Rating: 
Summary: Great story, but no match for the original.
Review: Dune Messiah is a much less ambitious book that its predecessor, but that doesn't mean it comes short as one of the greatest sci-fi books ever. Much shorter than "Dune", this sequel focuses on just a couple of storylines at a time, and basically serves its purpose: present the outcome of Paul Muadib as ruler of the universe and prepare us for the coming of his children, whose actions, narrated on the forecoming novels, are the real juice of the saga. Anyway, Dune Messiah has a simple, entertaining story, but you certainly can't stop there. In order to find out what's the destiny of the universe, you need to read the ones that follow this sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Dune, Act II
Review: This volume might be a downer for those who were enthralled by the teen adventure aspect of the 1st part. It picks up 12-15 yrs after Dune, with the unstoppable Fremen waging a holy Jihad against the Empire that has killed 12 billion and counting. A lot of confused, self-absorbed would-be conspirators against Muad'dib, supposedly masters in the occult art of thinking clearly, bicker and blow philosophical smoke in each others' faces in attempts to get some power back. Meanwhile Paul is surrounded by loyal fanatics, suffering his long-dark-night-of-the-soul as his visionary abilities wane in the face of the bloody chaos he has created. It might not sound like it, but I did enjoy this book a lot as a well-written, natural continuation of the series. The first 3 books in this series were originally intended as one novel (as F.H. stated in an interview), and you're cheating yourself if you only read the coming of age story that kicks it off. The major problem is that the political intrigue is done badly, with uninteresting characters, unlike the (anti?)heroes such as St. Alia-of-the-Knife and Paul-Muad'dib. There is still plenty of philosophical depth, and this has to be the least "commercial" sequel I've ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: Finishes Making Herbert's Point
Review: While Dune Messiah is the second part of the Dune trilogy, I think Frank Herbert really accomplished his goal of describing the failure of the future-seeing hero in this book. Unfortunately, you might have to read the first Dune book to get to this one.The second book takes over twelve years after Paul Atreides' triumph over Emperor Shaddam IV. He is master of all he surveys, and yet he sees trouble on the horizon, trouble which none of his miraculous powers can stop. He can only bide his time until "the inevitable" comes to pass. Herbert is not fond of this vision for humanity (to know the future in advance), and he makes that very plain in this novel. In many ways, Dune Messiah is a much easier book to read than the first one, as everything is set out in much plainer language. There is a conspiracy against Emperor Paul Muad'Dib (spelled with a lower-case "Muad'dib," just to confuse me) in this book, as well. We have the wicked old crone, Gaius Helen Mohiam, a Spacing Guild Navigator, the history-writing, conniving Princess Irulan, and something not mentioned in the first book: Scytale, a Tleilaxu "Face Dancer" (shape-shifter). Herbert manages to conjure all of these characters up believably, and also portrays what's going on in everyone's head. The motivations are clearer in this book, and the imagery (for me) much better. We also find Paul's sister Alia has become a power in her own right, conducting ceremonies she does not believe and which give her no peace, but which somehow manage to calm the masses. Herbert is unflinching in his judgment of Paul and Alia as religious manipulators, and manages to question (as might a suitably inclined reader) how the average person could believe such hokum. Herbert seems to insinuate that religious conviction comes at the point of a sword, a belief which might hold a slight grain of truth, depending on which of the sword you're on. The book also contains the first appearance of a "ghola," a body raised from the dead by the genetic technology of Bene Tleilax, but with no memory of its former self. The ghola, in this case, happens to be the loyal Atreides retainer, Duncan Idaho. Duncan, too, has a role to play. Even when he states bluntly that he was sent to destroy Paul, that does not prevent him from drawing close to the Emperor. This is all remarkable stuff, and richly told. In the end, the universe outguesses Paul Atreides. That's the best way I can explain the ending without telling you the ending in specific detail. I really enjoyed this book, and find it a quick and quotable story.
Rating: 
Summary: A complete departure stylistically, yet worth reading
Review: I put this book down the first time I attempted to read it simply because the first book had such a triumphant ending that the dark nature of 'Dune Messiah' just didn't work for me. I had attempted to read this book just having completed the first one. My second attempt came two months later and this time I read it entirely in a matter of days. I'm glad I did. 'Dune' is an epic in every sense of the word. 'Dune Messiah' is anything but an epic. It is a singular story dealing mostly with the inherent problems of religion and politics becoming one. Paul struggles with the consequenses of the jihad yet feels powerless to stop it. He is nothing more than a figurehead to his Qizara and wants to be free of this and the burden of prescience. I don't wish to give anything away but this book is worth reading if only for the fantastic ending. And by the way, 'Children of Dune' is a return to the epic style with which 'Dune' was written.
Rating:
Summary: Good but not a classic
Review: Dune is a novel justifiably known as a classic of science fiction. It is a fantastic blend of political intrigue, religion, science, ecology and adventure. In looking at a fictitious future, it also reflected on the past, in particular on how religions were founded, especially Islam. Any similarities between Paul Atreides and Mohammed are definitely not coincidental. Dune concludes with Paul triumphant, the spiritual and political leader of the desert planet Arrakis having seized the Galactic Emperorship. Dune Messiah opens twelve years later with Paul at the crest of his power, his religious movement having been spread throughout the galaxy, whether other people wanted it or not. Billions have died, but Paul has been successful, even if he isn't certain if that is what he really wanted. Trapped by his own power, Paul cannot take pleasure in his victories. And since he is so powerful, both a prophet and a political leader, he has enemies who constantly plot his downfall. While a good novel, Dune Messiah focuses too much on the political intrigue and loses some of the complex richness the previous book had. Also, the absence of Paul's mother, Jessica and Gurney Halleck (among other characters from the first novel) leaves the reader wanting more. Instead, we get the return of Duncan Idaho, a relatively minor character in the first book who has an importance on several levels in this book. As with many sequels, this should not be read without having read the predecessor. Fans of Dune should read this book and will not be overly disappointed, even if they are not overly satisfied either.
Rating:
Summary: A more personal look at the cast
Review: Sure, not much happens in the book in terms of war and political intrigue, but this book really tells you who the people actually are and how they think. I really felt sorry for Alia and Paul, and I learned how must it suck to have their powers. I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: The Worst of the Series
Review: I have read all the books in the Dune series, and I have to say that I feel "Dune Messiah" is the worst of the lot. After the initial novel, "Dune", the other books in the series took a turn for the philosophical. "Dune Messiah," perhaps more than any of the other books, concentrates on the philosophical, and leaves action and plot development by the wayside. The story focuses on Paul Atreides after he has become, essentially, emperor of the universe. His legions of religious zealots spread the word of Muad'Dib to all the worlds in the universe, in a religious jihad. Paul, blessed or cursed with prescience, becomes more and more inhuman, he begins to question the Golden Path which he has created. The book covers a very short period in Paul's life, during which he wrestles with his self-doubts, as well as contending with a plot which has arisen against him. Look for the first "rebirth" of Duncan Idaho, a pivotal character throughout the whole series. I found it hard to read because, I was rooting for Paul, in "Dune," he was, in every way, the hero, and you wanted him to win. In "Dune Messiah," though, now that he has won, its sad to see how his initial dream has been has been corrupted by circumstances. I wanted Paul to be as heroic as he was in the first novel, but he is not. This may be more realistic, but its sad, and you really don't know who you should be rooting for, if, indeed, you should be rooting for anybody. All in all, Herbert took a very long time to say very little. However, he says it well, and as in all his books, Herbert's characters are quite compelling, even if they are more tragic, so it still reads very well, even if it isn't as interesting as the first novel.
Rating:
Summary: Must Buy
Review: Frank Herbert has done it again. "Dune Messiah" is more internal than the original book to the series, "Dune." For this, the second book has received a great deal of criticism from "Dune" fans. Most fans expect a repeat of the same atmosphere and theme that is delivered in the original text, so when they get to "Dune Messiah" they are disappointed. Personally, I'm glad Herbert made the second book so different. I've grown weary of trilogies that repeat the same monotonous themes and ideas in every publication to the piont that nothing is a surprise, and you feel like you're buying the same book (or watching the same movie) over and over again (e.g., "Star Wars" and "Alien" sequels). Mainly, this happens because publishers demand authors to meet readers' expectations to boost sales; therefore, sequels become a bore to more intuitive fans. "Dune Messiah" is a new treat with the same great flavor. The elaborative elements, from mysterious prescience to Fremen customs, are repeated, but the struggle between the protagonst, Paul, as well as his enemies, and his own powers, are primarily psychological and wrapped in persistant symbolism. This is a book you have to read twice to really appreciate. "Dune Messiah" keeps the reader entangled in provacative insight that would make a social worker scream, but presents enough down-to-earth humanity--such as romance, love, and sacrafice--to keep the book close to home. The ending is unexpected--the cream in the candy. What is expected in the book avoids the "I-knew-its" from readers by reaching every conclusion in a way that isn't predictable: Alia and Hayt? The Facedancer and the twins? The ending of an emperor? The true talent that is Frank Herbert all the way is the use of endings without really ending the story (oops, sounding like a mentat, now). Herbert writes enough to leave you satisfied at the end, but he also leaves a lot of questions that will send you driving to the nearest bookstore for the next sequel: What of Stilgar's involvement? What about Alia's future? The twins' powers? "Dune Messiah" is a book for the thinking fan (I'm still thinking about it). It is also one of the texts that primarly influenced the prequels created by Frank Herbert's son and Kevin J. Anderson. Although, the prequels reek of modern expectations for movie-like action and simplistic character psychology any shrink-pretend can figure out, they do carry on the Herbert talent of "wheels within wheels" plot structure. Frankly, I'm amazed by how Frank Herbert can create such a complex world and still walk out with his pants on. Amazing author; amazing book.
Rating:
Summary: It was okay
Review: This book lacked the vision of the first story. Paul has grown into emperor and must set things into action for the future. The Bene Gesserit, the Tleilaxu, the Guild, and even some Fremen plot to wrestle control away from Paul. This story is really about politics and Frank Herbert's personal philosophy's on ruling. There is a good story there, but it drags and lacks the sense of discovery that you get from the first installment. It was a worthwhile read, and I do plan to read the third book in the series. I personally think that Herbert may have had the third book in mind first and wrote the second as only a segue to the third book. Happy reading!
Rating: 
Summary: It;s just not very good
Review: I read the Dune novels as a teenager and recently started re-reading them 15 years later. Dune Messiah is exactly as I remembered it: a disappointment not just in comparison to Dune, but a true mediocrity in its own right, with a surprising amount of fragements of thoughts and ruminations that just don't make any sense. The point of Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune, is to enjoy the much grand God-Emperor of Dune.
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