Dune Messiah - Frank Herbert (Book #2 of the Dune Chronicles)

I liked this book more than the first in the series (you can read that review here). It helps that we already have a background in the story so the names and the places aren't as unfamiliar this time around. There also just seemed to be a better flow and the characters seemed more human this time around.

Dune Messiah takes place 12 years after the events ending the first book, namely the ascension of Paul Atreides as emperor and his political union with Princess Irulan. But things in the realm are not going so well. Paul's global jihad, the one in his name, but for which he constantly wishes would not endure, has killed up to 60 million people across the universe. His Fremen armies have spread out and vanquished foes on hold out planets far and wide. 

Having the give of foresight, Paul sees no other path before him and knows each path provides only ever greater death and destruction than the one he has set himself on. He feels trapped in his present, having already seen how it all plays out. His attempts to delay the inevitable cause him more heartbreak. 

Enter the picture a plot to overthrow Paul. A group of schemers, to include his princess-consort Irulan, Reverend Mother, a Guild Steersman and a new face dancer of the Bene Tleilaxu all meet in secret to come up with a way to take back the empire. The Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit insists that Irulan must bear the heir to the throne. She's trying, but Paul still loves Chani, the Fremen girl he met when he was cast out in the desert at 15. Chani has been unable to bear him any more children since the death of their son in the final battle which placed Paul on the throne. The plotters plan involves gifting Paul a remade Duncan Idaho, reclaimed of his original flesh, this part man, part robot thing called a "ghola" looks like Duncan Idaho but has new memories and abilities. He is to be the secret weapon to kill Paul when the time comes.

Meanwhile, Paul's sister Alia grows frantic in her attempts to understand her brother's actions and the ever growing mix of religion and politics that is taking place due to her brother's status as a god. How to overcome this path and set the empire to rights again? And why is she falling in love with Duncan Idaho, the ghola?

The only weird thing missing in this story is Paul and Alia's mom. Maybe Herbert decided it was time to let the second Atreides generation take the highlights of the plot and keep the older generation out of the picture. But their mother would have provided some interesting insight and perspective as the person who set this whole crazy train in motion. 

I won't say how the book ends, because it's a main driver of the plot to find out what Paul decides or gives himself up to in the end. But I will say it's satisfying as a story arc to have it end the way it did, even if it didn't feel entirely necessary.

4/5 Stars.