Herbert himself wrote five sequels to Dune, beginning with 1969's Dune Messiah and ending with 1985's Chapterhouse: Dune. The Dune Sequelsĭune was just the first chapter in a much larger saga, one which currently comprises 19 novels and various short stories. As the novel closes, Paul has become the new emperor, but he fears the devastation his now fanatical Fremen followers will cause as their jihad extends across the galaxy. Paul is able to lead his people in a successful revolt, defeating Baron Harkonnen's nephew Feyd-Rautha in ritualistic combat and even forcing the Padishah Emperor to abdicate his throne by threatening to destroy Arrakis' supply of spice. After undergoing the same mind-enhancing ritual as his mother, Paul emerges from a weeks-long coma with the ability to see across time and space. He sees them as a powerful force for freeing Arrakis from tyranny, even as he recognizes their potential to destabilize the entire galaxy if left unchecked. Two years later, Paul leads the Fremen in a massive uprising against the Empire. Lady Jessica, meanwhile, undergoes the dangerous ritual to become a Reverend Mother, inadvertently bestowing incredible psychic powers upon her unborn daughter, Alia. Paul assumes the Fremen name Muad'Dib and takes as his concubine a woman named Chani, the same woman who haunted his dreams before coming to Arrakis. However, they're taken in by the nomadic Fremen, who see in Paul the potential savior their people have been waiting for for thousands of years. Paul is sorely tested after arriving on Arrakis, as his family is betrayed by House Harkonnen and Paul and his mother are marooned in the harsh desert. Paul is also haunted by dreams of Arrakis and images of a mysterious woman.
The first sign of Paul's potential is shown when he passes a grueling test administered by the Reverend Mother Mohaim, proving himself to be truly "human" (meaning a person in full control of their will and faculties). In particular, its desert planet setting, mystical trappings and emphasis on a young hero embracing his grand destiny could be viewed as direct influences on the Star Wars movies.Īs the book opens, Paul Atreides is beginning to come to terms with his growing abilities even as he and his family are preparing to move to Arrakis and assume control of the dangerous but spice-rich planet. It's now widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential science-fiction novels of all time. The book quickly met with widespread critical acclaim, winning a Hugo Award in 1966. The original Dune novel made its debut in 1965, with author Frank Herbert publishing it first as a serialized story in Analog magazine before releasing the completed novel.
They've spent thousands of years quietly cultivating the planet, learning how to survive its harsh climate and awaiting for the arrival of their messiah, a figure named Lisan al Gaib (which translates to either "voice from the outer world" or "giver of water"). While dismissed by most in the Empire as savages and brutes, in truth the Fremen have a far better understanding of Arrakis and the nature of spice than anyone.
The Fremen - These nomadic desert tribes are the native residents of Arrakis. She sent Lady Jessica to be Duke Leto's concubine and produce a daughter (who would grow up to produce the Kwisatz Haderach), but instead Jessica bore him a son. Their leader, Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, is obsessed with using selective breeding to produce an all-powerful Bene Gesserit superhuman called the Kwisatz Haderach. Through a combination of mental conditioning and spice consumption, the members of the order have honed their minds and gained superhuman abilities. The Bene Gesserit - The Bene Gesserit are an all-female religious order that serves as one of the greatest political forces in the galaxy. While Baron Harkonnen pretends to be outraged over losing control of Arrakis to his rival, Duke Leto, in reality he hopes to use the situation as an opportunity to destroy his enemy once and for all.
This family is ruled by the cruel, sadistic and hedonistic Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. House Harkonnen - House Harkonnen is one of the wealthiest members of the Landsraad and a bitter rival of House Atreides.