• Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2008 August #1
  This vital link between the first two books of the Dune saga begins immediately after the close of Dune (1965), well before the events of Dune: Messiah (1970), and incorporates material from Paul Muad-dib's growing up on Caladan. After the battle of Arrakis, Paul the emperor, as he has become, knows the slaughter is just beginning. He has exiled the former emperor and made a marriage of state with the imperial princess Irulan. But his predecessor had enemies who aren't going to love Paul just because he deposed their old adversary, and Paul has many more enemies, known and unknown. If he is to be a better ruler than the one he displaced, the planetary ruling houses must accept him—at the point of a weapon, if necessary. Remembering that his father was known as Duke Leto the Just, Paul tries to be an Atreides diplomat when reconstituting the Imperium. But between the feuds of the ruling houses, the needs of the Fremen, and his prescience, Paul has little time for himself, and may be losing his sanity. This is good reading, better than Dune: Messiah, actually. Standing well enough on its own for Dune novices, it goes without saying that it's must reading for established fans. Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews.

Brian Herbert, the author of numerous novels and short stories, has been critically acclaimed by leading reviewers in the United States and around the world. The eldest son of science fiction superstar Frank Herbert, he, with Kevin J. Anderson, is the author of Hellhole and continues his father's beloved Dune series with books including The Winds of Dune, House Atreides, Sandworms of Dune, among other bestsellers. He also wrote a biography of his father, Dreamer of Dune. Herbert graduated from high school at age 16, and then attended U.C. Berkeley, where he earned a B.A. in Sociology. Besides an author, Herbert has been an editor, business manager, board game inventor, creative consultant for television and collectible card games, insurance agent, award-winning encyclopedia salesman, waiter, busboy, maid and a printer. He and his wife once owned a double-decker London bus, which they converted into an unusual gift shop. Herbert and his wife, Jan, have three daughters. They live in Washington state.