Author: [[Frank Herbert]] Dune is a science fiction series about a world whose distinguishing characteristic is the preoccupation with a prescience-inducing, space travel-enabling, wealth-making drug called spice, which is only found on the planet Arrakis (nicknamed _Dune_). ## Key truths about the world of Dune ### The spice must flow The spice is scarce, yet everything revolves around it: - Space- and time-bending powers of The Spacing Guild, the group of spacefarers that must undergo physical and mental transformations to be able to pilot ships. - Bene Gesserit sisters are connected through time by Reverend Mothers, who must be able to render a concentrated spice poison inert. - It is the most precious resource in the world, so those who control the spice are wealthy and/or powerful. - The Great Houses have private stockpiles of spice as economic storage of value and as bribes for the Guild if necessary. ### The Bene Gesserit have a breeding program The Bene Gesserit are a nun-like sisterhood who are trained from birth in the ways of total body control, martial arts, and ultimate obedience. The Bene Gesserit have a long memory thanks to the communal memories shared by every Reverend Mother, and they use this memory to enact centuries-long breeding schemes. They cultivate the appearance of being bookish, religious, and disciplined, and hide the fact that they are also trained in fighting and politics. [[Nuns who think and fight]] ![[readwise/Books/Dune#^2b6704]] ### Religion has been weaponized Religion is an essential part of the Dune universe. The Fremen inhabitants of Arrakis, despite being fearsome warriors, are deeply superstitious. The foundations of their society are religious in nature; a _Sayyadina_ (Reverend Mother) governs in tandem with a _sietch_ leader, and they regard sandworms (_shai hulud_) as gods. Their religion has grown to protect their most precious resource: water. It has driven them to attempt to terraform Arrakis into a planet where water flows. It also encourages them to "take the water" of those who are not Fremen. The Bene Gesserit's _Missionaria Protectiva_ is a religious mission that plants seeds of prophecies that _may_ be useful for future Bene Gesserits that happen that way. Paul Atreides and his mother, Jessica, exploited this to gain the Fremen's countenance, and, later, trust. ### The Great Houses of the Landsraad are ruled by the Padishah Emperor The major political forces are called The Great Houses, made of noble families that are ruled by the emperor, Shadam IV, currently from House Corrino. Dune is full of political maneuverings. ### Thinking machines were abolished by the Butlerian Jihad In some ways, Dune could be called post-apocalyptic: it is set some time after the _Butlerian Jihan_, when thinking machines rose up against humans. As a result of that altercation, the society in Dune has shunned [[Artificial Intelligence]]. ![[readwise/Books/Dune#^388d29]] ### Humans are trained to be like machines Because of the Butlerian Jihad, the characters in Dune have forbidden the creation of thinking machines. They have also developed a preoccupation with humanity. For example, Paul Atreides was tested as a boy with the _gom jabbar_ by Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam to ascertain he was human and not animal. Instead of developing thinking machines, Dune's society uses training to regain some of the benefits of machines: - Mentats are chosen and trained to become human computers. - The Spacing Guild tests youths for admission as future pilots. - The Emperor trains his Sardaukar in the hostile world, Salusa Secondus. - The Bene Gesserit developed superhuman control over their bodies and minds through monk-like discipline. ## Themes and other cool ideas ### Meditation ![[readwise/Books/Dune#^987360]] Meditation features heavily in Dune, although it is almost never called that. The Bene Gesserit are said to be able to go into near-death trances called _prana-bindu_ suspension, which slows their heartbeats and reduces their oxygen requirements while keeping them alive. They have impressive control over their physical bodies and are able to change the molecular structure of poisons, choose the gender of a fetus in their wombs when pregnant, and stand in a patient readiness when battle may be imminent. The Litany Against Fear is an iconic mantra from the book. The word _litany_ draws religious connotations, but the content is more meditative and individualistic: > I will not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me, and when it has gone, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain. #### The Voice Bene Gesserit have voice training as part of their studies. After registering a person's voice for a few minutes, they can pitch their voices to a register that makes what they say extraordinarily compelling to the listener whose voice they've registered. The Voice can be wielded as an obvious and powerful command, but it can also be wielded more subtly, by adding tones and subtones to affirm their words or intimidate listeners. ### The sword and shield of religious fervor ![[readwise/Books/Dune#^d7d46e]] A recurring theme in Dune is the intersection of religion and politics. There are factions like the Great Houses who are political but not religious, and there are others like the Fremen who are religious and not political. Paul Atreides manages to recover from his position as an outcast duke by wielding both religion and politics expertly. ### Addiction Addiction, mostly to spice, is featured heavily in the book. For the most part, the mentions are not disparaging. In fact, in some cases, an addiction to the spice was even necessary, such as in the case of the Fremen, for whom spice is an unavoidable part of a diet, or The Spacing Guild. ### Ecology The Imperial Planetologist, Kynes, landed on Arrakis and "went native", bearing his son Liet-Kynes among the Fremen and secretly harboring the goal of turning Arrakis into a planet where water flowed. In Dune, water, Makers (sandworms), and the spice are forever linked in a stable ecological cycle, though only the Fremen seem to realize this. To everyone outside Arrakis, spice is the most precious commodity. For the Fremen, it is water, because they understand intuitively that there is no spice without water. ![[readwise/Books/Dune#^cf615d]]