Heretics of Dune Club Session I: Questions and Observations

Observations: first off, did anyone else laugh out loud when little Duncan Idaho was learning about Leto II and said, "OH to have lived on Rakis in those days!" 😂 The Bene Gesserit descriptions in this book remind me of medieval japan, from their stiff robes, ponytails in barrettes, meticulous mannerisms and always mindful of hierarchy and position. The book as a whole, so far, is reminiscent of it, with how every group is jockeying for power due to no absolute leadership and curious to see how much that plays out. Sheeana’s entrance into the book was exceptional. Up to that point it had been mostly politics, plans and schemes, and then she shows up like a badass controlling worms, and now Im interested in seeing what happens with her the most. Herbert expertly played the long game with the Tleilaxu, because up to now, they weren't used often in the series and didnt succeed much, and Waff addresses it and describes how they worked hard to seem inconsequential and fuel that image. Its almost meta, like he was addressing us, the reader. But even after he said it, it just came off like a normal villains ego talking, until you find out how deadly they really are in the end of the section. And the reader realizes "Oh wow, theyre as dangerous as they say, and have been the WHOLE time." Kudos to Herbert for being the king of long-form storytelling.

The reincarnation aspect of the Dune universe is interesting. It's interesting that they can also reawaken their past memories. It's the ultimate "If I could have a do-over and live my life again - what would I do differently?" And we see that ppl tend to still keep their essence and seem to make similar style of choices. If you Danika were to awaken as a child again and you retained your memories from this life so far - do you think you would follow similar life patterns? Stay an artist? Or would you take the opportunity to try be something different? An anthropologist - an engineer?

Cazzamatazz

Isn't this the first time Suk doctors have been mentioned since the very first book?

Alfredo Colindres

If chair-dogs were available to the public and you could afford it, would you get one? If so, what would you name him or her? Do any characters in the book name their chair-dogs?

Oof, despite the migraines plaguing me all week, I managed to make it on time. No wonder Frank Herbert's wife smoked multiple packs a day. 5 books in and he still writes about people so lofty they sound as if they shit marble. Herbert has weird obsessions with kids and breeding. And terrible exposition practices, but then again, which fantasy writer doesn't? I almost threw the book across the room when I read "Minus 340° Kelvin", Herbert should know Kelvin is a scale with absolute zero so it does not go negative, and don't pretend they came up with a new scale with an old name when they have institutions basically unchanging for millenia. Like why are these factions still around and still scheming? This is getting to Resident Evil fifth movie and beyond territory, why is Umbrella still around, what are they trying to control with humanity basically wiped out... To go back to Dune, perpetual control is not possible, trying to gain control is similarly ephemeral, why not bask in the joys of a post scarcity world?

PJ B

Observations: "Keeping it short this time. Let's see:" S'Tori : satori with an 'a' comes from Zen. I just remembered at the last minute that i heard that somewhere in Alan Watts's audio recordings p.63-64 Alrock pointed out Spannungsbogen makes an appearance again. p.94 The Winter Show is a key memory for Teg. This is all we see of it ... for now. p.107 "You know so much!" By this point in the series it's a well known point of philosophy in-universe that knowing is a barrier to the naivete needed for proper mental nimbleness - Mentat school or otherwise p.108 padfooted seelie : I had to look up what a seelie was in Scottish folklore. Anyone else?

I’d love to hear you extrapolate on how you think Lucilla was trained to be the master Imprinter she is and how you think the Bene Gesserit power of imprinting works in the Hebert universe. The last two books are so good! Hope everyone read the forward because it cast a different light on the last two books for me and the ending of the series.

Don

Gammu, the planet was called now. Once, it had been known as Giedi Prime but someone named Gurney Halleck had changed that!?

eneve

Use love but avoid it, Tolerate love but guard against it. Use it only when necessary. Know that it lay deep within the human genetic makeup, a safety net to insure continuation of the species. Bene Gerserit love!

eneve

I am so glad to be back in the universe of dune. Some may disagree, but I think this series gets better with every book. Heretics of dune really hits the ground running, and I enjoyed reliving just how much I loved this book. My favorite line in this section is when the fish speaker screams at the Tleilaxu "long pretense creates a reality! You are truly vile!". The Tleilaxu are one of the most fascinating parts of the dune Universe to me, but I see them being set up as one great big cautionary example that too many lies told to others Will always affect your own sense of reality.

All very good so far! The only part that confused me a bit and maybe you can explain the tleiaxu hierarchy and cast system (masters and face dancers)? They have the ability to produce spice?

eneve