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From: @RUTGERS.ARPA,@MIT-MC:hmiller%mit-speaker@mit-athena.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: "Chapterhouse:Dune"
Message-ID: <1647@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 17-Apr-85 03:16:42 EST
Article-I.D.: topaz.1647
Posted: Wed Apr 17 03:16:42 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Apr-85 07:58:13 EST
Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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From: hmiller%mit-speaker@mit-athena.ARPA (Herbert A Miller)

** FLAME WARNING **

** SPOILER WARNING **

I have read all of the book's in Herbert's Dune series and liked them 
very much (excepting #4 - "God Awful of Dune") I awaited the arrival
of Chapterhouse with great anticipation.  Having just finished it, I can
recommend it with a "Yes, but..".

The plot:  We start several years after the end of "Heretics".  Duncan
Idaho and Murbella are still captive in the no-ship.  She is in training
to become a Reverend Mother and is very seriously committed to the
Sisterhood.  This worries Duncan, he fears they will make her stop loving him.
Meanwhile, Chapterhouse (the planet) is being turned into another Dune and 
the Sisterhood has created a Miles Teg ghola, thanks to their new use
of axlotl tanks.  (You guessed it, it's time for another ride on the 
"How-should-we-give-him-back-his-memories" carousel)  Everyone is terrified
that the Honored Matres will find Chapterhouse and destroy the Sisterhood.
Finally, Murbella rides in on her white horse, unifying the Honored
Matres and the Bene Gesserit.

The strong points:  The plot moved along fairly well, without taking 
excessive time in dealing with the character's deeper speculations about
the "cosmicness of it all", something that dragged "God Emperor" to a 
standstill at times.  I particularly enjoyed the characterization of Darwi
Odrade as Mother Superior, and the tightrope she walked to preserve
the Sisterhood.  It was also nice to see Duncan seeking freedom from 
those "damnable Atreides". 

Things I did not like:  I found the the relationship between Duncan and 
Murbella to be shallow, and their upset at being driven apart an excuse
(and a poor one, at that) for the eventual plot development.  The
section on the Secret Israel and Lucilla's death I found to be an 
interesting idea that went nowhere; as is, it in no way furthers the
story or any aspect of it.  Although I found the eventual settlement
reached between the Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres plausible, it
is thrown at the reader without introduction or explanation.  (I almost
get the feeling that Herbert was forced to edit the book a bit more than
he'd planned and said, "Let's throw this away, they'll never miss it.!")
As for the very end (the last two or three pages), if Herbert was trying
to totally confuse the reader, he succeeded with me.  I get the feeling
that he is about to push off in some totally new and previously
unmentioned direction.  Beyond that, the conversation between Daniel
and Marty, two total unknowns who are introduced in the last two pages
(pruning roses, of all things!), has a lot of the flavor of: "and then
the little boy woke up."

So, as I said, I recommend the book with a "Yes, but..".  I freely admit
that I approached this book as the Duneaddict that I am (I have the
feeling that I just opened myself to a lot of flaming) and that these
are just my immediate impressions after a first reading, perhaps all
will come clear with time.

		- Herb
		...decvax!mit-athena!mit-speaker!hmiller