A mysterious woman in a veil, coyly and grudgingly revealing her secrets – withholding more than she gives out. This is how Frank Herbert writes his Dune books or at least the first two that I read. I was forced to read passages again, tried hard in gleaning the meaning from the text – so much so that I felt satisfied at the end of the ride, with a dull headache reminding me that I had not understood it all.

Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have no such pretence. A skimpily clad Sports Illustrated model seems to be their muse – their writing hides nothing and explains everything in great detail – even minor plot points that can have been left on the editor’s chopping table.

Though I do believe this book is a romping space adventure. It’s fun and tedious in equal parts. But the mystery is all but gone – making the world of Dune no less enjoyable, but definitely less intriguing.

P.S.: I knew that Harkonnens killed people at their whims and fancies, but were they so mindless and comical in their endeavour to do so? How does Rabban survive when he is utterly stupid?