theradicalchild | Book Review

Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Newer editions of the first Dune sequel have a foreword from its author’s son, Brian Herbert, who indicates that it’s perhaps the most misunderstood entry of the original series, given its antithetical nature to its predecessor, with protagonist Paul Atreides, the Muad’Dib, becoming a “fool saint.” Frank Herbert intended the first follow-up to evoke the lesson that governments often lie to their people, with citizens needing to question their leaders. As in the first entry of the original Dune Chronicles, new chapters open with philosophical quotes, indicating things such as the lack of separation between gods and men.

The second book occurs twelve years after its predecessor, with Paul’s Jihad raging for that intervention. The Muad’Dib controls the flow of the spice melange, with his sister Alia also a religious icon. Meanwhile, Scytale, a Tleilaxu Face Dancer, and Jadacha, a hermaphrodite able to change his gender at will, conspire to assassinate Paul. The Sisterhood also believes that Paul’s Jihad has somewhat gone out of control. Furthermore, a love triangle develops among Paul, Irulan, and the Fremen Chani, with the Muad’Dib contemplating siring an heir and arguing with the two women about doing so.

There are occasional surprises in the second installment, such as the return of a character thought dead in the book’s predecessor, not to mention a sequel hook for the third book in the Dune Chronicles, with Brian Herbert indicating that Dune Messiah arose with the intent of being a bridge between the first and third entries rather than a standalone story. The first sequel accomplishes its goals well, although, like the original, it’s somewhat more human interest than hard science fiction. Even so, those who enjoyed the original Dune will likely appreciate its sequel.

View all my reviews