Dune Messiah
Book Two in the Magnificent Dune Chronicles—the Bestselling Science Fiction Adventure of All Time
Dune Messiah continues the story of Paul Atreides, better known—and feared—as the man christened Muad’Dib. As Emperor of the known universe, he possesses more power than a single man was ever meant to wield. Worshipped as a religious icon by the fanatical Fremen, Paul faces the enmity of the political houses he displaced when he assumed the throne—and a conspiracy conducted within his own sphere of influence.
And even as House Atreides begins to crumble around him from the machinations of his enemies, the true threat to Paul comes to his lover, Chani, and the unborn heir to his family’s dynasty...
Dune Messiah continues the story of Paul Atreides, better known—and feared—as the man christened Muad’Dib. As Emperor of the known universe, he possesses more power than a single man was ever meant to wield. Worshipped as a religious icon by the fanatical Fremen, Paul faces the enmity of the political houses he displaced when he assumed the throne—and a conspiracy conducted within his own sphere of influence.
And even as House Atreides begins to crumble around him from the machinations of his enemies, the true threat to Paul comes to his lover, Chani, and the unborn heir to his family’s dynasty...
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Community Reviews
Frank Herbert’s “Dune Messiah” is a wonderfully thought-out follow-up to the original masterpiece. While dated, especially in its female representation, it still makes a necessary point. Even God Emperors can and should be brought down. Or more aptly put, no one man should have all that power.
Through a clever plot and masterful pacing, Herbert delivers Paul’s final test and exit from the stage. An exit that serves political and religious whims while also removing any semblance of deification from a flawed man. I suppose that is Herbert’s great task here. To show the reader that tests of moral character and loyalty come for all of us.
There are no good guys here, no one to root for. Perhaps maybe the billions who died in the Jihad, but their cause is lost even before the first chapter ends. I am even more interested in seeing how Denis Villeneuve improves upon the Dune story with his interpretation of this part of the saga.
This book is a good conclusion to Paul’s main storyline from the first book. It was a hard one to get through just because it’s fairly dense and the language can get confusing. The ending was satisfying and it does a good job of wrapping things up in a way that does make sense. I still enjoy the first book more but I think that’s more because of how much prescience was used throughout and that can be confusing at times.
If I had to choose one quote that stuck with me from this book: “When a creature has developed into one thing, he will choose death rather than change into his opposite.”
Lost the flair of the first book. All of Chani’s depth went out the window—all she was in this book was Paul’s concubine and mother of his children. Still had an interesting plot though.
This book feels like when Mike Breen said BAAAAANNNGGGG after that Ray Allen 3. I’m telling you it’s better than the first.
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