Book Review
Title: Dune Messiah (Dune Book 2) by Frank Herbert
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: 5 Stars
After reading Dune last month and loving it I couldn’t wait to get into Dune Messiah especially since it is quite a bit shorter than the first book. The opening to Dune Messiah was interesting as there is a 12 year gap between the end of the first book and the start of this one. Paul Atreides also known as Maud’Dib by the Fremens has been Emperor for twelve years but we are introduced to a plot to overthrow him which consists of the space Guild, the Bene Gesserit along with a Tleilaxu Face Dancer called Scytale and the Princess Irulan. This plot has come about because Paul controls Arrakis and the spice which most people are dependent on for the gifts it gives them but he hasn’t made Irulan his Empress despite marrying her because he swore to be loyal to Chani even after the death of their son, Leto. In their possession they have a ghola made from the corpse of Duncan Idaho called Hayt which they want to poison Paul’s psyche with, however, Chani implants the idea of Paul having a child with Irulan in order to strengthen his position and weaken hers but Paul isn’t keen on this but he doesn’t know Irulan has been giving Chani a contraceptive which is why she hasn’t conceived again since Paul becoming Emperor. Already there are plots within plots and I can’t wait to see where this goes.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, the conspiracy against Paul is worried that he might be able to see what they are planning which would be consistent with his dislike of Irulan and his constant refusal to give her a child. However, he himself confirms that he can’t see what the Steersmen of the Guild are doing which means the conspiracy is safe for now but Paul does know that something is going on and Irulan is involved in it. Paul seems to be caught at a crossroads between peace which he has brought to many places and discontent especially among the Fremen who wish to return to the old ways and some commit horrific acts in Paul’s name which is something he can’t distance himself from, even in death he would be blamed for these events. I am surprised that neither Paul or Chani with their intelligence haven’t figured out what Irulan is doing in preventing Chani from having a child and returning to the desert would distance them enough for an heir to be born but Paul is constantly mentioning a sacrifice he is going to have to make, a price he has to pay but we don’t know what this is. We also get Alia’s perspective as a young woman now with powers almost as great as her brothers and she also senses that something is amiss and is trying to work out what it is.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, the Guild arrives on Dune with the Reverend Mother Mohiam who is swiftly arrested by Paul’s men and watched by those Paul has trained to resist the Voice. However, through her interaction with Irulan we find her wanting to secure Paul’s genetic line and since Irulan can’t get Paul to give her a child then she wants Irulan to foster a situation or environment that would force Paul and Alia into an incestuous relationship resulting a child of both their genetics. This plot line was a little sickening since it would involve Irulan killing Chani since forcing an abortion should Chani get pregnant is too dangerous for her but she is determined to prove her worth to the Reverend Mother. However, she is the only one to notice certain signs passing between Paul and Alia and Stilgar urges Paul to find Alia a mate as soon as possible to prevent this from happening. Paul needs Alia’s advice on what is happening and they both agree while they see things that others can’t there is something blocking their sight and they have no option but to hope it clears or prepare for what is being planned. Right now I am not too sure what is going on but I was in the same position with Dune and it took a while for things to become clear but I am also aware this book is short and might be setting up events for the 3rd book in the series.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Paul seems aware that he is being made into a God by the Jihad and he has no way of stopping this because even if he died they would continue to see him this way. The only chance he has of stopping it is to discredit himself but this doesn’t undo the billion he has killed or sterilized in his mission for “peace” but I am questioning whether it was worth it in the beginning. However, the question of the plots against Paul are taking priority since he is aware that his death is looming and he wants to either prevent it or for it to do some good. Chani also seems to have gone back into the desert without getting pregnant as Paul’s talks about missing her but he has arranged an audience with the Reverend Mother Mohiam as he needs something from her. The Reverend Mother knows this and I think she is going to try and convince Paul to give Irulan a child in exchange for whatever he wants from her. We also get to see the beginnings of a relationship between the ghola Duncan and Alia which I found incredibly strange given the fact of the age difference for a start and then the fact he is a weapon sent by their enemy to destroy Paul although he is doing a good job of that all by himself. Paul to me seems to be a completely different characters from how he was in the first novel which isn’t enduring him to me at all.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, Paul meets with the Reverend Mother Mohiam and offers what she wants which is a child for Irulan but he offers it only if it will be artificially inseminated which isn’t what she wants because she wants to capture the psyche which happens during intercourse. Paul can get away with this because Chani is already with child but the child is developing at an extremely fast rate so he knows he has an heir for his throne which the Sisterhood will never be able to get their hands on. However, the Guild want to push the ghola into doing what it was created to do but they don’t seem to be aware that the ghola is more than what they intended and the true Duncan does still live somewhere within it although he is fractured and only part of who he was. When the Face Dancer comes with a secondary plot to lead Chani and Paul along with the unborn child to their deaths, he doesn’t realise that Paul is aware of what he is and cleverly gets out of taking Chani with him but he still has to go which might mean his death but he has made sure that Chani and their child is protected by the people he trusts knowing that there are plotters within the Fremen. With this Paul begins his journey possibly to his death in the desert and if he does die I am not sure where the story is going to go after that but we know Paul is doing it to avoid the even more violent future he has seen if he changes course and Alia knows this too.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Paul heads out to the place his visions told him to go and ends up leaving with a dwarf named Bijaz who has the names of the Fremen traitor but he serves a far bigger purpose. Paul sends Bijaz away with Stilgar just as a stone burner hits leaving all the men there including Paul without eye but Paul’s power allows him to continue seeing thanks to his second sight. After returning he meets with Chani but it seems that Paul doesn’t know she is carrying twins as he refers to the child as a singular being but this might just mean they have a connection like he and Alia do because of their powers. However, through Bijaz we learn he has been sent by the enemy to activate the ghola into killing Paul. While the part of Duncan Idaho that remains tries to fight this influence it isn’t clear whose going to win in the end. Bijaz orders the ghola to kill Paul during the time when he comes to him in grief after the death of Chani presumably during childbirth and I am excited to see how the novel concludes. Alia is also playing a larger role now and she senses changes in Stilgar while he isn’t among those that have betrayed Paul she feels he is preparing to disobey Paul which shocks Stilgar but he doesn’t deny it because they trust him still.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, we finally get to see everything Paul’s visions were building to and it was equal parts heart-breaking and beautiful. Seeing everything Paul sacrificed for what needed to be done was devastating but his ending was perfect for him as a character but the story does end with him as we have his two children as well as Alia and Duncan along with their potential child to carry on but I have no idea what Children of Dune is going to hold for me and I can’t wait to see what it has in store for me in May. This was a brilliant way to kick off the month and if you haven’t read Dune or have any reservations about reading it then I highly recommend you pick it up right now.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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