Dune (1965), the novel by Frank Herbert, has influenced many sci films and other franchises. The obvious one is Star Wars (1977), the desert planet, in the case of Star Wars, Tatooine. There are desert dwellers, aliens, who scavenge, closest to the Fremen are the Sand People. The Tusken Raiders survive in the desert with robes and face masks. The Greater Krayt Dragon is in The Mandalorian episode, “Chapter 9: The Marshal.” It plows through the sand of Mos Pelgo like the Sandworms in Dune. Plus, a massive jaw to swallow prey, but it doesn’t look like knives are made from its teeth. Sandcrawlers are like the Spice Harvesters that run on treads. Speaking of the spice melange, spice is the object that was smuggled by Han Solo and Chewbacca. It isn't very clear what is the Star Wars spice and why it is valuable.
We do know there are spice mines in Kessel, there was glitterstim spice mined on Kessel, Star Wars: Jedi Search (1994) by Kevin J. Anderson explored Kessel. It was part of the Jedi Academy trilogy. The webs of spice spiders held the telepathic inducing spice similar to melage. Sansanna spice was seen in the Clone Wars animated series. Next, we have the Bene Gesserit with their well known use of the Voice, to control persons. The Jedi have Mind Tricks or Affect Mind seen in Obi-Wan’s “You don’t need to see his identification.” The Bene Gesserit sisters could also use the Weirding Way, which is strike opponents at super speeds, this could almost seem like teleportation to enemies. Similar to the Jedi’s Force speed seen in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999). So there is comparisons of the Jedi to the all female Bene Gesserit in terms of their abilities.
We also have the Sardaukar in Dune, elite soldiers who wore helmets, simliar to Imperial Stormtroopers. Then, we will get to highest level of galactic society, the Emperor, of course in Dune and Star Wars. There is Emperor Shaddam IV of House Corrino in Dune. In Star Wars, there is Emperor Palpatine. So that brings up our young hero, Luke Skywalker, growing up as a moisture farmer on Tatooine, and Paul Artreides, who was a young heir growing up on the water rich world of Caladan. For both characters, Luke starts training as a Jedi with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Paul when he reaches Arrakis, start to develop their abilities. Paul has to struggle with Bene Gesserit training and his awareness growing from exposure to the spice. They have to understand their powers and responsiblities to fulfill their destinies. By the way, if a lightsaber went up against a Holtzman generator shield like a lasgun, there would be a nuclear explosion destroying both combatants.
Game of Thrones, the first season, felt exactly like Dune to me when I read the novel by George RR Martin. We have the land of Westros itself with the The Wall, mostly ice and man made, at the edge of the Seven Kingdoms. It was a defense against the White Walkers. In Dune, there is the Shield Wall, also in the north that is a barrier to the storms and the sandworms. This extends to the houses, comparing Dune to Game of Thrones; House Artreides were like the valiant members of House Stark, House Harkonnen, a sinister version of House Lannister, and the ruling house, House Corrino comparable to House Baratheon. Then, we have the sandworms that are the dominant force on Arrakis. On Westros, it is dragon power through House Targaryen. Lord Eddard Stark is sent from Winterfell, obligated by King Robert Baratheon to join him at King’s Landing. Similarily, Duke Leto Artreides is assigned to Arrakis and betrayed by the Harkonnen. I also see young Arya Stark becomes a deadly warrior. I see her very much like Alia, daughter of Lady Jessica. These two works, Star Wars and Game of Thrones, may have roots that were grown from Arrakis like burrow bush!
#Dune, #Tatooine, #Arrakis, #Fremen, #SandPeople, #GreaterKraytDragon, #Sandworm, #BeneGesserit, #Jedi, #Sardaukar, #Stormtroopers, #EmperorShaddamIV, #EmperorPalpatine, #LukeSkywalker, #PaulArtreides, #GameOfThrones, #TheWall, #ShieldWall, #HouseArtreides, #HouseStark, #HouseHarkonnen, #HouseLannister, #HouseCorrino, #HouseBaratheon, #EddardStark, #LetoARtreides, #AryaStark, #Alia
Comments
Post a Comment