My favorite entry in the series. ( )

Book 2 in Frank Herbert's series, Dune Messiah follows a deified Paul Atredies through an inescapable path of events divined through his prescience. The story picks up after the jihad that followed his overthrow of the Corrino Emperor at the end of Dune. Some 65 billion people died in the wars, and numerous planets were sterilized. An amusing exchange compares this with the modest achievements of Genghis Khan and Adolf Hitler back on old Earth. Throughout the story, Paul is a pitiable character, he knows the unpleasant fate to come, but cannot change it. Other characters play their part, according to script. But the script runs its course...at the end, he no longer knows with certainty what is to come. The book ends with Paul wandering off into the desert, where he is destined to become the next Elvis -- seen everywhere although every knows he must be dead. ( )

An OK sequel to a great book, Dune. If I'd never read it, I wouldn't have missed much. It wasn't a complete waste of time, either, but I really think that "Dune" stands well enough on its own. This didn't seem nearly as well written or thought out. More of a reaction to a contract. ( )

Let me just say: I am one of those people who actually enjoyed the later Dune books written by Frank Herbert. I was hooked, addicted. I needed my fix.

I got it with Dune Messiah.

Dune Messiah takes place some 12 years after Dune. Paul is the Emperor, and has conquered most of the universe thanks to his crack team of Fremen, ready to embrace him as their messiah.

The Bene Gesserit, a group of space witches, however, do not wish to bend to readily to Paul's rule, and as such, team up with other fringe groups to dethrone Paul. Beware of Tleilaxu bearing gifts, Paul, as there is more to the Ghola (a sort of clone) of Duncan Idaho than meets the eye.

The universe is changed with all the conspirators, co-conspirators, and counter-conspirators conspiring against one another. Attempts at the life of Paul, his concubine Chani, and other members of the Atreides line are made.

This book doesn't give as much whiz as the first Dune, but is just as great for any who, like me, read Dune, and wanted more. ( )

Great! I Thought this was actually better the the original. In comparison with "Dune", the story has a much clearer theme. Where I felt that the original just centered around the prophecy of Maud'dib, "Dune Messiah" really underlines a certain philosophy, which holds true here on Earth too. ( )