Dune Messiah

Originally serialized in Galaxy magazine, Dune Messiah (1969) is the sequel to Frank Herbert’s epic science fiction novel Dune (1965) and the second novel in Herbert’s six-book Dune Chronicles series. Taking place in the distant future, the novel continues the saga of Paul Atreides, a powerful messianic figure who overcame a plot against his family to become Emperor of the Known Universe. As Paul endeavors to ensure the survival of humanity across the galaxy, the novel explores the nature of time and fate, the intersection of religion and government, and the social and philosophical dangers of hero worship. In 2003, Dune Messiah was adapted into a Sci-Fi Channel miniseries along with the third book in the Dune Chronicles, Children of Dune (1976). Today, the American author Herbert (1920-1986) is considered one of the most influential writers in the science fiction genre, and he received many prestigious awards over the course of his career. This guide references the 2020 mass market paperback edition of the novel published by ACE, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Plot Summary

In the year 10,208, Paul “Maud’Dib” Atreides rules as Emperor of the Known Universe.