A lot has happened during the intervening 3,500 years, and while some of the characters will talk about events on other worlds or outside the halls of power, we never get to see it. We never get to see the other parts of Leto’s empire.

Unfortunately, the novel takes place entirely within Leto’s Citadel on the planet Arrakis. Leto himself seems to realize this and raises thoughtful questions about the surprisingly thin line between martyr and dictator. While readers might feel some sympathy for him given the events of Children of Dune, they will also undoubtedly come to feel revulsion. What is Leto’s sacrifice? Why did he do it? Leto himself is a delightfully ambiguous character. How does Duncan respond to the fact that he has been cloned so frequently? Can Moneo afford to remain loyal to the regime? Will Siona be rebel against Leto or become heir to the Golden Path? Is Leto tyrant, god, or both? The biggest mystery is that nature of the Golden Path itself. Instead, the book focuses on a set of questions that each character has to answer.

There is no overarching threat, no primary antagonist, and Leto manages to quell most of the plots quickly. Herbert takes the time to indulge in conversations between the characters and the verbal repartee so common in his novels.

The narrative follows these four as they attempt to make sense of Leto’s empire and Paul’s legacy.Įven more than Herbert’s previous books, God Emperor of Dune is a triumph of world building. The book focuses on the relationship between the Leto, his majordomo Moneo, Moneo’s daughter and rebel leader Siona, and another Duncan Idaho ghola. The book is written in a quasi-epistolary format, with significant sections drawn from Leto’s secret journals, Bene Gesserit reports, and other primary sources. Rather, God Emperor of Dune feels like Leto’s attempt to educate the reader about politics and religion. There are no epic battles and Leto’s dominance quickly squashes those few conspiracies against him. Leto II rules as emperor and has transformed into sandworm. It takes place 3,500 years after the original Dune. It’s quite different from the previous Dune novels, or indeed any other book I’ve read. Readers will either love God Emperor of Duneor hate it.

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