Paperback, 283 pages
English language
Published July 7, 2020 by Ace.
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…
The book about a man of unlimited power who had no choice but to remain alone in an infinite universe.
I admit, I LOVE the first Dune book... and it took me a couple tries to start and finish this one. The book assumes you've got the gist of the first book under your belt and then throws you into a world of intrigue. Paul is still the main character, but it's mostly about what goes on around him. He's burdened by his power and his status, and constantly beset by enemies on the fringes around the Imperium, waiting for a chance to find a blind spot and attack.
At the start, it felt a bit choppy and like I'd just been thrown into the mix with little preparation... but reading the preface again helped a bit. All the little "asides" hold meaning in Frank Herbert works, so I've learned to read them as well. As the story centers more on Arrakis, you see it slow down and get back …
I admit, I LOVE the first Dune book... and it took me a couple tries to start and finish this one. The book assumes you've got the gist of the first book under your belt and then throws you into a world of intrigue. Paul is still the main character, but it's mostly about what goes on around him. He's burdened by his power and his status, and constantly beset by enemies on the fringes around the Imperium, waiting for a chance to find a blind spot and attack.
At the start, it felt a bit choppy and like I'd just been thrown into the mix with little preparation... but reading the preface again helped a bit. All the little "asides" hold meaning in Frank Herbert works, so I've learned to read them as well. As the story centers more on Arrakis, you see it slow down and get back to life with Paul and Chiani and their family, and the power dynamics of the Princess Irulan in the house trying to ensure the couple has no children. Plots enfold concerning the Guild, the Bene Geserit, the Fremen, & the Tleilaxu Face Dancers. It's a LOT to take in for the shortest book in the series, but it gets us to the next level. And the ending of this book makes it worth the time, the progression of this universe is rather fascinating.
I wanted to say 3.5 stars, but I can't give half ratings on the meter, & it feels a little too hasty and too complex at times. But the philosophies discussed & the ending nudge it to a 4 to me. Can't wait to get to the 3rd one.
Content warning Plot Spoilers
I read dune Messiah a few months back and am taking time to reflect as I just finished Children of Dune (the third book in the series). Overall, I was pretty disappointed in Dune Messiah. To me, the plot and characters marked a stark departure from the first book and I was pretty much lost the whole time. Herbert’s prose even though aesthetically pleasing, especially to me since he tends to borrow a lot of french words to describe the etiquette or customs related to the emperor and empire, gets really confusing especially in passages describing the spice melange and spice trance. I was taken aback by seeing a character, Paul Atreides, stuck in his progression. Maybe that’s what Herbert wanted to convey in Dune Messiah, but I felt like the character had phenomenal power and super powers yet the story failed to show how he was using them and to which end he wanted to use them. It also felt to me like the characters lacked individual personality. They seem to all speak in the same way and interact in similar fashion.
I’m rating 3/5 for the world building and the lore but overall was not pleased by the general plot.
I think something I enjoy about Herbert’s writing is that the stories don’t go where I expect them to. Being written in the 60s, I think maybe there are different acceptable story arcs. I kept waiting for things to start, I still keep expecting Paul’s hero story to happen even though I know, famously, that he was not a hero. I couldn’t, and still don’t, understand how he had kicked off a thanos level genocide and why that was inevitable, but once you accept that premise, exploring how he’s trying to extract from that was an interesting journey. Not sure yet about whether to continue with the series.
It is so satisfying yet unforeseen to see Paul Muad'dib Atreidis finally embracing the Fremen in him. It is a captivating finishing touch to an already fabulous character. The first book was so good, that I approached this one with low expectations, since you know it's always the first one that's the best in any series. Not this time though. It left me and my expectations dead in the water.
I hate Frank Herbert for evoking such emotions in me for such an authoritarian emperor, like literally, the supposed ruler of the known universe, but sad I was. There was no escaping the despair, and odd enough, I didn't want to either. I shared Paul's grief, and it gripped me hard while also making me root for the future with just the right amount of motivation.
The whole book was the precursor of a great-grandmother of a storm brewing. And …
It is so satisfying yet unforeseen to see Paul Muad'dib Atreidis finally embracing the Fremen in him. It is a captivating finishing touch to an already fabulous character. The first book was so good, that I approached this one with low expectations, since you know it's always the first one that's the best in any series. Not this time though. It left me and my expectations dead in the water.
I hate Frank Herbert for evoking such emotions in me for such an authoritarian emperor, like literally, the supposed ruler of the known universe, but sad I was. There was no escaping the despair, and odd enough, I didn't want to either. I shared Paul's grief, and it gripped me hard while also making me root for the future with just the right amount of motivation.
The whole book was the precursor of a great-grandmother of a storm brewing. And in time, it did strike, as it was foretold just not in the manner I had imagined. I went into this book "blind", pun intended, and it's one of the best things I could have done. I don't know what I'm saying or if it makes any sense at all, but the last few chapters got me into a trance. In one moment, Paul says:
"There are some problems in this universe for which there are no answers."In light of that I, a humble reader, can, or should I say would, like to propose a lemma- "There are some books in this universe for which there are no reviews!"
OK, enough rambling from me. This book has wrapped my mind like the prescience. If any of you reached up to this point, first of all, wow! You are one patient person! But what good is patience if you do not read this book? Now, go on, read it, like now!
After the first book, this one certainly is a let down. I've been told this book is mostly a short bridge to book three, but this book has discouraged me enough to not continue for now. Herberts idea of showing the "hero" of the first book as the villain he is is great and one of the big pros of this book. I might update this review when i have more to say about the third book.
Messiah is less of a sequel, and more like the fourth installment following the three-part series of its predecessor. It really doesn't—couldn't—stand on its own, just like any of the three parts in the first novel would feel unsatisfying as standalones.
The universe of Messiah feels smaller, tighter, more claustrophobic than the first. Characters that could have been much more compelling are given little development. Its world feels small, which is unfortunate, because the first book felt so massive and complex by comparison.
Still it's a fun ride, and a worthwhile companion to the first book. The story feels fall from over, though the tale of Muad'Dib may have concluded here. Other reviews mention that it's a necessary if somewhat underwhelming "bridge" to the third book, so I'm still looking forward to the next installment.
I think it's widely accepted that Dune Messiah isn't the sequel most wanted, and I concur. Dune was split into 3 parts chronicling the rise of Paul Atreides and this novel is really Part 4, rather than its own self-contained story. From that perspective, Dune Messiah is the victory lap that wraps up many of the themes that Dune set into action, and on those merits, the novel is a success and probably deserving of 4 stars.
But... Frank Herbert released this as a standalone novel, and it does not stand alone. The novel is half the length but the cast of characters is nearly as large as Dune, which means that many characters are nothing more than names. Some should be considered critical antagonists and yet they get one or two scenes at most. The arc of the novel is stunted as well, since the conspiracy that faces …
I think it's widely accepted that Dune Messiah isn't the sequel most wanted, and I concur. Dune was split into 3 parts chronicling the rise of Paul Atreides and this novel is really Part 4, rather than its own self-contained story. From that perspective, Dune Messiah is the victory lap that wraps up many of the themes that Dune set into action, and on those merits, the novel is a success and probably deserving of 4 stars.
But... Frank Herbert released this as a standalone novel, and it does not stand alone. The novel is half the length but the cast of characters is nearly as large as Dune, which means that many characters are nothing more than names. Some should be considered critical antagonists and yet they get one or two scenes at most. The arc of the novel is stunted as well, since the conspiracy that faces Paul has none of the clever foreshadowing and plots-within-plots that marked the glorious Harkonnen vs Atreides feud. Instead, it unfolds with us as bystanders, rather than secret conspirators the way we were told of Yueh's treachery, and the novel suffers for it.
Dune Messiah is required reading for the Dune series, but unfortunately, it'll feel like a speed bump compared to its predecessor. Do your best to read this immediately following the conclusion of Dune, and you'll be much happier for it.
Honestly I think the biggest weakness of this novel was focusing so much on Duncan Idaho, given the low page count, when he was given comparatively little screen time in the previous novel. Frank Herbert should have spent as much time fleshing out the conspirators as he did on Duncan and the genetic memories of the Gholas. I know in the future books these are critical events, but this novel was about Paul vs the Face Dancer, and that got maybe 20% of the focus.
I know this is a very old saga; regardless I was not expecting it to be this engaging
There are definitely a few 🚩s along the way, but those can easily be attributed to the time when the books were written
The way Paul walks between destiny/fate and desire to break the chains is very well defined.
YES. just yes. satisfying and heartwrenching all at once. herbert's vision finally made clear to those of us who couldn't really get it while reading the original. my second read was so much more satisfying than the first; previously, i'd probably give this a 4.
It's no Dune but it's not bad.
Still not sure if Paul is meant to be read as a genuinely selfless hero or a tragically misguided overconfident supervillain. I rate that.
Definitely a good follow-up to Dune. I appreciate that Usul remained a Fremen and hope to see him in Children of Dune.
This was perfectly fine. It wasn't bad, but it felt kind of light compared to the first book... Also maybe Herbert got a little too far up his own ass? I dunno. It was still a good audiobook for our return trip. We're planning on doing Book #3 on our Christmas travels (since that is the next time we expect to be on long road trips)..
I really loved the first Dune book, so why not read another? :)
In the Intro of Dune Messiah the son of the writer already warns that this book is not like the first. It's more a bridge to get to the third book.
I happily crossed that bridge although it was a bit long and not every part of the bridge was as interesting it was still a fun crossing.
“I told him that to endure oneself may be the hardest task in the universe.”
