"Dune Messiah" accomplishes what "Dune" only began: wrapping us neatly and utterly in the world of Fremen cult worship. It is for this reason, and the dizzying swirl of new and often disorienting terminology, not to mention the now fleshed-out character of Irulan, who was only a spectre in the series' opening novel, that makes "Messiah" perhaps an even greater work.

We open with a plot by the Revered Mother Gauis Helen Moiham, conspiring with Irulan (no spoiler here), Scytale (a shape-shifting Tleilaxu), and Guild Navigator Edric. The details? Too complex too even touch here, except to say they aim to overthrow the now established Emperor Paul Atriedes, the Muad'Dib of planet Arrakis by resurrecting (in a manner of speaking) his friend Duncan Idaho. Don't worry, it will make sense in the book proper- mostly.

By the time multiple characters have converged, and personalities have been fully developed-- not least is the ever-fascinating Alia-- the novel has a frenetic and pulsating tempo. In the final 100 pages, the convergence of Scytale, the amazingly weird midget Bijaz, and the resurrected and mentat Duncan Idaho provides for fascinating exchanges that satisfy page after page. You will find yourself completely absorbed, eagerly and gingerly wondering how Herbert continues the epic of Arrakis in "Children of Dune."