Dune Summary

Dune is a saga of books written by Frank Herbert, considered one of the founders of Science Fiction as we know it today. The Story revolves around Atreides family and their fight for Arraskis (or Dune), the only planet where the spice can be found - a substance that allows interestellar travel. Besides deep characters and intense conflicts, Dune provide us interesting lessons.

One of the most important lessons is how fear is seen in this saga: not as a weakness, but as an enemy that you can face. To overcome fear, the Bene Gesserit, a political and mystic group, created the litany against it:

"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."

The combat is a constant element in Herbert's saga, both in physical and mental ways. One of the many lessons of Ducan Idaho, a great warrior and instructor of the young Paul Atreides, is about observation and how crucial it is in the first moments you face a problem. The eagerness to win may lead us to take rash actions, but deep diving into problems will lead us to the consistency of success:

"Use the first moments in study. You may miss many an opportunity for quick victory this way, but the moments of study are insurance of success. Take your time and be sure."

A good book

A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. This every sister of the Bene Gesserit knows. To begin your study of the life of Muad'Dib, then, take care that you first place him in his time: born in the 57th year of the Padishah Emperor, Shaddam IV. And take the most special care that you take Muad'Dib in his place: the planet Arrakis. Do not be deceived by the fact that he was born on Caladan and love his first fifteen years there.

Arrakis, the planet known as Dune, is forever his place.

To attempt an understanding of Muad'Dib without understanding his mortal enemies, the Harkonnens, is to attempt seeing Truth without knowing Falsehood. It is the attempt to see the light without knowing Darkness. It cannot be.

Thus spoke St Alia-Of-The-Knife. 'The referend Mother must combine the seductive wins of the courtesan with the untouchable majesty of a Virgin goddess, holding these attributes in tension so long as the powers of her youth endure. For when youth and beauty have gone, she will find that the place between, once occupied by tension, has become a wellspring of cunning and resourcefulness.

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 me I will turn to see fear’s path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

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'...A plan depends as much upon execution as it does upon concept.’ - Lady Jessica

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