Dune: The Heir of Caladan (The Caladan Trilogy #3)
by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
I was recently asked if reading this series is something to look into. I said, no problems that I have seen. As I read this story I come up with questions, in a universe that has Melange, or spice, why would they need another addictive drug? Another question is why do they politically move Bene Gesserit Concubines with out reason?
As a reader I find the book an easy read. I am able to step into the story in this third edition with out major questions that affect reading the story. I like the ability to understand mental voice of the characters.
I would recommend this book for any Dune fans. The book may focus on the Heir (Paul) but the book shows so much more information about the build up for the first events of the Dune story.

Satisfying final entry in an enjoyable trilogy of books, exploring the saga’s most iconic characters during one momentous year leading right up to the original 'Dune' novel.

Rating: 3.5 Stars | Good

Full written review published on DuneNewsNet.com.

What if there was a science fiction novel so incredible in its depth and breadth that the author penned two more, making a trilogy and then added three more novels to that? And, what if after his death, his son and another well known writer added yet another twenty novels to the franchise, tracing history backwards And forwards thousands of years? You would end up with a complex universe that filled in all the gaps and more. Some fans of the original trilogy would probably throw their hands up and say only the original would do. Others would say we are addicted so just give us more and more and more. We want a never-ending supply of this stuff.

The Caladan arc is a trilogy tracing the years immediately proceeding the events in the original novel Dune. That’s what makes it fascinating for students of the Dune universe, but simultaneously awkward because perhaps not every question need be answered and not every background shaded in. Particularly this novel in this arc is perhaps too close in time to the original Dune novel.

Several of the characters here, Leto and Jessica, seem far too young and naive, to be suddenly the mature people in the Dune novel. Don’t get me wrong. It’s an enjoyable read and this reader wanted to know what happened and how things got resolved. But, Leto’s flirtation with the rebels and Jessica’s concubine duties elsewhere simply were not necessary to lead into the events of Dune. For that matter, all the little adventures of Paul, Duncan, and Gurney were unnecessary interludes. Most of all, the explanation for granting the Atreides Arrakis was not necessarily more reasonable than the original hinted at explanations.

Even given these critiques of what is essentially fan fiction, it was a worthwhile read for us Dune fanatics as are all the twenty bonus novels.