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Dune Messiah | 
 enlarge | Author: Frank Herbert
Publisher: New English Library
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £7.98 (100%)
New (25) Used (162) Collectible (2) from £0.01
Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 9880
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.3
ISBN: 0450022854
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780450022852
ASIN: 0450022854
Publication Date: September 1, 1972
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: in good condition throughout, nice and clean, dispatched immediately from the UK ~BG7~
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 The black sheep of the Dune Series April 10, 2008
Mr. L. Swan (UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
For fans of Frank Herberts Dune series the second book, Dune Messiah, is something of a black sheep. Dune fans either love it or consider it a weak edition to the series or just a linking book to Children of Dune I think one reason for this is because Messiah it the total opposite to Dune. Dune was long, Messiah is small. Dune is about a heroic struggle against impossible odds, Messiah is about deception and betrayal. I hated it when I first read it but have since returned to it and found it a subtle masterpiece.
Messiah is set 12 years after the events of Dune. Muad Dibs wild Fremen have plunged the universe into religious Jihad killing billions and Paul is powerless to stop it. Puals enemies, including his own wife, (in name only) plot against him in an effort to kill him and restore the old empire. Paul must not only destroy their plans but also set humanity on the course he has seen. But parts of the future remain hidden from him including his enemies greatest weapon. A Ghola (clone)of Puals childhood friend, Duncan Idaho.
For me what sets Messiah apart is it's development of Paul Atreides. Plot and charather development get progressively weaker as the series goes on. To me Herbert has created one of the greatest charathers in Scifi history. Pual is extremely powerful and can see all possible futures yet that is also his greatest weakness. Herbert shows that placing faith in supermen can only lead to destruction. Messiahs greatest flaw in my view is Herberts choice to not include a number of key scenes. Certain charathers fates are only hinted at. Why he does this I will never know but it can easily confuse a first time reader.
A book that needs to be read multiple time to get the best out of it but worth every bit of the effort. The ending is amazing as well!
Transitional - but worth it February 25, 2008
P. W. Wilson (Yorkshire)
Dune is one of the only books in a long time which has taken me to another world and kept me there, transfixed by its entrancing subtleties and amazing plot. The characters were a particular treat, all possessing a complexity rarely achieved except by a master.
Dune Messiah is the sequel to that masterpiece and, despite its many limitations, it carries the baton well as the universe changes.
What has to be remembered when criticising the book is that it was initially written as a series of short stories for SF magazines. The subtlty and depth so evident in the original is hard to maintain when the plot is broken down to short blocks, and the book reflects this in the novel's reconstituted form. Another limitation lies in the book's transitional nature, with it acting as a stepping stone between two different phases of Herbert's universe. Yes, the plot suffers as a result of this, but the books on either side are benefited for the weaknesses of this book.
However, Frank Herbert was a master storyteller, and his skill shows here. In limited space, he continues his vision well, and doesn't allow it to suffer from 'sequelitis', ensuring it is far from an underwhelming tale dependant on its predecessor to gain any success. The plot - for all it can be criticised - has enough subtleties and nuances to satisfy many a demanding reader, and the conclusion ties up loose ends nicely, whilst maintaining the pace which runs throughout the book.
Ideally, don't read this book on its own. To get the most out of it, read it immediately after reading Dune and immediately before reading Children of Dune, when its value to the series can be confirmed. It's far from disappointing.
 kind of an in between id say November 18, 2007
Mr. M. G. Daniels (UK)
dune was amazing, lets nor beat round that bush. Watching pauls journey was great. The second one was well a lot different. For me there wasnt enough action, or any adventure. It kind of was a day in the life of an emperor, and that was it. There was too much description of what paul was thinking, about his prescience awareness that bored the hell out of me. I did wander whether frank herbert was smoking the wacjy backie when writing this, ans thewres so mcuh weird commentary about 'visions' and etc... also sopme really odd new characters have turned uop and has maken the world a bit too 'unrealistic' for me. I knwo its sci-fi, but I like a belivable universe, where things can be explained to me.
I get the impression this book was kind of an 'in between' - and that the next bok (i pray anyway) will go back to the original style of Dune.
But it is 'good' I have to admit, just not 'amazing' as Dune was
Superior sequel March 4, 2006
dogbarkssome (England)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
I’m a little surprised at some other readers comments on Dune Messiah, as to my mind this is an excellent sequel. The 2nd in the Dune sequence this follows on directly from the previous novel, and sees Paul Atreides trying to resist a conspiracy that would see his bloodline taken over by his enemies. One major point in this novels favour is it’s brevity, as at just over 200 pages this is by far the shortest Dune book, and for a slim novel Frank Herbert introduces a lot of new ideas, such as the chameleon Tleilaxu Face-Changers and the re-animated dead gholas. During the middle part of the book it is easy to become fearful that Herbert has lost the plot, as the reader is left unaware either of either the nature of the plot against Paul or the nature of Paul’s future visions, but when the plot is revealed at the climax it turns out to be a very clever trap, and nature of Paul’s acceptance of his own destruction and his immortality through his children is a nice touch. Recommended.
Twelve years have passed since Maud'dib became Emperor September 13, 2005
Mr. B. N. Vowles
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Jihad exploded across the Universe & the Fremen have conquered thousands of planets in the name of Maud'dib.However, the irony of the Fremen becoming an invading force who oppress any dissent has not been lost on Paul Atreides. With his prescience he is more than aware of the plot closing around him & of his limitations in changing his destiny. The second book in the series is a tale of political intrigue which may put off readers hoping for further desert battles. It is also only about a third of the size so do not expect another epic. However, if you enjoyed the first book this is a must & serves as a stepping stone to the third book "The Children of Dune" I particularly enjoyed the return of a mysterious figure from Paul Atreides past (you will have to read the book to find out who).
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