Reviews with content warning for Death - El mesías de Dune

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El mesías de Dune by Frank Herbert

54 reviews

bettysbookishworld's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really enjoy the writing style where the villains' intention is presented and then we follow the story from that point until the final resolution. I think this narrative style is what keeps me so engaged and invested in the story itself.

I like the ending and how the whole story from Dune until the ending of Dune Messiah turned out on the whole philosophical and religious level.

However, the only negative thing to say about the second book is how female characters were written and unfortunately, it affected my reading enjoyment. In Dune, Herbert wrote female characters as strong, independent with their own minds. Even though they had the more traditional roles in the story, they were still written well. However, I didn't like how the women were handled in Dune Messiah. Mainly Alia. I felt uncomfortable how sexualized her character was when you think about her age. Also, all of the female characters lacked their personalities from the first book and here they were just submissive and shallow, really.

I'll probably read the next book but will read it with caution and much lower expectations.

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atoft's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"

The second of the Great Dune Trilogy picks up ten years after the events of the first. A decade into his reign as emperor, Maud'Dib's much foretold jihad rages across the galaxy. Meanwhile on Arrakis, a conspiracy of the Atreides' enemies assemble to bring an end to him and his lineage.

Dune Messiah takes a somewhat interesting approach to the story it depicts. While galaxy-spanning events on an almost unimaginable scale are taking place, the book stays squarely focused on the scheming of a few key figures in the conspiracy, on the increasing despondence of Paul and his spiralling visions of the future, and on his concubine Chani and sister Alia and their uneasy roles within the society and religion that he has built up around them.

The conspiracy plot feels very slow paced. While it's interesting to see the uncomfortable alliance between factions such as the Bene Gesserit and the Tleilaxu, their plans and intentions remain too vague for too long to be really engaging. That said, it is interesting to explore the various ways that they try to prevent Paul's prescience from detecting their plot, including the exploitation of a Guild Steersman with oracular powers that are capable of interfering with his vision. Of note too is the conspiracy's creation of a golem or "ghola" in the form of the late Duncan Idaho, raising questions about the nature of memory and identity.

Perhaps more intriguing is the exploration of the new society being constructed on Arrakis, in which Paul takes the role of a godlike religious figurehead, with Alia as a mysterious prophet. Billions die in a holy war raging far away, which Paul seems at most mildly miffed about, convinced that this is still the best path forward for the galaxy. Despite the things he's willing to do, and his absolute power and influence, he still believes he's doing the right thing, and is still obsessed with steering his way to the best path through the uncertain and bloody future of his visions. The way the Fremen, seen through Chani, Paul's right hand Stilgar, and the general population, are affected by this sweeping new order is effectively ambiguous. Are the people really better off with this path to a green Arrakis, with this new religious zealotry thrust upon them?

The conspiracy comes to a head in a way that is ultimately

fatal for both Chani and Paul, but in failing to end the family line

brings forth the question of what will become of Arrakis, and the empire, in the next generation?

As with the previous book, Dune Messiah certainly has its problematic elements. The female characters remain too often objects to be used by the plot, and are most relevant in their potential to produce offspring. Another example is in the treatment of Paul's wife, the Princess Irulan, who disappears entirely from the book once her purpose in the conspiracy has been served, and mother Jessica, who is barely present at all.

Dune Messiah digs even deeper into the rich, intricate world established by its predecessor. It's filled with moral ambiguity, mysterious premonitions, and vast power struggles. Compared to its predecessor though, it can feel a little sluggish, with less of a strongly defined central plot around which to hang its detailed tapestry. As a result, it's perhaps a less satisfying experience in its own right.

"The flesh surrenders itself, he thought. Eternity takes back its own. Our bodies stirred these waters briefly, danced with a certain intoxication before the love of life and self, dealt with a few strange ideas, then submitted to the instruments of Time. What can we say of this? I occurred. I am not... yet, I occurred."

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bergha1998's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The main theme of this book is how power corrupts. It takes the whole Dune series in a completely different trajectory. We watch Paul in Dune and believe him to be the “savior,” but in this one we see that even he falls when given absolute power.

“They’re trained to believe? Not to know. Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous.”

“There is nothing firm, nothing balanced, nothing durable in all the universe—that nothing remains in its state, that each day, sometimes each hour, brings change.”

“If you need something to worship, then worship life—all life, every last crawling bit of it! We’re all in this beauty together!”

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camelliagwerm's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Frank Herbert giveth (giving me two girlbosses) and Frank Herbert taketh (pulls out some absolutely fucking insane plot points that I wish to repress forever)

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addysongilmore's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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dannilmp's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the long haul that Dune felt. Dune Messiah felt like a completely different novel with a whole new cast of characters. Following a large time skip from the final events of the previous book, here we see the fallout of Leto I's actions of the first book. Boy are they some severe consequences! In this section of the story, he will try to please everyone before making a final choice on who his actions will save.

Of all the books in the series, this one didn't stick out much to me so it's hard to think of anything I actually enjoyed while reading it as I write this review months after I finished the novel. Watching the plot against Leto unfold was quite interesting, due to Leto's character I didn't think they would be able to plot anything against him at all without him being able to detect and ruin it.

Sometimes, the writing in this book was not great, especially when it came to Leto I starting to monologue on certain mundane things. I know he has all these great powers now but, it seemed to me that he just enjoyed hearing the sound of his own voice by trying to philosophise all these little things. That or he just really didn't like talking to some people and wanted to bore them to sleep?

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danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

So, I love the first book.

This one felt like a prolonged first act to a new phase of the story, not always in the best way. I also felt like some of the best characters were sidelined or not in it at all.

That said, I appreciated the ending and how it clearly sets up a new phase. The palace intrigue is wonderful as always. And its commentary on savior complexes still really works here, maybe even better than the first book.

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