I'm always on board when Herbert and Anderson release a new Dune tale. I
have read them all and love every one of them. Heir of Caladan is no exception
to the rule for me. It is a great ending to the trilogy that leads directly to
the events of the original Dune novel by Frank Herbert. I've always wondered
about the events leading to Dune. Why is there such a vicious feud between
House Harkonnen and House Atreides? How did House Atreides come into control of
Arrakis? Why does Shaddam IV seem to not trust his cousin, Duke Leto?
Heir of Caladan, we get an idea of the answers to those questions and more.
This segment rounds out the trilogy that also includes Dune: The Duke of
Caladan and Dune: The Lady of Caladan. All three books are excellent and well
worth the time for fans readers who enjoy the books written by Brian Herbert
and Kevin J. Anderson.
It is busy in the known universe ruled by Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino
IV.
Jaxson Aru, son of the CHOAM director, has made it his mission - or
obsession - to free the universe from Corrino rule once and for all. He has
made it clear he will stop at nothing to accomplish this mission and he has the
attention of Shaddam. As a matter of fact, Shaddam is equally determined to rid
the universe of Aru, and any of those who are in league with him. The Emperor's
Sardukar troops are going to be busy making examples of those who dare to
associate with the traitor Aru.
Duke Leto Atreides of Caladan plays a dangerous game. His mission is to
infiltrate Aru's organization and attempt to bring it down from within. He has
dispatched Gurney Halleck to Kaitain with a message for Shaddam, letting him
know he is loyal and what his intentions are. The only problem here is that
Gurney has been captured on his way to deliver the message by the Harkonnens.
No one knows he hasn't delivered his message.
The Lady Jessica has been taken away from Caladan by the Bene Geserit and
reassigned to the planet Elegy to be the new bound concubine of Viscount
Giandro Tull. Jessica is on a mission that she hopes is successful, will allow
her to go back to Caladan to be with her Duke and her son.
The Ducal heir, young Paul Atreides, is left on Caladan to assume the duties
of his father. He faces numerous challenges and hopes to be successful thanks
to his mother's training, and the advice of Mentat Thufir Hawat and Swordmaster
Duncan Idaho.
And, if that isn't enough, The Baron Harkonnen plots to see that Leto is
left with nothing, not even a home. Hasimir Fenring investigates the spice
situation on Arrakis, and the Bene Geserit think they are close to producing
the Kwisatz Haderach they have long been searching for. One of the problems
Paul must solve, once and for all, is the illicit production of the Caladan
Drug thought already to have been eradicated.
All the characters are in play in this story of intrigue and plots within
plots. As always, they are recognizable as who they are and each unique in
their own voice and thoughts.
It is difficult to choose a single point of plot in Heir of Caladan because
it is all just that good, but if I was forced to choose one, it would have to
be Paul's trials filling in as Duke. He faces quite a few challenges, but young
as he is, he appears quite capable of making the hard decisions and isn't
afraid to take advice from the advisors surrounding him. Paul faces a few
situations, but there is one which tests him at the highest lever because the
stakes are the existence of Caladan itself!
My takeaway from Heir of Caladan is that no matter what one's plan is, no
matter how carefully one plans, there is always the possibility of failure. In
this tale, everyone has a goal they want to achieve, and it seems some come
close to seeing those goals become successes, that is, until some random,
unplanned element is introduced. It happens through this entire story.
I have read everything in the Dune universe (as far as I know) and enjoyed
all of it. It is rich and full of splendid story and things to think about in
every single volume. I first read Frank Herbert's Dune in 1984 after being
sparked by viewing the David Lynch movie. The Caladan Trilogy continues
chronicling the events that lead to that first amazing novel and is every bit
as entertaining as all the others. Heir, this latest installment is no
exception. It is loaded with heroes, villains, and people in-between. I give my
highest recommendations to the trilogy and its conclusion. The characters jump
off the page and when you get to the end, you'll want more.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kevin J. Anderson has written dozens of national bestsellers and has been
nominated for the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the
SFX Readers' Choice Award. His critically acclaimed original novels include the
ambitious space opera series The Saga of Seven Suns, including The Dark Between
the Stars, as well as Wake the Dragon epic fantasy trilogy, and the Terra
Incognita fantasy epic with its two accompanying rock CDs. He also set the
Guinness-certified world record for the largest single-author book signing, and
was recently inducted into the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame.
