Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, Hunters of Dune

Hunters of Dune

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Tor, August 22 2006, $27.05

ISBN: 0765312921

Fleeing CHAPTERHOUSE and the deadly Honored Matres, the darker side of the all female Bene Geserit, the vessel Ithaca sails into uncharted regions of the galaxy with a crew, and led by Mother Commander Murabella and 150 mostly frightened exiles. At any point on this dangerous trek, the Mother Commander and her former love slave Duncan know that the known enemy could overtake them, with death being the better option. Worse would be if the unknown invincible foe of who has the Honored Matres on the run catches up with the Ithaca. However, as the trek to safety continues, Murabella finds some of her passengers have other plans for her and those accompanying her. She must unmask the enemy from within who has caused havoc with violence and murder on board.

At the same time, Murabella and company struggle to survive by using genetics to bring back long dead heroes, the Omnuis of the Synchronized Empire has managed to gain access to the Honored Matres from the inside; they plan to devastate the powerful sect. Also, the Face Dancer plans to end man's reign, with a race of machines taking over as the acme of sentient beings. Finally, the unknown enemy intends to destroy everyone and everything. The galaxy is teetering on the eve of destruction.

Though somewhat overblown, the first Dune novel in two decades is a fun entry that fans of the series will appreciate, as the galaxy is in trouble from conflicting factions. The storyline is action-packed, though somewhat complex and hard to follow, as the galaxy is crowded with contenders. Still, this is a fine entry that adds to the mythos, while paying tribute to its tribute to its founding father, as the scientific techno concerns involving genetic engineering that Frank Herbert voiced years ago seems so valid now.