Dune Messiah Mass Market Paperback – June 4, 2019

While this follow up to the original has never been as popular as the first volume, it presents a nuances re-examining of the characters and the nature of politics in general. It falls just short of 5 stars because it doesn’t quite have the same rich mythological world building of the original, but the extent to which I have highlighted and quoted its insights leaves me marveling at how prescient and timeless Herbert’s insights are as to the nature of power, religion, and politics. As he once said, the difference between a hero and an anti-hero is where you stop telling the story. The entire trilogy is even more amazing on a second read. It’s chilling to consider the relevance of this story today with the intersection of religion and the resurgence of authoritarian governments.

Excellent book, not as masterful as the original, but a very nice epilogue and character study of Paul.I removed a star because both this and the first Dune book (in normal trade paperback edition, not mass market) did not come in good quality. The back had scratches, and the top spine of my Messiah cover had some stretch lines. I had to return my original copy of Messiah and get a new one; the last copy was in worse condition. However, the price was acceptable, so I'm not that mad.

There are mixed reviews about this book, which put me off at first, but I gave it a chance and really enjoyed it. Lots of intrigue and great intellectual moments as it delves into the motivations of the various characters. Paul's misgivings about the future that dog his steps throughout the first book are now in full swing, and he struggles to steer the best course he can as his visions draw him inexorably to their fated end. (I thought the ending was fitting, fwiw.)One non-story-related comment I'll make is to double-check the book dimensions if you're looking to make this part of a collection. The cover art for the paperback is the same style as the one I have for the first book, but the book itself is somehow smaller. 🤷‍♀️ (Not a big deal, just... odd.)

Frank Herbert is something else. While reading this book my mind is drawn and quartered a thousand times. It is pushed and pulled this way and that. I am like a child grasping for meaning, knowing it is there but just out of reach. On the edge of understanding, I sit, in awe of what might be on the other side. Comprehension, just out of reach and yet in the back of my mind, it has been there the whole time. The words are new but they make sense, like some dream that tries to incorporate elements that seem, at first, to be disconnected, only to discover later, maybe after a day or two of contemplation, that the meaning was there amidst the confusion. Then, he brings you back. Frank Herbert, the man that sent you down the rabbit hole is there holding your hand and makes everything clear.Dune Messiah is the second in the Dune series and it is a wonderful rollercoaster. One minute I'm trying to follow the story and figure out what is happening, what might happen, and then the next minute I'm lost in the jargon and intrigue of a world I barely know. The internal ruminations of the characters, the dialogue, and the world that Frank Herbert created is so thoroughly it's own that it is like turning on a documentary from an alien world at an alien time. As much as it is unfamiliar it is just familiar enough to cause a fury of excitement and suspense. The intrigue is palpable and enticing. It keeps you going and gives you hope.In this, the second story about the desert planet known as Dune, we take up the story of Paul Atreides, AKA Muad 'Dib AKA Usul, AKA the ruler of the known universe. The book starts about twelve years after the end of the first Dune book. We find that with the help of violence, religious ideology, his prescient sister Alia, his Fremen soldiers, and his monopoly over the invaluable resource known as melange, Paul has brought his form of justice and leadership to all. He is known by some as a god and by others as a devil. He is not unaware of this duality and is plagued by his own doubt about the legacy that he is creating.Paul tackles internal and external threats to his dynasty but with his powers of foresight, he seems to be one step ahead of his enemies. While he attempts to root out the spies in his midst he is also dealing with the matter of his succession plan. Chani, his concubine and true love, is pregnant and there are many who want to take advantage of her vulnerability and Paul's potential weakness toward her. He knows who to trust but he doesn't always know if he can trust himself and by the end, the true plot is revealed. Will Paul fall to the wiles of his enemies or will he continue his violent conquest? Read to find out!

“A creature who has spent his life creating one particular representation of his selfdom will die rather than become the antithesis of that representation.”Alright so I'm just going to say it... this one is a far cry from the first. I don't hate it and I know why it was necessary... I totally get it. However, it was just not it. I spent so much of this one confused about what was happening and nothing felt like it made any sense or went together in any way. We have a 12 year time jump from the last book and a Paul who is very different from the one we remember. Somehow all things that Paul didn't want to unfold have and now he's literally viewed as a god by a sect of Fremen and then another set seem very anti all things Maud'Dib and wish to return to the ancient ways of life.This book is full of a lot of scheming from some familiar characters but also some new ones. They are all determined to destroy Paul in some way or another. They want to discredit him to his people, they want to make him destroy himself, they want to kill the person he loves, or they want to end his monopoly on spice. However, it takes about 200 pages for all of this to become even remotely understandable. And each layer of the conspiracy just becomes more and more confusing and then seems to fizzle out. Paul is already at war with himself and the future that he has seen with no different outcome has virtually destroyed his will to do anything.The ending of this one tries to make sense of the previous 300 pages and it clears up a little. I know this one was a necessary transition book for what is to come in the series but I just felt kind of disappointed with this one after how amazing the first was. Here is holding out hope that book 3 redeems us.