Dune | an epic saga lives on
Dune by Frank Herbert was a strong influence in our wonder | wander | women lives when we first read it in the early 70s, pregnant with Mahala.
Throughout the years, we ardently studied the Bene Gesserit training manual and the Mentat handbook, in our own quest to immerse ourselves totally in the enthralling world of Dune.
We are delighted that a new movie directed by Denis Villeneuve is being released this soon. The reviews and coverage have been very positive — serving to amp up avid fans like us.
The truth is, we were so gaga over Dune that when the David Lynch version first came out we rushed to devour it — previously let down by Alejandro Jodorowsky’s unsuccessful attempt. Even if it fell short of all our expectant excitement, we loved that it stayed true to the book storyline anyway.
A novel that takes place on another planet which imagines a whole new world on a such a grand scale — Frank Herbert’s creation of the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, is the novelistic equivalent of a satisfyingly rich and layered ethnography.
Back then we were waking up to the effects humanity was imposing on our planet — the destruction of its natural balance, too many species facing extinction, overpopulation, inequality, climate change, divisiveness. The ugly underbelly of progress — corruption and greed.
What the author achieves is both stunning and striking. Herbert did not just postulate the existence of intelligent life in another part of the universe, he created this alien culture in a thickly nuanced world that enticed and informed his readers.
Teeming with distinctive flora, fauna, ecology, traditions, institutions, religious beliefs, ancestral conflicts, technologies, myths and other cultural elements. The richness of his contextual framework refined his storytelling and speculative fiction — setting it apart from the rest.
The plot of Dune may initially appear like the typical jumble of stock situations and narrative archetypes. The novel is set primarily on the desert planet Arrakis, a barren wasteland which would be worthless. Except that it is the source of the valuable spice mélange — with it’s mythical hold over the local Fremen tribes — an alien ingredient incorporated in everything and known for its ability to prolong life as well as enhance vitality and alertness.
Duke Leto Atreides has brought his family to Arrakis, where he will take over the valuable spice trade. Yet the gift is a trap hatched by his enemies — Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and Emperor Shaddam IV. Although the Duke has a powerful and loyal entourage, the battle for survival on this inhospitable planet will ultimately depend on his concubine Lady Jessica and his heir Paul.
The plot, as summarized here, is straightforward and not much different from what we might find in hundreds of pulp fiction novels. Yet what distinguishes Dune from other adventure stories of its genre is the rich tapestry that Herbert weaves around his plot.
Addressing ideas and ideals that were at the forefront of its times — evolution and revolution. To create a fresh new world, peopled by better enlightened human beings — everything we aspired for — then and now.
Frank Herbert excels in the ability to address big themes, ranging from ecology to religion, without being heavy-handed or preachy. Those who believe that books set on distant worlds are mere escapism — without valid thematic content or the deep inner meaning of more serious work — are surprised by what lures them within the pages of Dune.
In the end, Herbert never really extricates himself from this story — what unfolds as the curse of the Dune franchise. Although he wrote books about other subjects, he kept coming back to the scene of his greatest triumph — sequels can jinx or trap the creative mind.
The imaginative soul that forged the richly conceived fictional world of Dune succumbed to its siren call — incapable of leaving it behind to move on to other projects.
Although other Dune related works never quite lived up to the great potential of his original epic, we are all grateful to Frank Herbert for giving us Dune — which is such a grand inspiration in and of itself.
Originally published at https://wonderwanderwomen.blogspot.com.
