![]() ![]() Afterward, Mohiam berates Jessica for producing a son for Duke Leto, rather than the daughters she had been ordered to produce. After the test, Mohiam asks Paul about his dreams and whether they sometimes come true. Mohiam puts Paul through the test of the Gom Jabbar, using a poisoned needle and a pain-inflicting box to judge his character. Before the meeting he is inspected by Suk doctor Wellington Yueh, who warns Paul that the Bene Gesserit have their own agenda. Jessica's Bene Gesserit superior, Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam arrives on Caladan to test Paul. Gurney has a sparring session with Paul, insisting that the young ducal heir must be more wary about the danger posed by the Harkonnens and more ruthless in battle. Leto confides his own doubts when he was young and insists that Paul will find his way to leadership, just as he did. ![]() Paul expresses his doubts about his ability to succeed his father as a leader. Leto instead intends to strike an alliance with the Fremen in order to harness their "desert power" to his own and outwit the Emperor. He explains the political situation: the emperor has set up a conflict between House Atreides and House Harkonnen, a war which will weaken them both, to the benefit of the Emperor. Paul discusses his wish to travel to Arrakis early with his father, but Leto refuses, saying that he needs Paul by his side. Duncan dismisses this as merely a dream, telling Paul that "Everything important happens when we're awake". Paul confides that he's been having dreams about Arrakis and the Fremen, including one where Duncan falls in battle. Paul asks his friend, the elite soldier Duncan Idaho to take him along when Duncan goes to Arrakis weeks ahead of time to scout things out. Leto recognizes that his appointment to oversee Arrakis is a trap of some kind, but cannot refuse an imperial offer. The emperor fears Leto's growing political power and popularity in the Landsraad, a conclave of noble houses. Paul's father, Duke Leto Atreides, along with soldier Gurney Halleck and mentat Thufir Hawat, receive an imperial envoy who formalizes the awarding of Arrakis to House Atreides. Spice is necessary for interstellar travel since it makes possible the expanded consciousness of the navigators who plot faster than light jumps, "folding" space time to travel instantly from one planet to another. It is the only source of the psychoactive spice, which extends life and perception. Paul learns about the planet Arrakis and its people. She tests Paul by having him try to compel her to pass him a glass of water. A member of the quasi-religious order of the Bene Gesserit, Jessica has been trying to teach her son the special powers of her order. On the planet Caladan, Paul Atreides eats breakfast with his mother the Lady Jessica. Chani wonders who the new rulers will be. Recently, however, the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV has ordered the Harkonnens to leave Arrakis. The Fremen have been trying to expel the Harkonnens, but to no avail. She explains that since before she was born the planet has been ruled by the cruel Harkonnens who have grown enormously rich harvesting the psychogenic substance "melange" also known as the spice. ![]() The story opens with a woman telling a portion of her people's history on the desert planet, Arrakis.The synopsis below may give away important plot points. ![]()
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