Dune Messiah (Dune #2)
Author: Frank Herbert
Published: 1969
On Goodreads
Rating: 
Rated E for an empire that could compete with that of Star Wars.
He will become one with the desert. The desert will fulfill him.
In the second book of the Dune series, Paul Atreides, known to all as Muad’Dib, has taken the role as Emperor. He possesses more power than any man has and to many, men and sycophants alike, he has become a god.
On the horizon, Paul faces trouble from all sides and his beloved, Chani, is threatened. With a destiny he never asked for, Paul must figure out how to save Chani and his future children as House Atreides crumbles down around him as Dune is once again caught in the midst of turmoil for its spice.
Dune Reviews
For the majority of the book, it was a war. Within Paul and across Arrakis as it struggled under the weight of Paul’s god-like rule that spread across the universe. It was a place he didn’t even want to be in, especially since it forever put his beloved, Chani, in danger. With its romance and turmoil, both treading dangerous sands, this was surprisingly a speedy read. However, I didn’t feel like this got really enticing until halfway through.
The relationships have evolved immensely and new ones developed since Paul has become emperor. Though he remains faithful to Chani, Irulan schemes and continues to find distaste in her place with all of this. Meanwhile, Alia struggled with her identity because it isn’t solely her own. Still, she found solace in an unexpected clone of Duncan Idaho. The siblings are certainly tragic. Their destinies are unmovable and not their own but everyone else’s. Talk about a hellscape.
DM tackled some difficult subjects, even taboo-like with their depths, in its unique sci-fi fanatical way. From politics to impeding religion infringing on sacrilege. I’m surprised it’s not made the banned books list, or if it has, I haven’t seen it there. From the constitutions of Arrakis and the universe being re-thought and re-written to Paul’s replacing the Fremen’s god(s) and becoming a dictator, two things he didn’t choose or want but happened anyway. Though under the intense and spacial genre of Sci-Fi, it still holds subjects that have had several other books banned.
Outstanding and vivid writing that really leaped off the page both visually and philosophically. Rather pleasing and strangely anxiety-driven. LOL. There’s an undertone of constant panic which is unique. It set an atmosphere unlike any other within the sci-fi genre. Powerfully memorable.
Overall
An intense read that may have you losing your eyes…just kidding. But still, the action and non-action were well-balanced and articulate in its deadly adventure across the sands of Dune. This continues to be an impeccable series but it isn’t for the faint of heart. Not because it’s terrible or gory, but because it is so deep that you don’t see the bottom of the abyss. Not a bad thing but endless.
Quotables:
“The future is a thing to be shaped…” (Scytale, p. 17)
“Everywhere there is peace. Everywhere…except in the heart of Muad’Dib.” (p. 83)
“Gross actions carry their own messages.” (Paul, p.177)
“The abyss remains. It is pregnant with all the things yet to be. Ahhhhh, what gentle violence.” (p.222)
“I remind you that all things are but a beginning, forever beginning. Worlds wait to be conquered. Some within the sound of my voice will attain exalted destinies. You will sneer at the past, forgetting what I tell you now: within all differences there is unity.” (Alia, p. 222)
“You can’t build politics on love. People aren’t concerned with love; it’s too disordered. They prefer despotism. Too much freedom breeds chaos. We can’t have that, can we? And how do you make despotism lovable?” (p.253)
“There are problems in this universe for which there are no answers.” (Paul, p. 326)
More to come soon…
-K.
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The Scarlet Reader 
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