Frank Herbert is among the most widely read and celebrated science fiction authors ever. In 1965's Dune, Herbert wrote one of the most enduring science fiction novels ever. The follow-up to that novel is entitled Dune Messiah and was published in 1969. It picks up where the original Dune left off and again follows Paul Atreides, the Emperor of the Known of Universe (and the most powerful man in the universe).
Paul is not only the Emperor of the Known Universe; he is the leader of and God to the Fremen, an ancient religious organization. But Paul's life is not an easy one. He must perform his duties as Emperor, God, and contend with the political upheaval going on around him, including a conspiracy that is very close to Paul that threatens his power and his status.
Although Dune Messiah received positive reviews, they were more tepid than the reviews for the original Dune. Some reviewers questioned the logic of the story. However, others loved the novel and called it better than the original Dune. Galaxy Science Fiction, for instance, opined that Dune Messiah was "Brilliant" and that "It was all that Dune was, and maybe a little more."
Dune Messiah is being adapted into a film of the same name by director Denis Villeneuve, who has already adapted the original Dune into a movie. Villeneuve split Herbert's novel into two films, the first of which was released in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
