Books

First edition of the second book in Herbert's classic Dune series. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Frank Herbert on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, name to the front free endpaper. Jacket painting by Jack Gaughan. Jacket photograph by George Westbeau. Exceptionally rare signed. An epic of imperial intrigue, Dune Messiah carries on the monumental story begun in Dune, which won the Nebula and Hugo awards. Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides has become the most powerful emperor ever known, but is powerless to stop the lethal excesses of the religious juggernaut he has created. Although 61 billion people have perished, Paul's prescient visions indicate that this is far from the worst possible outcome for humanity. Motivated by this knowledge, Paul hopes to set humanity on a course that will not inevitably lead to stagnation and destruction, while at the same time acting as ruler of the empire and focal point of the Fremen religion. "Brilliant. It was all that Dune was, and maybe a little more" (Galaxy Magazine).

In Frank Herbert's seminal science fiction novel "Dune," the intricate tale unfolds across a distant future where noble families vie for control over the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the highly coveted spice melange. The Atreides family, led by Duke Leto Atreides and his son Paul, assumes stewardship of Arrakis, navigating a perilous political landscape rife with treachery and ambition. As Paul adapts to the harsh desert environment, he encounters the Fremen, Arrakis's indigenous people, and discovers his latent abilities tied to their prophecy of a messianic figure known as the Kwisatz Haderach. Paul grapples with his destiny, mastering the complexities of politics, religion, and warfare while confronting personal struggles and ethical dilemmas. The novel explores themes of power, ecology, religion, and the human condition, set against a richly imagined backdrop of a desert planet teeming with political intrigue and mystical intrigue.