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Dune is a science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. It was awarded
the Nebula award in 1965 and tied for
the Hugo award in 1966. It was also a
huge commercial success and has now sold more than 20 million copies. Dune was followed by five sequels. The
Dune saga is considered by many fans of the genre to be the best science fiction epic ever written. It is certainly one
of the most popular; Dune is number six in the Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy
list. Dune has been turned into a film made by David Lynch, a mini-series made by the Sci Fi Channel (United States) and a series of computer games.
Warning: Plot details
follow.
Introduction
The novel was originally serialized as two shorter works, Dune World and The Prophet of Dune, in
Analog, 1963-1965.
Herbert dedicated the novel to dry-land ecologists.
Themes
The emphasis on ecological and religious ideas and the use of Middle Eastern cultural themes
made the novel a provocative departure from previous science fiction.
The success of Dune ensured several sequels. The consequences of the actions of superheroes form an overall theme in the Dune series.
Frank Herbert says:
- "I had this theory that superheroes were disastrous for humans, that even if you postulated an infallible hero, the things
this hero set in motion fell eventually into the hands of fallible mortals. What better way to destroy a civilization, society or
a race than to set people into the wild oscillations which follow their turning over their critical judgment and decision-making
faculties to a superhero?"
This explains the tone of the following three novels: Dune Messiah, Children of Dune and God Emperor of
Dune
Political themes in the Dune series include human beings' susceptibility to mass manipulation by political
propaganda, religious dogma (e.g. The Missionaria Protectiva), and sexual temptation, and the importance of
self-awareness and self-mastery in resisting these types of control.
From a historical perspective, many have noted similarities between the narrative events of Dune, in which a
foreign-born native son of an old colonial order unites disparate and warring tribes of religious desert nomads to win freedom
from a decaying Imperial power, and The Arab Revolt of early 20th Century Middle
Eastern history, at which time a British liason officer T.E. Lawrence
mobilized Arab fighters to break the power of the Ottoman Turks in the Arabian
peninsula. While there are many parallels, one of the most trivial and bizarre may be that in the film adaptations Dune (1984) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962), both characters representing the old Imperial order (Emperor Shaddam IV
and the Turkish Commander, respectively), are played by actor Jose
Ferrer.
The Dune Universe
In the Dune universe, advanced computers have long been forbidden due
to the Butlerian Jihad, a rebellion against thinking machines, and as
a replacement human skills have been developed to an astonishing degree:
- Mentats through intensive training learn to enter a heightened mental
state in which they can perform complex logical computations.
- The Spacing Guild holds a monopoly on interstellar
transport. Its navigators use the spice/drug melange to gain limited prescient
abilities, enabling them to safely guide Guild Heighliners to their destination by folding space.
- The Bene Gesserit is a secretive group of female witches with almost inhuman powers developed through many years of physical and mental
conditioning.
When a Bene Gesserit acolyte becomes a full Reverend Mother, she
gains her ancestral memories — the complete memories of all of her female ancestors. She cannot recall the memories of her
male ancestors, and is terrified by the psychic space within her that the masculine memories inhabit.
The Bene Gesserit are conducting a breeding program to develop a superhuman male who can recall both his male and female
ancestral memories, as well as the ability to see (and thus control) the future. They refer to him as the Kwisatz Haderach. This recall is due to an ordeal known as Spice Agony and involves overdosing on melange, which most men don't survive.
Against this background, Dune chronicles the conflict between the aristocratic House Atreides and its enemy the House
Harkonnen, behind whom lurk the combined powers of the Emperor Shaddam IV,
leader of House Corrino, and the Spacing Guild.
On the fringes of the Galaxy are the shape-shifting Tleilaxu and Ix, a planet whose history is lost in the mists of time and whose society is
dominated by technology.
The Fremen are the native population of the planet Arrakis. They are a hardy people, used to the hardship and deprivation of their desert-planet. They await their
Messiah because of a legend planted intentionally across the Universe by the
Missionaria Protectiva, a division of the Bene Gesserit dedicated to religious manipulation. The Messiah legend is
intended to ease the path of the Kwisatz Haderach when they bring him into being.
The Harkonnens are ordered by the Emperor to cede stewardship of the planet Arrakis (known generally as Dune) to the Atreides.
The planet Arrakis is extremely arid and inhabited by giant, menacing worms which live under the sand (the Fremen call them
Shai-Hulud). The Fremen, adapted to this harsh climate, are obsessed with water
and consider the worms holy.
Dune is the sole source of melange, also known as "the spice" that gives
limited prescience and prolongs the user's lifespan; with it the Guild Navigators see a path through foldspace, and the Bene
Gesserit can enhance their abilities. The spice is the most valuable commodity in the universe and it is found only on Dune.
Thus, the planet is the political fulcrum of the Universe.
The dating system of Dune
The Dune novels use a different calendar dating system than of present
day Earth. Years are not based on the common era (BCE and CE), but before and after the formation of the Spacing Guild, measured as "Before Guild" and "After Guild" (BG and AG, respectively).
Using the information given by the Dune books, it is possible to determine how the dating system used in the novels
corresponds to our own.
1. Butlerian Jihad
Butlerian Jihad lasts "two cruel generations" Dune, Appendix II / V
201 - 108 BG
2. The 20th century
"Mankind's movement through deep space placed a unique stamp on religion during the one hundred and ten centuries that preceded
the Butlerian Jihad. " Dune, Appendix II
~11.200 years
Dune begins in 10191 AG, so we simply add 10.191 to 13.200 together:
10.191 + 13.200 = 23.391
Thus, the year 10191 AG corresponds to the year 23.391 CE. That is, of course, assuming that the Dune chronology actually uses
Earth years.
But Dune counts in Standard years:
"Taraza was momentarily abashed. This was an imposition. Teg was still a regal figure, tall and with that large head topped by
gray hair. He was, she knew, four SY short of three hundred. Granting that the Standard Year was some twenty hours less
than the so-called primitive year, it was still an impressive age with experiences in Bene Gesserit service that
demanded that she respect him." CHoD ~Page 36
So there could be a maximum uncorrectness of about 400 years (we donīt know, when the Dune-Universe started using the
"Standard" year)
List of characters
See the list of characters from Dune.
Synopsis
On the political level Dune is the tale of a political conflict between three noble houses: House Atreides, House Harkonnen
and House Corrino. Shaddam IV of House Corrino, Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, sees House Atreides as a threat to his
throne. Duke Leto Atreides has become very popular — and powerful — among the noble houses of the Imperium. In
addition, House Atreides is in a position where it could undermine one of the pillars of Corrino power: their legions of
'Sardaukar' warrior-fanatics.The Duke has created a similar military force in
quality, combat prowess and dedication, but on a smaller scale. Still, the Emperor fears that it would be a matter of time before
the Atreides forces would equal or surpasses his dreaded Sardaukar.
The Emperor therefore decides that House Atreides must be destroyed, and so he joins in a devious conspiracy with the
Atreides's ancient enemies, House Harkonnen. Baron Vladimir Harkonnen willingly participates in the plot because of his personal
hatred toward the Duke and his house.
Realizing that it would be difficult, if not impossible to invade the Atreides home planet Caladan, the Emperor awards the
Duke a fiefdom on Arrakis, a desert planet which is the only source of the 'Spice', a
drug which increases life expectancy threefold, and increases mental abilities. Indeed the Spacing Guild and the Bene Gesserit
cannot function and exert power without spice — the Guild could not 'fold space' to navigate across immense distances in
space, and the Bene Gesserit's powers of memory recall would be stunted. Civilization depends on the Spice, making it the most
valuable commodity in the universe.
The Atreides agree to take control of Arrakis even though they suspect it is a trap. Unbeknownst to the Duke, the Harkonnen
have recruited a traitor in his House who helps bring House Atreides down. The Duke's only son, Paul, and Paul's mother, the Bene
Gesserit Jessica, manage to flee into the desert to seek refuge among Arrakis's indigenous Fremen. With help of the Fremen, Paul
launches a guerrilla war to retake the planet, avenge the death of his father, assume the Imperial Throne, and become the most
powerful man the universe has ever seen.
Artistic works in the Dune universe
The original series
First Prequel
There is also a prequel trilogy to Dune, known as the Prelude to Dune. It was written by Brian Herbert (son of Frank) and Kevin J. Anderson and based in part on Frank Herbert's notes, found after his death. This trilogy is set
in the years leading up to the events in Dune. Although highly unpopular with fans of the original series, these books have
enjoyed commercial success, and have introduced the Dune universe to a new generation of fans. Critics of the Prelude to
Dune series cite inconsistencies, plot and character liberties taken by the authors, and lack of comparable depth and
quality to Frank Herbert's work.
- Dune: House Atreides
- Dune: House
Harkonnen
- Dune: House
Corrino
Second Prequel
Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson followed this with a second prequel trilogy called the Legends of Dune This
trilogy is set at an earlier time of the history of the Dune universe when humans and sentient machines battle for supremacy.
- Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
- Dune: The Machine Crusade
- Dune: The Battle of Corrin
Other artistic works based in the Dune universe
ISBN numbers
External links
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