Dune Messiah

Attention attention! "Dune Messiah" is the second book in the Dune series, so I wouldn't recommend reading this review without having read the first book.

Actually, I finished the Dune series back in the summer of 2020, but I hadn't felt the need to review it since I didn't have a blog back then. However, with the release of the movies and everyone getting hooked and loving this series, I thought it wouldn't be right to skip writing a review. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the first two films as they remained quite faithful to the book and were narrated in detail. Still, as you can guess, reading the books really expands your mind perspective and allows you to delve into different layers of the plot. Also, I believe reading the book before the continuation of the films would bring even more enjoyment, just like it did for me. Without further ado, let's start reviewing Dune Messiah.

At the end of the first book, Paul becomes Muad'dib and is crowned emperor. In Dune Messiah, we see that he's no longer a little boy but rather someone who almost rules over humanity. While greenery has increased and vengeance has been taken from the Harkonnens over the past twelve years, it couldn't prevent the beginning of a "jihad" that will last for many years. Paul is forced to enter a logical marriage with Princess Irulan but continues to live with his true love, Chani. His sister, Alia, is born with the memories of her mother, Lady Jessica, due to the spice transformation Lady Jessica underwent while pregnant, and she absorbs these memories as if they were her own. Muad'dib becomes a god in his empire. Additionally, Duncan Idaho, who died in the first book, reappears. (I recommend you to pay attention to this character while reading because you'll hear his name frequently throughout the series.)

While reading the book, we see Paul constantly experiencing a prophecy he calls "The Fall of the Moon." Even though we understand it's not a good prophecy, it leaves us even more curious. We ask questions like, will the moon really fall, and if it does, what will happen? And yes, metaphorically, a moon does fall at the end of the book. It was one of the moments I never expected and was deeply saddened by while reading. However, what happens afterward somewhat instilled hope in me, and I found the strength to move on to the next book.

Dune Messiah is a complete transitional book. It carries us from the end of the first book to the beginning of the third one. As a natural consequence of being a transitional book, the plot isn't as developed as in the first book. As I mentioned above, it loads us with some basic information and sends us off to another book. Besides that, "Dune Messiah" progresses more through emotions. We can truly delve into Paul's inner world in this book. We read about his thoughts, his perspective on the jihad, his concerns for his sister, his feelings for Chani… We follow a quest for identity that spreads throughout the book, a struggle to escape from being "worshipped," with tension.

Looking back after reading the other books, I can say it was a book I'm glad was written. It prevented a lot of confusion that would happen later and made me truly understand Paul, whom I only superficially understood in the first book; I could empathize with him. Although shorter than the first book, it was more challenging to read. Therefore, I think it requires digesting every piece of information slowly. Those who love this book and are considering continuing the series should persuade their friends to read it; those thinking of leaving the series after this book should be patient because the third book and beyond really take a different path; finally, if you haven't read it yet and have read my review without falling for any spoilers, I really, really urge you to start the series. After all, there's a saying that "Dune is the literature of science fiction." 📖

Click for the review of the first book

Empires do not suffer emptiness of purpose at the time of their creation. It is when they have become established that aims are lost and replaced by vague ritual.

Wild Fremen said it well: "Four things cannot be hidden -- love, smoke, a pillar of fire and a man striding across the open bled.