• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Book Review – Navigators of Dune

February 23, 2017 by Villordsutch

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

Filed Under: Books, Reviews, Villordsutch Tagged With: Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, Navigators of Dune, tor

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

In a Violent Nature and Other Slasher Movies That Subvert the Genre

Peeping Tom: A Voyeuristic Masterpiece of the Slasher Subgenre

The Most Iconic Moments of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

10 Great Forgotten Gems of the 1980s

1995: The Year Horror Sequels Hit Rock Bottom?

Hasbro’s G.I. Joe Classified Series: A Real American Hero Reimagined

15 Movies To Watch On Tubi UK

From Hated to Loved: Did These Movies Deserve Reappraisal?

The Essential Modern Conspiracy Thrillers

Lock, Stock and The Essential Guy Ritchie Movies

Top Stories:

7 Underrated World War II Romance Movies

Great Tarantino-esque Movies You Need To See

Whatever Happened to the Horror Icon?

The Rise of Paul Thomas Anderson: A Living Legend

Movie Review – Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Movie Review – The Shrouds (2025)

Comic Book Preview – Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals

Back to the Future at 40: The Story Behind the Pop Culture Touchstone

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

The Return of Cameron Diaz: Her Best Movies Worth Revisiting

The Essential New French Extremity Movies

10 Essential Will Smith Movies

Coming of Rage: Eight Great Horror Movies About Adolescence

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket