Chapterhouse Dune
by Frank Herbert · first published 1985
44% recommend50% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
A late entry in Herbert's Dune series, featuring a sprawling philosophical arc. Its rewards come through for fans who have stayed with the series, and it holds up well on a re-read.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The desert planet Arrakis, called Dune, has been destroyed. Now the Bene Gesserit, heirs to Dune's powers, have colonized a green world and are turning it into a desert, mile by scorched mile.
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…probably like this as well. Read God Emperor of Dune. This one stands alone. Lots of people hate it. Whether you like it or not, don't stop. Read Heretics of Dune. If you don't like it, stop. Read Chapterhouse: Dune. Weep that it's over. In my experience, people who like Dune generally will enjoy at least through Children of Dune. Anyone who enjoys God Emperor of Dune is insane (maybe why it might be my favorite).…
on “The Secret History of Dune” ↗* Heretics of Dune * Chapterhouse: Dune * Lem's Cyberiad * PKD's Ubik, Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldrich, and Martian Time-Slip * The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy * The Illuminatus Trilogy
on “Ask HN: What sci-fi books are you reading?” ↗Frank Herbert says this better than I can in "Chapterhouse Dune", where the captured Bene Gesserit Lucilla is speaking to Spider Queen, head of the Honoured Matres (p 150--158.) (Actually the whole book is about law and governance.) An excerpt: "That's not what I…
on “Titans Of Industry Don't Really Like Free Markets” ↗…3rd books the worst." I absolutely agree. Children of Dune and Dune Messiah are by far the worst. The series picks up with God Emperor of Dune, and my favorites are the last two: Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse Dune. The original Dune book was also good, but overrated compared to the last two in the series.
on “Frank Herbert's seventh Dune novel (2005)” ↗…re-readings of the entire series (previously was Dune Messiah), but it is certainly not for everyone. It's okay to quit here. If you made it through God Emperor, read Heretics of Dune. If you enjoyed it, read Chapterhouse: Dune. (If you didn't enjoy Heretics, don't bother). Lament that it is over. If you must, read Sandworms of Dune which is written by the son, but is supposedly based on the father's notes. It is the least…
on “Mentat Wiki: exploring ways to become a better thinker” ↗Chapterhouse Dune.
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗…Heretics are once again quite fun reads and re-reads. But it can be hard to get this far in the first place. My suspicion is that a lot of people who blanket bemoan all the sequels never made it as far as Chapterhouse Dune. But then, it's perfectly understandable. Oh, and I'll edit this to include my video recommendations: The classic Dune movie should be considered only loosely related, IMHO. The Sci-Fi (before it was…
on “Dune Genesis (1980)” ↗I started "Dune" in January and am now nearing the end of "Chapterhouse: Dune". The series as a whole is so chock full of amazing wisdom and meditations on what it means to be human and how far we can stretch humanity until it becomes unrecognizable, but it gets there so slowly…
on “Ask HN: Which book(s) did you read this summer?” ↗…this one on the basis of the writing. I'd recommend it only to those who read all of Frank Herbert's original Dune series and have been hanging in suspense ever since because the cliffhanger ending of Chapterhouse Dune was never resolved due to Frank's untimely death. They based the book on Frank's outline, but it clearly would have been a better book if it had been written by Frank. Nonetheless, it is satisfying…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗…personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptable. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted." - Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse Dune, Missionaria Protectiva The exposure and removal of corruption is one of the ways in which the industry of societal governance is being disrupted and reformed.
on “Kim Dotcom Gets Green Light to Sue New Zealand Spies” ↗…personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptable. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted. - Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse Dune, Missionaria Protectiva
on “What are the implications of NSA surveillance on the average Internet user?” ↗…vision is worth supporting, and choosing to devote time and effort to helping them realise it. "Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty." ― Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse: Dune
on “Democracy in Open Source: Yes or No? (+ Our Research Proposal)” ↗…personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted. - Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse Dune, Missionaria Protectiva
on “Former Columnist Jailed for Facebook Criticism of Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi” ↗Okasaki's "Purely Functional Data Structures" Giola's "The History of Jazz" Herbert's "Chapterhouse: Dune"
on “What are you reading?” ↗Too late to edit my post but this quote from Frank Herbert's "Chapterhouse: Dune" says it well: > All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible.
on “Facebook executive helped Cuomo smear sex-harassment accuser: AG report” ↗