Children of Dune

Nine years following the events of Dune and Dune Messiah, the desert planet of Arrakis has become green and fertile. Water is no longer scarce, and the Fremen people are changing their ways. Their former leader, Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet in the film adaptation), is gone. Following in his footsteps are his two children, Leto II and Ghanima. he ecological transformation of their planet is destroying the giant sandworms that live there, and therefore the source of spice, the mind-altering drug their economy is based on. They must find a way to save their people from economic ruin and assume the throne on Dune. But there are others who are conspiring to take control of Arrakis.

It was interesting to see Paul’s character cast in a different light. At the end of Dune and Dune Messiah, Paul Atreides is triumphant. So it seemed like an intriguing premise to explore how humankind would cope with his absence. Sadly, I found the book difficult to engage with, largely because the dialogue is hard to take at face value—nobody in this book talks like a normal person.

We are introduced to Leto II and Ghanima, the twin children of Paul and his concubine Chani. They have both inherited the memories of their ancestors, allowing them to recall events and conversations they were never present for. They are also only nine years old. In one particularly unsettling early scene, during a conversation with their grandmother, we learn that they remember her intimate moments with their grandfather… yes, Frank Herbert writes some very strange things. (And oh boy, there are plenty more to come.)

A synopsis of the plot is more interesting than the experience of reading through most of this book, unfortunately. There is a lot of political maneuvering that doesn’t seem to go anywhere. Most of the action happens in the final quarter, where the story finally starts to pick up. Leto II, in particular, undergoes an astonishing transformation toward the end of the book and vows to set humanity on the Golden Path—his vision for the direction humanity must take to avoid destruction. I must say that I found it thoroughly enjoyable to see Leto II contrasted with his father, Paul, who—initially presented as a messianic figure on Arrakis—is now shown in a different light. His unwillingness to take drastic action to secure the future of Arrakis is called into question. I also appreciated the exploration of how the ecological transformation of the planet—originally the dream of Liet-Kynes in Dune—may ultimately lead to its demise. Alas, Arrakis must remain Dune to secure the future of humanity, it is revealed.

Ultimately, it’s a mixed bag. I was initially unconvinced that I wanted to continue reading the Dune Saga beyond Dune Messiah, as I felt Paul’s story had already been wrapped up well. In that respect, I appreciated how this book reframes his legacy and highlights both his shortcomings and the unintended consequences of his reign. That said, while the final section sets up the next installment very effectively, I’m not entirely sure how eager I am to continue. At this point, the Wikipedia summary might just be enough for me…