Sandworms of Dune - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

The novel was commercially successful, and praised by Jackie Cassada of the Library Journal:

"Complex in structure though never hard to follow, this sequel to Hunters of Dune ties together the threads left by Chapterhouse: Dune, bringing closure to a saga of planetary birth and death and human courage and hubris. At the same time, the authors have left room for further explorations of one of the genre's most enduring worlds. Highly recommended for all sf collections."

Conversely, the novel was criticized by Publishers Weekly for its writing and storytelling methods:

"Longtime collaborators Herbert and Anderson set themselves a steep challenge — and, in the end, fail to meet it — in this much anticipated wrapup of the original Dune cycle (after 2006's Hunters of Dune)...Though pacing is brisk and the infrequent action scenes crackle with tension, only two minor characters — gholas, who are young clones with restored memories, of Suk doctor Wellington Yueh and God-Emperor Leto II — acquire real depth. Everyone else is too busy reacting to mostly irrelevant subplots like sabotage aboard the no-ship Ithaca, a plague devastating the planet of Chapterhouse and the genetic engineering of marine-dwelling sandworms. The lengthy climax relies on at least four consecutive deus ex machina bailouts... Series fans will argue the novel's merits for years; others will be underwhelmed."