DUNE MESSIAH (1969) CHILDREN OF DUNE (1976) GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE by FRANK HERBERT (1981)

Third reading

I have read Dune, the first in this six-volume series, perhaps five times. These three are the second, third, and fourth books, and much inferior to the first, in my opinion. In Dune, Herbert created an entire universe, complete with the customs, the religion, the unique sound of the language, the people, and, importantly to this saga, the ecology of the planet. In these subsequent books, Herbert concentrates on the events, which are centered on political intrigue. He also provides a large dose of philosophical musings about power and how it can be manipulated. Much of this discussion reads like gobbledigook, frankly.

Dune (reviewed in June, 2011) ended as Paul Atriedes and the native Fremen defeated the Harkonnen troops who had subjugated the planet. As Dune Messiah begins, Paul has been deified and Fremen in his name have engaged in a jihad which has conquered most of the known universe. Gifted with the ability to see into the future, Paul knows of only one path that will lead to lasting peace but has not the courage to take it. Various factions join forces to hatch an elaborate plot against him. When he is blinded and his beloved concubine Chani dies in childbirth, he takes an alternate path which he hopes will lead to peace.

Children of Dune centers itself around the twin children of Paul and Chani, who are also prescient, Leto in particular. He sees what he calls the Golden Path to a peaceful future, the path that his father feared to take. Among plots and counterplots, Leto prevails by covering his body with sand trout, the precursors of the giant Worms of Dune, knowing that he will evolve and lose his humanity.

These two books serve as the inverse of the first book. While Dune ended on a grand note of triumph for Paul, these picture a tragic result of his actions. The plots are convoluted and dark.

The fourth volume of the series, God Emperor of Dune, takes place 3,000 years later. Leto is changing into what may become one of the Worms of Dune. Despite the fact that his reign as Emperor of the universe has brought eons of peace, plots abound against him. One plot involves the creation of the perfect woman to snare him into love, although physical expression of love is no longer possible for him. Much of this book is taken up by philosophical meanderings. Not much really happens until the end, which is quick and melodramatic. This is the weakest of the four novels.

I have the last two volumes of the series, but I will not read them now, perhaps never again. I believe Frank Herbert's legacy would have been enhanced if he had stopped after his first effort. I would recommend these only to hard-core Dune fans