最終更新日: 2 月 19, 2024
“Dune”, Frank Herbert’s magnum opus, has been a cornerstone of science fiction literature for decades.
This epic tale, set on the arid desert planet of Arrakis, is a complex blend of politics, ecology, and the indomitable human spirit.
Its recent adaptation into a blockbuster movie has once again brought it into the limelight, introducing a new generation to Herbert’s intricate universe.
But what many may not know is that the inspiration for the otherworldly setting of Arrakis came from a place much closer to home – the Oregon Dunes.
This unique coastal ecosystem, located on the western coast of the United States, served as the primary muse for Herbert’s iconic landscape.
The Origins of Dune
Frank Herbert’s journey to the creation of “Dune” began in 1957. At the time, he was already an established author, having published his novel “The Dragon in the Sea”.
But it was his trip to Florence, オレゴン, situated at the northern edge of the Oregon Dunes, that would spark the idea for his most famous work.
Herbert was initially drawn to the area by a project being conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The project aimed at stabilizing the shifting sands of the dunes by planting European beach grass.
The struggle between man and nature, the relentless encroachment of the sands, sparked something in Herbert’s imagination.
The Birth of Arrakis
The Oregon Dunes, with their ever-changing landscapes and harsh conditions, served as the blueprint for Arrakis.
The relentless encroachment of the dunes, threatening to swallow forests, roads, and even water supplies, resonated with Herbert.
This led him to envision a planet entirely consumed by sand, mirroring the barren, inhospitable landscape of the Oregon Dunes.
Herbert’s fascination with the ecology of the dunes played a significant role in shaping the novel.
The concept of a planet dominated by a single ecosystem mirrored the monoculture of the Oregon Dunes.
The struggle of the local flora and fauna to adapt to the harsh conditions of the dunes was reflected in the inhabitants of Arrakis and their struggle to survive on a water-starved planet.
Other Influences
While the Oregon Dunes were a significant influence on the creation of Arrakis, they were not the only source of inspiration. Herbert also drew upon his observations of the world around him.
The environment of Arrakis was also inspired by the hydrocarbon (i.e., oil and/or natural gas) wealthy regions like Mexico and the Middle East.
Arrakis, like these regions, is presented as a particular kind of political site, resembling a generic desertified petrostate.
The struggle for control of the Spice Melange, the most valuable resource on Arrakis, mirrors the real-world struggle for control of oil resources. さらに, Herbert drew on Islamic societies as well as concepts of ecology and sociology to create one of science fiction’s most unique worlds.
The Fremen culture, with its emphasis on water conservation and its religious reverence for the sandworms of Arrakis, has clear parallels with various aspects of Islamic culture.
You might think the Oregon Dunes and the interstellar world of “Dune” are light-years apart.
But dig a little deeper and you’ll find they’re cut from the same cloth. Both are raw displays of nature’s power and show just how tough life can be when the odds are stacked against it.
Next time you are at the cinema watching the latest installment of Dune, being transported into incredible sceneries of far-away worlds, remember that these locations are actually not that far from home.
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