Dune

Many years ago I picked up a used copy of Frank Herbert’s science fiction classic Dune (see also here), and I read about a hundred pages into it before setting it aside. I hadn’t picked it up again since that time until recently, and I picked it up again because I just finished watching the movie Dune (part one and part two - see also here). Now I want to finish reading the book.

I admit that science fiction and fantasy aren’t usually my favorite genres. I’ve only read the essentials. I very much enjoy C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength), Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and even Orson Scott Card’s great little book Ender’s Game. I haven’t ventured much beyond that except for the portion of Frank Herbert’s Dune that I read.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by the new movie Dune (part one and part two), and I look forward to Dune part three (see also here), if it comes out before the world ends. There are also earlier movie adaptations that I haven’t seen. (see e.g. here and here)

Dune is the perfect blend of Tremors, Lawrence of Arabia (I also love the sound track), Star Wars (another great soundtrack, my favorite of which is the Luke Skywalker theme), The Lord of the Rings (yet another great soundtrack), and some combination of ancient Greek myths and Biblical prophesy.

Furthermore, Dune reminds me of some of my experiences (wonderful and difficult) in the middle East (Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt). I’ve traversed beautiful deserts and dunes like that of the fictional Arrakis. The beautiful Chani (Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman) evokes memories of a mysteriously beautiful Muslim girl that I met in Jerusalem.

Chani

There are certainly Middle Eastern undertones in the languages and the themes as well. There are hints of Arabic, Hebrew, and Latin, among other languages, in Herbert’s work, and in these most recent film adaptations of his work. I enjoyed these linguistic and thematic parts of Dune, because I have long been fascinated by the Middle East. Soon after I graduated from Brigham Young University, I studied in the Middle East. I developed some proficiency in the modern Hebrew language, and some proficiency in Arabic. Because of Dune, because my aunt recently sent me an article about Maimonides, and because I recently stumbled upon a few great books about Maimonides (see e.g. here), my interest in Hebrew and Arabic has been rekindled.

These are a few pictures that explain my affinity for Paul Atreides (see also here) and the Dune story:

In Ein Gedi, the Judean Wilderness, the Dead Sea, Qumran, etc.

On the Temple Mount (and inside the Dome of the Rock), Masada, Jordan, etc.

In Egypt