Frank Herbert Dune Themes

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Dune, written in 1964, is the first iteration in a series of science fiction novels by Frank Herbert. Since then, it has been hailed as a classic of the science fiction genre and is one of the all-time best-selling novels in the genre. The novel follows those loyal to the House Atreides, including the Duke Leto, its leader, his partner Jessica, and their son Paul. The Atreides made a bargain to be able to gain control of the extremely arid planet known as Arrakis, and commonly referred to as “Dune”. The House Atreides gained control of the planet from the House Harkonnen, which had been making itself exceedingly wealthy by extracting the most valuable resource on Arrakis: the melange spice—an addictive substance capable of extending life. The Atreides do whatever they can to be able to secure the riches on Arrakis for themselves, including attempting to bring Arrakis’s locals, the mysterious Fremen, onto their side in the feud against the Harkonnens. As for the audience that this novel was intended for, Dune is interesting in the fact that it expresses the traits of two different genres of fiction: science fiction, and fantasy. In regards to the science fiction aspects, they are quite obvious to the reader. The book’s setting is very futuristic in many respects; space travel and planetary colonization are very pertinent topics in the vast galactic empire in which the…show more content…
It focuses on the conflicting interests between the two distinct groups living on Arrakis: the outsiders, or the houses Harkonnen and Atreides; and those native to the planet, the tribes known as the Fremen. The first group are the outsiders. Their main interest on Arrakis is self-aggrandizement; both monetarily and militarily. Before the Atreides arrive on Arrakis, some loyal to Duke Leto warn him of the high likelihood of a trap awaiting them on Arrakis. When asked why, after knowing this, he continues the conquest for Arrakis, he

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