“You wish to be tested further?”
Leto laughed. “No. It's my turn to test you.”
-Children of Dune,
Book Three of the Dune Chronicles
by Frank Herbert
Prior Events:
“To know a thing well, know its limits.”
Dune began the story of
Paul Atreides and his
Golden Path. By becoming the
Kwisatz Haderach he managed to overthrow the Harkonnen, put both the
Bene Gesserit and the Spacing Guild off balance, as well as assuming the role of Emperor of Known Space. All this came with a deadly title of Godhood that he refused to accept.
Then, in
Dune Messiah, the religion of Paul Atreides (now
Paul Muad'Dib) has become inescapable. Where Paul could once use his religion, now his religion uses him. In the end, it uses him to his death. After a betrayal by the
Fremen, Paul is blinded. His prescience is all that guides him to the last parts he is to play along the Golden Path. When Chani, his consort and lover, produces the
royal twins that destiny requires, he walks into the desert to die, once more a Fremen.
Plot Introduction:
"To know the future is to be trapped by it, but knowing there's a trap is the first step in evading it."
When Children of Dune opens it has been nine years since the events of
Messiah.
Children is the third book in Frank Herbert's science fiction world of Dune. And this story returns to it's
Dune roots. Where
Messiah separated itself from the ideas of
Arrakis,
Children returns us to that story. Leto II follows a path that is similar to his father's. The difference is that he knows that the Godhead must not just be symbolic. In order to save the Golden Path, there must be a living god.
A plot against Muad'Dib's children gives Leto the chance to escape from Alia's watchful gaze. With this freedom, Leto begins to finish his father's work. Thinking her brother dead, Ghanima begins plotting to kill
Prince Farad'n of House Corrino. This necessary separation of brother and sister ends up being an important part of the
Children of Dune story. With the separation becoming literal, Leto goes on his journey into the desert to find out why he has dreams where his skin is not his own.
Duncan Idaho, the ghola-mentat, has his own story in
Children of Dune. He, married to Alia, is forced to watch as his wife slips further and further into the Bene Gesserit
Abomination trap. While, at first, he has little role to play but husband, he turns into a central character about halfway through the book. The catalyst of this is when he catches her and Javid, a priest, in bed. Instead of killing Javid right then and there, Idaho lets his anger simmer. Thus, Alia still thinks him loyal to her, while he is free to act in the name of the Atreides family. For the second time, his loyalty to the Atreides banner proves to be his death.
Characters:
Leto II and Ghanima Atreides
“Growing older is to grow more wicked. ”
Muad'Dib's children are reaching the edges of puberty. Their bond is more than just brother and sister, as they have the same preborn abilities as their aunt, Alia. Ghanima and Leto have the ancestral memories of their mother and father. While they are family, they also fit into the niche of lovers. Unlike their aunt, neither of them have fallen into the Bene Gesserit Abomination of allowing their ancestors to control them.
The separation between Leto and Ghanima is one of ability. Leto's strength in prescience puts a gap in their relationship. He sees the same universe his father did, one of despair. His vision allows him to see where his father left off on the
Golden Path, the key to humankind's salvation. Where Muad'Dib could not continue, Leto comes to the realization that he must at least attempt to. He must begin a journey parallel to his fathers. It is for this reason that he and Ghanima plot to escape their
Aunt.
Ghanima, although she realizes that her and Leto must depart from their bond, struggles to escape the
Golden Path even as she progresses along it. For her, Children of Dune is the struggle against that breaking. When she realizes that Leto may have died, she continues that fight. She wishes, like any innocent child, for that which she loves to never change. And all Leto's talk of the future makes her see that change is, indeed, coming.
Alia Atreides
“Enemies often appear as angels.”
Where Leto and Ghanima have escaped the terror of
Abomination, Alia has succumb to it. Her preborn memories have managed to overtake her, in the form of the Harkonnen
Baron Vladimir. She has become a cruel and merciless dictator. Her own grandchildren are nothing but pawns, in her eyes.
In
Dune and
Messiah we were able to pity her. Her pains were not of her own doing and so we were given the chance to feel sorry for her. Now, she has been given every opportunity to save herself. But she refused to take it. Thus, she is no longer pitied, but loathed for the destruction she has brought upon
Arrakis. She is unable to recognize that Arrakis faces this destruction, not because of enemies, but because of her own doing.
Duncan Idaho
"I give you the desert chameleon."
Where flickers of
Hayt still existed at the end of
Dune Messiah, now only Duncan Idaho remains. Loyal to the Atreides name, to Alia, and the safety of Muad'dib's children. But as Alia slips further and further away from her husband and into herself, Duncan begins to undergo a strong character change.
In Dune and
Messiah Duncan was not an intellectual character. Smart, yes, but he would rather solve problems with the knife than with his head. As Children of Dune progresses, he loses this sense of violence and becomes much more intelligent with his plans. Where the first half of the book was dedicated to the twins and their exploits, Duncan becomes pivotal in the second half. In fact, by the end, Duncan saved the Atreides name from the threat that is Alia so well that Leto needs only pick up the pieces afterwards.
Personal Review:
“A universe of surprises. That is what I pray for.”
Children of Dune returns the
Dune Chronicles to its original roots. While
Messiah separated dramatically from the first, Children comes back to that same story of accepting the religion mantle of destiny. The politics and religion that covered the second book are almost gone in
Children. While this comes as a disappointment to those of us who loved
Dune Messiah it also comes with a more powerful and compelling story.
As one reads, a sense of impending doom enshrouds the characters. At first, I didn't understand why I felt so nervous about Leto. Even as he succeeded, some part of me knew that accepting what his father could not would be a dreadful task. This was amplified by the nervousness in Ghanima at her brother's distance. But even as I worried for the characters, I understood that they worked towards the greater good and to the salvation of humankind.
Children of Dune, although it tells a slightly different story, is very similar to the original book. If you enjoyed
Dune, then you'll probably enjoy Children. If you were turned off by the change brought with
Dune Messiah, than you've got a better chance of enjoying this book. Either way, it's another amazing look into the Dune world. Not to mention, the Duncan Idaho storyline is a thing of beauty. My advice? Go grab this book. It's the last time that you'll see a lot of your old Dune friends.
Title: Children of Dune
Author: Frank Herbert
ISBN: 0-425-04075-5
Publisher: Berkley Books
Date Published: 1977
Length: 408 pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Props to Ouroboros for reminding me to talk about Duncan Idaho!