To kill with the point lacked artistry.
September 13, 2019 3:30 AM   Subscribe

Dune is a massively influential novel that also had many influences. Khalid Baheyeldin maps the Arabic and Islamic themes and the etymologies of words. Some words have shifts in meaning or spelling, some probably intentional, others surprising. Why is a Kindjal - a dagger - spelled like that? Baheyeldin locates this spelling on the Indian subcontinent, but then there's this article by Will Collins about Dune and The Sabres of Paradise, "a half-forgotten masterpiece of narrative history recounting a mid-19th century Islamic holy war against Russian imperialism in the Caucasus." Herbert borrowed liberally from the book's language and its description of fierce people fighting in unforgiving lands.
posted by Zarkonnen (20 comments total) 53 users marked this as a favorite
 
Heh, worth it for the username. I love word origins and Dune nerderey so yay!
posted by Wretch729 at 4:32 AM on September 13, 2019 [3 favorites]


This pleases me greatly...
posted by stilgar at 4:40 AM on September 13, 2019 [7 favorites]


I have immediately added Sabres of Paradise to my Kindle. Thank you!
posted by Molesome at 5:58 AM on September 13, 2019 [2 favorites]


Previously.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:44 AM on September 13, 2019


Always, always down for some Dune!
Played in the MUSH, looking forward to the movie, new RPG and will always feel that Dune fandom is the best fandom.

Even though I hate the Herbert/Anderson nonsense.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 7:22 AM on September 13, 2019 [3 favorites]


Even though I hate the Herbert/Anderson nonsense.

You must be talking about some other timeline. As someone who occasionally teaches science fiction and a Dune fan who reread the series while living in the Middle East, this is wonderful.
posted by mecran01 at 8:29 AM on September 13, 2019


Tangentially, the Dune board game has just been reprinted.
posted by Slothrup at 8:32 AM on September 13, 2019 [9 favorites]


The Sabres of Paradise is in my TBR pile!
posted by Chrysostom at 9:03 AM on September 13, 2019


You must be talking about some other timeline.
Let's just say I have heard RUMORS that other books were written in the series, but only see Frank Herbert's on the shelves.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 9:18 AM on September 13, 2019 [2 favorites]


I tried to read the ones by his son and mostly hate read them because I was wanted to learn more about that world. Have to admit it was a bit like toiling through Wheel of Time which I ultimately gave up on.

However... the series of House books are all set as fairly immediate prequels to Dune. They are far less of a mess than the rest. It was really interesting to learn the background of Jessica especially.

House Harkonen, House Atreides, House Corrino
posted by affectionateborg at 10:59 AM on September 13, 2019


It's very strange to me that the first article linked in the OP was written by someone who has never read the novels.
posted by ElKevbo at 11:38 AM on September 13, 2019 [1 favorite]


This is awesome.

Bill Watches Movies Podcast, did you ever participate in the Second Life venue?
posted by doctornemo at 1:40 PM on September 13, 2019


Hey @DoctorNemo, I've never done Second Life, but knowing what I do about both (Dune & SL) I am betting it was fun as heck. INTRIGUE! POLITICS! SANDWORMS!
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 2:01 PM on September 13, 2019 [1 favorite]


If only they'd bring back The Dune Encyclopaedia...
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 3:01 PM on September 13, 2019 [2 favorites]


If only they'd bring back The Dune Encyclopaedia...

They don't need to bring it back because it's been right here all along!
posted by hippybear at 6:02 PM on September 13, 2019 [3 favorites]


They don't need to bring it back because it's been right here all along!

The official site spent a few paragraphs on the encyclopedia and why it wasn’t canon, etc etc. That was the first time that I, as a fan of a thing, ever felt affronted by an IP owner asserting control of their property. It was so dismissive and condescending, and the non-Frank books were sooooo baaaaad it was like watching someone lick a cookie I was reaching for.

I do have a copy on the shelf. Front cover fell off in the late ‘80s some time.
posted by mph at 8:00 PM on September 13, 2019 [2 favorites]


Bill Watches Movies Podcast: "Played in the MUSH"

That's the sequel, the original was DuneMUSH. I played it in on a connection that would sometimes drop to 300 baud, and would only allow you to type one line at a time.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:01 PM on September 13, 2019


Back in the 80s I heard a radio interview with Herbert talking about some of the language. I didn't record it, which is a problem, because I may be confusing my memories of Herbert with bits of the National Lampoon parody. (Abdul gom-Jabbar, the high handed enemy?)
posted by doctornemo at 11:05 AM on September 14, 2019


Doon is actually moderately funny, unlike Bored of the Rings.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:14 PM on September 14, 2019 [1 favorite]


The red-on-red Eyes of the Egad!
posted by doctornemo at 8:16 AM on September 15, 2019


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