Keyword: DESERT | “Dune”, by Frank Herbert

After being postponed due to the strike of writers and actors in the USA, “Dune: Part Two” will finally open in theatres around the world this month. Both Part One and Part Two were adapted from the first book of the series “Dune”, which is the name of the first book.

Paul Atreides is the son of the Duke, who, by imperial decree, has to take a new stewardship: the planet Arrakis. The entire family has to leave their home planet, a water planet, never to return. Arrakis is a desert planet, also known as Dune, with nothing but sand, gigantic worms, and spice. Spice is what makes this planet so valuable and worms are the creatures that produced it by interacting with the sand. Needless to say that those worms are deadly and harvesting the spice is extremely dangerous. The previous steward of Arrakis, who was removed by the emperor, is extremely wealthy due to the spice harvesting. Why did the emperor transfer this stewardship, banishing the previous Duke from his home planet and drying his wealth source? And why has the arrival of Paul Atreides been so anticipated by the people of Arrakis? And what role will the Fremen, the native people of Arrakis, have in the story?

“Dune”, by Frank Herbert, is considered a classic of science fiction and a cult book for many. In truth, this is just the first volume of a series of six. Many topics are intertwined and its brilliantly-achieved complexity is what makes this book, and the subsequent volumes, so epic. Things are never as they seem and the story takes several unexpected turns over and over again. For example, at the beginning of the book, the Fremen are presented as savages who do nothing but terrorist acts. When Paul Atreides is forced to flee from the ducal palace, he must take refuge with them. We then learn how Fremen have adapted to life in the desert, their relationship with the gigantic worms and also how water is central in their lives. Fremen also have the project of transforming the desert into a forest, which is actually achieved in a later book of the series, but with devastating consequences.

Of course, the story is not just about survival techniques and mega projects. There is a rebellion in the making that will change the whole empire and a mysterious organization of women that will have a crucial role in the process. These women dedicate their lives to the organization and use all their craft (natural and learned) to achieve their goals.

Unfortunately, Frank Herbert died before he could finish the series.

 
The six volumes of “Dune”:

• #1 Dune
• #2 Dune Messiah
• #3 Children of Dune
• #4 God Emperor of Dune
• #5 Heretics of Dune
• #6 Chapterhouse: Dune