Book Review: Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert
So, I guess it’s over?
Chapterhouse: Dune is the last in the six-book series written by Frank Herbert. There are additional books written by his son but to me, those offer a different perspective on the universe that Frank created. Maybe I’ll check them out but for now, I consider the series to be complete.
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This book had all the intrigue and complexity of the previous books but with some subtle differences in the pacing and focus. After the events of Heretics of Dune, Arrakis is gone and the Bene Gesserit have hidden away the last known sandworm on their home planet known as Chapterhouse. The Honored Matres are on the hunt for this Bene Gesserit stronghold and are destroying any planets they think could house any Bene Gesserit and they are doing just that. In their ruthless pursuit of power and domination the Honored Matres, led by the one known as the Spider Queen, have killed millions without so much as a warning, negotiation, or explanation. They know that the Bene Gesserit order offers the only legitimate threat to their unending need to own the universe.
The book spends the vast majority of its time focused on the happenings on the planet of Chapterhouse, which is slightly different than most of the series where the story flits around from group to group more often. It is like God Emporer of Dune in that way. This book takes place shortly after the previous one and has all our favorite characters; Duncan Idaho, the perpetual Ghola, Murbella, the temptress hostage, Darwi Odrade, Mother Superior with a plan, and Sheena the tamer of Sandworms. It’s not really about spice anymore, it’s about survival and the Bene Gesserit are willing to sacrifice anything for it even if it means risking the future of the Bene Gesserit order itself.
This entry into the series is a tough one because I had so much anticipation built up over time and there was so much mystery about what will happen that I am not sure if it all made sense in the end to me. The world doesn’t end and the stories could continue but everything must come to an end so this one tapers down with a climax that was somewhat unresolved. I have a feeling that with an additional readthrough I would have a better grasp on the ending and how it links back up with everything from before but I am content with how I feel about it now. It was an enormous and incredible journey to navigate and I am excited to continue to puzzle out all the implications of the ending.
Obviously, if you have read the previous books you have to read this one and it was definitely worth the read. I love Frank Herbert’s cerebral style which it is like none other. The Dune series is intense and requires a level of acceptance of the ambiguous. It requires perserverance in the face of uncertainty and that is a good lesson in itself. I reccomend reading this book after the previous ones in order. It makes no sense to read them out of order so don’t do that. I am thinking that on the next go around I will listen to the audio versions to experience the saga again in a new way.
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