Children of Dune (Dune #3)
Author: Frank Herbert
Published: 1976
On Goodreads
My Rating: 
Rated D for destiny doubling back on itself when children become the future
Muad’Dib’s teachings have become the playground of scholastics, of the superstitions and the corrupt.
The children of Dune, of Paul and Chani, are twin siblings Leto and Ghanima Atreides. After their father disappeared into the desert wastelands of Arrakis, Alia stepped up to rule the Empire in the name of House Atreides.
As Leto and Gahnima come into their own, outside forces both fanatical and deadly seek out their deaths. The Atreides thrones threatens to crumble before they can ascend. Old and new foes and allies make themselves known. But, destiny is already in motion and coming for the Atreides twins.
Dune Reviews
Several characters made cameo appearances throughout the novel such as Lady Jessica, Halleck, and even The Baron. Each were changed into people unrecognizable from the first book, having gone through so much. It was surprising but welcome to have such connections to the very beginning of this epic.
Though many characters had changed, some were repeating history. Leto and Ghani, learning about their mother and father, wound up repeating their family history. It was haunting. Leto certainly competes with his father. While destiny manipulated Paul, it was Leto who manipulated and leaned into his destiny.
Alia’s fate, however, was tragic. Though possessed by a ghost of the past, she lost her hold on the Empire, her husband, and herself. She was the other side of the coin in leadership. Some can handle it and put a steady hand down on it, while others crumble beneath the weight. Paul took on that weight and eventually gave it up.
Another character that really took some lime-light was the mysterious Preacher that walked Dune and gave untold prophecies in hopes of opening people’s eyes. Such a strange and curious character, especially because I kept wondering if all these years later, was this Paul? This arc between the Preacher and Alia held my excitement for most of the book. It was like finally getting to see an era close. So striking and it held my anticipation fully. Just as much as Lady Jessica’s development even. She never wanted to, but she was forced into a defensive position against her daughter and had to take up unexpected allies. All of this was incredibly strategic, like a game of chess.
Herbert continued to stay the course in his writing. This dry wasteland was matched with dry and philosophical writing that rippled with politics and religion, the two things that disrupt society and shake it up. I am continuously impressed and in total awe, even though I do get a tad lost on this road on occasion. That may be because it can feel drawn out or because it’s incredibly dense and makes my brain go numb here and there.
Still, the story is powerful and saddening. A planet, an eco-system, a family, a people, all of which are caught in a life they didn’t ask for and all flounder for hope and freedom. The impact was incredibly strong and the imagery stung like the heat and sand of Dune itself.
Overall
While propelling forward in the journey of House Atreides, history repeated itself and continued to swirl downward into a dark abyss. Action-packed and thought-provoking, this has been a grueling yet impressionable series to read. If you’ve come this far in the
Quotables:
“The purpose of argument is to change the nature of truth.” (p. 89)
“There are things which words cannot explain. You must experience them without words. But you are not prepared for such a venture, just as when you look at me you do not seem me.” (p.145)
“Some actions have and end but no beginning; some begin but do not end. It all depend upon where the observer is standing.” (Leto, p. 148)
“Unfortunately, our father left many man-snails in our universe.” (Ghani, p. 203)
“Some questions have no answers. I’ve seen that future, but the contradictions would only confuse you. This is a changing universe and we are the strangest change of all. We resonate to many influences. Our futures need constant updating. Now, there’s a barrier which we must remove. This requires that we do brutal things, that we go against our most basic, our dearest wishes…But it must be done.” (Leto, p. 424)
“Both of us are alien here.” (p.531)
More to come soon…
-K.
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The Scarlet Reader 
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