Hunters of Dune - Entry #5

The end of this epic story is about Kralizec, mentioned several times in Frank Herbert's books.  But now we are really getting down to it.

The old man adjusted a straw hat on his head and leaned closer to Khrone, though his image came from impossibly far away.  "Our detailed projections have provided us with the answer we need.  There is no possibility for error.  Kralizec will soon be upon us, and our victory requires the Kwisatz Haderach, the superhuman bred by the Bene Gesserit.  According to the predictions, the no-ship is the key.  He is --- or will be -- aboard."

(Hunters of Dune, p. 129)

        But who is or will be this new Kwisatz Haderach?  That is just one of the mysteries to work out at the end.

        The other day I explained to my husband that one of the key themes in Dune is plans.  Plans within plans within plans. Breeding plans.  Climate plans.  The Golden Path.  Getting humanity to learn that truly long term planning is needed for survival of the species.  Frank Herbert subtly gets us to see this theme where Brian Herbert is not so subtle.  The following is a portion of a conversation between Duncan Idaho and Reverend Mother Garimi about the ghola project and the decision to create a ghola of Paul Atreides from the cell samples supplied by Master Scytale.  Garimi is trying to make that case that Paul is a monster, not to be recreated.

        "He was a good child and a good man," Duncan insisted.  "And while he shaped the map of history, Paul was himself shaped by the events around him.  Even so, in the end he refused to follow the path that he knew led to so much pain and ruin."
        "His son Leto did not have such reservations."
        "Leto II was forced into a Hobson's choice of his own.  We cannot judge that decision until we know everything that was behind it.  Perhaps not enough time has passed for anyone to say whether or not his choice was ultimately correct."
        A storm of anger crossed Garimi's face.  "It's been five thousand years since the Tyrant began his work, fifteen hundred years since his death."
        "One of his most prominent lessons was that humanity should learn to think on a truly long time scale."

(Hunters of Dune, pp. 157 - 158)