Teaser

The Noble Commonwealth’s plan is almost at fruition, threatening the very foundations of the Imperium. The Atreides family, scattered though they are, may be the Emperor’s only hope . . .

Review

It’s been a hot minute since I was last in the Dune universe. My last exposure came in 2021, with the twin releases of Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptation of Dune, and the second act of the Caladan trilogy, The Lady of Dune. I enjoyed both very much, but between one thing and another, it’s ended up being three years (well, two and a bit) before I returned. As such, I come at The Heir of Caladan with a hazy jumble of memories concerning the previous books in the series. Thankfully, it all fell into place once I started reading, but it did take me a little while to find my footing.

You can say what you like about the Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson Dune novels (a fact repeatedly demonstrated by the internet) but they always deliver an exciting piece of space opera. This books neatly wraps up the Caladan trilogy and pushes everyone into place for the start of Dune, so on that level it’s a total success. Along the way we’ve got plenty of thrills and spills. Explosions, backstabbing, politics, and a little dash of philosophy here and there. Everything you’d expect from the Dune duo.

However, while expectations were fulfilled, my hopes were not. For a book titled The Heir of Caladan, there is surprisingly little Paul in this book. His plotline could easily have been excised without affecting the overall story. I did enjoy his partnership with Duncan Idaho, which serves as a nice foundation for their future trust, but I would have preferred to see more of Paul’s ascent to leadership. I had hoped we’d see more of the excellent form from Paul of Dune, but sadly it was not to be.

I’d also like to bring up the issue of necessity. I have no problem with expanding universes. Herbert & Anderson have continually delivered quality books, of which this is another. However, the timeline of Dune is not getting crowded. So many events now occur in the years surrounding the original novel it’s hard to justify squeezing in any more. While I enjoy the books as space operas, I can’t help but feel the story of the Atreides family is wrung out. Likewise the Harkonnens. I can’t help but wonder if I’d have enjoyed the story even more if it had been an original cast of characters. This is space opera, after all, let the scope broaden. Bring back the mystery of unknown fates. Give me something new.

Ultimately, The heir of Caladan is a perfect conclusion to the trilogy. An unnecessary addition to the canon, but a fun time nonetheless.

Book Stats

• Part of the Dune Saga
• The Caladan Trilogy (#3)
• Published in 2022 by WordFire Press
• 453 pages