Matthew Salvo on 07-01-21
By: Frank Herbert
-
Outcast
- Star Wars Legends (Fate of the Jedi)
- By: Aaron Allston
- Narrated by: Marc Thompson
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The next chapter in the extraordinary history of the star Wars galaxy begins here...After a violent civil war and the devastation wrought by the now-fallen Darth Caedus, the Galactic Alliance is in crisis - and in need. From all corners, politicians, power brokers, and military leaders converge on Coruscant for a crucial summit to restore order, negotiate differences, and determine the future of their unified worlds. But even more critical, and far more uncertain, is the future of the Jedi.
-
-
Full audiobooks make these even more enjoyable!!!!
- By john on 04-21-09
By: Aaron Allston
-
Conquest
- The Chronicles of the Invaders: Book 1
- By: John Connolly, Jennifer Ridyard
- Narrated by: Nicola Barber
- Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Earth has been invaded by the Illyri, a beautiful, civilized, yet ruthless alien race. Humanity has been conquered, but still it fights the invaders. The Resistance grows stronger, for it is the young people of Earth who battle the Illyri.
-
-
Spoiled Teenager or Sci-fi?
- By Bob H. on 04-24-16
By: John Connolly, and others
-
Into the Void
- Star Wars Legends (Dawn of the Jedi)
- By: Tim Lebbon
- Narrated by: January LaVoy
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the planet Tython, the ancient Je’daii order was founded. And at the feet of its wise Masters, Lanoree Brock learned the mysteries and methods of the Force - and found her calling as one of its most powerful disciples. But as strongly as the Force flowed within Lanoree and her parents, it remained absent in her brother, who grew to despise and shun the Je’daii, and whose training in its ancient ways ended in tragedy. Now, from her solitary life as a Ranger keeping order across the galaxy, Lanoree has been summoned by the Je’daii Council on a matter of utmost urgency.
-
-
Really bad
- By Michael Kendra on 09-17-17
By: Tim Lebbon
-
Shatterpoint: Star Wars Legends
- By: Matthew Stover
- Narrated by: Sullivan Jones
- Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The jungle planet of Haruun Kal, homeworld of the legendary Jedi Master Mace Windu, has become a battleground in the increasing hostilities between the Republic and the renegade Separatist movement. The Jedi Council has sent Depa Billaba - Mace’s former Padawan and fellow Council member - to Haruun Kal to train the local tribesmen as a guerrilla resistance force. But now the Separatists have pulled back, and Depa has not returned.
-
-
Buy this audiobook!!!!
- By The Big D/ Easy on 06-15-21
By: Matthew Stover
-
Legacy
- A Prequel to Eon
- By: Greg Bear
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this prequel to Eon, Greg Bear continues to explore the possibilities presented by the asteroid Thistledown, a remnant of a lost human civilization. The Way is a tunnel through space and time that leads to other worlds, some more like planet Earth than Earth itself. It is perhaps the most formidable discovery in Thistledown and with it come disputes as to the nature of the Way and how it should be used. The Way can be reached only through Axis City, the only space station of Thistledown.
-
-
Barely related to Eon and Eternity
- By David A. Kingston on 02-21-15
By: Greg Bear