Fear is the Mind Killer — 4 Cool Concepts From Dune!
*Most likely spoilers for Dune, if you haven’t watched or read it, please do!*
So, I finally finished the audiobook version of Dune other day! And I’m still obsessed with this IP.
Here’s my background with me and Dune — I watched the two movies one by David Lynch and the other one by Denis Villeneuve.
I liked both of the them, however each has different tones and focuses on different scenes within the original book.
Even though they feel different, the glue that connects the book, the movies, and audiobook are the ideas and concepts presented by the original author — Frank Herbert.
When listening to the audiobook, you get thrown so many different things which lets you know this is not a regular ole sci fi book. Dune packs idea after idea after idea, sparking the reader’s imagination.
When reading you see ideas about economics, politics, the environment, coming of age stories, and sword and sorcery novels. And there’s more ideas, that’ll facilitate a second read…
… Okay, let’s start with first idea…
Economics
Dune isn’t a sci fi book. It’s a business book. Take it from me. I trade stocks, watch CNBC, read annual reports, and have dreams of running a location independent business as well… Dune focuses on this super scarce powerful resource called, spice. Spice controls everyone goals and wants — especially the Baron Harkonnen (the big bad of the IP, more on him later).
There’s whole scenes where the characters only talk about the spice, and spice production. From the Duke Leto, to his son Paul, to the Freman, to the Baron — this is the most valuable commodity in the universe and it shows.
For example, when the Atreides clan take over spice production, it’s a big deal for the Duke Leto. Even though, taking over the spice is a trap by the Sardukar and the Harkonnens — the Duke takes it very seriously. And takes his whole family and tons of men to sand planet, Arrakis, to look over the spice.
Spice, spice, spice.
The spice is cool metaphor for oil. Actually, this reminds me of politics today (2022) — currently, we have high gas prices under Biden, and the news been covering it for a month plus. The high gas prices were a cause of international political strife between countries. Also remember when former President Bush — went to war with the Middle East under the guise of retaliation for 9/11. When in fact the U.S. government has been trying to control the oil in the Middle East for many, many decades. Do you how many things are made from oil? Plastic is one of them. If you control oil, you can control a lot of stuff in the world — economically and politically.
Spice is like that. Many people wanna control it and it makes people do things politically like destroy a whole tribe of people for power.
Politics
I hate politics… At least, I thought I did. When I first read the kindle version of Dune, I was so so so bored. There’s full scenes of politics, which is talking and plotting and backstabbing each other.
In the movies, this is less pronounced cause you can’t have hours and hours of talking — there’s isn’t enough run time.
The movies made the politics way more easy and digestible. And I love Denis’ portrayal of the Baron. The Baron is serious, brutal, and way more Machiavellian than the David Lynch version. David Lynch is powerful, but cartoony. Denis’ Baron feels scaring and dark.
The Baron is politically devious. He wants to crush the Atreides, control the spice production on Arrakis. He wants the Harkonnen on top. He’s mad with power.
It’s not only the Baron that’s politically devious — most of the characters are like Dr. Yueh, Keynes, Duke Leto, Rabban (Baron’s nephew), Lady Jessica, Stilgar, etc…
Everybody has a goal and a darker inner motive.
This is Game of Thrones in space.
And this my big thesis of my previous Dune article. After tech takes away your job — there’s only gonna be politics.
Which is kinda happening now in the U.S. In America, we’re highly capitalistic where even the poorest live nicely. I know of a homeless patron at my job that is over weight, has a cellphone, and has food stamps. American live well, compared to other third world countries. I remember when I was in certain villages in South Africa — there’s a limited amount of water that you could use during the day and if you used it up, then that’s it — no water. In America — that’s inconceivable.
So, we live nice in America, right?
We work. People make money. Live a nice house or apartment. Have kids.
So after that — what’s left?
Politics, religion, etc.
In the future, people are gonna debate over healthcare, social security, tech, robots, computers, etc. Whatever you think could be debated on, will be. And there will be people like the Baron — who are power hungry that want to debate and take resources and attention from another party.
That’s why I’m focused on learning political skills like persuasion, writing, sales, and marketing. Cause those are future proof skills. The robots are gonna take your manual labor job, but you’re need somebody who can take a robot away from you and use it for there personal or business gain.
Think — don’t companies do that already?
For example, YouTube and Netflix are in the same industry AND market (the over the top streaming market).
The OTT market wants your attention…
So what do the companies need?
They need smart, creative people that will steal your attention and time in a effort to generate revenue for there businesses. They need strategists, they need “politicians”… And that’s why…
… Politics is here to stay. Politics is the future.
Future Tech and Genre Inspirations
Like any good sci fi novel, there’s physical hardware that helps humans. But in Frank Herbert’s world, it takes a backseat to economics and politicking. Yet, he does have shields, spaceships, helicopters, suits that helps preserve the water in your body from the hot Arrakis sun. Some tech doesn’t feel like a sci fi novel. Sometimes it feels like an old sword and sorcery novel like King Arthur.
For example, in the training scene between Paul and Gurney, one character screams, “On guard!” As he pulls out a old rusty sword.
I felt like I was listening to the Three Musketeers. It was cool.
Dune is also a cool coming of age story. Paul (the main character) who we see as a young kid grows up to become a strong leader with the combined powers and skills of his mom and dad and the Freman. Paul is a messianic archetype. In Dune, they call him the Kwisatz Haderach — the one who can be all places at once.
We’ve seen this before — and a lot of authors use the heroes journey to suck in readers. My favorite heroes journey is Neo from the Matrix. Neo was part of Morpheus’ of being the The One. We’re not sure Neo is The One at the start, but towards the end we’re definitely sure. Same goes for Paul. He starts as a regular kid and towards the end he’s the Kwisatz Haderach.
Super awesome.
Spiritual
The last idea I wanted to touch on is spiritual. Dune is more sci fi fantasy, than hard sci fiction. The Bene Gesserit felt like nuns — but are there pulling all the strings. They’re powerful, so powerful that the Emperor keeps one by his side, the Princess Irulan. The Bene Gesserit wanna create a Kwisatz Haderach through a breed a Atreides and a Harkonnen. They have cool powers like the voice, which is a cool form of telepathy.
To me, Frank Herbert’s inclusion of religion and the Bene Gesserit is much like politics. After tech takes people outta poverty, many many people are gonna be looking for purpose and meaning in their lives. And I see them drifting toward religion and spiritualty.
Why?
Because people wanna be lead. They want a strong leader.
For example, towards the end of book, after seeing all the amazing things that Paul can do, the Freman chant his new name, Muad’Dib, Muad’Dib, Muad’Dib. Paul gives them purpose. Much like Jesus or Muhammad.
Geez, that’s so deep for a sci fiction novel, you know?
Anyway, those are some of the ideas that I loved from the Dune IP.
I’m so obsessed — that I’ll be buying the hardcover ASAP.
Also, I’m so happy it won six awards at the Oscars! Well deserved!
… If you wanna talk about interesting fiction, I’m currently reading great sci fi like Foundation, Hyperion, Snow Crash — you can tweet me @JAKLHC
Thanks for reading!
