“Chapterhouse: Dune” is direct sequel to “Heretics of Dune”. Bene Gesserit are on their back foot in the conflict with Honored Matres who already almost completely subjugated the Old Empire. Honored Matres are on the spree to destroy all Bene Gesserit’s planets and attempt to discover their secret techniques. But they still cannot find their main planet, Chapterhouse.
Mother Superior Tereza is dead and Darwi Odrade taken her place. Bashar Miles Teg is dead too, but his daughter Darwi raises his little ghola to prepare sisterhood for the war with Honored Matres. Beyond that, various characters from the previous novel return.
At the conclusion of previous novel, Arrakis/Rakis was destroyed by Honored Matres. The only hope for reviving sandworms and Dune ecosystem is whatever Bene Gesserit was able to transplant to Chapterhouse. Now they try to transform Chapterhouse into new Dune, with the help of Sheeana, who grew up now and became the youngest reverend mother.
In the review of the previous novel I said that Frank Herbert was introducing more explicit sexual themes now. Honored Matres powers, imprinter role in Bene Gesserit and Duncan Idaho. Now, he mutually trapped one of Honored Matres in desire trap of sexual powers. I don’t have much of a problem with those themes, I found their inclusion quite funny. But unfortunately, in this novel we saw very disturbing situation of sexual abuse of 10 year old boy. It doesn’t change much that he was ghola of Miles Teg and due to that he was supposed to regain his adult memories. The situation didn’t escalate much, because mother of original Miles Teg trained his mind to have safeguards against “imprint”, so he regained his memories before intercourse happened. But whatever occurred was disturbing enough.
The story has a structure that we could already be familiar with Frank Herbert. Slow and long build up and eventful final. Similar like in many previous cases I wondered if intrigue and characters’ actions were pre-planned or the author was working things out as he went. Classic “plans inside plans inside plans” and certain clues from earlier parts that gain relevance later suggests that it could be planned, but something always leave me as not completely fitting or being too convoluted. Either way, the way conflict between Bene Gesserit and Honored Matres was resolved was quite interesting.
It is the last novel in Dune universe written by Frank Herbert. It is satisfying end for storyline that started in “Heretics of Dune”, conflict that arised by humanity returning from the Scattering, but it is quite good place for the end of the cycle, even if there was potential for next sequels if not Frank Herbert’s death. Since it is the last novel from Dune universe from Frank Herbert I can here say few words about the cycle as a whole. No book after original “Dune” approached the first novel in quality or sophistication. But, I always felt that every sequel brought something new to the table and retroactively made original “Dune” even better. Not simply as contrast to superior original, but because the setting that “Dune” conjured provided solid foundation for interesting directions to explore later. I read “Dune” many years ago and that was memorable lecture. I didn’t read sequels back then, but I’m happy that I decided to read whole cycle this time.