The second and third books in the Dune Chronicles, Dune
Messiah and Children
of Dune, only when combined come close to the scope of the original,
but continue threads begun in Dune
and take place within years of each other. The fourth book, God
Emperor of Dune, is easily the weakest book of the Dune
Chronicles,
but anyone who has read the first three books, should read this one to see
how
Herbert has continued the history of the planet Dune. It is set nearly a thousand
years later and the main character, Leto II now the God Emperor, is disappointing,
but elements laid out in the background are carried through in the next two
books.
The fifth book, Heretics
of Dune, picks up thousands of years after the time of the first
four books, but deals with the threads of change from what transpired in
the
first few books. With this book, Herbert regains much of what seemed to be
missing from the fourth book. The sixth and final book (although Herbert
had begun work on a seventh book at the time of his death), Chapterhouse:
Dune shifts away from the planet Dune, but continues its legacy.
I feel that this book alone of all the sequels in the Dune Chronicles
rivals the first book in epic scope and depth of story. Its quality made me
glad that I had not given up after God
Emperor of Dune.
