“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 locate Muad’Dib in his place: the planet Arrakis. Do not be deceived by the fact that he was born on Caladan and lived his first fifteen years there. Arrakis, the planet known as Dune, is forever his place.”
~from Manual of Muad’Dib by the Princess Irulan
Dune.
Like Ahab’s whale this heralded science fiction classic has eluded me for years. Looked at more honestly I am Moby Dick, and thanks to the assistance of a crew of fellow readers, Dune has finally landed me.
The first week of July has passed and with it our group reading of the first part (Book 1: Dune) of Herbert’s classic. It was my honor to ask the questions for this first section, my answers of which you will find after the jump. For those either not participating in the group read or those who have not yet completed this first section, I will warn you that the answers to the following questions will most likely contain spoilers.
If any of you have read Dune but are not participating in the group read, please feel free to answer any or all of these questions either in the comments here on my site or on the site of any of the other participants. At the end of this post you will find links to the Q&A posts of the other participants.
I would ask that you do not reveal anything that happens later in the book, past this first section, as several of us have not read the book before. Thank you.
If for some reason you get behind in the reading, please keep on going at your pace and answer the questions when you can.
Okay, here we go:
