Dune Messiah (Dune #2)

[Trisha]

This thread is to discuss Dune Messiah, the second book in the Dune Series by Frank Herbert.

Pages: 337 pages

Length: 2 Months (September & October)

Participants: Elena, Ruthie, Sinisa, Luisa, Vivek.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

[Sinisa]

Anyone started this? This is almost half of last book so I was thinking I start it close to end of a month.

[Vivek]

I'll start reading this in a couple of days. It's a shorter book so, hopefully, shouldn't take much time to read.

[Luisa]

I'm in chapter 7 and liking.
I'm finding it easier to read than the previous.

[Vivek]

I finished reading this book and, for the most part, I liked the book. However, I think the character of Chani was wasted potential. I would have liked a more prominent role for her.

I have so many questions from the book.
(view spoiler)[
1. Do you guys think Paul was right in letting his vision play out as he visualized instead of attempting to change it?
My view is that after a few stages, propagandist movements progress in a feedback loop irrespective of the leader's action. Therefore, Paul probably might not be able to change things without losing his credibility and position. However, I think he should have at least tried to change a few things such as the stone burner attack.

2. Alia ultimately wanted to live her life and not the life destined/ chosen by her mother/ brother. I think Frank Herbert tried to bring this out but it was too little too late. I think he should have addressed the emotional aspects of Alia's character better. (hide spoiler)]

What do you guys think?

[Ruthie]

Haven't started it yet, will let y'all know when I do!

[Trisha]

This topic has been moved to the October Buddy Reads folder.

[Ruthie]

Still waiting for the library to send this one to me. The app says I still have 4 weeks to wait!

[Luisa]

I finished today, and I enjoyed, really. I thought i wouldn't, i heard so many bad comments.
Its slower than the first one, but it was easy read.

[Sinisa]

Finally started this today. Hopping to finish it in a week. I have read 10% and it is probably to early to say but looks a lot like previous book so that means I like it so far.

[Ruthie]

Hi y'all, I'm so sorry that I'm behind on this. I still haven't gotten it from the library. My library app still says 2 weeks. I made a post on the July-December Buddy read thread asking if we can extend this topic to next month and read the one after this in December. If you are ok with that can you go on the thread and second this request. The mods do check these threads but they prefer all the requests on the main thread so they can keep track of everything. Thanks!

[Trisha]

Mod’s query:
Is everyone okay for this BR to be extended for another month and for the next book’s buddy read to be hosted in December? Please let us know here for the Mods to make the necessary updates.

[Sinisa]

Trisha wrote: "Mod’s query:
Is everyone okay for this BR to be extended for another month and for the next book’s buddy read to be hosted in December? Please let us know here for the Mods to make the necessary up..."

I am fine with Dec for Children of Dune I was planing to read it then anyways.
I plan to finish Dune Messiah this month so for me it is same if this is moved or not.

I have a question if we don't move it is this then closed to comment in November? If it is not closed we can just come here and comment/read and save mods few cliks

[Sinisa]

Ruthie wrote: "Hi y'all, I'm so sorry that I'm behind on this. I still haven't gotten it from the library. My library app still says 2 weeks. I made a post on the July-December Buddy read thread asking if we can ..."

How ever you say Ruthie I can adjust np

[Trisha]

This thread will remain open for comments until November 25th. But if Ruthie thinks that she might not be able to get hold of the book by then, I’ll move this topic to November.

Also, Children of Dune pushed to December as agreed.

[Ruthie]

I think we can keep it here and I'll let you know if that changes Trisha.

Thanks Sinisa and Trisha

[Sinisa]

I am pass 60% and plan to finish it tomorrow.

I like it so far. First part is a lot of like previous book, slow paced and a lot of reminders what happened so far. Somewhere around 50% it gets really interesting. From this part when Muad'Dib negotiate with The Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother Mohiam things start to get really tense and interesting.
Like in first book Chani is underwritten character so far and not having more of her is a huge minus.

[Sinisa]

I finished and it was great. first half is almost as first book, really slow and taking time, maybe even slower. Second part is where we make up time and speed. It is full action from 50% to the end. Some things feel rushed and it could have been some more pages if you ask me.

[Ruthie]

Good to know! Just started today. I already like it more than the last and Paul isn't annoying me as much as he did in the last half of the first book. See why in my spoilers. I also think because the first book I had heard multiple times that it's "the best sci fi ever" and I definitely disagreed and also expected more "sciency" stuff. But now I know what to expect and I also know it won't be the best sci fi I've ever read so I can have low expectations and just enjoy.

(view spoiler)[
I got on Paul's team when he got upset with Irulan about her suggesting that he should sire a child with her. Especially since we know from her earlier in the book that she is preventing Paul and Chani from having a child (hide spoiler)]

[Sinisa]

Yeah it wasn't the best for me but it is important. It was written more then 50 years ago and stood a test of time pretty well. I would say Asimov Foundation series is maybe the best but Dune is so different from that, so slow paced it feels it is not the same genre.

(view spoiler)[
About kids was hopping knowing the title of book 3 that he would say yes to Irulan so we can have more option going forward.
That "preventing" did feel a bit stupid to me. It was set up like a fact and it had so much holes. Paul had all that power and they missed something that obvious. There is something later that got me even more annoyed about that whole thing, I think when you get to it you will understand so i don't spoil it
(hide spoiler)]

[Ruthie]

I'll have to check out Asimov Foundation series. So far the best sciency sci fi I've read is Children of Time. I prefer it to be sciency. Dune is more like political like Game of Thrones at least that's how I categorize it in my mind. With a few fantasy type elements with the spices and the "brain training" and I guess the suit is sciency

I finished it.

(view spoiler)[
So sad that Chani dies but I felt prepared for it at the same time. I don't like that Paul said Irulan could be artificially inseminated. I'm worried how this will effect him and his children with Chani in the future. Looking forward to the next one! It was too short, I agree. Especially compared with the first one this was just like a short story (hide spoiler)]

[Vivek]

Ruthie wrote: "I'll have to check out Asimov Foundation series. So far the best sciency sci fi I've read is Children of Time. I prefer it to be sciency. Dune is more like political like Game of Thrones at least t..."

Hi Ruthie,
I don't think you'll like Asimov's Foundation series that much in that case. Asimov is also more about geopolitical and concepts rather than science. While there are a lot of futuristic depictions and perspectives, the central theme of the Foundation series per se is still the dynamics of the governments, rulers, and worlds. For more sciency stuff, I would recommend James S.A. Corey's The expanse series and Peter Hamilton's Salvation series. The third and the last book of the salvation series arrived just this week. You can also try The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu.

(view spoiler)[ I was disappointed by Chani's wasted potential. She is such a strong character and deserved a much larger space and better depiction in the story (hide spoiler)]

[Ruthie]

Ok thanks so much for the recommendations! I'll be sure to check those out!

(view spoiler)[
I know!! I'm so disappointed about Chani too. I would have liked her to take a larger role in the story (hide spoiler)]