7. Children of Dune

By Frank Herbert (416 pgs)

Rating: 3

Paul Muab-dib's twins are now children wise far beyond their years. Like their aunt Alia they were awakened to multiple lives of Bene Gesserit Reverend Mothers before birth. Leto and Ghanima must face their grandmother Jessica and also struggle to maintain their identities to avoid being labeled Abomination. And all this while sidestepping the machinations of those around them, both well meaning and not.

Children of Dune follows the twins through the crisis of direction left by the death of their father and also through their crisis of identity. Each of them must fight the battle to remain human and themselves. It's a good book but not a great book. It's not as good as Dune but it is better than Dune Messiah. The continuation of the story begins to look like a Roman imperial saga but I still enjoyed it.

Recommended for Dune fans.