Dune by Frank Herbert May 21, 2007
Posted by webmaster in : Great Science Fiction Novels , trackbackDune is a landmark Sci-Fi novel. The original book eventually spun off several sequels and prequels, as well as a movie and a much improved Sci-Fi channel adaptation. I would also bet money that a certain Mr Lucas used it as an inspiration for the Star Wars saga, although I’ve never seen it mentioned. Similiar concepts were first pioneered by Herbert, such as a pivotal desert world, a mystic order, a Messiah, and a medival world of emperors and princesses juxtaposed in a space faring society. About the only point they vary is on the issue of artifical intelligence. In the Dune world, thinking machines have been shunned as oppressors and replaced by Mentats. One could argue that the authors motives may have been to perpetuate a universe were a Messiah would be inevitable. It also sets up a fully fleshed out universe perhaps only rivalled by Lord of the Rings. Central also to the underling religous theme is the dependence on the Spice, required foremost by the Spacing Guild for faster than light navigation. This sets up a pivotal dependency similiar to modern day crude oil. Themes of Jihad are also foreshadowed by Dune; the Fremen of Arakis bare a striking resembleance to the Bedouin peoples of the Middle East. On the astronomical side, I’ve also seen reference the Arakis of lore is supposed to orbit Cappella, a real star in the constellation Auriga. This comes from an Encyclopedia of Sci-Fi Places I once perused, but I’ve never seen it referenced in any of the Dune books or modern prequels. Of all the Dune books written, if I could only recomend one, it would be the ground-breaking original.
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