I stumbled upon Dune completely by accident. A beautiful occasion, worthy of celebration. For some time, I was interested in stars until I almost enrolled to Astronomy. I was always tried - only tried, mind you - to memorize the name of the constellations and the stars that form them. I didn't succeed very well, though. But I can only remember the names, I cannot actually point to the sky and say, there, there the Ursa Major lies or something like that. My love to memorize those names is an extension of my fascination to mythologies. Some constellations are named with the characters from Greek mythology. For example, Cassiopeia and Andromeda. And then, I kept digging and found that the stars that form those constellations are named equally beautifully. To name few, Benetnash (the bleary-eyed one), Mekbuda, Diphda (the meaning, unfortunately, is not so pretty), and Arrakis. Arrakis is my personal favorite. I like it so much I named my Gardevoir Arrakis.
 |
| She is worthy of the name Arrakis! |
And during Arrakis-Googling, I stumbled upon a Wikipedia page about Arrakis that is a fictional planet in Dune universe. I was like, "Oh, yeah, interesting" that time and filed it away for future use. Then, I got and started reading the first book in Dune series, titled Dune.
And holyshititisawesome!
Dune is an enthralling blend of science and the occult. The most impressive example of that is Bene Gesserit, a pseudo-religious order of women who have lots of magnificent and useful skills, such as modulating their tone to control others, regulate their metabolism, decide the sex of their children and whether they are conceive or not conceive - awesome! And the best skill of all - ability to detox any toxin that enters their bodies. CRAZY. They achieve those skills by disciplined hard training. The Bene Gesserit even planted seeds of pseudo-religion, a strategy they call as Missionaria Protectiva, to ensure that any Bene Gesserit can survive in even the most hostile of environment by exploiting the mythology and superstition planted there. It also has a record of their secret breeding program - something that every single Bene Gesserit invests their body and mind in. The series adaptations so far don't give the Bene Gesserit justice.
Sorry, but the Bene Gesserits are supposed to be educated and highly skilled courtesans! I am pretty sure that the target scope for bald, creepy-looking women in black is... quite... narrow. Ahem. And the TV series is equally awful as well...
One glance at the parabola-like hat is enough to send anyone scurrying away, I guess.
The best way to clothe the Bene Gesserits are, well... clothe them real glamorously, gorgeously, goddess-like!
OK. Back to the track.
Herbert tried to make a believable theory of the melange (geriatric spice) production. He introduced a new life form, the most disgusting and terrifying creature ever that is possible to exist.
GOD. So... loathsome. So... bizarre. Yet, this creature holds a huge role in Dune universe. Herbert created a life cycle that is a bit messy for Dune sandworm (sometimes known as Shaitan, Maker, Shai-hulud). It, admittedly, makes sense and works well.
We have touched the nature aspect of Dune, and a bit of socio-political and religious aspect in the Bene Gesserit section. We shall delve further into the socio-politic and religion bit.
It never ceases to wonder and confuse me that the movies set in the future mostly feature monarchy government system. In Star Wars, we have Emperor Palpatine. In Dune, we have the Padishah Emperor of the Golden Lion Throne. Padishah sounds badass, Golden Lion Throne? Kicking ass. I thought we view monarchy as lesser system than democracy, yet apparently we will institute it in the future. I wonder why.
The oddest aspect in Dune is that no old religion left over. None. The existing ones are syncretic religion, such as Zensunni. One of the holy books is Orange Catholic Bible, the other one Book of Azhar. Herbert took a bit from every religion and incorporate them in his story. He borrowed very heavily from Islam. Examples? Book of Azhar, Shaitan, and Jihad. From Buddhism, he used the wise sayings and principles, while from Catholicism he borrowed and applied the structure of holy order to Bene Gesserit. He used some Jewish-sounding words as well, one of the example is Kwisatz Haderach.
Herbert painted a cynical picture about messianism. He pointed out in Dune that a messiah can be prepared and messianism can be manipulated.
...
A not so calming picture.
Luckily, Paul Atreides, the male protagonist of Dune, is capable to fulfill all the messianic checkpoints pretty well, thanks to rigorous Bene Gesserit training he had received since his childhood, the fighting and fencing training, and the story spread by the Missionaria Protectiva. Herbert tells us that a messiah can happen without any godly interference. A correct person in a correct place in a correct time can be a messiah, a savior. A concept that is a bit, well, worrying.
Overall, Dune is a magnificent book with fine storytelling and meticulously constructed world. And I think the adaptation by David Lynch is a must watch since it has...
Meet St. Alia of the Knife, Paul Atreides' sister. Her birth is predicted accurately by Paul, her conception was out of love of Lady Jessica, their mother to her husband, Duke Leto Atreides. She has the MOST BADASS name. Separately, St. as a title is nice and comforting since it promises a place in heaven, while Alia is a beautiful name, and knife is, well... useful, tops. Combined? Total, pure badassery.
And it also has...
How often can you see Sting in loincloth?
じゃ、I really like Dune. Seven stars for it. Dune has many quote-worthy sentences, such as the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear.
Source of pictures:
 |
| The David Lynch adaptation... |
 |
| OH MY GOD. The hat. |
The best way to clothe the Bene Gesserits are, well... clothe them real glamorously, gorgeously, goddess-like!
OK. Back to the track.
Herbert tried to make a believable theory of the melange (geriatric spice) production. He introduced a new life form, the most disgusting and terrifying creature ever that is possible to exist.
 |
| *traumatized for life |
We have touched the nature aspect of Dune, and a bit of socio-political and religious aspect in the Bene Gesserit section. We shall delve further into the socio-politic and religion bit.
It never ceases to wonder and confuse me that the movies set in the future mostly feature monarchy government system. In Star Wars, we have Emperor Palpatine. In Dune, we have the Padishah Emperor of the Golden Lion Throne. Padishah sounds badass, Golden Lion Throne? Kicking ass. I thought we view monarchy as lesser system than democracy, yet apparently we will institute it in the future. I wonder why.
The oddest aspect in Dune is that no old religion left over. None. The existing ones are syncretic religion, such as Zensunni. One of the holy books is Orange Catholic Bible, the other one Book of Azhar. Herbert took a bit from every religion and incorporate them in his story. He borrowed very heavily from Islam. Examples? Book of Azhar, Shaitan, and Jihad. From Buddhism, he used the wise sayings and principles, while from Catholicism he borrowed and applied the structure of holy order to Bene Gesserit. He used some Jewish-sounding words as well, one of the example is Kwisatz Haderach.
Herbert painted a cynical picture about messianism. He pointed out in Dune that a messiah can be prepared and messianism can be manipulated.
...
A not so calming picture.
Luckily, Paul Atreides, the male protagonist of Dune, is capable to fulfill all the messianic checkpoints pretty well, thanks to rigorous Bene Gesserit training he had received since his childhood, the fighting and fencing training, and the story spread by the Missionaria Protectiva. Herbert tells us that a messiah can happen without any godly interference. A correct person in a correct place in a correct time can be a messiah, a savior. A concept that is a bit, well, worrying.
Overall, Dune is a magnificent book with fine storytelling and meticulously constructed world. And I think the adaptation by David Lynch is a must watch since it has...
 | ||
| The creepiest kid. Ever. Yet she is soooo cute! |
And it also has...
 |
| *choke on Coca Cola |
じゃ、I really like Dune. Seven stars for it. Dune has many quote-worthy sentences, such as the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear.
- "I must not fear.
- Fear is the mind-killer.
- Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
- I will face my fear.
- I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
- And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
- Where the fear has gone there will be nothing....only I will remain"
Source of pictures:
- http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff362/TheScoreBlogger/PDVD_405.jpg
- http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iqPAEGdVESw/maxresdefault.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment