While the last of the Dune books written by Herbert ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger, the tone of Chapterhouse more closely feels like Dune and Dune Messiah despite being a direct follow up to Heretics of Dune. 

 

The novel primarily continues to the conflict between the Bene Gesserit and Honored Matres, who aims to control the universe. Specifically, The Matres seeks to assimilate the Bene Gesserit. They want their technology and their 'magic,' even if they have no hope of truly understanding either. The Spider Queen is as ruthless as the Baron Harkonnen, maybe worse given her jealously and envy of everything she doesn't have or can't control. 

 

At the same time, the Bene Gesserit are terraforming Chapterhouse into a new Dune after The Matres destroyed the original. This transformation, for better or worse, is seen as a necessary step to ensure the survival of the sisterhood. 

 

Herbert also explores several other deep thinking themes related to politics, civilization, historical bias, hybridization, and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be human. (I was especially keen on Herbert's warnings about bureaucracies as I share his view.) 

 

At times, it is interesting and perhaps mischievous for characters in Chapterhouse to discuss the merits of the Golden Path, especially because readers will know more about Leto II's intent than anyone in Chapterhouse. (Unless, of course, you subscribe to the notion he was crazy.) Specifically, according to the God Emperor, there would be no humanity left in the universe had he not set humankind on the Golden Path. But nobody understands it, with some suggesting he forced his own prophecy to come true. 

 

The forever ghola Duncan Idaho returns, along with Murbella. Murbella is the more interesting of the two this time around, but is also central to the one annoyances some Dune readers have the book. Herbert sometimes pushes too hard on the breeding program and sex in general by this stage in the series. He pushes so hard in fact that some might miss that this book is really about rediscovering love and humanity. 

 

All in all, some won't feel like Herbert brought anything new to the table, but I think he adds clarity to many of the topics explored in previous books, and does so at a faster pace with a few dashes of action. I also think Chapterhouse takes a much more sympathetic view of Bene Gesserit. And it left me feeling, despite doubts by the characters in the book, that Leto II did what needed to be done. Sure, Chapterhouse ends with plenty of unanswered questions, but I think Herbert left us enough to draw our own conclusions. 

 

If that doesn't satisfy you, then one can always guess how much Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson got right in Hunters of Dune or Sandworms of Dune. I never intended to read either, but how knows? I might give them a go some time in the distant future. I will say that the series underlying message is clear enough: Charismatic leaders ought to come with warning labels.