Re: A theme is merely a dominant strain in a story; there can be more than one theme present
DomA Send a noteboard - 22/04/2010 04:58:01 AM
And those ecological structures and how they affect the narrative history seems to be a theme in the Herbert novels.
That's indeed one of the 5-6 main themes of the novel as defined by Herbert himself. By that he meant the main ideas he had decided to explore. Rather than writing essays, Herbert used fiction. Most of his novels are speculative fiction in the purest sensse.
Some others "themes" I remember:
- How the scarcity of a vital resource tend to make it the pivot of economy and politics and defined the limit of the possible. It was a topic of exploration inspired by the oil crisis which was already predicted at the time.
- A deconstructiom of the myth of the Hero, worshipped by humans since the beginning of times, in myth and religions and history. Herbert believed that Heroes, especially the Superhero kind, were disastrous for humanity. In Dune, he meant to project this idea on a galactic scale and put the survival of all humanity itself into the balance.
- How the cult of the superhero too often lead to theocracy, and how mixing up religion and politics constantly lead to fanatism and disaster. Herbert thought theocracy the worst kind of government.
There were a few more, I'd need to look. IIRC, Herbert spoke of that in the foreword to one of the novels in the French edition (his forewords/afterwords, or those of his French publisher aren't in the American editions).
Of course there's minor themes and ideas by the dozen, as in all of Herbert's books.
Among other things, Dune has also fascinated economists in Europe in the 70s.
This message last edited by DomA on 22/04/2010 at 05:01:02 AM
Frank Herbert, Dune Chronicles (series reviews within)
16/04/2010 04:11:40 AM
- 1956 Views
Re: Frank Herbert, Dune
16/04/2010 06:09:49 PM
- 1073 Views
Re: Frank Herbert, Dune
17/04/2010 12:08:06 AM
- 1263 Views
Re: Frank Herbert, Dune
17/04/2010 02:33:38 PM
- 1189 Views
Not all themes are intended by the author. That doesn't mean they aren't there.
17/04/2010 06:54:14 PM
- 1235 Views
Re: Not all themes are intended by the author. That doesn't mean they aren't there.
17/04/2010 10:44:18 PM
- 1077 Views
I was using a fairly precise term when I said "ecological"
18/04/2010 12:13:14 AM
- 1189 Views
Re: I was using a fairly precise term when I said "ecological"
18/04/2010 03:34:33 AM
- 1243 Views
Please read linked interview...as I call bullshit. Also, why are your walls white?
18/04/2010 05:18:07 AM
- 1050 Views
Re: Please read linked interview...as I call bullshit. Also, why are your walls white?
19/04/2010 06:15:26 PM
- 1080 Views
That was most of my issue.
21/04/2010 12:12:56 AM
- 951 Views
Just because something plays a dominate role doesn't make it a theme
21/04/2010 02:09:42 PM
- 1048 Views
Thank you for saying concisely the point I have been trying to make. *NM*
21/04/2010 06:34:12 PM
- 444 Views
A theme is merely a dominant strain in a story; there can be more than one theme present
21/04/2010 11:21:38 PM
- 980 Views
Re: A theme is merely a dominant strain in a story; there can be more than one theme present
22/04/2010 04:58:01 AM
- 960 Views
Re: A theme is merely a dominant strain in a story; there can be more than one theme present
22/04/2010 04:08:28 PM
- 897 Views
Texts have different interpretations and Readers emphasize different aspects
22/04/2010 09:28:05 PM
- 999 Views
Re: Texts have different interpretations and Readers emphasize different aspects
23/04/2010 05:22:22 PM
- 935 Views
Re: Just because something plays a dominate role doesn't make it a theme
29/04/2010 11:36:45 PM
- 1010 Views
Not really sure how Larry's definition is archaic.
19/04/2010 07:52:27 PM
- 1070 Views
Re: Not really sure how Larry's definition is archaic.
20/04/2010 07:04:40 PM
- 939 Views
Your patronizing manner aside, that's not "archaic" at all.
21/04/2010 01:46:50 AM
- 830 Views
Re: Your patronizing manner aside, that's not "archaic" at all.
21/04/2010 06:23:24 PM
- 1060 Views
People who see this as an ecological book are missing the point of the book
16/04/2010 06:28:40 PM
- 1432 Views
Books can have more than one theme. Great books almost always do. *NM*
16/04/2010 07:15:11 PM
- 469 Views
I agree with that I just never really the ecological theme to Dune
16/04/2010 10:12:26 PM
- 1133 Views
There are several points to the book/series
17/04/2010 12:11:38 AM
- 1154 Views
Everyone get something different from a book
19/04/2010 07:01:51 PM
- 1341 Views
I believe those themes become more pronounced later in the series
20/04/2010 10:09:36 PM
- 1100 Views
I remember having hated every single character of this book. Some random thoughts
17/04/2010 05:08:25 PM
- 1282 Views
Well, I enjoyed more of the characters this time around, if that helps
18/04/2010 12:14:43 AM
- 1171 Views
Re: Frank Herbert, Dune
17/04/2010 08:05:16 PM
- 1538 Views
I guess we'll have a few disagreements here, Dom
17/04/2010 10:22:27 PM
- 1339 Views

Re: I guess we'll have a few disagreements here, Dom
18/04/2010 04:38:10 AM
- 1293 Views

Re: I guess we'll have a few disagreements here, Dom
19/04/2010 04:04:43 AM
- 1218 Views

Re: I guess we'll have a few disagreements here, Dom
22/04/2010 04:31:26 AM
- 976 Views

I thought all of Dune had begun as a serial in a SF magazine. *NM*
22/04/2010 01:58:22 PM
- 412 Views
Dune Messiah (2001 initial read; 2010 re-read)
19/04/2010 08:42:18 AM
- 1198 Views
Re: Dune Messiah (2001 initial read; 2010 re-read)
21/04/2010 03:33:46 PM
- 926 Views
I didn't see that in Alia
21/04/2010 11:27:22 PM
- 875 Views
There were a few scenes displaying Alia's abilities/mindset. (spoilers)
22/04/2010 03:54:32 PM
- 871 Views
OK, that makes a bit more sense, as I wasn't for sure what you were arguing at first
22/04/2010 09:14:46 PM
- 967 Views
One of my favorite series!
21/04/2010 03:30:57 PM
- 877 Views
I didn't "miss it" as much as I chose to deemphasize it
21/04/2010 11:29:50 PM
- 797 Views
Re: I didn't "miss it" as much as I chose to deemphasize it
22/04/2010 04:02:26 PM
- 919 Views
Heretics of Dune (2001 initial read; 2010 re-read)
28/04/2010 06:02:54 AM
- 838 Views
Re: Heretics of Dune (2001 initial read; 2010 re-read)
29/04/2010 03:26:28 PM
- 912 Views