Rating: 
Summary: Good book!
Review: I liked Dune and so far I'm liking Children of Dune better then Dune Messiah, that's why I only gave it 4 stars. It was a great book that bridges the stories in Dune and Children of Dune well. You have to read this book if you want to be well read in the classics of Science Fiction. Frank Herbert is an awesome writer and this was a very enjoyable tale. Its made more enjoyable by the fact that it is the prerequisite to reading Children of Dune, which is GREAT!
Rating:
Summary: A very good sequel to an undisputed masterpiece
Review: First of all, let me say that it is not hard to thoroughly enjoy reading Dune Messiah. It is a very good book despite certain flaws which I will attempt to pinpoint in this review. If you read Dune and loved it, you will definitely want to read this, even if this book is undoubtedly weaker than its predecessor.Dune Messiah is, as others have stated, much more personal than its predecessor. The book will introduce you to very few characters that have not already been introduced in Dune or at the beginning of this book. Indeed, Herbert goes to great lengths to provide us with thorough and insightful characterizations of the important characters, particularly Paul and Alia. Much of the novel is devoted to visions, as the visions he recieves dictates what course of action he takes (ironically, instead of trying to avoid the awful things in his visions, he continues to follow the path towards these awful things with the belief that anything else will be much worse). The long, drawn-out sections of the book devoted to Paul's visions and what he makes of them are both a strength and a weakness--these visions provide Herbert with a springboard with which he can launch into the profound philosophical themes (even more so than in Dune) that he explores, and yet also these passages are easily the slowest and most boring parts of the book. Especially in the latter half of the book, it is hard to comprehend these visions, but it is fascinating nevertheless because of the 'truths' that emerge from Paul's experiences. Thus, the personal nature of the story makes the story weaker in that it does not encompass the wide range of people and events (as in Dune), even while Herbert's characterizations are perhaps even better than in Dune. This also results in some confusion for the reader as to what the repercussions of this story is--vaguely we know that if anything goes really wrong, lots of people will die, but it is rather unclear beyond these guesses. Another thing I noticed while reading this book is that there are long periods of it during which a certain character is not mentioned at all. People who have read the book will know that Gurney Halleck is not mentioned until about pg.250 and Princess Irulan is utterly forgotten between pages 125 and 225 (about). Thus I was left wondering what happened to these characters during these times. At the end of the novel we find out what the nature of the conspiracy is. To me (and this might just be me), looking back on the basic plot, the conspiracy seems highly improbable. It is needlessly complicated, and I wonder how did they come up with something so complex. The bad guys planned for practically everything, yet what defeated them was, well, simple and easily avoided. (I'm being purposely vague for those of you who have not yet read it). We have already seen how parts of the middle and end suffer from a seeming lack of energy due to the introdpective musings and philosophical prospects that inhabit these pages. That said, the very end is a logical conclusion and a surprisingly satisfying one. Herbert both begins and ends the novel on a very good note. And this leaves us with a good feeling after reading it, and that is perhaps the most important thing a book can have. Dune Messiah pales in comparison to Dune, yet it is still a great science fiction novel. If you loved Dune, you will certainly like Dune Messiah. Cause even if it isn't Dune, it's still better than 90% of the science fiction crap they publish now a days.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as Dune, but wonderful none the less
Review: Dune Messiah is definately the conclusion to Dune and SHOULD NOT be read before Dune, as you must first familiarize yourself with all the characters. Despite what others may say, Dune Messiah is not atrocious. It's actually a very good, well-written book. It may not be as good as Dune, but it's still very good.
Rating:
Summary: A thoughtful sequel of surprising depth.
Review: Frank Herbert's DUNE is arguably the best novel of speculative fiction ever written. That book is a tour de force, binding wildly disparate elements of ecology, religion, politics and sex into a compelling plot about rebellion and empire. His follow-up, DUNE MESSIAH, is perhaps a less ambitious effort, choosing to frame the story in very intimate terms. But as with DUNE, the actions of individuals have galaxy-wide repercussions. Trying to read DUNE MESSIAH without having read DUNE is an exercise in futility. Familiarity with the characters and plot of DUNE is an absolute necessity, as Herbert makes no effort to spoon-feed back story to his readers. DUNE MESSIAH opens years after the events of DUNE. Paul Atreides has not only retained his imperial throne, but has extended his influence over countless worlds. A jihad has spread from world to world like a viral outbreak, spearheaded by religious fanatics steeped in the traditions of Arrakis' ferocious Fremen warriors and fueled by the ongoing rule of their living god. A suffocating religious orthodoxy has constructed itself around Paul and his sister Alia. With this invasion of holy bureaucrats comes a web of conspiracy that draws in the old players of the Bene Gesserit and the Guild, as well as new forces such as the Bene Tleilax. Unlike DUNE, which frequently leaped from planet to planet in the Imperium, updating the reader with short scenes that kept the reader updated about all the various plot threads taking place, DUNE MESSIAH chooses largely to keep the subtleties running in the background and focus squarely on Paul and his "abomination" of a sister, Alia. Herbert wished to make a point with DUNE about the ability of one man to make a difference on the universal stage. In DUNE MESSIAH, Herbert strives to demonstrate how grand events like the taking of an Empire can easily turn on their manipulator and destroy him utterly. Those readers who cared little for the philosophical meanderings of DUNE will likely have little patience for DUNE MESSIAH. Because this work is primarily about issues of fate and Paul's rumination on same, whole sections go by when nothing is "happening" in the traditional sense. Herbert doesn't fail to keep the machinations of power in full view during the course of DUNE MESSIAH, but he's clearly far more interested in the topic of Paul, and what it must be like to be turned into a deity against one's will by one's followers. There are still more layers to DUNE MESSIAH for those who care to look. As if the rest were not enough, Herbert delves into the nature of oracular vision, as well. Taken together, all the major issues Herbert has chosen to discuss could fuel late-night philosophical discussions for decades, and probably have. No single volume could possibly hope to adequately address all of Herbert's divergent interests, but DUNE MESSIAH does quite a bit with fewer pages than DUNE boasted. In the final analysis, DUNE MESSIAH is a lesser work than its predecessor only because it doesn't pretend to stand alone. The book is entirely supplemental to DUNE, a true sequel in every sense of the word, as if Herbert had decided to pen a few hundred more pages and attach them to the conclusion of his masterwork. And thank goodness he did.
Rating: 
Summary: An Epilogue of Dune
Review: Dune Messiah is an epilogue to Dune. Those who found the original masterpiece enthralling will find this work just a little less engaging. The freshness of ideas, together with some plausibility is lost - as it is in any sequel. We are, perhaps, a little to well prepared by the time we have finished the first book, to appreciate this one. And some creations, spring out - not naturally, but almost in an ad hoc manner, making whatever surprise they were meant to offer, look incredulous instead. Dune Messiah is not badly written. But because the light of its predecessor was so bright, it appears somewhat paler, by comparison. It is apparent, even to the casual reader that this book has far more subdued overtones. And perhaps, just barely, the hint of trying to stick to a formula. However, the saga of Dune itself is far from over. And to appreciate the latter books in this series, of which Dune Messiah is an integral part, no serious fan should skip reading this. It will be evident, much further down the road, of how some seemingly random creations fit into the overall scheme of things. No one has been able to lay down such controversial ideas - should I even call them Heretical? - into a more digestible form, than Frank Herbert. Unfortunately Dune Messiah makes is just a bit too easy in the digestion, and just a tad too close to orthodoxy! Perhaps, my review is not entirely free from personal bias. In Dune, Frank Herbert created a hero that I grew to love. In this book, I am forced to watch his career and life ebb slowly away. (This book is aptly named! A messiah cannot escape his personal doom.) All in all, it is still an astounding piece of fiction. Read it. But don't stop here. Go on to the next book. And the next! Profound ideas will arise yet again - when you meet The God Emperor!
Rating:
Summary: Sword of Damocles
Review: Dune Messiah, the follow-up to Dune takes place 12 years after the end of the first book. Paul is now emperor and is finding that the real challenge is not gaining an empire, but ruling it. He has become cynical and disillusioned, as plots against him abound and the jihad continues.
Although Dune Messiah is an enjoyable sequel it lacks the sweep and grandeur of Dune, while keeping its complexity. In Dune Messiah the complexity is the result of Herbert just not fleshing out the story enough. I've read the novel twice and I still don't understand exactly the nature of the conspiracy against Paul. Why the stoneburner if Duncan Idaho was programmed to kill Paul. Why did Paul feel that Chani's death was necessary? What was the point of the dwarf? It seemed as if Herbert had more in mind than he put on paper, and the reader is left to fill in the blanks.
Rating:
Summary: Continuing Satisfaction and Excellence
Review: As many have noted, this second work veers into an entirely new direction than the first book. Whereas "Dune" reeked of war and heroism and epic events on a grand scale, this one is more intimate, almost inwardly perspective. It is not in any way a clone of the first novel but a continuation of the story. The operative word is in the title, "Messiah". Both the first and the second novels are presentations of the hope of almost every ancient civilization: A mighty man of goodness will appear and smite the sinners while elevating the downtrodden. The way this prophecy coincides with the ancient breeding program of the Bene Geseret witches is the heart of the first novel. Although the author obviously favors Arabic/Islamic motifs, the personal story of Paul is more that of Jesus than Mohammed...the curious birth, the one who does not understand his own mission, the teacher and alas, the one who dies for the sins of the world. Like all Messiahs, the teachings are sublimated as the focus of the cult becomes the person. Despite protests, the object of worship becomes the man himself. Casual sayings are codified into a creed that followers misinterpret or translate to support an existing structure. This path may be inevitable since it is far easier to worship someone that follow their advice. Paul, like Mohammed, excels in bloodshed and his adopted Fremen have conquered the Universe in a Holy War to end all wars. The old adage, "An evil act is justified by its ultimate goal, " plays out repeatedly in this novel. The Fremen have their Messiah yet nothing really changes, people are still the same inside - only the externals have varied. The palace intrigues are more subtle, the dialogue elevated to a new plane, the philosophical arena larger. Like Islam, the cult becomes a hereditary institution whose power remains in the family. Once again, the story of the witches captivates and enthralls and ones attitude toward Paul's siter becomes one of pity at her helplessness. This is not an easy book to start out with but a necessary one for the series itself.
Rating:
Summary: I would HIGHLY recommend this book for all who loved Dune!
Review: This is the sequel to the #1 selling science fiction novel of all time. Whereas 'Dune' is broken down into 3 parts: Dune, Muad'Dib, and The Prophet, about 150-200 pages a piece, I see 'Dune Messiah' as Part 4 of Dune, about 200 pages. It is a MUST READ for anyone who enjoyed the first novel. Essentially, this story picks up right where Dune ended. This is the only novel I have ever read that made me cry.
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Rating:
Summary: I will never understand most Sci-fi readers
Review: As I read through most of these reviews, I see many people complaining of how this book is more literature than Sci-fi. In fact, I agree. I actually believe that Dune is very anti-technology and science, and instead, focuses more on the spiritual side of humanity and the iniate abilities we have as a species. There is very little dealing with technology and science in these book, but rather a strong emphasis on politics and religion, and the effect they have on each other. To call this book a Sci-fi book in many ways seem offensive to me when you see what most people percieve Science Fiction to be. Every book in this series blows all other Sci-fi books away, the polical intrigue, the depth of the characters, the symbolism, no science fiction writer can compare with this, George Lucus be damn. If all of you people writing these reviews have a problem with this novel, then go back to your Star Wars and D&D books. The book was absolutely amazing, the decontructing of a messiah, the jealousy that even his own people showed toward him, the angry and bitter former rulers that conspire for revenge. What did most of you people think would happen after what occurred at the end of Dune, all the defeated former rulers would just go away and sulk, be serious. This book shows the true extent of Frank's genious and it too bad most of you are too dimwitted to realize it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait....
Review: If you're reading this, than you probably have already read Dune by now. You may be expecting another mind-blowing book. I'm sorry to say that Dune Messiah is not quite what you might have hoped for. Dune Messiah is a remarkable story nontheless. Were it not a sequel, however, its seemingly confusing content would hardly be passable. Unlike Dune, Dune Messiah does not have that action oriented style which complimented Dune. Instead, a more sophysticated, dialogue-high approach was presented. I also detected a large portion of romance, oddly, and yet fittingly. As you may know, Dune Messiah carries on the story of the legendary, Kwizats Haderach, Muad'Dib. The book starts out with four conspiriters discussing their plans for killing Muad'Dib. Two of them, a face changer named Scytale, and a spice addicted Guild Navigator named Edric, are extremely interesting to learn about. The other two came into play in Dune, of which you can know only by reading Dune Messiah. Basically the story goes on with the Guild presenting Paul-Muad'Dib with a special gift. That "gift" was a ghola (a sort of reanimated person) aptly named Hayt. He was the ghola of the Duncan Idaho who initially died in Dune. The ghola truthfully tells Muad'Dib of his being a device to kill him. Muad'Dib thinks he can avoid/change that and decides to keep Hayt. As the plot to be rid of Muad'Dib continues, Paul's younger sister, Alia, 15, begins to realize that she needs a mate. She unknowingly falls in love with a "very peculiar person." By the way, since Muad'Dib has no living children or heirs, he and his concubine, Chani, try the most guaranteed ways to have children. (No, it does NOT describe this in detail.) However, it is found that Muad'Dib's past ticket to the emperor's throne and wife, Irulan, had been putting anti fertility drugs into Chani's food. Mixed with fertility inducing things, this adds up to Chani having to eat about four times as much as normal to sustain the children in her womb. More events occur, which all inevitably lead to the fate of Muad'Dib. If you want to learn the conclusion of Muad'Dib's life or want to continue on with the Dune Chronicles, than Dune Messiah is a must-have. Let me tell you that Dune Messiah's ending is one of, if not THE best ending in any book I have yet read! (And I've read a lot! No, I didn't review everything I've ever read.)
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