Dune

I can't speak for other readers, but I personally believe that Frank Herbert is one the big eight science fiction writers (along with Issac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Orson Scott Card, Aldous Huxley, and George Orwell) who transcend the genre to such a point that literate men and women of virtually all spheres of life in the developed world have a pretty good chance of having heard of them. How? In the simplest of terms, they address contemporary (and indeed, historically universal) themes from politics, economics, and society. In other words, to a humble political scientist like me, well, they're heavenly.

Back to the point. While Herbert wrote a plethora of excellent books, it is his Dune series that warrents series note: in them he traces thousands of years of human politics and economics. Originally he intended (or so we believe based on his notes) to write eight novels, but when he died in 1986, he left us with only six - the anguish of his readers can only be imagined. Well, his son has at last taken up the torch and begun to fill in the gaps - both in terms of writing prequels to the original novels (I have read the works on the so-called Butlerian Jihad, a pan-galactic war between human beings and sentient machines - not Matrix-esque at all, if you're wondering) and in terms of finishing Herbert's original run. In preparation for the concluding novels, I have decided to reread the originals.

Well, as I read Dune I was struck by the extent of the political analysis and discussion, the richness of the economic and ecological commentary, and so forth, and I realized a man could easily teach a course in introductory political economics built just on Herbert's work. And I decided to share with you a few of the quotes from the book that I found the most telling. Now, don't get me wrong, these ain't a substitute for reading the whole thing. Think of them as bait. To get you to read. The book(s).

Page 9

The old woman said: "You've heard of animals chewing off a leg to escape a trap? There's an animal kind of trick. A human would remain in the trap, endure the pain, feigning death that he might kil the trapper and remove a threat to his kind."

Page 30

"Grave this on your memory, lad: A world is supported by four things . . . the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous and the valor of the brave. But of these are as nothing . . . " She closed her fingers into a fist. ". . . without a ruler who knows the art of ruling. Make that the science of your tradition!"

Pages 138-139

Kynes looked at Jessica, said: "The newcomer to Arrakis frequently underestimates the importance of water her. You are dealing, you see, with the Law of the Minimum."
She heard the testing quality in his voice, said, "Growth is limited by that necessity which is present in the least amount. And, naturally, the least favorable condition controls the growth rate."

Page 321

The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future.

-from "Collected Sayings of Muad'Dib" by the Princess Irulan

Page 371

"Hawat's a dangerous toy," Feyd-Rautha said.

"Toy! Don't be stupid. I know what I have in Hawat and how to control it. Hawat has deep emotions, Feyd. The man without emotions is the one to fear. But deep emotions . . . ah, now, those can be bent to your needs."

Page 401

You cannot avoid the interplay of politics within an orthodox religion. This power struggle permeates the training, educating and disciplining of the orthodox community. Because of this pressure, the leaders of such a community inevitably must face that ultimate internal question: to succumb to complete opportunism as the price of maintaining their rule, or risk sacrificing themselves for the sake of the orthodox ethic.

- from "Muad'Dib: The Religious Issues" by Princess Irulan

Page 428

"There are men here who will hold positions of importance on Arrakis when I claim those Imperial rights which are mine," Paul said, "Stilgar is one of those men. Not because I wish to bribe him! Not out of gratitude, though I'm one of many here who owe him life for life. No! Because he's wise and strong. Because he governs this troop by his own intelligence and not just by rules. Do you think me stupid? Do you think I'll cut of my right arm and leave it bloody on the floor of this cavern just to provide you with a circus?"

Page 451

"The city people do seem eager," Stilgar said.

"Their hate is fresh and clear," Paul said. "That's why we use them as shock troops."

"The slaughter among them will be fearful," Gurney said.

Stilgar nodded agreement.

"They were told the odds," Paul said. "They know every Sardaukar they kill will be one less for us. You see, gentlemen, they have something to die for. They've discovered they're a people. They're awakening."

PS - If you've seen Dune the movie, well, don't judge the masterpiece based on that moderate fiasco. That's not to say its a bad movie, per say, only to say that its an attempt to deal with what may be one of the two or three most complicated pieces of fiction written in the last couple decades in around three hours. Don't see it till you read it. I mean, if you haven't already seen it. Whatever.

All quotes are from:
Herbert, Frank (1990) Dune. Ace Books, New York.