The "ecology of a fictional novel" is science?

If he did not intend Envirnmentalism as he spoke of ecology, then, as was mentioned in another sub-thread, he should not have brought up Earth Day. If he meant ecology as referring the fact that there is a universe that surrounds the characters and impacts them, then he was stating that the book has something that every other book also has. Thus, making a distinction that is not one. It would be like saying that the book has words in it, and praising it for having them.

As for my "patronizing" tone that you perceive, it wa not intended as such and I edited to try to minimize such. However, I had to make my point, and I did. Words mean different thigns in different context, to different people, and in differnt years.

As such, using words like ecology, ecological, and environmental imply environmentalism and other "green" concepts in todays conversational use. It does not imply that he was one of, if not the first author to "Tolkienize" in the Sci-Fi genre. Regardless, the planet Dune and its deserts is not a theme of the novel, and no amunt of detailed descriptive quotes from the novel about the majestic sands, or the Freemen creation and use of still-suits can make it one.