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Dune Messiah (Berkley SF, N1847)
by Frank Herbert
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Corp. (1970)
ISBN: 0425018474
EAN: 9780425018477
Binding/Media: Mass Market Paperback - 253 pages
Edition: 1st Paperback
SKU: P0047-1970-771
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: Spine tight, pages mildly tanned.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Now, in Dune Messiah, Frank Herbert carries on the richly colorful epic of Paul Atreides, made leader of the galaxy by a holy war fought in the spaceways and on a thousand planets. An epic of imperial intrigue that spans the Universe - a rewarding novel of a bizarre human drama - Dune Messiah id one of the most remarkable works of fiction of this or any year.
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Customer Reviews
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perfect
Rating  (5)
Date: 2010-07-29
The item was delivered earlier than expected, arrived exactly as described, and a perfect transaction. Thank you!!!!!
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Great plot, sometimes thick writing
Rating  (4)
Date: 2010-07-23
I like the direction Frank Herbert took the Dune series in his first two sequels. This book has a bit more development than the original Dune. We get to learn more about the inner turmoil of Paul, Alia, and then meet the kids. Frank has a way of creating politically exciting twists and power struggles, without making any one character the villain. Paul and Alia in their own ways are both despots and victims. In terms of storyline, I think this brings the story to a satisfying conclusion (I'm not so big a fan of what happens after Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3)).
Frank's writing style can be a bit dense. Sometimes the dialogue is filled with philosophical or nonsensical musings. Some of it is quite deep - but certainly not how people actually talk. It takes some getting used to. I'd recommend only continuing on to this book if you got through the original Dune and liked it.
If you liked the books, I highly recommend Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (Sci-Fi TV Miniseries) (Two-Disc DVD Set) - it's a pretty good film adaptation of Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles) and Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3).
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Reading with Tequila
Rating  (3)
Date: 2010-05-24
Dune Messiah is set twelve years after the end of Dune, with Paul firmly ensconced as emperor of Arrakis. Never have I read a sequel that so closely followed the feel of the original. Had I not known better, I would have sworn this book was the second half of Dune as opposed to a separate sequel.
Being so well matched to the original was very good and kind of disappointing. The story continued in a comfortable fashion, written in a a tone I was already accustomed to. I easily reentered the world Frank Herbert created and found the new twists to the Atreides story meshed well with the characters I already knew.
Unfortunately, while Dune felt like an epic story that changed everything from beginning to end of the story, Dune Messiah felt like a small snippet in the life of the emperor. Things that seemed as though they should have been major didn't have the impact they should have. It all felt less important. This is a common problem with sequels to huge books like Dune. The next book never measures up to the original.
While I enjoyed the story, I don't feel compelled to continue the series. The book was good and it was fun to revisit the characters, but ultimately Dune was best left with its original ending. Dragging things out further promises to mar my opinion of the first book.
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For Pot-Smoking Philosophy Majors ONLY
Rating  (2)
Date: 2010-01-22
1 out of 9 customers found this reveiw helpful
I am NOT a "Dune" (or sci-fi) fanboy. I like a well written book with a good plot, but am not genre specific. I am 36 years old and read "Dune" for the first time a month ago. It is a very good book. The Greatest Sci-Fi novel ever? I'm sceptical of that claim, but I would recommend it to anyone who likes a very good, intelligent, action-packed adventure novel.
"Dune Messiah", on the other hand, is almost a travesty - MASSIVELY underwhelming. There is virtually no action in this one. Just a bunch of crusty middle aged people talking...and talking...and talking. Though the ending is satisfying, and there is something almost resembling action at about the 250 page mark, it is otherwise devoid of excitement.
Reading this book was like being the only sober college student in a room filled with pot-smoking philosophy majors. The same points get repeated over and over again, until you can bearly stand it. There ARE some interesting ideas in this book (particularly about how extraordinary men and their actions are twisted to serve the purposes of their warped followers, a la Jesus Christ), and dozens of wonderful lines to quote, but not nearly enough to justify it's 300+ page length. It is almost necessary to read, since it does complete the story of Paul Atreides, but it would have been so much more bearable if it had been half the length.
I will NOT be reading any more Dune books, as the general consensus is that each sequel is progressively worse than the one before. I believe it now.
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Sip this fine wine slowly
Rating (5)
Date: 2009-12-06
Read Dune originally in 1972 or so, was mesmerized by it's concept, depth, and also the action. Read Dune Messiah sometime later..and was bored: none of the sweeping action, and was mostly talk. Was too young to appreciate it. Reread Dune again recently, what a classic. Am now halfway through Dune Messiah. As a older somewhat mature individual I can now understand the personal complexities explored in depth by this book. It is to be slowly savored and a source of much consideration. Herbert was an intelligent and wise person, who could craft an exceptional story to explore themes and also delight our yearning for a good yarn. Dune's complexity elevates itself to a myth-like status. Enjoy.
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