Did I miss something or does book named Dune Messiah have very little religion in it? I mean it should be about religious leader who is fighting holy war but there isn’t reason why they fight the holy war and against who. Paul became emperor in first book. Now he is fighting against someone for some reason. Yes there were mentions of this holy war in first book. But I didn’t get what was the point. Was the point that there was no point to fight the holy war and it was all because there was the prophesy? There was one chapter where character couldn’t understand why they had to fight in other worlds. With Paul being emperor against who they fought. He should have been the leader already.
Dune Messiah is shortest of six books. Was that part cut from it? There is book The Road to Dune which contains parts cut from first two books. I am curious to get it to see what was taken from this book. Might listen it after I have listened all six books.
Dune Messiah wasn’t what I was expecting. Dune has story arch, world building, clear antagonist and protagonist grows during the book. Dune Messiah has almost non of that. It is more of a filler between two books. It is about emperor following his vision. He doesn’t seem to have any goals. He only tries to prevent worst potential futures. There is no satisfactory conclusion. Story just fades away leaving the stage for the next book.
There is little world building with introduction of Face Dancers and Ghoulas but nothing like water discipline of the first book. There are interesting themes which may grow into something more in later books. Problem is we don’t get proper payoff in this book. Build up is there but payoff is not there. There is attempt of payoff. It doesn’t work if payoff is someone being in wrong place wrog time, someone saying correct words and deus ex machina which builds for next book.
I didn’t hate Dune Messiah but it is big let down after first book. I listened it quickly and enjoyed most of it. It is not that bad. It doesn’t work as its own book. You have to read or listen it as part of series. It doesn’t live up to first book but you have the get through it to get to rest of the books. I have heard next book is better and in fourth guy turns himself into a worm.