Heretics of Dune

Did You Know?

• Frank Herbert wrote much of the initial draft in Hawaii using a Compaq word processor.
• According to Herbert's son Brian, the writing was exceedingly arduous and slower than usual due to time spent tending to the medical crises of Herbert's wife Beverly.
• Kirkus Reviews described the novel as more exciting and adventurous than any since the original Dune, with a gratifying influx of new ideas.

Plot summary

Fifteen centuries have passed since the God Emperor Leto II Atreides was killed, ending his 3,500-year rule. His plan, the Golden Path, is now humanity's reality. By suppressing ambition for millennia and wrecking the spice-based economy, Leto triggered the Scattering—a massive human diaspora across the universe that began at his death. Sandworms have returned to Rakis, the planet once called Arrakis, and spice flows again.

Three major powers now dominate: the Ixians, with their undetectable no-ships; the Bene Tleilax, who produce spice in axlotl tanks and have engineered new Face Dancers; and the Bene Gesserit, a female order of subtle manipulators with enhanced abilities. But people from the Scattering are coming back, bringing strange powers. The most dangerous are the Honored Matres, a violent sisterhood trained for combat and sexual domination of men. The Bene Gesserit's leader, Mother Superior Taraza, pulls the retired Mentat and former Supreme Bashar Miles Teg back into service to guard a new Duncan Idaho ghola, supplied by the Tleilaxu, on the planet Gammu.

She also sends Imprinter Lucilla to train Duncan and secure his loyalty through her sexual skills. Meanwhile, Taraza places Teg's biological daughter, Reverend Mother Darwi Odrade, in charge of the Bene Gesserit stronghold on Rakis. There, the Sisterhood finds Sheeana, an orphan girl who can command the giant sandworms, and they aim to control both her and the religion that will grow around her. After repelling an attack on Sheeana, Odrade trains her.

Together, they uncover a massive spice cache left by Leto, along with a message urging the Bene Gesserit to seek a noble purpose.