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eurypterus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Paul has to come to terms with fate and a plot to control him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Infertility, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child death and Incest
atoft's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
The second of the Great Dune Trilogy picks up ten years after the events of the first. A decade into his reign as emperor, Maud'Dib's much foretold jihad rages across the galaxy. Meanwhile on Arrakis, a conspiracy of the Atreides' enemies assemble to bring an end to him and his lineage.
Dune Messiah takes a somewhat interesting approach to the story it depicts. While galaxy-spanning events on an almost unimaginable scale are taking place, the book stays squarely focused on the scheming of a few key figures in the conspiracy, on the increasing despondence of Paul and his spiralling visions of the future, and on his concubine Chani and sister Alia and their uneasy roles within the society and religion that he has built up around them.
The conspiracy plot feels very slow paced. While it's interesting to see the uncomfortable alliance between factions such as the Bene Gesserit and the Tleilaxu, their plans and intentions remain too vague for too long to be really engaging. That said, it is interesting to explore the various ways that they try to prevent Paul's prescience from detecting their plot, including the exploitation of a Guild Steersman with oracular powers that are capable of interfering with his vision. Of note too is the conspiracy's creation of a golem or "ghola" in the form of the late Duncan Idaho, raising questions about the nature of memory and identity.
Perhaps more intriguing is the exploration of the new society being constructed on Arrakis, in which Paul takes the role of a godlike religious figurehead, with Alia as a mysterious prophet. Billions die in a holy war raging far away, which Paul seems at most mildly miffed about, convinced that this is still the best path forward for the galaxy. Despite the things he's willing to do, and his absolute power and influence, he still believes he's doing the right thing, and is still obsessed with steering his way to the best path through the uncertain and bloody future of his visions. The way the Fremen, seen through Chani, Paul's right hand Stilgar, and the general population, are affected by this sweeping new order is effectively ambiguous. Are the people really better off with this path to a green Arrakis, with this new religious zealotry thrust upon them?
The conspiracy comes to a head in a way that is ultimatelyfatal for both Chani and Paul, but in failing to end the family line brings forth the question of what will become of Arrakis, and the empire, in the next generation?
As with the previous book, Dune Messiah certainly has its problematic elements. The female characters remain too often objects to be used by the plot, and are most relevant in their potential to produce offspring. Another example is in the treatment of Paul's wife, the Princess Irulan, who disappears entirely from the book once her purpose in the conspiracy has been served, and mother Jessica, who is barely present at all.
Dune Messiah digs even deeper into the rich, intricate world established by its predecessor. It's filled with moral ambiguity, mysterious premonitions, and vast power struggles. Compared to its predecessor though, it can feel a little sluggish, with less of a strongly defined central plot around which to hang its detailed tapestry. As a result, it's perhaps a less satisfying experience in its own right.
"The flesh surrenders itself, he thought. Eternity takes back its own. Our bodies stirred these waters briefly, danced with a certain intoxication before the love of life and self, dealt with a few strange ideas, then submitted to the instruments of Time. What can we say of this? I occurred. I am not... yet, I occurred."
The second of the Great Dune Trilogy picks up ten years after the events of the first. A decade into his reign as emperor, Maud'Dib's much foretold jihad rages across the galaxy. Meanwhile on Arrakis, a conspiracy of the Atreides' enemies assemble to bring an end to him and his lineage.
Dune Messiah takes a somewhat interesting approach to the story it depicts. While galaxy-spanning events on an almost unimaginable scale are taking place, the book stays squarely focused on the scheming of a few key figures in the conspiracy, on the increasing despondence of Paul and his spiralling visions of the future, and on his concubine Chani and sister Alia and their uneasy roles within the society and religion that he has built up around them.
The conspiracy plot feels very slow paced. While it's interesting to see the uncomfortable alliance between factions such as the Bene Gesserit and the Tleilaxu, their plans and intentions remain too vague for too long to be really engaging. That said, it is interesting to explore the various ways that they try to prevent Paul's prescience from detecting their plot, including the exploitation of a Guild Steersman with oracular powers that are capable of interfering with his vision. Of note too is the conspiracy's creation of a golem or "ghola" in the form of the late Duncan Idaho, raising questions about the nature of memory and identity.
Perhaps more intriguing is the exploration of the new society being constructed on Arrakis, in which Paul takes the role of a godlike religious figurehead, with Alia as a mysterious prophet. Billions die in a holy war raging far away, which Paul seems at most mildly miffed about, convinced that this is still the best path forward for the galaxy. Despite the things he's willing to do, and his absolute power and influence, he still believes he's doing the right thing, and is still obsessed with steering his way to the best path through the uncertain and bloody future of his visions. The way the Fremen, seen through Chani, Paul's right hand Stilgar, and the general population, are affected by this sweeping new order is effectively ambiguous. Are the people really better off with this path to a green Arrakis, with this new religious zealotry thrust upon them?
The conspiracy comes to a head in a way that is ultimately
As with the previous book, Dune Messiah certainly has its problematic elements. The female characters remain too often objects to be used by the plot, and are most relevant in their potential to produce offspring. Another example is in the treatment of Paul's wife, the Princess Irulan, who disappears entirely from the book once her purpose in the conspiracy has been served, and mother Jessica, who is barely present at all.
Dune Messiah digs even deeper into the rich, intricate world established by its predecessor. It's filled with moral ambiguity, mysterious premonitions, and vast power struggles. Compared to its predecessor though, it can feel a little sluggish, with less of a strongly defined central plot around which to hang its detailed tapestry. As a result, it's perhaps a less satisfying experience in its own right.
"The flesh surrenders itself, he thought. Eternity takes back its own. Our bodies stirred these waters briefly, danced with a certain intoxication before the love of life and self, dealt with a few strange ideas, then submitted to the instruments of Time. What can we say of this? I occurred. I am not... yet, I occurred."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and War
bergha1998's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The main theme of this book is how power corrupts. It takes the whole Dune series in a completely different trajectory. We watch Paul in Dune and believe him to be the “savior,” but in this one we see that even he falls when given absolute power.
“They’re trained to believe? Not to know. Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous.”
“There is nothing firm, nothing balanced, nothing durable in all the universe—that nothing remains in its state, that each day, sometimes each hour, brings change.”
“If you need something to worship, then worship life—all life, every last crawling bit of it! We’re all in this beauty together!”
“They’re trained to believe? Not to know. Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous.”
“There is nothing firm, nothing balanced, nothing durable in all the universe—that nothing remains in its state, that each day, sometimes each hour, brings change.”
“If you need something to worship, then worship life—all life, every last crawling bit of it! We’re all in this beauty together!”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
aegireads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
(bdg voice) i just wish it was something else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Incest and Injury/Injury detail
graphic eye traumawoolgathering_jane's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Reason is the first victim of strong emotion," Scytale murmured.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Genocide and War
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Twelve years after the events of Dune, Paul still rules as the Emperor, with his sister as a religious leader at his side. He avoids jihad where he can, but even for someone as all-seeing as the Muad’Dib, some things cannot be avoided. A small group, whose members include the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother Helen Gaius Mohiam and Paul’s wife, the Princess Irulan, a Tleilaxu face dancer and a Guild navigator, plots Paul’s demise.
Messiah contains less worldbuilding and far less action than Dune, but (perhaps for those reasons) conveys Herbert’s warning against heroes that much better. We see Paul struggling with the future, trying to find a way to minimize the violence that he foresees, but he can never avoid it completely. Alia, too suffers from her status of near-divinity.
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending): Definitely not happy, but more…bittersweet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Sexual content, and Colonisation
dayelb_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Frank Herbert is easily one of the best authors I've ever read. I don't see why any of these books aren't considered classics. This book takes you on a wild ride and represents the end of an era in the world of Arrakis. I can't wait to read the 3rd book as this one brought about just as many questions as it answered -- quite characteristic of Frank Herbert's writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Incest, Infertility, Suicide, Pregnancy, and War
yasmin_raev's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Infertility, and Murder