silverlotus's review
3.0
The first (short) story in the whole extended Dune series is a big of a disappointment. It was a very simple introduction to the universe and what free humandkind is facing.The story itself is a bit weak, the writing is average, but it is somewhat enjoyable.
bookwaffle's review
3.0
Not too bad! If you want to get into reading "Dune" and want to understand the universe, this is a pretty good starting point!
I had the choice of going straight into reading the "Dune" series, starting with the first book. However, I wanted to understand what the universe consists of, and I managed to get that with this 20-page short story about the Harkonnens family.
On a side note, I do not enjoy the cover, and I look forward to reading the first book in the Legends of Dune series: The Butlerian Jihad.
I had the choice of going straight into reading the "Dune" series, starting with the first book. However, I wanted to understand what the universe consists of, and I managed to get that with this 20-page short story about the Harkonnens family.
On a side note, I do not enjoy the cover, and I look forward to reading the first book in the Legends of Dune series: The Butlerian Jihad.
gentlemanjeff's review
4.0
This thrilling story, part of a prequel saga to Frank Herbert's Dune, describes a Harkonnen boy ill-fitted to his family's expectation of aggression and cruelty. Scolded by his father, the boy narrowly escapes a space battle with a race of super-intelligent androids led by the formidable Agamemnon, formerly a human who preserved his brain inside a machine. Chased to the surface of a planet, the boy finds himself on an undeveloped Caladan, where a tribal culture prevails. He must work with the strange inhabitants of the planet to survive the hunt. Replete with vivid imagery, this story is short, but manages to make room for the philosophical and anthropological speculation necessary for a Dune story, while also resolving the plot in a satisfying and cathartic way.
catsflipped's review
5.0
What an exciting short story and a great way to start a new series. While I know this happens 1000's of years before the original series I am looking forward to reading more about the lead up to the most recognised book Dune itself.
vayeate's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
The story is so short, that I find very hard to give it a proper.....well anything, it is just too short.
Perhaps it is not a such bad opening to the Legends of Dune, but I am not convinced at the moment.
Perhaps it is not a such bad opening to the Legends of Dune, but I am not convinced at the moment.
steeluloid's review
1.0
Dune is a complex novel, with literary depth and prose that rewards careful reading. This short story is so simplistic, it feels as if it would have been better suited as a short story in a Doctor Who annual.
I was hoping to read the books in chronological order, but this is barely even YA level. I’ll try one more and see if we can get past Janet and John.
I was hoping to read the books in chronological order, but this is barely even YA level. I’ll try one more and see if we can get past Janet and John.
rethabilekamohelo's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
poisonkitty's review
5.0
This is one of Brian Herbert’s longer short stories but even so it’s a comfortable read for when you want don’t want to commit to a story long term. I’ve been reading Dune books for the past few months and I keep toying with the idea of switching it up but another short story like this and I’m pulled right back in.
Hunting Harkonnens is set right at the beginning of the Dune universe and tells the story of Xavier Harkonnen’s elder brother Piers and (briefly) his parents Ulf and Katarina.
Piers is mentioned briefly in The Butlerian Jihad, again another clever hook by Brian Herbet, as I’ve mentioned before to create opportunities for side stories and full novels. This particular story sees Piers Harkonnen hunted across Caladan – an important planet in the series but as yet still a back-water. Hot on his heels are the Cymeks, human brains removed from them bodies and placed into canisters which are then easily transferred to and from all sorts of machine bodies.
Although the story does not centre around him, it explains why Xavier Harkonnen (who is a main character in the pre-original Dune books) is an orphan, however at the same time disagreeing with the main series in describing his humanitarian traits which were said to have come from his adoptive parents; his brother Piers showing these self-same characteristics at the very start of the story explained as coming from his mother, Katarina. However despite the breaks from established ideas (the previously mentioned as well as some other subtle glitches), I feel like the story submerged me back into the universe without a fight, and that's what I love about the expanded Dune universe.
Yet again, another Dune short story that scratched that itch and since it’s technically right at the very start of everything, it’s a tale that could be enjoyed by any fan of space opera, although a seasoned Dune reader would certainly pick up on and appreciate all the subtle nods to future events, places and people.
Crossposted on my blog at https://diaryofacimastudier.wordpress.com/
Hunting Harkonnens is set right at the beginning of the Dune universe and tells the story of Xavier Harkonnen’s elder brother Piers and (briefly) his parents Ulf and Katarina.
Piers is mentioned briefly in The Butlerian Jihad, again another clever hook by Brian Herbet, as I’ve mentioned before to create opportunities for side stories and full novels. This particular story sees Piers Harkonnen hunted across Caladan – an important planet in the series but as yet still a back-water. Hot on his heels are the Cymeks, human brains removed from them bodies and placed into canisters which are then easily transferred to and from all sorts of machine bodies.
Although the story does not centre around him, it explains why Xavier Harkonnen (who is a main character in the pre-original Dune books) is an orphan, however at the same time disagreeing with the main series in describing his humanitarian traits which were said to have come from his adoptive parents; his brother Piers showing these self-same characteristics at the very start of the story explained as coming from his mother, Katarina. However despite the breaks from established ideas (the previously mentioned as well as some other subtle glitches), I feel like the story submerged me back into the universe without a fight, and that's what I love about the expanded Dune universe.
Yet again, another Dune short story that scratched that itch and since it’s technically right at the very start of everything, it’s a tale that could be enjoyed by any fan of space opera, although a seasoned Dune reader would certainly pick up on and appreciate all the subtle nods to future events, places and people.
Crossposted on my blog at https://diaryofacimastudier.wordpress.com/
bruc79's review
3.0
Uma história interessante, dando-nos uma visão dos duros e resistentes Harkonnens, onde um dos membros da família, Piers Harkonnen, ao contrário do seu pai, pretende ser um contador de histórias e tratar as pessoas como seres humanos em vez de escravos.
A nave onde o Pai, Mãe e filho mais velho viaja, é atacada pelos Cymeks, que são organismos com cérebro humano ligado a corpos mecânicos, que têm como objetivo destruir e conquistar os mundos humanos.
Essa perseguição termina num planeta onde Piers Harkonnnen tem que demonstrar a capacidade que o seu Pai sempre disse que ele não tinha, resiliência e sobrevivência como um Harkonnen às situações mais adversas. Encontra nesse planeta uns humanos transformados em selvagens pelas circunstâncias que aprenderam a lidar com as máquinas humanoides dos Cymeks.
O interessante nesta história além de nos dar uma visão inicial dos Harkonnnen, é o facto de apresentar o Cymek general como uma criatura inteligente que vai iludir de forma humana (através do cérebro que o liga como parte humana à máquina) a sua chefia que é uma máquina total.
A pergunta fica: Quem virá a controlar o processo, as máquinas puras ou máquinas com cérebro humano.
A nave onde o Pai, Mãe e filho mais velho viaja, é atacada pelos Cymeks, que são organismos com cérebro humano ligado a corpos mecânicos, que têm como objetivo destruir e conquistar os mundos humanos.
Essa perseguição termina num planeta onde Piers Harkonnnen tem que demonstrar a capacidade que o seu Pai sempre disse que ele não tinha, resiliência e sobrevivência como um Harkonnen às situações mais adversas. Encontra nesse planeta uns humanos transformados em selvagens pelas circunstâncias que aprenderam a lidar com as máquinas humanoides dos Cymeks.
O interessante nesta história além de nos dar uma visão inicial dos Harkonnnen, é o facto de apresentar o Cymek general como uma criatura inteligente que vai iludir de forma humana (através do cérebro que o liga como parte humana à máquina) a sua chefia que é uma máquina total.
A pergunta fica: Quem virá a controlar o processo, as máquinas puras ou máquinas com cérebro humano.
More...