Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

Rating: 4 out of 5

It has been twelve years since the Battle of Arakeen at the end of the first book, Dune. Since then, Paul Atreides's Fremen warriors have burst out of the planet Arrakis Dune and have waged Holy War or Jihad against the Imperium bringing everyone to their knees and resulting in the mass slaughter of millions of lives. And now Paul has not only established himself the absolute ruler of the known universe, but also as the leader of a powerful religion: the religion of Muad'Dib, of which his sister Alia is the High Priestess. Having finally established some kind of order, there can be hope of peace, at last.

Or is there? Factions are plotting against Paul, but they do not wish to eliminate him. Instead forces are seeking to control the most powerful man in history. The Bene Gesserit wish to take back their Kwisatz Haderach. The Spacing Guild wish to take back control of the Spice. The Princess Irulan, wife of the Emperor only on paper, wishes to take what she thinks is hers by right. Further, the shape-shifting Bene Tleilax are entering the power games arena, but their purposes are as mysterious as their race. And the key to everyone's plan is a recreated human made from the cells of someone long-dead. In this case, that particular someone was once a beloved mentor who gave up his life for the sake of Paul and his mother.

That is only a small glimpse of the complexities woven by the masterful hand of Frank Herbert as he continues the saga of Dune. In Dune Messiah, Herbert continues the story of Paul Atreides, a man trapped in his own prophesy which he is trying hard to escape. But if one expected to have an idea of where the story was going after reading the first book, they're in for a surprise. Frank Herbert throws dozens of curve balls into the plot and while characters from Dune make their return, none are quite so familiar anymore. Events of the past twelve years have taken their effect on all of them and it is not sure what their motives are anymore.

Furthermore, Frank Herbert takes the book into a different writing style, moving away from the emphasis on action towards a more cerebral and philosophical story-telling. In effect, Dune Messiah serves to finally explain away the motives and events of the first book, and takes each of the characters to their real conclusions. This departure from the previous style, though it might possibly chase away some readers who are expecting the same space opera-type, fantasy feel that was felt in Dune, elevates the story from what was already a spectacular epic, evolving it into something with more depth and soul and complexity that would become the basis of the colossal storyline that would span seven books (cut short, unfortunately by the untimely death of the great novelist). If Dune is the main dish of the series, Dune Messiah is the (forgive the pun) spice that would give it its lasting taste.

In it, Frank Herbert continues to explore his deep themes. He looks at the dangers of combining religion and government and the effects of each towards each other throughout the course of human history. Herbert dares to ask the question: "What manner of weapon is religion when it becomes the government?" And some people may not like his answer. He continues his exposition on leadership, fanaticism and hero worship. And it is in this story that he introduces one of his enduring creations, a concept that would become one of the major plotpoints, and be the main character in all the suceeding books (in a weird kind of way only Frank Herbert could imagine): the ghola of Duncan Idaho. And it is, ironically, through this cloned human, Frank Herbert examines what it means to be alive.

The problem with sequels is that it places in the reader an expectation of what the succeeding stories would be like setting it up for to possibly become a disappointment for its fans. It is only through the genius of Frank Herbert that he was able to pull of a great book that goes against what was expected of it, both in literary style and the course of the plot. Frank Herbert concludes the story of Paul Atreides in a way nobody expects and does it way that is exhilirating and satisfying, but tragic and bittersweet at the same time.

It is possible that one might read the first book, Dune, love it fiercely, pick up the second book, put it down and stop right there and just be satisfied with adoring the original story. But for those who throw away all expectations, absorb the beauty and artistry of Dune Messiah, one might just find himself lost in the universe that revolves around that haunting desert planet, wanting the stay to never end.

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

Book 1 of Dragonriders of Pern

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Some time in the far future, mankind has conquered space and colonized planets, one of these planets being Pern. Having made lives for themselves away from their home planet, the people of Pern lost contact with Earth along with most of the technological advancements that helped them reach their new home such that humans have settled in a way of life similar to that of the time of Earth’s High Middle Ages.

But Pern has a secret, undiscovered by the first colonizers that came to the planet. She has a sister, the Red Star, whose orbit brings her close to Pern approximately every 200 years. It is during this period that the Red Star’s inhabitants, in the form of silvery “Threads” make the journey to the more fertile Pern where they cause death and destruction in anything that comes across their path. However, Pern’s inhabitants have an answer. One of the technological knowledge that was not lost was the science of genetics with which humans used to evolve small native flying lizards into what would be called dragons. These dragons would telepathically bond with one young human as soon as they hatched from their eggs and forge a bond that would last a lifetime. It is from this partnership that the dragonfolk would emerge and which would make them the masters of Pern. They would be the main defense against the Threads invasion, a cycle that would last millennia.

However, at the start of the book Dragonflight, the Red Star has not come for 400 years and most people, including some of the dragonfolk have begun to think that the Threads will never ever return and becoming lost in the shadows of Pern’s history. Normal folk now have begun to ignore old traditions. They began to see dragonfolk as tyrants living off the people’s tributes and livestock when they have no use anymore. What’s worse, of the six dragonfolk Weyrs (realms), five of the six have been abandoned and the last one remains underpopulated.

Some of the minor lords like the ruthless Fax have become ambitious and began grab and consolidate power for him conquering neighboring kingdoms including the mountain Hold of Ruatha, of whom Fax destroyed and killed off the ruling family. Unknown to him, one daughter, Lessa, has escaped and is hiding among Ruatha’s common folk plotting to have her revenge one day.

Meanwhile, one person believes that the Threads will come back and that time is closing. F’lar of the dragonfolk knows in his heart that the Red Star is nearing and is hatching a plan of his own to prepare his badly outnumbered kin. He has to find ways to convince people of the reality of the approaching menace, suppress the rising rebellion among the other lords of the land, and find a way to combat the dangerous Threads with what he has. And Lessa has a part to play in that plan.

Dragonflight, though set in a world that is similar to fantasy, is actually a science fiction story. McCaffrey’s dragons do not have the mystical quality of their fantastical counterparts. They have been genetically engineered from small lizard-like reptiles. They chew something called “firerock”, which the dragonriders carry in sacks, to enable them to breathe fire. They can teleport between spaces and also between times. The latter ability would have a very important role in the story. And the bond between rider and dragon is a psychic bond, not a magical bond, and is something similar to how ducklings or goslings bond to their mother as soon as they hatch.

McCaffrey’s writing in Dragonflight itself is easy reading, though doesn’t have the depth of Herbert or Tolkien. Still it is an entertaining tale and there has been no other like it. And it is good enough to attract its own dedicated followers that the Dragonriders of Pern series, of which it the first chapter, has become one of the most beloved stories in speculative fiction, and whose tale is still on-going at this point of time.

Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

Book 2 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

Rating: 4 out of 5

Welcome back to the world of the Malazan Empire. This time the story takes place away from the original setting of the Steven Erikson’s first book, Gardens of the Moon, to another continent where the Seven Cities are living under the rule of the Malazan empress, Laseen. And now, trouble is brewing.

In the Holy Desert Raraku, the followers of the seer, Sha’ik greet the coming of the Whirlwind – the prophesized uprising against the Malazan Empire that will engulf the whole Seven Cities – with bloodshed and massacres and plunge the whole continent into turmoil. It will be the one of the bloodiest wars the empire has ever been involved in and will shape its destiny and give birth to epics and legends.

In the middle of this maelstrom and what will be the backbone of the book is the Malazan 7th Army and the Wickans commanded by the Fist Coltaine. Caught in the middle of a continent in flames, this formerly ragtag excuse of an army whipped into shape by the newly arrived general finds itself escorting tens of thousands of Malazan refugees on the long and distant road to safety, an ordeal that would be beset by months and months of grueling hardship and loss, faced with thirst and hunger, and constant attacks from the rebel army, compounded by the distrust between the civilians and the military. It is an epic story that is gripping, captivating and exhilarating, while at the same time, tragic and heart-wrenching. Steven Erikson paints for the reader a proud and, at times, heroic picture of the Malazan soldier facing incredible odds doing an impossible task. For military history buffs, this thread of the story would probably evoke images of Mao’s Long March, or Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow, or the March to the Sea by Xenophon. Deadhouse Gates is first and foremost, a war story.

But as with the first book, Deadhouse Gates is not just one tale but several threads of tales. Fresh from Gardens of the Moon, the assassin Kalam and the sapper Fiddler, of the outlawed Bridgeburners accompany the once-possessed girl, formerly named Sorry, now Apsalar and her companion Crokus of Darujistan, hoping to help them find their way back to Apsalar’s home and father. But all is not as it seems as Kalam and Fiddler have another secret, darker and more dangerous mission while being caught up in the events of the Whirlwind. There is the Trell called Mappo and the half-Jhagut Icarium, in search for their fate and hiding a terrible secret.

It is also the story of Felisin Paran, the sister of Ganoes Paran, Bridgeburner captain from Gardens of the Moon. She and her family are swept by the ramifications of the Bridgeburners going outlaw. As the empress decides to punish Ganoes Paran’s family, Felisin’s older sister Tavore betrays her kin by facilitating their arrest to prove her loyalty and become the Empress’ new Adjunct. Felisin finds herself in a slavery mine with Heboric, a priest with no hands and the thug Baudin. Together their plot to escape would lead them to a path nobody ever expected and into the heart of the Whirlwind.

Just like in the first book, Erikson weaves these different story threads into a vast epic that would culminate into a surging climax which would glue the reader into the pages. The story is vast in scope and full of wonderful twists and turns as the current history of the Malazan Empire unfold before the reader’s eyes. It is a story of legendary figures, noble soldiers, fickle gods, ruthless armies, devious plots and heart-breaking friendships. Steven Erikson, just like in Gardens of the Moon never lets up. In fact, having gone through this before, the author refines his style and improves his writing.

Still, there is room for more improvement. There are times when the reader could get confused because Erikson doesn’t take the time to explain things. Maybe, with all the happenings he has to take note in this vast story, he forgets to explain some of the concepts he puts into it. With the enormous ensemble of characters, it would be a stretch to expect the characters to grow and evolve, although there are a few exceptions where one would really feel for a character. Examples of characters remaining stale (and in this case, even take a few steps back in terms of growth) are the Crokus and Apsalar, who in Gardens of the Moon were growing and somewhat evolving (and even compelling) characters, yet in Deadhouse Gates find themselves almost being observers in the background by the last part of the book.

Yet again, taken as a whole, Deadhouse Gates is a wonderful story. Steven Erikson is truly one of the gems of contemporary fantasy and among the authors reshaping the genre. He invites you to return to the world of the Malazan Empire, albeit on a different continent this time (reading the first story isn’t a must but is preferable). He will take the reader in a rollercoaster ride with a story of war, loyalty and friendship and if they are able to slog it out like the Malazan 7th Army through the immense weave of this amazing plot, through the battles, the bliss of triumph and the tragedy of loss, they will find in their hands a gem of an epic.