Thematic/Narrative Structure of the Dune Chronicles
Posted: 28 Mar 2014 01:33
I was discussing the Dune series with someone online a few days ago. This person stated that they only enjoyed the first three novels because, in their opinion, the rest only served in expanding the mythology of the universe rather than continue the narrative in any meaningful fashion.
Obviously I disagreed. I was just about to respond with my previously expressed idea that the series can be divided in three parts, with Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune comprising the first, God-Emperor of Dune the second and Heretics of Dune/Chapterhouse: Dune the third when I realized that I no longer felt this to be accurate.
While it does make some sense narratively, I began to consider that the series probably makes better sense when divided thematically, with Dune/Dune Messiah being the first, Children of Dune/God-Emperor of Dune the second and Heretics of Dune/Chapterhouse: Dune the third.
The unique aspect of Frank's writing was that he was not afraid to disrupt the status quo of his universe. It becomes very clear as the timeline develops that he would not maintain a cultural stasis within the Empire. How many other writers in science-fiction/fantasy have done that since? Most seem to write whole trilogies, if not dozens of books, simply progressing the story of a few characters. Obviously this can work well if done right, but more often than not it tires the universe by refusing to develop it.
Frank shook up his universe twice: the first with Children of Dune, in which the Golden Path was established, and then again with Heretics of Dune, when the Honored Matres and Advanced Face Dancers appear. To me, this means that the narrative wasn't as much an influence on the chronicles as was the thematic evolution.
The first part dealt with the Hero's Journey and its inevitable subversion in a real-world setting, the next with the Golden Path and how setting stasis can result in stagnation and extinction and, finally, the last part with (in my opinion) a revisit to the Butlerian Jihad and what it means to be human. Substitute machines dominating the human experience with Advanced Face Dancers co-opting it.
So, I can easily see why people do not enjoy the latter books in the series as they truthfully have little to do with the narrative of the first two. However, this does not make them less meaningful or relevant as they have thematic messages that continue the Dune universe in different manners. I applaud Frank for doing this. He had a far better grasp of how to develop a realistic universe than most writers even now.
I'm sure these thoughts have been covered to some extent on here before, so if they have I would appreciate some direction towards such topics. If not, would anyone be willing to expand on my ideas? I feel like they can be developed with the input of some of the more familiar Dune historians/fans.![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon/smile.gif)
Obviously I disagreed. I was just about to respond with my previously expressed idea that the series can be divided in three parts, with Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune comprising the first, God-Emperor of Dune the second and Heretics of Dune/Chapterhouse: Dune the third when I realized that I no longer felt this to be accurate.
While it does make some sense narratively, I began to consider that the series probably makes better sense when divided thematically, with Dune/Dune Messiah being the first, Children of Dune/God-Emperor of Dune the second and Heretics of Dune/Chapterhouse: Dune the third.
The unique aspect of Frank's writing was that he was not afraid to disrupt the status quo of his universe. It becomes very clear as the timeline develops that he would not maintain a cultural stasis within the Empire. How many other writers in science-fiction/fantasy have done that since? Most seem to write whole trilogies, if not dozens of books, simply progressing the story of a few characters. Obviously this can work well if done right, but more often than not it tires the universe by refusing to develop it.
Frank shook up his universe twice: the first with Children of Dune, in which the Golden Path was established, and then again with Heretics of Dune, when the Honored Matres and Advanced Face Dancers appear. To me, this means that the narrative wasn't as much an influence on the chronicles as was the thematic evolution.
The first part dealt with the Hero's Journey and its inevitable subversion in a real-world setting, the next with the Golden Path and how setting stasis can result in stagnation and extinction and, finally, the last part with (in my opinion) a revisit to the Butlerian Jihad and what it means to be human. Substitute machines dominating the human experience with Advanced Face Dancers co-opting it.
So, I can easily see why people do not enjoy the latter books in the series as they truthfully have little to do with the narrative of the first two. However, this does not make them less meaningful or relevant as they have thematic messages that continue the Dune universe in different manners. I applaud Frank for doing this. He had a far better grasp of how to develop a realistic universe than most writers even now.
I'm sure these thoughts have been covered to some extent on here before, so if they have I would appreciate some direction towards such topics. If not, would anyone be willing to expand on my ideas? I feel like they can be developed with the input of some of the more familiar Dune historians/fans.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon/smile.gif)