Paul of Dune

Plot

The book alternates between Paul Atreides's youth before Dune and the early period of his Fremen jihad. Twelve-year-old Paul lives on Caladan with Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica. House Ecaz and House Moritani are in a generations-long feud, and an Atreides-Ecazi alliance is to be formalized by Leto's marriage to Archduke Armand Ecaz's daughter Illesa. At the wedding, an assassination attempt injures Armand and kills Illesa.

Leto and Armand retaliate against Grumman, unaware that Moritani forces are supplemented by House Harkonnen troops. Sardaukar warriors arrive to prevent full-scale war. Viscount Hundro Moritani plans to annihilate the assembled forces with a doomsday device, but Swordmaster Hiih Resser disables it. They capture Kaitain, and Paul levels Shaddam's fortress.

He invites Whitmore Bludd to help build a grand citadel on Arrakis. Earl Thorvald leads rebel forces, chased by Fremen naib Stilgar and Fedaykin commandos. Count Fenring and his wife Margot raise their daughter Marie on Tleilax as a weapon against the Atreides. Fremen brutality pushes Houses into alliances with Thorvald.

Bludd is executed after attempting to assassinate Paul. Paul orders the annihilation of Thorvald's home planet after learning of a planned attack on Caladan. Marie tries to assassinate Paul but is killed by Alia; a distraught Fenring stabs Paul mortally.