Dune Messiah: Book Two in the Dune Chronicles

Such a moving an profound novel. In many ways, this book hits harder than Dune. Thought provoking, this brought brought me to tears and has left me with much to process. If you have read Dune and are debating whether to continue with book 2, remove all doubt. Herbert is a deep thinker with wonderful prose and a gift for narrative. I loved this novel

Reviewing a "Dune" novel is, in many ways, pointless. Thousands of gallons of print ink has already been spent analyzing, raving, griping over, ranting, and worshipping Frank Herbert's sci-fi opus that more reviews are not required. But I'm a first-time reader who has a fresh perspective, so consider the source. There are plenty of more informed takes elsewhere. But I liked "Dune Messiah," even as it frustrated me a bit. "Dune Messiah" takes place twelve years after the resolution of Herbert's epic "Dune." Paul is now the emperor of the universe, and the Fremen soldiers have killed literally billions in their interplanetary jihad. As has been said, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. Many Fremen have abandoned their Spartan desert existence and enjoy the trappings of wealth and power, while other Fremen are frustrated that Paul has led them astray from their holy ways. Many defeated factions also plot revenge against Paul, and in the most diabolical of ways. Paul, blessed and cursed with prescience, has been horrified by his murderous jihad, but he has also been powerless to stop it. Paul's life is now an effort to seek the best worst option. That includes starting a family with his concubine, Chani, because he knows that her inevitable fate will be triggered by her pregnancy. But Paul knows that he can't prevent this fate from occurring, so he tries to delay it as long as he can. The problem with prescience is that you can't simply tell everyone what the future is and take steps to prevent the inevitable. Many have complained that in "Dune Messiah," Frank Herbert made Paul more of a villain (and Paul very much aware of his villainy) than he had appeared as the triumphant champion at the end of "Dune." But I understand that this was Herbert's goal all along - he wanted us to be afraid of charismatic leaders because they can lead the fanatically loyal astray. Herbert's problem is that he hid his intentions too well in "Dune" so the shift in "Dune Messiah" is a bit jarring. This isn't to say that Paul has suddenly become a Snidely Whiplash character - but his reign has led to the murder of literally billions and the installation of a severe theocracy that has also corrupted many of his beloved Fremen. I like this storyline and it makes Paul far more interesting. What bothers me about "Dune Messiah" is that, even more so that in "Dune," this is a book for talking and thinking. So much of the action occurs offstage. Herbert does a magnificent job of getting inside his characters' heads and they think interesting thoughts, so it's not a bad thing, but this is a sci-fi epic, after all. I wouldn't mind a little more action. Herbert does not subscribe to the notion of "show, not tell." Plenty of things happen in this book, but you're told about most of them after the fact. So my quibble is minor compared to the rage that so many others have brought to reviews of "Dune Messiah." I don't worship at the altar of Dune, unlike others, but this is a very interesting, entertaining read.

I remember clearly the moment that I first discovered Frank Herbert's Dune. It was 1985 and I was eleven years old at the time and exploring my local public library like I always did on the weekend. The dust jacket of the hard cover pulled my eyes to it like a magnet. When I opened the book and began skimming the inside, something inside of my young imagination caught a glimpse of its complicated message and it frightened me. On my walk back home though, I got another feeling, but this one excited me. From that moment, I knew that I was going to be a writer of my own stories someday and maybe I would come up with one as grandiose as Dune is. Now, at 52, I write almost everyday and have read so many books of other author's works it is crazy. After just finishing Dune Messiah, it reminds me of my childhood dream of being a storyteller and the effect it had on my life. Thank you Frank Herbert for scaring me with your undeniable talent so much that it created a lifelong passion in me. I would recommend this book and the entire Dune saga for its timeless science fiction.

I struggle with these Dune novels. They're fascinating but boring at the same time. I think it's the character work that doesn't work for me - there's such a high minded self seriousness to every character that none of them feel relatable nor unique.

The production of this book is well done! The characters sound natural. It’s easy to get lost in the story.

I love this book but this particular edition seems like the ink is printed too lightly. It's strange. but I found an older edition and its perfect.

If you know you know!!! Frank Herbert is a genius with the way he can set up the world around the plot and then deliver whenever things start to get good! Honestly this was a page Turner from beginning to ending and the last couple of chapters will have you absolutely gripped and waiting to see what happens next!! This book makes you want to read the third volume even more than the first book!

This is an extra copy for grandkids to take out of the young adult reader library at my house. Completely fills the bill.

Buena lectura, Frank Herbert nunca decepciona

Inte samma kvalité som första boken men sen var förväntningarna skyhöga. Men väl läsvärd.

Product arrived in great shape!

I have one regret. That unfortunately the children of dune book isn't in a similar format available. as a result I might make this a present to one of my nieces and buy the 3book deluxe boxed set.

I thought as good as the first. Got really good towards the end and couldn't stop reading.