Arrakis, Dune, desert planet.
In the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune, Arrakis holds the reputation as the deadliest
world in the imperium.
In this video I’d like to talk about 5 lethal threats on Arrakis and how you might be able
to protect yourself from these dangers if you were in the open desert.
Spoiler Warning as I will be discussing a few details which are revealed gradually throughout
Frank Herbert’s Dune Series.
Coming in at number 5 is perhaps the most common threat to biological life in any dry
environment, exposure and dehydration.
With the surface of Arrakis consisting almost exclusively of dry dune deserts, during the
daytime surface temperatures can easily reach 77 degrees celsius or 170 degrees fahrenheit
making survival on the surface nearly impossible without protective equipment.
For this reason, the major settlements on the planet are located at the north pole,
where the climate is milder, making human habitation more comfortable.
Survival experts say that a major factor in one’s survival in the desert is to conserve
sweat, not water.
In harmony with this, the residents of Arrakis rely heavily on stillsuits which reduce one’s
body temperature in the open desert and serve as a water recycling system designed to preserve
the body's moisture.
In order for a stillsuit to function properly however, it needs to be adjusted to fit each
person’s body measurements to ensure the highest efficiency.
Water is precious on Arrakis and with the constant threat of exposure and dehydration,
the Fremen go to great lengths to conserve this resource.
During the day they can be found inside various caves and rocky outcroppings along the weathered
mountain ranges that break up the desert sea.
They also tend to travel across the desert at night when the temperature drops to a much
more tolerable level and to avoid any possible loss of water through evaporation.
So in summary, if you want to avoid death by dehydration and exposure in the open desert
of Arrakis, be sure to have a stillsuit, adjust it to fit for maximum efficiency, travel at
night and if at all possible, find outcroppings or caves to rest in during the day.
Coming in at number 4 is the threat of sandstorms.
As a desert planet, the sandstorms of Arrakis are often quite fierce and deadly.
They typically consist of electrically charged wind, sand and dust, traveling at speeds of
up to 700km per hour.
As is brought out early on in Frank Herbert’s first novel, these storms “can eat flesh
off bones and etch the bones to slivers.”
Anyone caught out in such a storm would be killed in a matter of seconds.
The destructive forces of these storms also severely limit the areas in which settlements
can be established on the planet.
Subsequently, the Fremen Sietchs (See-Aytch-es) are built deep within the rocky formations
of the planet which provide protection from such weather.
The capital city of Arrakeen is also protected from these storms by a natural mountainous
sheer rock formation called the Shield Wall.
If you were to find yourself in the open desert with a sandstorm approaching, your best means
of escape would be via Ornithopter or another similar craft commonly used on Arrakis for
transport.
If you’re unable to hitch a ride in one of these vehicles, the next and perhaps only
other option would be to take cover in a nearby rocky formation and to seek shelter in the
caves within.
If you were to escape from the sandstorms of Arrakis into such caves, however, this
would present yet another danger.
Coming in at number 3 on our list is the threat of death at the hands of the Fremen.
Having been molded by this deadly jewel of a planet for thousands of years, the religion
and customs of the Fremen have turned their people into a fierce, lethal force hellbent
on survival.
Their lives are centered around maintaining the strength of the tribe as well as the conservation
of water.
The Fremen also go to great lengths to maintain secrecy concerning their activities especially
regarding their terraforming initiative which would mean the end of the supply of the precious
spice melange.
These are the primary factors which could cause the fremen to consider you, as an outsider,
a danger to their survival, a threat to their secrecy or a possible hindrance to their long-term
agenda.
Subsequently, your fate upon encountering the fremen in the open desert would largely
depend on the circumstances and how you are perceived.
If you are deemed to be a threat, these warriors will not hesitate to kill you and harvest
your body’s water.
And unless you possess an incredible amount of skill in combat, your chances at surviving
such an attack are slim.
Even the weakest members of the fremen are themselves quite formidable.
For example, it was noted by the Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, that his feared Sardaukar soldiers
were almost overwhelmed by a group of fremen which were composed mostly of women, children,
and old men.
While it is a rare occurrence, it is possible to befriend these people.
However, when examining such cases, each individual who was successful in doing so had something
valuable to offer them.
Coming in at number 2 on our list is the danger of the spice blow.
In the book, this is how the imperial planetologist Dr. Liet Kynes meets his end after being captured
by the Harkonnens and left to die in the desert without a stillsuit or water.
A spice blow occurs as a result of the tremendous pressure that builds deep underground in a
wild organic growth called a pre-spice mass.
This underground mass consists of water mixed with the excretions of larval sandworms, called
sandtrout.
Eventually, after the pressure in this area builds to a certain point, it explodes to
the surface of the planet.
Liet Kynes’ death in this way was largely a result of his inability to escape the area
due to his state of heat exhaustion, dehydration and delirium.
In his last moments as the dust whirlpool engulfed him and he fell down into cool darkness.
He noted the sensation of coolness and the moisture as a blessed relief.
While an unusual and rare way to die, it makes for perhaps one of the most interesting deaths
in Frank Herbert’s saga and given Dr. Kynes’ special relationship with the planet, it's
perhaps the most fitting way for him to go out.
But if you were to find yourself wandering the sands of Arrakis, you’d be wise to listen
for the rumbling sound of the spice blow moments before it erupts as this is perhaps the clearest
indicator of its presence.
Finally the number 1 way to meet your maker on Arrakis is death by Shai-hulud aka the
mighty sandworm.
Having been measured at over 400 meters long, these massive beasts roam the desert using
their rows of crystalline teeth to sift the course, rock filled sand for nourishment.
Each sandworm patrols an area that is relative to its size and will not hesitate to attack
anything encroaching on those boundaries whether it be another sandworm or a spice harvester.
Because of their water content, humans are not a natural food source for the sandworms.
However, because its main goal is to protect its territory, they listen for and quickly
respond to rhythmic vibrations in the sand and move in to devour anything they perceive
as a threat.
With their approach being likened to that of a natural disaster, there is little chance
of surviving a close encounter with these monsters.
Because the Sandworms are attracted to rhythmic sounds, in order to escape their notice in
the open desert, you must learn how to "walk without rhythm" ensuring there is no noticeable
pattern to your steps.
However, if you did happen to draw the attention of one of these beasts, similar to how you’d
escape the threat of a sandstorm, you would either need to secure a seat on an ornithopter
or flee to the protection of a nearby rocky formation, which the sandworms cannot traverse.
And that brings us to the end of my list of 5 ways to die on Arrakis.
Is there a particular threat or danger on Arrakis either on this list or otherwise that
stands out the most to you?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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