Book Review: Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

 Dune Messiah 

[Dune Series #2]

By Frank Herbert 

Published Year: 1969

Page count: 236 pages 

Medium Used: Kindle PW 

Genre : Science Fiction, Fantasy, Maud Dib, Prescience, 2024-read. 

Rating : 3/5 

I had difficulty in recognizing some of the characters that are introduced in this and referring to Wikipedia cleared my doubts. I think the gap between my reading of first part and this one has been huge and the cause for this conundrum. Nevertheless, I seek to remove this issue with the next book in the series by starting off right away on that! The world building is super and sucked me in. But I had some trouble imagining a planet that is mostly desert and also has modern developments erected in it. The prose is flawless but the flow of Herbert's thoughts are difficult to catch sometimes. 

Paul Atriedes has been ruling for a long time and during this period, the universe is brought, by force and mass killing, under his "jihad" rule. Yet, for the atriedes brother and sister, Paul and Alia, both blessed with Bene Gesserit prescience and ability to sense future, there is little peace. There are infiltrators from secret foes who are masquerading as benefactors. Chani is pregnant with Paul's children but there is a threat on her life and theirs too. The Tleilaxu, Bene Gesserit and Guild are in the conspiracy. Unknown to them also, some of the fremen are conspiring against the Maud Dib and his rule. Does Paul recognize and repel these enemy forces in time? What is the end to his existential threat since he is deemed God by all?