House Harkonnen - Prelude to Dune

The blood feud between House Atreides and House Harkonnen .. . the intrigues, the wars and the treacheries that will lead inevitably to the fall of a dynasty. Duke Leto Atreides is now ruler of Caladan, where two of House Atreides' most loyal warriors - Duncan Idaho and Gurney Halleck - have come to manhood, one a Swordmaster in training, the other, an escaped Harkonnen slave. To Caladan, too, comes Jessica, the exquisite, perfectly trained concubine chosen by the Reverend Mothers of the Bene Gesserit to be the mother of Leto's daughter. n Dune - planet Arrakis - House Harkonnen ruthlessly arvests the precious, mind-enhancing spice, melange, lanetologist Pardot Kynes' son Liet becomes a Fremen rarrior, yearning for his people's freedom. And at House Harkonnen, archenemy of House Atreides, Baron Vladimir is slowly being consumed by a loathsome disease. His nephew and heir, Rabban, prepares to take over the Harkonnen empire. At the same time gentle, helpless Abulurd strives to undo his half-brother's cruelty and his own son's viciousness. 'House Atreides is a terrific prequel, but it's also a first-rate adventure on its own. Frank Herbert would surely be delighted and proud of this continuation of his vision.' Dean Koontz 'Those who long to return to the world of desert, spice and sandworms will be amply satisfied.' The Times 'House Harkonnen is compulsive reading. I certainly enjoyed meeting Pardot Kynes and Liet, learning more about the Fremen, as well as Gurney Halleck, Duncan Idaho and the Lady Jessica. Such vile villains ... and such a fascinating description of splendid places.' Anne McCaffrey