Since I've been self-studying Attic Greek recently, I'll note that the word comes from Oikos (house) and logia (study, study of). It's an examination of how organisms affect and are affected by other members, living and non-living alike, of local and global systems. As such, describing Dune as an "ecological" novel would be correct, in as far as noting how the environment of Arrakis shapes and is shaped by humans and how human views on the spice melange, trading arrangements, the Guild Steersmen, Bene Gesserit, etc. are affected by the processes that lead to the development of this precious substance.



But yet for some, having that as among his many "deviant" behaviors might be taken as a confirmation of sorts that such sexual behavior is "deviant" in the pejorative sense of the word? I noted it because it runs counter to the more positive portrayals of homosexuality in more recent SF novels.



You think there's a single, immutable "point" to the book into which you have a privileged insight? I don't presume such and I would suggest that you be very cautious in trying to view things in such a light. I'm well-schooled in interpretative approaches and their limitations and dangers and what I'm doing is exploring some of the possible interpretations that occur to me as I re-read these books. I don't claim absolute truth, nor do I view as sacrosanct the notion of "authorial intent," which is limited and misleading as well. Texts are not immutable, or else adherents to the world's religions would have single interpretations of their content. Same holds true for fictional works. Please keep that in mind.