The Law of Frank Herbert’s Dune: Legal Culture Between Cynicism, Earnestness and Futility

Abstract

Frank Herbert’s Dune series has been analyzed with regard to various issues, such as politics, ecology and religion. Its legal aspects have been neglected so far. Contrary to the seemingly common perception that law does not play a significant role in Dune, this article will first show that law is indeed ubiquitous in Dune and shapes the narrative in important ways. Dune develops different legal cultures: a cynical rule by law in the Imperium and an earnest rule of law among the native Fremen. It reflects on the limits of law in a way that is heavily influenced by a type of collective determinism first developed in Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, a source of inspiration that has not been noticed until now. Dune reflects a profound distrust of organized authority. Ultimately, it undervalues the fact that law can serve to prevent abuse of power. But to do so, the law needs independent guardians which are conspicuously absent in Dune.