There's holes in Dune
Not the ones made by the worms on Arrakis
Dune - Arrakis - Dessert Planet
Dennis Villneuve’s interpretation of Frank Herbert’s book series (so far) has put The Dune Series in the pop spotlight. I adore the original 6 books from Frank Herbert - absorbed them like a sponge. But, the more I reflect on it, I see that there are some holes or areas to explore in this science fantasy world. I think that topics on the Other Memories, Spice Addition and joining the Spacing Guild would be fun to explore more. With the Dune movie franchise doing well so far, this seems like an opportune time to explore these things and possibly expand on them in a different media format. But for now, let’s look at the top 3 ‘holes’ I go back to from the Dune Universe.
Other Memories
The other memories are the experiences that are passed down through the genetics of the individuals ancestors. In the Dune series, if you are a descendent of William the Conqueror1, you could potentially access his experiences, his emotions, even speak to him for guidance on how to proceed with decisions and how it could impact the future. But there are caveats to be able to access this type of knowledge.
To start, must be one of his decedents. You must have a strong sense of self and control of your body. You must be able to handle the high level of spice needed to unlock those memories. You must also, be male. Essentially, you have to be the Kwisatz Haderach2.
This is where we are launched into start of the Dune Series. The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood have been breeding humans for many years hoping to create and control the ‘Kwisatz Haderach’. This is where the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood falters with their plan to lead humanity to prosperity and life.
The Reverend Mothers and Sayyadina’s who have gone through the spice agony have access to the genetic memories, but only to their female ancestors. The Sisterhood can only see half of history - they want to see it all. That’s why the Sisterhood have been breeding, matching up the optimal genetics to get this one person who can see both sides; Kwisatz Haderach. This super human will be able to see where the sisterhood cannot; both male and female genetic memories.
But this isn’t the case. I see a hole in this rule because, there are female’s who have access to both male and female genetic memories. They are the abominations.
Abominations are what the Bene Gesserit call a pre-born child. Yeah, really explains it huh? It’s when the mother goes through the spice agony, to access the genetic memories; what happens to the mother, happens to the child. The mother will turn into a Reverend mother and so will the child. But the child is still an embryo and hasn’t grown into itself. I suppose we can see the concern with how that would turn out when the child finally comes out of the womb. So, they are usually terminated before growing to any kind of maturity. The characters who are abominations and make it to adulthood are Alia, Leto II and Ghanima . We’re going to focus on the two female’s who can see both sides of their genetic memories: Alia and Ghanima.
Alia, the younger sister of Paul Muad’dib was preborn; you can read the first Dune book or watch either the 1984 film or the HBO Sisterhood series to see how that works. Alia does okay but eventually one of the genetic memories overpowers her and takes over her decisions and priorities. She becomes processed by her grandfather the Baron Valdimir Harkonnen. The Baron is a guy, so she totally has access to the male genetic memory. She has access to both sides - why didn’t the sisterhood want to utilize that? Well, utilize it before she became processed.
The other example is Ghanima, the twin sister of Leto II. When these two characters were younger, they realized that they are not fully grown, have not cultivated themselves to stand against the multitude of personalities within their genetic memories. Both Ghanima and Leto look back and ask their parents; Channi and Paul to be their guardians within their mind, to shield them as they grow. So when the twins become strong enough, they can stand on their own, within their own minds. Again, why didn’t the Bene Gesserit try to utilize or take advantage of a person in this situation? In the book Children of Dune the Lady Jessica visits her family on Arrakis and see’s that her daughter Alia is possessed. But when she sees her grandchildren, the twins, there is no signs of possession, even though they are abominations.
From what we see with these two female characters, it seems that the Bene Gesserit have missed an opportunity to look at both sides of the genetic memories. It seems like a foolish move not to research the abomination.
But, does this go against the Sisterhood’s bottom line of protecting humanity? Especially it’s females? We know how the Honored Matres reacted when they found out how the Tleilax were producing their kind and clones3 in Heretics of Dune.
It seems that the Bene Gesserit would rather manipulate nature rather than come straight out and breed what they required. Almost akin to grafting and budding4 rather than plant hybridization. The rule of only a properly bred male could access both genetic memories isn’t the case. Was this due to a fear that Bene Gesserit have? Was it ignorance? These questions don’t seem to be explored in the original 6 books (because that’s all I’ve read). I suppose this leaves it up to us to chat, debate and speculate!
“A poison - so subtle, so insidious…so irreversible. It won’t even kill you unless you stop taking it. We can’t leave Arrakis unless we take a part of Arrakis with us” - Paul Maud’Dib Atreides
Spice Addiction
At the end of Dune, the House Atreides has taken over the Golden Lion Throne from the House Corrino. Paul Atreides is now the Emperor of the Known Universe. The new seat of power is the desert planet Arrakis. The Emporer’s followers, filled with religious fervor go out to enforce the rule and religion of their messiah, the Lisan al Gaib.
What ensues is a 12 year holy war where the Fremen of Arrakis travel across the Known Universe to share the The Peace of Muad'dib. They share their religion on all the planets. And if the people or local populous are not convinced of this new religion, force will be used. And if they do not convert, they are of no use to the Lisan Al Gaib and will meet the sword.
Now, a whole fleet of Fremen going to all the planets of the Known Universe is crazy; the amount of people being transported, the distance and the expense. But how about the spice mélange?
The Fremen soldiers have grown up on Arrakis where the spice is within the lifeblood of the planet. They breathe it in, they eat it in their food and have spice coffee on a regular basis! There’s no spice in space - unless they bring it with them. How much spice would have to be transported with the fleet to sustain the spice level required for normal Fremen function? And how do you sustain that high level of spice intake for 12 years?
I was thinking how the logistics for this would work; it’s insane! And it’s not addressed at all in the books, at all! How did we get from the ending of Dune to Dune Messiah? There’s a big gap that I am curious about and it feels like a copout. Not a bad copout like the gap between Resident Evil: Retribution and The Final Chapter. I feel this copout is a good one like The Battle of Wolf 3595 from Star Trek. Still, there could have been so much more to be told within the 12 years of bloody battle. Even just on the reactions and reports on Arrakis would contain an abundance of stories, conflicts and pain.
“Humans are almost always lonely.” ― Frank Herbert, Dune
Join the Spacing Guild
Why, oh why, would you become a Spacing Guild Navigator? I do not understand the reasoning to why someone would want to become a deformed trucker floating in mélange gas. The navigator requires a constant supply of the spice mélange to be able to see a clear path where the ships can safely travel through space.
The Guild Navigator’s role is essential to the running of transport in the Known Universe. Any kind of ‘thinking machine’ is completely banned and considered heresy due to the events of the Butlerian Jihad. Hence humans are used to do the computing and analyzing like the Navigator’s and Mentats. For the Guild Navigators, the spice turned into gas and the navigator contained within the tank. With that constant exposure to the gas it transforms the navigator; think David Lynch’s 1984 Dune. But don’t look at the navigator’s mouth; I do not know what is going on there.
The Spacing Guild are extremely secretive and have a monopoly on Space Travel. In the books there is only mention of parts of the Navigator; no one outside the Guild has seen one. If one becomes a Navigator, they become one of a select few humans who can withstand the intake and prescient sight required to navigate space travel. How does one get recruited for a position? Or are they kidnapped and forced into this line of work? Do they get days off? And what do they do for fun? I don’t think there’s mention of any Pleasure World’s6 where high society members have a planet playground.
The Guild Navigator position comes with esteem, wealth and privilege's but what else do you get? Not much I think. Stowed away in a gas tank to ensure work productivity and because of the transformation required, they’d probably be repulsive to the normal human. The only real insight we get into what it might be like to be a Navigator is from the God Emperor. The monstrous, worm-human hybrid who can see the future and the past of humanity but cannot handle the human touch. If a person touches him, the moisture from the skin burns the hardened shell of the God Emperor.
He see’s the pain and pleasure of the past but has never experienced it himself. A memory of a child sliding down a snowcapped hill to the house and welcomed by the warm embrace of the parent. He sees it from the parent and child perspective, but he has never touched snow and his mother died in childbirth to him and Ghanima. He sees but cannot touch. Is this the same for the Guild Navigator? They can map out a highway through the stars but can they feel the embrace of a lover? They are a part of an esteemed class of society but can they look at their new form in the mirror?
Why would anyone want to join the Spacing Guild - it sounds like the most least-fun cult you could join. You’re deformed, enslaved and removed from society but you’re super cool! Is it worth it?
The Dune Universe is expansive in it’s scope and time. I find Frank Herbert’s writing and delivery beautiful and makes his creation wonderful to take in. As above I’ve only read the original 6 books, none of the expanded universe by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson. If there’s any expiation on the Guild, Bene Gesserit or the Holy War, yes, I admit, I am ignorant of that. But, these holes or exploratory points brought up here seem like a natural thing to look into; goes with Frank Herbert’s style. He gives enough to set up the picture and ideas but leaves enough room for the reader to fill in.
I suppose that’s where us readers can have the fun to speculate and elaborate on what Frank Herbert has created. And with the film and TV series coming out, maybe we will get to see these ‘holes’ and ideas explored further in more media.
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/William-The-Conqueror/
https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Kwisatz_Haderach/XD
https://wiki.dune2k.com/index.php?title=Honored_Matres
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/grafting-and-budding-nursery-crop-plants#:~:text=Grafting%20and%20budding%20are%20horticultural,plant%20and%20grown%20on%20another.
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_Wolf_359
https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Pleasure_World