Muad'Dib, also know as Paul-Muad'Dib and Paul Atreides is from the series of books about Dune by Frank Herbert.
He's not technically a god, but he is a godlike figure and has incredible powers that make him the messiah for the indigenous inhabitants of Arrakis (aka Dune), the Fremen.
Paul starts off simply as the son and heir of Duke Leto Atreides. He is special because his mother Jessica, concubine of Leto bore a son when she had been instructed by the Bene Gesserit sisterhood to bare only daughters. They fear he may be the Kwisatz Haderach, the super being they have been attempting to breed for generations using the spice, a substance found only on Dune.
After betrayal to their ancient enemies the Harkonnens, Paul and Jessica escape into the dessert to the Fremen. This where Paul takes on the name Muad'Dib as his adopted name. Paul's powers grow when he takes the water of life. This is the poisonous regurgitations of a drowned sandworm and it is deadly unless transformed by one trained in the ways of the Bene Gesserit. After being in a coma for weeks he wakes, able to clearly see possible futures and with godlike prophesy.
He leads the Fremen to Jihad against the Emperor and the Guild of Navigators, using the spice as leverage. Without spice there is no space travel and no superhuman powers. Paul become Emperor himself only to realise he is trapped by the future he sees.
I really like Dune as a book, although I find the sequels a little less to my liking, and I love the film and mini-series adaptations of the book. I have to admit when I saw Jupiter Ascending I thought Dune on Acid! :)
Sources: DVDs | Books | Wikipedia
Have you read Dune? Have you seen either of the screen adaptations? What do you think?
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Dune is such a cool book. I haven't read the others in the series yet, but yeah, love the first one. Frank Herbert is an amazing worldbuilder. I think Maud'Dib works as a god, at least on Arrakis!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought too ;) Dune is a lesson in how to world build - you're right, so rich.
DeleteI agree with Shell Flower~ he becomes a god, at least in the eyes of the people on Dune. Though I will always like the original movie better. Even with its odd quirks.
ReplyDeleteAlex Hurst, A Fantasy Author in Kyoto
A-Z Blogging in April Participant
I do love the original movie - especially the version with the extra scenes put back in even if the effects hadn't been done on them properly. They say there is a ridiculous amount of footage never seen for that film, I would love to see it one day. However, I think SyFy did a superb job on their mini-series - they are so rich and colourful and really get into the complexity of Dune.
DeleteInteresting character. Not sure I'd want his powers.
ReplyDeleteNo, I think that's a definite no. I mean he knew the love of his life was going to die and all he could do was delay it. That sucks!
DeleteI'm now following your blog which puts you closer to the magic 100 followers!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read or seen Dune. I've seen a copy of the book around my house so I should probably read it someday. I guess I've had that book for over 25 years and never opened it. Maybe I need to see Jupiter Ascending if it's like you've described.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Thank you :D Dune is worth a read if you like political sci-fi with a side of mysticism - it is a brilliant book. As for Jupiter Ascending - it's fun and mad :) As someone said, it's like a 14 year old's fanfic, with a ridiculously high budget and it's so entertaining. I wrote a longer review of it here if you would like to see it: http://tashasthinkings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/review-jupiter-ascending-dune-on-acid.html
DeleteI have never read Dune, but now you got me curious. The story really sounds awesome.
ReplyDeleteI did watch a part of the film a few years ago, but it was 3am and although I was really enjoying it and I wanted to see how it ended, I just fell asleep and could go no further than halfway through.
Pity. One day I'll watch it to the end :-)
It is a great story. I think in some of the later books it kind of disappears up it's own posterior a little, but the first book and all the screen adaptations are superb. 3am - sometimes time just wins doesn't it :)
DeleteDune is one of those books I've always meant to read. My big brother did have a very threadbare copy, and I started it, but maybe I was a bit young at the time. I'll try again!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's definitely not a young readers book :) I appreciate more every time I read it.
DeleteNeat character. What you wrote sure made me want to know more about him.
ReplyDeleteDune is a great book and the screen adaptations are both great, so he's worth looking into. Also if you see SyFy's mini series and go from Dune to Children of Dune you get half naked James McAvoy, which has to be a good thing :)
DeleteI keep walking away from your blog with a mental note to check something out - which is great but is not helping my already too long lists of things to read and watch! :-)
ReplyDeleteMind you Dune has been on the list for a while, it sounds like an awesome story I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
I have the same problem with the rest of the AtoZ - so many great recs :) Dune is a great book and if you don't want to read it just yet there are the two film adaptations to catch - although given one is a mini-series it might be quicker to read the book ;)
DeleteI read it a long time ago and you have tempted me to revisit it! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome - it's a great book :) I heartily recommend the screen adaptations as well, although Lynch's version is a little odd in places ;)
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ReplyDeleteThanks for this one!
ReplyDeletePrecious Monsters
No probs :)
DeleteDune, as a book and movie, are great. I haven't seen the mini-series though, nor have I read any of the other books. Though I recall liking the book, it's the movie that has lasted with me. Probably because I was young and impressionable when I saw it, and didn't read the book until several years later. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe mini series is brilliant - I think it caught the essence of the books better than the film and since the second one (Children of Dune) had a semi-naked, young James McAvoy, I am a very happy camper ;)
DeleteI should really read the Dune series. I love fantasy, and I feel so lazy for not reading them yet. They're classics.
ReplyDeleteMy post for the A to Z Challenge.
The first book is brilliant and as I type I can feel a re-read coming on ;)
DeleteDune has been on my TBR list for years. I'll have to add to the growing list. I did see the movie but that was many years ago.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
A to Z Cohost
M is for Movies
The SyFy mini series is brilliant, much better than the movie, even though I still love it anyway, and the book is simply superb. The book is quite different from Lynch's film :)
DeleteI loved Dune. I need to see Jupiter Ascending!
ReplyDeleteJupiter Ascending is sooo much fun :)
DeleteI couldn't agree more. I read Dune with a vengeance, but the rest I just couldn't get into. I never finished the series.
ReplyDeleteI've read Dune and Children of Dune, but I didn't really get into the others. I really only made it through Children of Dune because I wanted to see how different it was to the mini-series :)
DeleteHaha, "Dune on acid" is a pretty good description of that movie... :) I liked the books too, although I only read the first trilogy, I think it was really well done. Also, knowing Dune probably got me my first job in the gaming industry... XD
ReplyDelete@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary
Sometimes being a geek pays off doesn't it :)
DeleteI never even saw the movie despite having an ex-husband who was REALLY into movies. I'm not a big fan of that type of movie, but I know there are plenty of people who are!
ReplyDeleteThe mini-series are better than the movie, but I do still like the movie :) Space opera is not for everyone ::g::
DeleteI remember seeing I think the first Dune movie. I know my hubby enjoys movies like that more than I do, so I am thinking I probably just sat through it; can't remember much of it. It is interesting how you compared the Dune (on acid) to Jupitar Ascending. Almost like they keep repeating themes/plots with just a little bit of a twist, which I guess makes sense.
ReplyDeletebetty
Don't they say there are only 7 original plots in the world? ;) The first Dune movie is a little odd if you're not into that kind of thing :)
DeleteThis movie and mini-series is new to me, as well as the books, but it sounds like I would've liked all three. :) His blue eyes are really cool.
ReplyDeleteThat's the sign of spice saturation which marks him as a Fremen :) Probably another reason I was drawn to Dune - I have a thing for glowing eyes ;)
DeleteI wasn't crazy about the books, but I thought the movie was all right. Never got a chance to see the mini series though.
ReplyDeleteThe mini-series is even better than the movie - gets a real feel for the books while not being bogged down. The Children of Dune mini-series is equally good.
DeleteWow...I'm feeling like a 'Syfi-o-ficianado'...I've read DUNE and seen the MOVIE, so I recognized Maud'Dib right off the bat...I mean dune. I'm not sure I really understood the 'spice' story, so thanks for that information. Yep, those blue eyes were a big draw....I would watch the mini-series if it comes around again.
ReplyDeleteSue at CollectInTexas Gal
AtoZ 2015 Challenge
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:D Yay! The eyes have it ;) Both mini-series that SyFy did are great - I have them both on DVD and watch them repeatedly.
DeleteDUNE! LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
It's awesome isn't it :)
DeleteI haven't read Dune. I've heard of it though - I get points for that, yes?
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
Of course you get points for that :) But there will be a test next time so remember how to spell Muad'Dib - because I didn't when I first wrote the post ;)
DeleteOne of my favorite sci fi characters. Ever. Huzzah! :)
ReplyDeleteHe is just so brilliantly crafted isn't he. One of the reasons I didn't get on with the other books when I first tried to read them was the lack of Paul in most of them.
DeleteI too liked the original Dune novel but didn't care for any of the sequels. I've never watched the movies or the mini-series. I should try them.
ReplyDeleteThey really good :) The original movie is a bit different from the book, but has the essences and the mini series as well as the Children of Dune mini-series by SyFY are absolutely brilliant.
DeleteI have to comment before I even read the whole post because I, when I read this book, was so in love with the story that it affected me for a long time. I, like you, couldn't get past the second book because I missed Muad'Dib so much. Okay, I finished reading the post! I liked the films too, but they didn't capture the magic foreign quality I felt in the book. There is another series that I read because I'd read Dune, and this series I loved all three books. The series is called the The Faded Sun By C.J. Cherryh if you want to google it... Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
ReplyDeleteOoh, I have some of her books and enjoyed reading them, but I can't remember which ones off the top of my head. Thanks for the rec :)
DeleteDune was a brilliant concept. I preferred it to the Hobbit because it was unique with the worms and water recovery system Herbert created. I never saw the movie. I didn't want to dilute the experience of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe book is great, but the screen versions are wonderful too - if you want the full experience of the books watch SyFy's mini series - they are both brilliant. The is Dune and Children of Dune, which is actually Dune Messiah and Children of Dune in one. I think they released it under a combined title as well, but it was Children of Dune over here.
DeleteI can barely remember the movie Dune, which I saw. From the comments, I'm wondering if I might like the book.
ReplyDeleteInventions by Women A-Z
Shells–Tales–Sails
It is a superb book, I highly recommend it :)
DeleteI'm not a huge sci-fi fan so while I've seen the original film of Dune, I've never wanted to read the book or see any sequels.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot all be sci-fi lovers :) I imagine Dune is pretty weird for someone who isn't really into the genre.
DeleteDune is one of my favorite books and I still recite, "I must not fear, fear is the mind killer" to myself every time I have to do something I don't want to. I do agree the later books were not as good. I did love how eventually Arrakis become a lush green planet and the worms were just ancient history.
ReplyDeleteYou can find me here:
ClarabelleRant
I love that quote - but I can never remember the rest of it :)
DeleteIt's been a long time since I read Dune. It was one of those books I liked but didn't quite get the obsession over.
ReplyDeleteI get the same feeling with many books I see being turned into movies :)
DeleteOooh. Interesting. Now I'll have to try Jupiter Ascending.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun - completely bonkers, but fun. :)
DeleteOooh. Interesting. Now I'll have to try Jupiter Ascending.
ReplyDeleteLove dune the movies. Both of them. Started the book, but never finished it.
ReplyDeleteAlia was my favorite character in the original movie. That was one scary child!
Oh yes - I love the portrayal of her grown up in Children of Dune the mini series too - she is just losing it enough to be brilliant.
DeleteI loved Dune when I read it many years ago, and I've been thinking maybe it's time for a re-read. I haven't seen either of the movies or the series--not sure how I've let that happen. Something else to add to the list of post-April viewing and reading. :)
ReplyDeleteAll this talk is making me want to re-read it too :) I recommend the SyFy mini series of Dune and Children of Dune the most - I love the Lynch movie, but SyFy managed to capture the books so well.
DeleteDune on acid, I like that reference! Like many of your commenters I haven't read Dune in many years, and haven't actually seen the movies. I must change that!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, definitely - I recommend the SyFy mini series the most.
DeleteRead all the Frank Herbert Dune books fanatically, but not the ones by his son. Like the movie and loved the mini-series, because it captured the world even better, as you say.
ReplyDeleteThe mini-series was awesome wasn't it. I think it caught Paul as the petulant child better even if he was being played by someone far older :)
DeleteSorry - I assumed everyone knew it since it's been out since 1965. :) The book is a great read - good luck with finishing it. I re-read it often and I promise spoilers don't hurt it.
ReplyDelete