In Herbert's God Emperor of Dune (1981), Leto II Atreides indicates that the Jihad had been a semi-religious social upheaval initiated by humans who felt repulsed by how guided and controlled they had become by machines. [12] This technological reversal leads to the creation of the universal Orange Catholic Bible and the rise of a new feudal pan-galactic empire that lasts for over 10,000 years before Herbert's series begins. [13] [14] Several secret societies also develop, using eugenics programs, intensive mental and physical training, and pharmaceutical enhancements to hone human skills to an astonishing degree. [13] Artificial insemination is also prohibited, as explained in Dune Messiah (1969), when Paul Atreides negotiates with the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, who is appalled by Paul's suggestion that he impregnate his consort in this manner. [15]

a b c O'Reilly, Tim. "Chapter 2: Under Pressure". Frank Herbert. Archived from the original on December 30, 2007 . Retrieved March 26, 2019. For the similarities between some of Herbert's terms and ideas and actual words and concepts in the Arabic language, as well as the series' " Islamic undertones" and themes, a Middle Eastern influence in Herbert's works has been widely noted. Taylor-Foster, Kim (January 16, 2018). " Dune Adaptation Will Be ' Star Wars for Adults' Says Director". Fandom. Wikia, Inc. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018 . Retrieved July 16, 2018. Sneider, Jeff (October 5, 2020). "Exclusive: Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune' Movie Is Moving to Late 2021". Collider. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020 . Retrieved October 5, 2020. Dune (1984)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021 . Retrieved January 15, 2015.Fritz, Steve (December 4, 2000). " Dune: Remaking the Classic Novel". Cinescape. Archive Nebula Awards". The Nebula Awards. SFWA. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021 . Retrieved March 8, 2022. Jennings, Collier (July 10, 2020). "New Dune Trilogy Launches in October With Publication of The Duke of Caladan". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021 . Retrieved November 9, 2021. The Dune saga is set thousands of years in humanity's future. Faster-than-light travel has been developed, and humans have colonized a vast number of worlds. However, a great reaction against computers has resulted in a ban on any kind of "thinking machine", with the creation or possession of such punishable by immediate death. Despite this prohibition, humanity continues to develop and advance other branches of technology, including ESP and instruments of war. At the time of the first book's setting, humanity has formed a feudal interstellar empire known as the Imperium, run by several Great Houses that oversee various planets. Of key interest is the planet Arrakis, known as "Dune". A desert planet with nearly no precipitation, it is the only planet where a special life-extending drug, melange or "the spice", can be found. In addition to life extension, melange enhances the mental capacity of humans: it allows for the mutated Spacing Guild pilots to navigate folded space and travel the distances between planets; and triggers some of the powers of the Bene Gesserit, a religious group that secretly seeks to control the direction humanity takes. Melange is difficult to acquire, not only due to the harsh environment of Arrakis, but also the presence of giant sandworms that are drawn towards any rhythmic sounds on the sands of the desert. Control of Arrakis, its spice production, and the impact on humanity's development become the centerpoints of a millennia-long conflict that develops through the series.

Herbert, Frank (1965). "Appendix II: The Religion of Dune". Dune. Mankind's movement through deep space placed a unique stamp on religion during the one hundred and ten centuries that preceded the Butlerian Jihad. Herbert succeeds at juxtaposing so many different elements: ecology, religion, consciousness, feudalism, space travel… gawsh, I could go on! . . . It is a mainly character-driven plot, with the three books in this trilogy focusing on the Atreides family on Dune . . . I think everyone should delve into this world, let themselves be absorbed by it. It makes you question your reality, your choices, your relationships and the impact you have on the world, or the impact the world has on you’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Herbert, Frank (1965). Appendix IV: The Almanak en-Ashraf (Selected Excerpts of the Noble Houses). Vladimir Harkonnen...the direct-line male descendant of the Bashar Abulurd Harkonnen who was banished for cowardice after the Battle of Corrin. Due to the similarities between some of Herbert's terms and ideas and actual words and concepts in Arabic, as well as the series' " Islamic undertones" and themes, a Middle Eastern influence on Herbert's works has been noted repeatedly. [98] [99] a b Herbert, Frank; Herbert, Brian; Anderson, Kevin J. (August 11, 2005). "They Stopped the Moving Sands". The Road to Dune. Tor Books. pp. 263–264. ISBN 0-7653-1295-6.Maslin, Janet (December 14, 1984). "Movie Review: Dune (1984)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012 . Retrieved March 15, 2010. Snider, John C. (August 2007). "Audiobook Review: Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson". SciFiDimensions.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2008 . Retrieved February 15, 2009. the co-authors have expanded on Herbert's brief outline