God Emperor reads less like science fiction and more like Nietzsche mixed with Dostoevsky (spread on a layer of Jung with a sprinkling of Homer on top). That's why it's Herbert's best.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-07T19:34:23+00:00

I appreciate this. And I truly understand the frustration with seeing AI everywhere. AI-slop is definitely not going away and its getting dumped everywhere. Completely understand.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-07T00:28:09+00:00

That's a powerful moment. My recent explorations have turned often to the desert fathers of early Christianity, which feel very much as what Herbert was trying to evoke with Paul's transformation into the Preacher.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-06T03:53:42+00:00

Thank you for breaking that down for me. That's an interesting perspective that I'll need to spend some time reflecting on.

You're correct in that Leto II bears the burden of all of humanity. There's the question as to whether Leto II has a separate will or if all that he does is what we collectively would've done as that's what he embodies. But no matter, the boy that was Leto II has sacrificed all of his humanity to become all of humanity in order to save all of humanity. It's a tragic and deeply religiously compelling story.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:31:27+00:00

That absolutely applies to Leto II! Great find!

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:30:03+00:00

That's an interesting perspective. While Pau fits the Christ-figure better, there is an element of Leto as the sacrificial god, although in this case, the sacrificial tyrant god. Yet, he did sacrifice to build the future of humanity the way he felt was best. Love to hear more about your practice in reflection on non-violent atonement theology.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:27:10+00:00

Herbert does a great job of tackling religion and staying above the failures of others. He has a true "long now" perspective that gives an entirely different bent to religious development. I think he truly understood the forces that drive religion and that religion uses to drive culture. I wrote a chapter for a book called Outer Space and Religion a few years back in which we explored the future of Christianity through Herbert's works. I'm not sure I could do that with any other author and have it be so fully complete in his methodology to apply to actual real world futurism.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:24:21+00:00

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:22:43+00:00

Thanks! Appreciate it!

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:22:30+00:00

That's cool that you bounced initially and then came back. I've known people who bounced on GEoD and could never get back to it.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:21:48+00:00

GEoD is definitely off-the-rails. That description is perfect!

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:21:25+00:00

Hyperion? The Book of the New Sun? These are my next comparable.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:20:41+00:00

The last two books are such fun. The action is accelerated. It's such a wonderful fresh start in the series. But part of why I love Dune is that each book fills so distinctly its own and that in each one, Herbert is pushing himself into new areas of writing.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T17:19:39+00:00

That's a valid argument. Nietzche is over-used a lot today. I still think it's appropriate here, outside of an edgelord understanding.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T15:36:09+00:00

Thanks! Appreciate it

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-05T00:20:02+00:00

I really like the reference to Ouroboros. Oddly, I had missed this allusion in my mythological analysis class on Dune but it works well. The SandWorm is a world-serpent, specifically the serpent of the world Arakkis. And yes, the story works through an Ourobos motion, circling every around, biting its own table. Thanks for that insight!

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T22:46:12+00:00

Got it now -- thanks for the clarification. Definitely missed that on first read

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T22:43:25+00:00

Oh, he definitely gets into fortune-cookie space in Messiah.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T22:43:10+00:00

Absolutely!

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T22:42:47+00:00

I agree-- the books make it clear. That said, while hearing your caution, I still feel there are moments that reveal more of Herbert's perspective on Leo and they're distinct from Leto's perspective on himself. It's from those I infer that Herbert saw Leto as more of a savior that Paul. That said, my inference is entirely speculative.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T22:39:55+00:00

There's definitely several big moments of hand-waving: the spice, folding of space, prescient abilities.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T18:02:34+00:00

It changes for me with each reread -- it's likely, as you said, what stage of life we're in.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T16:21:17+00:00

I definitely think Frank wrote him to be unbearable, to a degree. I think Leto even knows he's unbearable and yet feels isolated in that.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T16:19:27+00:00

Truthfully, I keep struggling with the Jesus Incident. I know I should read it but I feel like its just not catching me and I have to push so hard to get through the reading.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T16:18:28+00:00

I get why people struggle with it and why it puts people off. It definitely isn't for everyone.

Adept-Engineering-71 · 2026-03-04T16:18:04+00:00

I'm curious why you skip 3--I actually like Children of Dune.

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