Herbert and Anderson: Prelude to Dune: House Harkonnen

By Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Coronet, $34.95

Review: Gilbert Wong

Frank Herbert's Dune series has outlasted his life. His son and another writer have been busily writing the prequel. This is the second instalment, following on from House Atreides.

It says much for the sturdiness of Herbert senior's original vision that the characters he created and the concepts still have legs.

While not as satisfying as the real thing, there is some comfort in the fact that the stories about the planet Arrakis, source of the mind spice Melange and the giant worms, still create a sense of intrigue and wonder.