Rating: 
Summary: Once more, amazing, excellent, and just plain brilliant
Review: Revealing yet more conspiricies, and even more of Arrakis' secrets, Dune Messiah NEVER has a dull moment- I just COULDN'T PUT The booK DOWN!!! An enthralling book, more of the same... But not in a copycat way. Good job Frank! If only he were alive to write a sequel to Chapterhouse dune, I'm sure it would be as great as any of the others
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book of the series.
Review: "Dune Messiah," the second book of the series, shows the "Messiah" (Paul) comparing himself to Hitler. Where Hitler tried killing only one religion: the Jewish religion. But Paul killed some forty religions and billions of people.
This book teaches us to be careful whom we choose to be our messiah. Undoubtly, the images left by such superb writings as that of Frank Herbert are forever chiseled in my mind.
There is a conspiracy to eliminate Paul and Alia from the throne. The Space Navigator, Eric, with the Superior Mother are part of the conspiracy.
The conspirators send the "face changer" to meet with an old guard who is blind. But his son, thru the tune of a flute, sends an encrypted message to the Face Changer that talks about a "loop hole" in the heli pad of the palace where Paul can be assasinated. After that, the Face Changer killed both the old guard and his son.
Although everybody thinks of him as dead, Paul survives the atomic attack but becomes blind himself, and drifts into the desert sands. He returns as the "Messanger."
Alia, meanwhile, gets taken over by the Baron Vladimir Harconan who is one of the thousand voices in her head. Palace intrigues and conspiracies are no different than the ones going on today or at the time of Julious Cessar.
I tell you I love this book and the entire series. I don't seem to have enough of it.
Rating: 
Summary: doesn't live up to the expectations
Review: This is the book about the reign of Paul and his sister Alia. I think it lacks A LOT of Dunes dense atmosphere. A disapointment. The thoughts and thinkings of the main characters are severly reduced. The plot itself is also not nearly as intriguing as in Dune (I even have some trouble recalling it). Perhaps it would have been preferable that Dune would have remained as a finished work itself? I wouldn't have missed Dune Messiah
Rating:
Summary: Dune continues as Paul rises to godhood
Review: Frank Herbert's Dune continues in the book "Messiah" This is book 2 in the series and it was written during the writing of the first book. Paul's forbitten jihad has came to fruit. The universe has been brought to its knees but it has one more chance to kill Paul, and will Paul try to stop them. This book re-introduces the charismatic Duncan and the birth of Leto's grandchildren as Paul drifts more into the legend he sought to stop in Dune: Messia
Rating: 
Summary: The conspirators gather!
Review: Constrained by his own oracular vision, Muad'Dib becomes increasingly resigned to his godhead status and fanatic followers. Can he escape from this position and still preserve those he loves? The powerplay of Dune continues as the grim realities of religious empire are explored
Rating:
Summary: It isn't that bad.
Review: The sequel to the brilliant "Dune", "Dune Messiah" continues the story of Paul Atreides Muad'Dib, leader of the Fremen and Emperor of the Universe. This time, though, the story is less epic: The Harkonens have been defeated and a corrupt Emperor has been cast away from his throne, the precious spice is now being distributed by necessary quantities and the Bene Gesserit have gained Paul's entire mistrust. This time we are told about a spiritually hurt Paul Atreides, a man who still cannot come to fully grasp the devastating power his god-like nature has on the psyche of those who worship him as a Messiah. Paul's attempts to stop the bloody jihad set in motion by his messianic reign are futile and his minions seem to enjoy the bloody massacre just for the sake of killing, using Paul's image solely as a shield, an excuse for mindless slaughter. Worst yet, his prescient powers have shown him the terrible future that awaits humanity, and the horrible alternative, a sacrifice so monstrous not even the Kwizats Haderach dares face. Meanwhile, a conspiracy against Paul's life is being cooked among a wide number of people, ranging from government agents to retired fedaykin warriors. Many judge this to be the worst among the Dune books, but personally I find it a very good read because we have a more direct chance to take a deeper look at Paul's disturbed mind. A worthy little book filled with surprises.
Rating:
Summary: Continuation...
Review: but strangely short--given the first book's gargantuan size. The book also seems as tho' it didn't have Herbert's full attention. He seemed tacitly to admit this once when he said that "parts of Children of Dune were written before Dune was finished." It also suffers from the fact that it was first serialized in a SF magazine. It seems as tho' it were "remixed" after the fact. Although Herbert continues to use the Prophet Mohammad's life as a scaffolding for his story, he departs widely from the Koran's account while still retaining an essentially Arab flavor to the story. (These books are, by the way, incredibly popular in the Muslim world.) Those minor criticims aside, the story continues towards its headlong conclusion in the Golden Path. To say much more would spoil it for the uninitiated. If you liked Dune, read this one just to get to "Children" and, the piece de resistance, "God Emperor of Dune" where Herbert's mastery becomes complete and the Golden Path is revealed to us in all its terrible majesty. The last two books before cancer and grief killed him were almost after thoughts. After Leto II, what was there to say?
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Contrary to some others opinions, this book was just as good as the first. Frank Herbert once again works his magic in creating a book that you can't put down. I finsished it in less than three days, mostly reading at home and during Latin. But I digress. Dune Messiah is a worthy addition to the Dune saga, proving that once again Frank Herbert is the best Sci-Fi writer of all time. This book deals more about how Paul/Muad'Dib rules the massive empire that his jihad has taken over. No spoilers, but the end of this book has you saying goodbye to some beloved characters. I won't give away the story, but it as just as great as the first. I DEFINITELY reccomend this book.
Rating:
Summary: If you loved the original then give this a shot!
Review: Paul Muad'dib Atreides is now the emperor of the known worlds and respected as the messiah of the Freman religion. But a plot is underfoot to destroy his reign and get house Corrino back into the emperor's throne.
While this is not as fast paced as the first Dune, it is still an exciting read with just as many plots within plots within plots as the original. It is a good portion shorter than the original and others of the series as this mainly focuses on the pregnancy of Chani, the desire of Irulan to have children with Paul, Irulan's involvement with the plot to bring Paul's downfall, the return of the ghola Duncan Idaho, the guild's fear of the events unfolding on Arakis, the finding of a dwarf who possesses the names of the enemies of Atreides who also has a strong role in the plot, and the introduction of many rich characters.
Frank Herbert may be a lot more philosophical (read: long-winded) in this book and its subsequent sequels. If you can get passed all of that then you have an amazing story that I found just as rich as the original Dune book.
If you loved Dune I, then make sure you stick around and read this book. If it doesn't tickle your fancy then drop the series. But if you find it as intriguing as myself, you can thank me later. :D As for me, this was most definitely a "must read".
Rating:
Summary: the human behind the myth [no spoilers]
Review: "Dune Messiah" is the second novel in the "Dune Chronicles" approximately twelve years after the prior book. The writing, though not as comprehensive as the first novel, still contains strength in grammar and vocabulary. The story isn't developing a culture and world as much as following select individuals, squandering the original creativity.
Unfortunately the Jihad Paul Muad'dib tries to avoid earlier has come to pass, leaving fanatics preaching a twisted faith in his family name. Yet the prescience of Paul and Alia drive the majority of the story in great detail. They struggle with the affects of shady junctures in the visions while not fully comprehending every possible path, keeping Muad'dib busy to prevent a more horrible future even as he avoids the schemes of those wanting his genetics. Interesting opponents and a breakthrough involving an individual from Paul's past makes the book a remarkable read.
No appendixes conclude the novel but still a glossary would have sufficed. As with just about every film-based novel, I would suggestion at least not watching the movie prior to reading the book if not forgoing the movies thereby leaving the series entirely to the imagination.
I highly recommend the series to any fan of the science fiction genre.
Thank you.
|
