1. The narrative is not linear: there's a heavy dependence on memories. The action is often paused in order to reflect back on similar or tangential situations to give context to the current actions and explanations for the current characters. But I feel like Herbert does it too much in the first half of the book, which seems to drag along. I get that this leaves the reader searching for continuity and context much like the Bene Geserit, the Tleilaxu, and most of the characters are doing. However, in Dune the reader is similarly confronted with a bunch of unknowns, but the reveal is not this ponderous, slow, or unsatisfying. I think more speed and continuity of action would have helped speed up the first half of the book and keep the reader interested. It ends up feeling like many actions are not as important as the actions remembered by the characters, and this makes me wonder why I am reading these unimportant actions. This is also exactly why I do not like Family Guy—it is too chopped up and scattered, which jars the reader.
2. In a sense, Leto II's path is fulfilled here: humanity scattered and can never be completely wiped out, they understand power and its uses much more than before, and they find strength and being in the unexpected—depending upon the secrecy that requires. The reintegration of the scattered humans is intended to shock the core of the Leto II's empire to creativity and change without falling to the invaders or losing what made those thousands of years of his peace possible. They also inject some fresh blood and ideas back into humanity to potentially jumpstart more peaceful methods of progress. It is also the finish of the pruning process—the Ixians may fall, the Guild probably will, the Bene Geserit have to change, the Fish Speakers are brushed aside, and the Tleilaxu must work with the rest of humanity for once. They all together finally try to shake off the reliance upon Leto II himself. This thread is the philosophical core of the novel and it really does a great job of wrapping up a lot of Leto II's plans.
3. A characteristic tactic of Herbert is to leave off once the action really gets going: the sandworms are ridden through the shield wall and attack, the Honored Matres kill Taraza, the jihad is laid down and just about to go off, et cetera. This is more than the pulp affectation of ending chapters on cliffhangers: once the action is out of the main characters' hands, they fade out of the scene. The planning, political maneuvering, and reflection are typically the focus of the narratives—too much so in Dune Messiah. This seems to argue that violence is often a foregone conclusion. I accept this argument because his premises work: knowing the relative forces and leaders and weapons, one can know the way to beat them; knowing that culture, its leaders, and their history, one knows how to work with or control them. This is the plot itself making the philosophical point of the novel.
4. The political machinations are quite good here: the Bene Geserit are so desperate to survive that they will make a deal with the anti-women segment of humanity, conning them into it through speaking their secret language and a couple of calculated guesses. The Honored Matres want Rakis from which to gain Other Memories and control of all mankind? Well deny it to them fully, and scurry off to give yourself time to spy and plan and reflect. Expect the unexpected in battle, politics, and humans. The ways that these simple principles play out is logical, understandable, and complex enough to provide a good read.
5. Expect the unexpected in humans as well: Duncan and Teg are the standard bearers for this, but I think Odrade and Taraza are close on their heels. This "think outside the box" philosophy is a strong one: it strengthens the characters through introspection and recognizing their predictabilities, but it also allows people to deal with strangers in a more straightforward and profitable way. Life is full of the unexpected—if we're okay with it, expect it, and accept it, we can handle anything. In this way, the plot and characters of the novel support the underlying philosophy that he is trying to make. I think it's a little heavy handed here though, mostly because of the incessant flashbacks.
6. Teg and Waff really shine as characters here—as do Odrade and Taraza. Teg is exciting and familiar: the aging soldier who understands the importance of symbols on mob mentality; the diplomat who can also beat you on the battlefield. Waff shows his franticness more relatably than the Bene Geserit do: through his murders, realizations, anxieties, and religious ecstasies. With the two Bene Geserit women, we see the whole group pushed closer to the edge than ever before, but they accept that and change—embracing the constancy of temporality when finally convinced of the Golden Path, then finding their very survival in it. These characters are well written and understandable because of their reactions and actions. Their reflections help some, but like I said above, I think there are too many flashbacks.
7. While the start was slow and overly reflective, the ending 20% or so really pulled it all together and made it worth it. Sort of like Dune Messiah: it's an okay book with a great ending.
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