Children of Dune

Synopsis

What The Lord of the Rings is to fantasy, Dune is to science fiction. Presenting Children of Dune, the third book in one of the most influential series of all time, which has inspired countless other stories for more than half a century, this is an awe-inspiring world, and a story of truly epic scope.

The sand-blasted world of Arrakis has become green, watered and fertile. Old Paul Atreides, who led the desert Fremen to political and religious domination of the galaxy, is gone.

But for the children of Dune, the very blossoming of their land contains the seeds of its own destruction. The altered climate is destroying the giant sandworms, and this in turn is disastrous for the planet's economy.

Leto and Ghanima, Paul Atreides's twin children and his heirs, can see possible solutions - but fanatics begin to challenge the rule of the all-powerful Atreides empire, and more than economic disaster threatens ...

Read the series which inspired the Academy Award-winning and jaw-dropping cinematic events Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two. A science fiction spectacular like no other, this is a deeply climate conscious novel, and a compelling family saga for the ages.

Dune reading order:

Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse Dune

Summary

Chapter 1: The Scattering

* Leto II and Ghanima Atreides are twins, ruling the empire in their father's absence.
* They face threats from various factions, including the Tleilaxu, the Bene Gesserit, and House Corrino.
* To protect themselves, they order the Scattering, a diaspora of Fremen to distant worlds.

Chapter 2: The Preacher

* Jessica Atreides, Leto II and Ghanima's grandmother, travels to Salusa Secundus to confront the Corrino family.
* She preaches the Bene Gesserit gospel and sparks a rebellion.
* She is captured and tortured, but she escapes with the help of the Duncan Idaho ghola.

Chapter 3: The Duncan

* The Duncan Idaho ghola struggles to find his identity in a world where he is both a beloved hero and a reminder of Leto II's treachery.
* He believes himself to be a free man, but realizes he is still controlled by the Bene Gesserit and the Atreides.
* He vows to escape their manipulation and find his own path.

Chapter 4: The Navigator

* Moneo Atreides, Leto II and Ghanima's brother, is captured by the Tleilaxu.
* He is transformed into a Navigator, gaining the ability to navigate space through prescient visions.
* He escapes and joins the Scattering, becoming a leader among the Fremen.

Chapter 5: The God Emperor

* Leto II transforms himself into a sandworm, becoming the God Emperor.
* He rules the empire with an iron fist, manipulating events to guide humanity's destiny.
* He believes his path is necessary to prevent humanity from destroying itself, but his methods are cruel and oppressive.

Chapter 6: The Enemy

* The Bene Gesserit and the Tleilaxu join forces to oppose Leto II.
* They create new weapons and alliances to challenge his power.
* Leto II senses their plans and prepares for their inevitable confrontation.

Chapter 7: The Confrontation

* The Bene Gesserit and the Tleilaxu launch their attack on Arrakis.
* Leto II faces them in a final battle, using his godlike powers to defeat their forces.
* However, he is also killed in the process, leaving the empire in chaos.

Chapter 8: The Legacy

* Ghanima Atreides becomes the new empress, but her reign is brief.
* The Scattering continues, and the Fremen disperse to distant worlds.
* The legacy of Leto II and the Atreides family remains a complex and enduring one, shaping the destiny of humanity for generations to come.