4B Jeremy Yeh

Introduction

First published in 1965, Frank Herbert’s epic science fiction masterpiece Dune is one of the pioneers of modern science fiction. Meticulously crafted, its level of intricacy is unrivalled. The series involves a profound amount of world-building and explores a wide array of social topics such as politics, religion, and culture. Following the debut of the Dune movies in 2021 and late February this year, Dune has resurfaced as a topic so hot that we can’t wait to take you through the first book in the six-book Dune Chronicles.

To begin with, let me give some background to the world of Dune. In the distant future, humanity lives under the Imperium, which is ruled by the Padishah Emperor. The intergalactic empire is governed by the Landsraad, a parliament composed of feudal houses, alongside the emperor. Intergalactic travel, human computing, and even fortune-telling (yes! fortune-telling) are fueled by a narcotic known as the Spice Melange, which can only be mined on the planet Arrakis – also known as Dune. Without the spice, humanity simply collapses.

The main protagonist of the book is Paul Atreides, heir of one of the Houses Major in the Imperium, House Atreides. The story follows his growth, from a teenager around the age of you and I, clueless about the world around us, to someone capable of taking on the role of a Duke and taking on one of the major houses of the empire.

First Feature – A Future Without Technology

Dune tackles many existential subjects, such as the topics of politics, religion, ecology, eugenics, culture, and even sexuality, but one prominent theme of science fiction might seem to be lacking at first glance – technology. Thought was the epitome of science fiction in the latter half of the 20th century, Dune does not feature hyper-futuristic technology as one might expect. We are often conditioned with the futuristic utopias or dystopias in the likes of Star Trek, Blade Runner, or even 1984, that we often cannot imagine a future without technology. Herbert experiments with this idea. The main timeline of Dune is set after the anti-machine revolution named the Butlerian Jihad, where all sentient machines are destroyed. The Orange Catholic Bible (a major religious scripture) says it better, “Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind.” With this premise, Herbert instead takes on the possibility of human evolution to replace the usage of artificial intelligence. For example, in Dune, there are human computers called Mentats, who are people with superhuman intelligence. Without using fictional technology as a crutch, Herbert takes on the creative challenge of reimagining the true potential of humanity. The mastery and attention to detail in Dune is simply awe-inspiring.

Second Feature - Intricacy and Followability

The politico-economic and religious aspects of Dune are just as gripping. The empire is ruled by a triumvirate comprising the Padishah Emperor, the Landsraad, and the Spacing Guild, which is responsible for all intergalactic transport and commerce. The CHOAM company operates as a mega monopoly responsible for all economic affairs of the Imperium, including the trade of Melange. The emperor and imperial houses can purchase shares of the company, whereby the more one holds CHOAM company shares, the more power they hold in the Imperium. CHOAM is thus the power gauge in the Imperium.

The tense relationship among the Houses, between the Landsraad and the Emperor, sustains throughout the series and keeps readers on their toes. Of course, this is one of the major themes of the book. In the book, the Padishah Emperor seeks to destroy House Atreides for getting too powerful. By handing over the fiefdom of Arrakis from House Harkonnen to House Atreides, the emperor can incite conflict between the two rival Houses Major. By doing this, the emperor can also weaken the Harkonnens by putting them in a state of crippling debt. This shows just how deceitful and paranoid the Padishah Emperor is. Yet again, Herbert demonstrates his unparalleled world-building capabilities. The power dynamics among the forces in the Imperium persist throughout the book and into the rest of the series, maintaining the perfect balance between intricacy and followability.

Third feature – An All-Female Elite Power

Despite being held under the thumb of this power triangle, the Imperiumhas another, subtler power – the Bene Gesserit. The Bene Gesserit is a matriarchal religious order which controls all the behind-the-scenes of imperial politics, similar to the conspiratory Freemasonry in real life. They commit to a eugenic breeding program spanning across generations to produce the Kwisatz Haderach – a being able to unlock both their maternal and paternal genetic memories and who possesses prescient abilities that can bridge space and time. In actual English rather than Dune jargon, this is someone of superior intelligence who can tell the future. The Bene Gesserit seek to take control of such a being and lead humanity to eternal prosperity. The Bene Gesserit is also a major influence in the spreading of culture, in which they artificially insert legends and myths that benefit their agenda. One example is the Fremen of Arrakis. When the Atreides first landed in Arrakis, as Paul walked out of the spacecraft, he was greeted with chants of “Lisan Al-Gaib”, which means “Messiah”. Herbert used this development of the Bene Gesserit subplot as a foreshadowing of the events happening in the latter part of the book, where Paul’s special identity is revealed.

(Fun fact: fans of the book interpret Bene Gesserit as a phonetic derivative of the Jesuit order!)

Conclusion

Dune is a groundbreaking and enduring work of science fiction that has undoubtedly left a mark on the genre. Frank Herbert's unprecedented world-building and thought-provoking themes make this novel a truly timeless classic. From the harsh landscapes of Arrakis to the intricacies of political struggle, Dune manages to take readers on a journey that challenges their perceptions of our society. As a cautionary tale, Dune continues to captivate readers and inspire countless works of fiction. Its legacy is well-deserved, and if you’re looking for a good read someday, make sure you pick Dune.

Designed by 5B Percy Shek and 5C Daniel Mok