- I find it interesting how Herbert opens his book. These first 40-50 pages were all introduction – new characters, new settings, the plans within plans, the connections between all these forces. He's giving us a lot of information without really moving the story ahead. Not complaining here, I enjoy world-building. It's just interesting that he's doing a lot of "telling" for such a long section of the book.

- To that point, I'd forgotten as well that Yueh is revealed so early as the instrument through which the Harkonnens will try to bring down House Atreides. An opportunity for suspense and intrigue – that I believe most writers and editors would take – that Herbert sets forth in the second chapter, along with the rest of the Baron's plan. Herbert is telling us what is going to happen in later chapters. Playing on the use of prophecy that is one of the central tenets of DUNE? I don't know. But an interesting storytelling choice. And I have to agree Dustin, the second chapter does come off as a "look at how smart I am" chapter, almost as if the Baron's (and Piter's) voice is a proxy for Herbert's.

- The anachronistic aspect of the story really works well, I think. The futuristic setting could be off-putting for many, but with the Hotzmann Effect, as you mentioned in a post, sets up a feudal system/reality that is more relatable for the audience. Its familiarity helps to keep readers within the story, while also hitting upon a romanticism that can add to the emotional response readers may have with the book.

- Also wanted to say, DUNE is my favorite science fiction novel and one of my all-time favorites as well. Thanks for starting this up and spurring me to go back and look at this story again with a new perspective. Really loving the new outlook I am getting from this discussion.

Two points that I thought I should make here since I'm still at the beginning.

1. The swords mixed with spaceships can be seen as related to Edgar Rice Burroghs' "John Carter, Warlord of Mars" series. (Hmmm, rice as the Atreides export….). I just listened to the first two as audio books and they have the same weirdness that I'm already seeing in Dune – swords battles alongside some sci-fi tech, some weird and scary religious ideas, big deserty places where wild dudes roam. ERB's books are less sophisticated in a some ways, but they are still really good (at least to listen to).

2. From comment 41: "Jessica mentions that as long as Duke Leto remains unmarried there can be the possibility of alliances with other families through marriage."

Queen Elizabeth of England did exactly this and it worked for her very well.

now to bring back the worldbuilding thing and to postulate as to why the "boring as spit" chapters are actually not boring at all:

This novel, as the eco-treatise it was intended to be, deals mainly (as well as over the whole series, whose books have also been kinda maligned here more than they should be, as they are all excellent and informative and more philosophically biblical than even this tome) with the fluid pressure effects experienced in most closed systems. The scene in the Harkonnen keep between the baron, feyd, and piter is not meant just to set them up as a foil to the Atreides and establish the bad blood between the Houses. It also illustrates the seat in the hierarchy which Arrakis occupies. The political systems being manipulated to gain control of a planet- push here, the effect is seen far over there. The concession of the quasi-fief to the Atreides fief complete sets the Atreides up to lose that fief to a Harkonnen/Corrino conspiracy. The feudal nature of the political system in the novel is especially susceptible to such dynamics, and makes it the prime choice for this novel.
Arrakis actually is, as I see it, the main character in this first book of the novel. It is, after all, called "Dune." the "Muad'Dib" (Paul) book of the novel is later. Even in the first chapter you have everything set up to revolve around Arrakis. Arrakis is the first proper noun in the novel's text. All the action of all the characters in this entire section is in the context of their relation to Arrakis. Paul is going to Arrakis, he must be tested before. The Harkonnens are leaving Arrakis, and leaving what plots behind for the uprisings mentioned in the chapter on Giedi Prime? The Atreides have sent Duncan Idaho ahead as an ambassador to this unknown quantity, the Fremen, representing the wild strength of Arrakis. Caladan is characterized by its very difference from Arrakis in several ways: lush, dominated by water (they grow rice there, thats lots of water), and POOR. The Atreides are by no means here the most wealthy of Houses, and yet they are leaving a world which by the standards of anyone actually living on arrakis to be a paradise of wealth. And yet on Arrakis they produce a commodity which could easily buy Caladan.

Sorry to put this in after the deadline so to speak, hope people read this. it took me longer to read this section the second time to make my notes, haha.

i don't wanna get hung up though so i'm going to let it unfold. there's already been a lot of allusions cast that jessica becomes extremely powerful. i love the mix of mysticism and technology so far too. there's crazy stuff like giant spaceships and shield belts and then straight fencing and premonitions!

and i think someone mentioned the lack of computers which is pretty rad. i'm actually having a tough time not reading too far, i'm getting into it!