(i received an e-arc from tor and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

i found this short story collection rather dry, much like the sands of the titular dune itself.

Overall another excellent book for fans of the Dune universe. I love getting more history on my favorite characters.

I am not a huge fan of the Dune series, though I did enjoy the first book, but this one was pretty good. The scene is well set and the characters are nicely built up and easy to follow along with. Definitely a good addition the the series.

I was truly hoping for more dense, thoughtful writing. Sands of Dune is the child of Frank E. Herbert's Dune and does not live up to the robust storytelling that Brian Herbert passes off with.

A must read for ALL Dune fans even if you're a fan who doesn't enjoy or appreciate the sons work... this I feel, would have been stories Frank would have loved for the world to have seen. 5/5 Stars A must have for fans of Dune.

A nice look at side characters we didn't get to know very well in the first book and the prequel books. It brings the Dune universe to a more immersive and in depth with these side details and stories.

Other readers have suggested countless times that I should read the science fiction series Dune. I'm sure everyone on Earth has at least heard of Dune or seen the overly-hyped 2021 film adaptation, and they know Dune is a weird story about the fight over "spice" that originates on the desert planet Arrakis (otherwise known as Dune.) I attempted to read Frank Herbert's Dune around 1989 or 1990 after watching 1984's cult adaptation directed by David Lynch but lost interest midway. Maybe there were too many characters and backstories for me to keep up with, or perhaps I was too young for the story. Whatever the reason was, I never took an interest in reading Dune until Denis Villeneuve's remake became a thing. Then I bought one of the newer editions with the movie's poster on the cover. And I've been on page 171 since March 19th. No, I'm not bored with it. It's quite the opposite. I like what I've read so far and intend to finish it by summer's end.

Now let's talk about Sands of Dune (Tor Books; 176 pages), the newest installment in the ongoing Dune expanded universe co-written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. If you didn't already know, Brian is the son of the late Dune creator Frank Herbert (1920-1986), who teamed up with Kevin J. Anderson in the late 1990s to create prequels to his father's Dune saga. As of this writing, they have published 13 prequels with a 14th, The Heir of Caladan, scheduled for release in October 2022. There are two sequels - Hunters of Dune and Sandworm of Dune, and two short story collections - The Road to Dune and Tales of Dune (ebook).

Sands of Dune consists of four novellas - The Edge of a Crysknife, Blood of the Sardaukar (previously published in the anthology Unfettered III), The Waters of Kanly (previously published in The Road to Dune and the anthology Infinite Stars), and Imperial Court.

The Edge of a Crysknife is set between the prequel novels Navigators of Dune and House Atreides. It's an origin story for Shadout Mapes, a Fedaykin warrior who'll become the head housekeeper in the Imperial Residence when Atreides takes control of Arrakis in 10,191AG.

Blood of the Sardaukar takes place during the events of the original Dune. The story chronicles the life and times of Colonel Bashar Jopati Kolona of the brotherhood of the Sardaukar, the undefeated elite troops of Emperor Shaddam IV.

The Waters of Kanly also takes place during the events of Dune. The story explores Gunny Hallek's quest to avenge Duke Leto Atreides' death by killing as many Harkonnens as possible.

Imperial Court is set between Navigators of Dune and The Edge of a Crysknife, ninety-seven years after the Battle of Corrin and the end of the Thinking Machines and nine years after the formation of the Spacing Guild. The story showcases the hatred between House Atreides and House Harkonnen.

Final Thoughts

If you're new to the world of Dune, I wouldn't recommend beginning with Sands of Dune, which features four random tales set before and during the events of Dune (the original novel, not the fictional planet). You need some basic Dune knowledge before tackling these short stories. Even though I'm roughly a Dune newbie, I know enough to understand this richly deep world and its characters.

The strongest and best story is The Edge of a Crysknife, a love story and an origin tale for Shadout Mapes, a character I'm familiar with from Dune and the two film adaptations. Blood of the Sardaukar is an intriguing look at the life of a Sardaukar. Another returning character, Gunny Hallek, takes center stage in The Waters of Kanly, a tale of revenge. Imperial Court is my least favorite of the four because I know very little about the events before the story. Nevertheless, it's a well-written story that details the blood feud between the Atreides and Harkonnens.

Overall, Sands of Dune is more or less a companion book for die-hard Dune fans. Are these stories must-reads? Probably no, but they're entertaining little reads that give just enough taste of "spice" to quench your Dune cravings until the next prequel comes out.

Absorbing!

Ok, it’s been many years since I’ve read the Dune series (think the 70’s) and I’m still as enamoured as I was then.
These four novellas by Herbert and Anderson shed light on the back story of Gurney Halleck and other major figures of the Dune pantheon. A younger Shadeout Mapes, the relentless training of the Sardaukar represented by Bashar Jopati Koloa (with a curious finale), Willem Atreides and the of the conflict between the Houses of Atreides and Harkonnen.
We follow individual paths for revenge and freedom against the uncaring, debauched, power hungry elite of the Kaitain Empire and the implacable feuding outcomes of the various Houses spanning many worlds. Betrayal, determination, vengeance and the shifts of power balances stalk the pages.
A must read for Dune aficionados. Indeed I enjoyed these novellas so much I’m considering a Dune series reread.

A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

SANDS OF DUNE collates four "behind-the-scenes" stories and backstories from the incredibly vast DUNE Universe created by Frank Herbert. Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert have giftedly expanded the DUNE Universe, and here provide readers with side-trip adventures, deepening our understanding of the planetary systems, cultures, socioeconomics, while providing character revelation and bringing these seemingly "alien" species and cultures into vivid and vibrant life. SANDS OF DUNE provides exciting views into the ever-expanding Universe of DUNE.

Giving more background on Shadout Mapes, Gurney Halleck, the Sardaukar, and additional history of the Atreides/Harkonnen feud, this collection of stories is a must-read for any fan of the Dune sagas. I was particularly delighted to read about Mapes' background, and relieved that I had no trouble immersing myself in the stories despite it being years since I've read any of the novels. I'm grateful for this addition.

As a huge fan of the Dune universe, including all of the prequels and sequels, I devoured these 4 novellas in Sands of Dune. The novellas give us insight to some of the side characters of Dune and also takes us back to where it all began.

We get the backstory of the housekeeper, Shadout Mapes, as a young woman and her life as a Fedaykin warrior (my personal favorite of the 4 stories!).

Next is a novella about a Sardaukar bashar which gives us all kinds of insight into what drives the Sardaukar.

Gurney Halleck has a story set about a year after the fall of the Atreides when he’s with the smugglers as he tries to get his revenge on the Harkonnens.

And last, back to the beginning in the imperial court when we find out even more about the blood feud between House Atreides and House Harkonnen.

Since I can never seem to get enough of the Dune books, this book of 4 novellas was perfect to continue feeding my Dune obsession and I enjoyed it immensely.

*Thank you so much to Tor Books and NetGalley for the advance copy!*