Frank Herbert’s fifth entry into the Dune series: Heretics Of Dune is an interesting book. I don’t think it was my favorite book, in fact it may be my least favorite book in the series. That being said, there were elements that kept me engaged throughout the whole novel series. The character Teg and his task of raising the boy Duncan Idaho was a strong enough plot point to keep me reading when some chapters would begin to feel a bit more slow and confusing. Duncan Idaho continues to be our anchor into the ever changing world in Dune. The universe of Dune does not keep itself sedimentary for the sake of the audience. The state of the universe changes and often one is forced to interpret how and why the Bene Gesserit are the way they are in this book. 

One important piece of context to consider when reading Heretics Of Dune is that it feels more necessary when reading Book 6: Chapterhouse: Dune. I think this is one of the reasons I don’t like it as much. I almost wish that book five and six had been combined into a much larger novel as they feel like a contained and separate narrative. At the same time as much as they feel separate, the last two books of Frank Herbert’s original series are undeniably still progressing the large scale plots and themes set up in as early as the first book: Dune. 

The negative thoughts I have about Heretics Of Dune is mainly due to the dullness of some of the chapters. I feel like the main story elements stayed with me, but HOW our protagonists got to the end of the book sort of evades my memory. There were some positives outside of the Teg plot. In general I think it is really great that these last books focus more on the Bene Gesserit. I think it could be argued they are the most interesting group in the books and Heretics Of Dune does well to start exploring the nature of their order. It pulls back some of the curtain without totally ruining their identity as being secretive.