Skip to main content

Why should you read “Dune” by Frank Herbert? - Dan Kwartler

6,797,878 Views

4,764 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

A mother and son trek across an endless desert. Wearing special suits to dissipate heat and recycle moisture, the travelers aren’t worried about dying of thirst. Their fears are much greater. Soon, the sound of the desert is drowned out by a hissing: a mound of sand 400 meters long bursts from the desert floor and races towards them. This is the world of “Dune.” Dan Kwartler dives into the epic story.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Interested to learn more about Dune’s legacy on modern science fiction? Check out this article celebrating Dune’s 50th Anniversary.

Curious what “chaumurky” is? Never heard of a “crysknife”? Explore the official Terminology of the Imperium with this dictionary.

Learn more about how Frank Herbert fused Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity into Dune’s fictional futuristic religions with this podcast.

Hear from the author himself in this interview from 1969, where Frank Herbert discusses the novel’s inspirations, its themes of eco-consciousness, and the backstabbing scheming of Dune’s politics.


Next Section »

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

More from Reading Between the Lines