Villordsutch reviews Navigators of Dune…
Navigators of Dune is the third book in the Great Schools trilogy from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, the previous being Mentats of Dune. Finally, in this book all the threads that have been floating in the Universe, from Venport’s monopoly of both Spice and the Navigators, the fanatical Manford Torondo, Vorian Atreides and the long running blood feud with the Harkonnens, may be coming together. Though any Dune fan will know the Atreides and Harkonnen blood feud never truly concludes.
With Josef Venport’s part in the assassination of the late incompetent Emperor Salvador revealed, he becomes an enemy of the Empire and now Emperor Roderick Corrino, a much wiser though more cautious man, takes the throne and begins to seek justice for his late brother.
This is made somewhat difficult as Venport not only controls both a huge majority of the Spice flow, but also the Navigators which pilot the gigantic ships – with absolute precision – across the galaxy, making sure they don’t emerge within a star. Without Navigators any attempt at an attack can take weeks and can result in a huge loss of forces, even before the battle has started.
Not only this Bulterian fanatic Manford Torondo is continuing his anti-technology jihad across the galaxy, sweeping up more believers as he goes; becoming an unwelcome ally to Emperor Roderick Corrino and a barbaric thorn in the side of Venport.
During all this Vorian Atreides and Willem Atreides continue their hunt for Tula Harkonnen, murderer of Orry Atreides brother of Willem.
Though there are some major events taking place within Navigators of Dune, as Brian and Kevin wrap up the Great School’s trilogy, in-truth the real interest within the book lies in the smaller details. Rather than getting entertainment from watching the bigger pieces move – routinely – backwards and forwards across the board, throughout the 400+ pages you find yourself become more interested in the minor players.
SEE ALSO: Read our interview with both Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson here
The main movement that caught my attention, though I could be completely missing the target, was Valya Harkonnen’s vision and changes within the Bene Gesserit. To myself, I could see her aggression taking the Sisterhood more down the path of the highly aggressive “Honored Matres”. Then we have Anari Idaho, when the weight had been removed from her back, we can see something change instantly within her. It’s the small things like this examples which grabbed me, not Venport Cymek’s!
It was unfortunately several bizarre additions and endings that brought the book down a few points for myself. The aforementioned Cymeks, both sudden demises of Manford and Erasmus, the Spice being stored in a Sietch which is set far within the Arrakis desert with pitiful security, Vorian’s fight with Valya and the other Bene Gesserit sisters on Corrin and the rather pathetic Emperor who – in all honesty – only succeeded by everyone around him fighting amongst themselves.
Navigators of Dune isn’t an overly bad book – it’s just not one of the best Dune books from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Rating: 6/10
@Villordsutch
Originally published February 23, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
