Ok, I just finished reading Hellhole by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson and it’s not too bad if you’re into reading the sci-fi futuristic genre.

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson most notably wrote the Dune prequel and sequels series of books, plus their own books too, but nothing can ever compare to the Dune series.

Everything I read in the sci-fi genre gets compared to Dune, because it was an experience for me and Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson did a fantastic job on keeping that series going.

Anyhow, this is a Hellhole review and it’s got some similarities to the overall theme of the Dune series….

• Elite group of oligarchical commerce driven nobles vying for position constantly
• A corrupt ruling class
• A rebel force on outskirts of civilization (a la Arrakis, or Dune planet)
• A noble, moral leader sent into exile (a la Duke Atreides)
• And a surprise that I almost gave away here that is akin the what the Fremen offered in the Dune series

I have a tendency to re-tell the tales when I review a book or movie but I will try to make this a literary review not a re-telling….

Hellhole is good because it’s dumbed-down enough to make even a new reader get up to speed ASAP on what happened, or is happening, unlike the dune book where you were forced to learn a new vocabulary and learn or wonder about all the new breeds, species, and life forms being introduced at almost every turn in the Dune books.

I like how they devote a few pages here and there to fill in missing gaps in the storyline, and I’m not saying this as a bad thing.

for example, there’s a rebel leader/general in this story and Hellhole, like many other books glosses over and passes over the origins and specifics of the dispute in order to get the story moving along and to introduce the characters and establish the plot line.

But what I really liked is that at some point in the book, we get the nitty-gritty on everything that happened and in a concise clear-cut manner, and I think that’s great because while I’m reading the chapters, in the back of my mind I’m wondering, “so what’ happened during the battle that sent the General into exile”.

Hellhole is book One of a 3-part series and I will definitely be looking out for and reading the next two books, either to get closure on what happens next or for enjoyment and entertainment purposes.