For the sake of humanity he sacrificed his own.
Dune has been transformed. Its once dry deserts covered by green, all thanks to Leto II. As a boy he bonded with the sandtrout skin. Now he guides humanity down the Golden Path, as he slowly transforms into a sand worm. Some worship him as a god, others curse his name and call him tyrant and monster, but no one truly understands him, until now. After three thousand years one person will succeed where countless weapons could not. They will pierce Leto’s armor, and threaten the Golden Path.
God Emperor of Dune is simultaneously one of the more ambitious and subtle stories I have ever read. The opening encapsulates the whole with an excerpt from Leto’s journals, highlighting his own struggles with identity, a taste of the rich and sometimes contradictory language that fills these pages.
Chapters alternate between half a dozen main characters; each on their own journey of discovery. Scenes are a mix of dialogue focused conflicts, and deep introspection. Perspective frequently drifts between the past and present, emphasizing the character’s thoughts and feelings over actual events.
This gives the story a slow, meandering pace. Characters plod along, often making idle conversation as they wait for an opportunity. But through these conversations a plethora of topics are engaged. Some question the dichotomy between free will and safety (chaos vs order), others consider the nature of truth. Throughout the story audiences are encouraged to pause, and really consider the unspoken meaning behind what’s been said. Through it all misunderstanding sets the stage for the main conflict, which leaves audiences with one last question: Was this a tale of tragedy, or the difficult path of a hero?
+Strong, Complex Ideas
+Strong Writing
+Strong Dialogue
+Strong Perspective
*Predictable but fitting plot
Next Time…
Heretics of Dune (Dune 05)
2017/09/07
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