Other Worlds: Building the World of Dune

Recent film adaptations of Frank Herbert’s Dune have once again turned this best-selling science fiction story from the 1960s into a cultural phenomenon. Punishing deserts, monstrous sandworms, and epic power struggles pull us into this fantastical story. But how did Herbert manage to build such an interesting world that still speaks to us today? Dr Kara Kennedy explores what makes Dune and its characters believable and relatable, and how Herbert avoided the clichés that made other science fiction obsolete. Whether or not you’ve read the book or seen the adaptations, you’ll gain insights into the themes and influences of Dune that make it an enduring literary masterpiece.

Kara Kennedy, PhD, is an educator, researcher, and writer in the areas of science fiction, technology, and digital and AI literacy. She is the author of three books—Adaptations of Dune: Frank Herbert’s Story on Screen, Frank Herbert’s Dune: A Critical Companion, and Women’s Agency in the Dune Universe: Tracing Women’s Liberation through Science Fiction. She has also published articles on other aspects of Dune including world-building, names, Eastern influences, the social sciences, ecology, and spice. She blogs at DuneScholar.com.