Alex Anthony-Lewczuk: Re-evaluating DUNE - Ecological and Theological Dystopias?

1. DUNE
ECOLOGICAL NARRATIVE OR THEOLOGICAL DYSTOPIA ?

2. Beyond a critical point within finite space,freedom diminishes as numbers increase.This is as true of humans
in the finite space of a planetary ecosystem as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask.The human question is
not how many can possibly survive within the system but what kind of existence is possible for those who do
survive
-Pardot Kynes,First planetologist of Arrakis.

3. `The Revered Mother must combine the
seductive wiles 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`
-from Muad`Dib ,Family Commentaries` by
the Princess Irulan

4. `Any sufficiently advanced technology is
indistinguishable from Magic` Arthur C Clarke

5. `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`

6. To the people whose labours go beyond
ideas into the realm of `real materials`-to
the dry-land ecologists,wherever they
may be,in whatever time they work,this
effort at prediction is dedicated in
humility and admiration.`

7. `....There is in each of us an ancient force that takes and
an ancient force that gives.A man finds little difficulty
facing that place within himself where the taking force
dwells,but its almost impossible for him to see into the
giving force without changing into something other than a
man.For a woman the situation is reversed.`......
`These things are so ancient within us ....that they`re
ground into each separate cell of our bodies.We`re
shaped by such forces....
`And you ,my son` Jessica asked,`are you one who gives
or one who takes ?`
`I`m the fulcrum,` he said`I cannot give without taking
and I cannot take without...`

8. `Statistics:at a conservative estimate,I`ve killed sixty-onre
billion,sterilised ninety planets,completely demoralised
five hundred others.I`ve wiped out the followers of forty
religions which had existed since--`
`Unbelievers!` Korba protested .`Unbelievers all`!`
`No`,Paul said`Believers.`
`My Liege makes a joke,`Korba said voice trembling.`The
Jihad has brought ten thousand worlds into the shining
light of -`
`Into the darkness,`Paul said.`We`ll be a hundred
generations recovering from Muad`dib`s Jihad.I find it
hard to believe that anyone will ever surpass this`.A
barking laugh erupted from his throat.
` What amuses Muad`dib?` Stilgar asked.
`I am not amused.I merely had a sudden vision of the
Emperor Hitler saying something similar`.(

9. `The joy of living is all bound up in
the fact the life can surprise you`

10. `A beginning is the time for taking the
most delicate care that the balances are
correct