The Orientalist Semiotics of 'Dune'

Frank Herberts 'Dune' (1965) is considered to be one of the most successful Science Fiction novels of the 20th century. It introduces its readers to a future universe, in which the production of the most valuable resource of the universe - spice - is only possible on one vast desert planet called Arrakis. 'Dune' offers many different motifs, including a hero that eventually turns into a superhuman being. However, the novel is also rich of orientalist semiotics and relates to a sign system existent when Herbert wrote his book. Frank Jacob discusses these semiotics in detail and shows how much of 'Lawrence of Arabia' is present in the storys plot.

Frank Jacob is Professor of Global History at Nord Universitet, Norway. He is author or editor of more than 70 books and his fields of research include modern German and Japanese History, Military History, and the comparative history of revolutions.