The third and final volume of Prelude to Dune brings this gripping series to its close, only a few years before the beginning of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel Dune.
The blood feud between Duke Leto of Caladon and Baron Vladimir Harkonnen reaches its climax, as the emperor Shaddam - leader of House Corrino - is finally forced to curb the powerful Harkonnens or risk losing his own throne. Menawhile, Duke Leto's beautiful concubie, the Bene Gesserit temptress Jessica,- has conceived the boy who become Paul Atreides (the hero of Dune), defying the express orders of her superiors. The book culminates in a war - on Dune, on the oppressed planet Ix, in space - that will alter the balance of power for a generation.
House Harkonnen is compulsive reading. I certainly enjoyed meeting pardot Kynes and Liet, learning more about the Freman, as well as Gurney Halleck, Duncan Idaho and the Lady Jessica. Such vile villains...and such a fascinating description of splendid places.
