Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

Dune Messiah continues the story of Paul Atreides, better known—and feared—as the man christened Muad’Dib. As Emperor of the known universe, he possesses more power than a single man was ever meant to wield. Worshipped as a religious icon by the fanatical Fremen, Paul faces the enmity of the political houses he displaced when he assumed the throne—and a conspiracy conducted within his own sphere of influence. And even as House Atreides begins to crumble around him from the machinations of his enemies, the true threat to Paul comes to his lover, Chani, and the unborn heir to his family’s dynasty...

This one seems to more set the stage for the 3rd book than to be a great 2nd book in a trilogy. As much as I loved the first one, this one left me thinking it was half a book – and not the better half.

Maybe it was a mistake for me to read this without a break right after Dune, but there was a jarring tonal shift from the first book to this sequel. As always, the interaction and dialogue between characters are full of intrigue and fascination, but the book is broken up by a lot of meandering which kills the pace somewhat. Still a great cautionary tale of messiahs, religion and power, but I need a break from the series.

I love Dune. According to Goodreads, I've read it five times - the last in 2013. After finishing its audiobook a few days ago, I couldn't figure out why I hadn't read the the rest of the series, and so picked up the audiobook for Dune Messiah - the second in the series.

I realized that I remembered the initial portions of the book, so I must have started it sometime in the past; but it quickly became clear why I had never finished this book, and hence never touched the rest of the series.

This book is pretentious, filled with flowery language for no reason other than to be decorative, and bogged down by a plot device that smothers all sense of excitement - the vision of the future that the protagonists possess. It's shocking how, towards the end of the book when Paul lets go of his future sense willingly, the book seems to come alive.

What this book lacks is everything that made the original great - world-building, real tension & conflict, a sense for the fantastical.

What a disappointment. :-(