Dune Messiah - Frank Herbert

⭐ 9.5/10

(Originally written by hoodie_logi)

The sequel to Frank Herbert's masterpiece debut, Dune, Messiah could not have been farther from what his fans expected. Though set in a sci-fi universe, the book merely uses this setting as a backdrop to explore three core themes: Unchecked political power, unchecked religious influence and the negative effects of overconsumption of the environment and the effect that has on individuals. Living in the midst of the Vietnam war in America, Herbert translated the reality he was living in to the universe that he created.

Paul Atreides political and religious power are one and the same. Messiah takes place 12 years after the conclusion of its predecessor. At the end of Dune, Paul manages to establish himself both as Emporer of the known universe, and the Messiah of the Fremen people (the natives of the planet Arrakis). Though we don't get documented account of it, in the aftermath of his becoming Emperor, Paul leads the Fremen on a Jihad through the universe, establishing his power through force. Messiah focuses on the aftermath of these events. Paul, being fully aware of the damage he has wrought on the universe, deals with the tension of feeling all of his actions were unescapable. He struggles with how his unrivalled power affects those he cares about, the respect of his followers and his own conscious. Set against the plot of a secret uprising, this book is a slow burning, political drama. On the religious side, Paul has grown bored with a religion in which he is the Messiah, a religion he tried to avoid at all costs. His fame reaches a point where any wrong committed against him would lead to his martyrdom and a full fledged disaster for the universe. Both his political power and religious influence have expanded far beyond his control or desires. Though he appears the hero in book one, he does not feel as though he fits in the role in the sequel.

The book, and series as a whole, also digs deep into the theme of environmentalism. In this universe, the world is reliant on a drug called Melange. No one in the universe can exists without it in their diet, though some are more addicted than others. The only place "the spice" is manufactured is on Arrakis, the planet where Paul makes his home. Though not at the forefront of Messiah, this plays heavily into the background of many characters decisions.

A fourth sup-theme worth touching on is the over-reliance of characteristic traits (ex. Charisma, knowledge, strength). Almost every character in the narrative has some sort of heightened ability. While all of them excel in one area, Herbert explores how almost each one of the characters misses key points because of where they place their efforts. Without a balanced view of the world around you, there is no way to see the whole picture.

Overall, I adored this book. The Dune universe has to be one of the greatest sci-fi tales of all time. Though slower than its predecessor, Dune Messiah had my attention the entire time. If you blink you may miss an important plot point. It is a dense, slow burn with so much to say that is still relevant today. We live in a culture that is still plagued by many of the issues that Herbert explores throughout this book. Tbh, I think that Dune is a must read for any book lover