Dune Cheat Sheat
The Dune Saga takes places tens of thousands of years in the future after humanity has overthrown their Robot/Machine Overlords. Because of this there are strong social and religious taboos against AI or ‘thinking machines’ in particular.
Major Factions/Terms
Humanity in general has reverted to a feudal structure with Padishah Emperor ostensibly in control though in actuality he shares power with the Bene Gesserit and Spacing Guild.
Noble Houses- Atreides, Harkonnen, Corrino, etc. The ones in control of the individual planets with House Corrino being the royal family in the first book. The Major Houses band together to make a kind of nobles’ union known as the Landsraad.
The Spacing Guild- The Guild control all space travel, with Guild Navigators having mastered the ability to jump through space using the Spice.
The Bene Gesserit- When humanity overthrew their Machine overlords, the Bene Gesserit emerged with a the intention of providing a continuous link in human affairs which they achieved through political/religious manipulation through their Missionaria Protectiva, breeding program and ability to access genetic memory. However as they’ve kept their watchful eye over humanity they’ve become aware of the need of a Kwizats Haderach, someone who can guide humanity along the Golden Path. And in the Bene Gesserit eyes a Kwizats Haderach is someone they can control.
The Bene Gesserit have also mastered the Voice- the ability to manipulate people just in how they pitch their voice. The Weirding Way a martial art where adepts are so perfectly able to control each muscle in their body that they’re seemingly able to move at superhuman speeds.
Mentats- Humans trained to make the calculations formerly handled by machines.
The Spice/Melange- A substance found on Arrakis and only Arrakis that extends life, expands consciousness and is vital to the Spacing Guild’s ability to safely jump through space. It’s also highly addictive with addicts developing blue-within-blue eyes.
Arrakis- The desert planet where the Spice originates produced by the great Sandworms.
Fremen- The native inhabitants of Arrakis. Often dismissed by the rest of the Imperium though life on the inhospitable desert world has hardened them and made them a fighting force that could and will change the course of human history forever.
A Note on Warfare- With the invention of shields or personal forcefields, most combat is reliant on knives, swords and martial arts as bullets are incapable penetrating shields. And laser guns or lasguns will instead create viollent explosions when in contact with a shield. However simple firearms are common on Arrakis as shields are avoided especially by the Fremen given their tendency to attract Sandworms.
