Dune: Prophecytakes place 10,000 years before theDunefilms, yet characters are still using the same energy shields. Despite occurring much earlier onDune’stimeline,Dune: Prophecybears a notable resemblance to the world and characteristics that audiences are familiar with from Denis Villeneuve’s movies. On the one hand, maintaining aesthetic continuity between projects helps build the universe Warner Bros. is looking for, but on the other,it raises questions about technological development.
Part of what makesDuneso fascinating as a sci-fi narrative is that technology doesn’t play as prevalent of a role as it does in something likeThe MatrixorBlade Runner. Sure, there are spaceships and energy shields, but they’re not as impactful in the story as the Voice. As addressed inDune: Prophecy’sfirst episode,computers and artificial intelligence are primarily out of the picture after the Butlerian Jihad, but that still doesn’t explain why other technology hasn’t evolved much over 10,000 years.
The Holtzman Energy Shields' History In Dune
The Shields Are Explained By The Holtzman Effect
Audiences are first introduced to energy shields inDuneduring a training scene between Paul Atreides and Gurney Halleck as they practice sword fighting. Theshield surrounds its user and only allows material to pass through if it enters at a slow enough pace, making guns less effective than swords in the world’s combat. Swordsmen like Duncan Idaho utilize a skillful technique of altering the pace of their strikes to push through opponent shields.
Dune Reveals The Origin Of The Voice, The Bene Gesserit’s Power That Paul Atreides Uses
The Dune HBO prequel show reveals the origins of the Voice, showing how the Bene Gesserit power from the movies came to be. Here’s what we know.
In theDunebooks, it’s explained thatthe shields are a result of the Holtzman Effect, developed by a physicist named Holtzman over 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides. The Holtzman Effect was crucial for not only the shields but also for space travel in theDuneuniverse. The general absence of computers could be a reason why technology doesn’t develop much over the next several millennia, and on the matter,TV Linespoke withDune: Prophecyexecutive producer Jordan Goldberg, who said the following:
“I can’t give you an answerwhythe tech doesn’t evolve over 10,000 years — save for the possibility that, as long ago as whenDune: Prophecyis set, it seemed to be getting the job done perfectly fine. And thus maybe didn’t demand any upgrade.”
How Much Does Dune’s Universe Actually Change Across 10,000 Years?
The Rise Of The Bene Gesserit Is The Biggest Change That The Show Will Explore
Given what’s been shown inDune: Prophecy, it doesn’t seem like a great deal changes over the course of time. House Corrino is in power on Selusa Secundus; they’re struggling to maintain control of Arrakis due to Fremen and threats from noble houses; House Harkonnen and House Atreides have a feud. The biggest change will arguably be the rise of theBene Gesserit, which is still very much in an early form from what’s been shown onDune: Prophecyso far.
Sources:TV Line
Dune: Prophecy
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
