The novel “Dune Messiah” by Frank Herbert was published for the first time in 1969 serialized in the magazine “Galaxy” and then as a book. It’s the second book in the Dune saga and follows “Dune“.
Twelve years after becoming the Emperor of the known universe, Paul “Muad’Dib” Atreides is the most powerful man in human history, at least in theory. For the Fremen, he has become a kind of deity, and that fueled a jihad that caused over sixty billion deaths. Paul himself ended up being carried away by that jihad, unable to stop it, as it would cost an even greater amount of deaths.
Paul’s power seems impossible to challenge but a conspiracy unites the Bene Gesserit, the Space Guild, and the Bene Tleilax in an attempt to overthrow him. Irulan, Paul’s official consort in a purely formal marriage, is an accomplice as well. A Guild Navigator uses his powers of prescience to shield the conspirators from Paul’s prescience. As the Face Dancer Scytale begins his mission on Arrakis, a gift is brought to the Emperor: Hayt, a ghola of Duncan Idaho.
With “Dune Messiah”, Frank Herbert subverts the tones of “Dune” in many ways. The first novel is the story of Paul Atreides taking power while this sequel shows the aftermath of those events and in particular having agreed to become a religious leader for the Fremen. Paul’s followers’ religious fervor is such that even the Emperor of the known universe wouldn’t be able to stop the jihad without causing a much worse catastrophe for humanity.
The whole novel shows how Paul tries to juggle his visions of the future trying to limit violence, even in handling his relationship with his enemies. It’s the other side of foreknowledge that had helped bring him to the throne. Paul tries above all to protect his beloved Chani, who formally is only his concubine but in fact, is the love of his life and for this reason, represents for him a weakness that can be attacked by the conspirators.
One of the criticisms of “Dune Messiah” states that nothing happens. It’s certainly not an action novel, also considering that the jihad that burnt throughout the known universe is mentioned but not really told. It’s a novel full of introspection and reflection with many dialogues full of subtleties. The confrontation between Paul and the conspirators is like a poker game in which the players manage to see some of the opponent’s cards and manage to hide some of them from the opponent.
“Dune Messiah” is also Alia Atreides’ story. She’s a teenager and has become important in Paul’s government but, despite the extraordinary circumstances that led her to have powers comparable to her brother’s and her ancestral memories, she’s going through problems typical of people of her age. She finds it difficult to obtain what she wants from her powers and Hayt’s presence adds new problems.
Frank Herbert constructs the story of a power struggle that occurs through intrigues that are slowly developed to keep on exploring certain themes of “Dune”. This can make “Dune Messiah” boring for readers looking for action and adventure. On the other hand, if you appreciate this type of structure, you will find this sequel worthy of the first novel and it will allow you to savor all the plot’s subtleties. It’s available on Amazon USA, UK, and Canada.
