My review of the Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy released in 2021 has been posted at Dune News Net, which is a site all about Dune, including the movies, books, and other materials in the expanded universe.
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Dune Spice Cookies
Imagine you’ve somehow entered the science fiction universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune and you’re on the planet Arrakis… What does it smell like? What does the precious spice or ‘melange’ on which so many things depend taste like? Cinnamon. At least ten references to the odor or taste of cinnamon appear in the book. When Duke Leto and Paul are checking out the spice mining operations and open the door of their ornithopter, “Immediately, their nostrils were assailed by the odor of cinnamon—heavy and pungent.” When a sandworm pursues Jessica and Paul in the desert, “Cinnamon yelled in their nostrils.” Infused with melange, coffee
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Newspaper Interview and Illustrations
My first newspaper interview on my research on Frank Herbert’s Dune series has hit the press, including a preview of some of my book’s illustrations: “What makes a world work? Exploring the groundbreaking universe of Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’“. Thanks to David Herkt and the Sunday Star Times for the opportunity to share some of my work with the public.
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Bene Gesserit and Dune Article on Tor.com
I’m pleased to have my piece on the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood in Frank Herbert’s Dune published on the science fiction and fantasy site Tor.com. The content is based on my forthcoming book on Bene Gesserit women in the Dune series, which takes an agency approach to analyzing these female characters.
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Gertrude Bell and Jessica of Dune: Influencers in the Halls of Power
The parallels between the life of Gertrude Bell, British archaeologist and writer, and the character Lady Jessica in Frank Herbert’s Dune make for an interesting study of how women can successfully carry themselves in unfamiliar territory and exert influence. Although T.E. Lawrence (1888 – 1935) is more well-known, in no small part due to the popular movie based on his time in the Middle East (Lawrence of Arabia (1962)), Gertrude Bell (1868 – 1926) was a significant Western figure in the Middle East in the 20th century and arguably more extraordinary in terms of her influence. Known as a queen or daughter of
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Podcast Interview on the Bene Gesserit of Dune
I’ve been researching and writing about the women of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood of Frank Herbert’s Dune for a while, but haven’t had the opportunity to discuss it verbally much outside of conferences. So I was appreciative of Dune Talk – A Dune News Net Show for the chance to be interviewed on their podcast and talk about my favorite topic and aspects of analysis from my forthcoming book on Dune, based on my PhD research. We also talked about the new Dune film and our thoughts on how it will handle the characterization of key women in its adaptation. I hope people
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