House Atreides - Entry #2

Too long.  Too long.  I am now on page 475 so in a month, I really haven't gotten too far.  I think I need to have the computer by my bed so that I can type up an entry from the same place I do most of my reading.  So let's get to work here ...

"Every human wants to be healthy, and we cannot treat everyone.  Our care is available only to those willing and able to pay for it." (House Atreides, p. 248)

This was said by a Suk doctor who had come to treat Emperor Elrood.  This does doesn't sound like Raquella's Dr. Suk who founded the Hospital for Uncurable Diseases.  Times have changed.

And on page 288 I found at least part of the answer to my own question about Salusa Secundus which was the home planet of the Butler Family and the planet that housed the central government.  It seems that a renegade house, one "whose name was stripped from historical records" (House Atreides, p. 288), had landed on Salusa and set off their family atomics setting off "an ecological catastrophe" (House Atreides, p. 288).  Earl Dominic Vernius went on to explain that "[a]fterward the survivors moved the Imperial throne to Kaitain, in a different, more secure solar system, where young Emperor Hassik III rebuilt the government." (House Atreides, p. 288)  So what Great House did this and why?

One of the great things about House Atreides is meeting some of our most important characters from Dune, getting to know them and their history.  I have already spoken of Duncan Idaho who is the most enduring character in this whole epoch.  But we also get to meet Thufir Hawat, the Mentat Assassin.  In one of the first scenes that we really get to see Hawat in action, young Leto and Rhombur are sent to train with Hawat and they are dressed down at the onset.  The two boys came wearing regal capes which Hawat quickly pointed out had no use in a fighting situation unless to conceal weapons.  This passage gets across quite clearly how seriously Hawat takes his job of making sure the young men know how to protect themselves.

Hawat snapped his fingers like a gunshot in front of Leto's face.  "Don't talk to me about pretty points of assassination." The Mentat's rough skin turned more ruddy, as if he barely kept his anger in check.  "Is your intention to show off for the ladies, or to eliminate your opponent? This is not a game."  (House Atreides, p. 356)

Page 379 was the first place that the Litany Against Fear was recited as we know it in Dune.  Mohiam recites it to control her fear when her automated shuttle malfunctioned and was plummeting through the atmosphere on Wallach IX.  She was pregnant with Jessica and she knew of the importance of the baby she was carrying.  She was more worried about how her death would disrupt the breeding program than worrying about her death.

And finally, I'll end this entry with another passage about Duncan Idaho.  He really is the star of the story.  Duncan was being questioned by the young Duke Leto who had suddenly been thrust on the throne due to the untimely death in the bull ring of his father.  When considering Duncan's testimony and weighing Duncan's character, Leto thought to himself: "Duncan was tough and intelligent and fierce - but not treacherous." (House Atreides, p. 467)  What a wonderful description of a character.  If I were an actor trying to portray Duncan, this would be the key to playing the role true.