Simplistic US anti-intellectualism that pretends an originality – but is a reworking of Lord of the Rings. Fails to acknowledge the (class-related) power of State coerision and instead panders to the Bourgeois myth of the “Great Man”. Nothing original. Ironically, to see “something special” is to fall into the narcissism that defines Herbert’s output (I will not call it “work” due to its Anti-Socialist bias). Herbert wants you to agree with his delusion that the liberal Bourgeois individual is the highest agency of expression human society can muster. Science is viewed as a problem which might (or might not) be hindered by religion and/or women. You would better spend your time learning to think for yourself. Herbert’s idea of a sword and sandals epic – only one with no genuine history.
The ultimate “white sugar” (substanceless) entity – although the sugar turns out to be worm-infested sand. Herbert takes the well-practiced CIA notion of “regime change” and attempts to have it neutered (and justified) by protecting it into a fictional future – when in fact such a policy of the routine committing of war crimes was going on all around him at the time of his writing. Herbert, in true inverted fashion, blames the victims of regime change – for the regime change that has been thrust upon them – completely absolving the “hidden hand” (the US government) that does “the thrusting”. The victims of State power are blamed for the various fetiahes the bourgeoisie wish to contrive and inflict.
The essence of “blaming the victim”. Herbert paves the way for “Green Fascism” and the continuation of a Luddite dislike of technological advance. His dislike of women and the disturbing symbolism of a giant worm (that simultaneously manages to represent both a moisture-lacking “penis” and “vagina”) is palpable. Indeed, just why Herbert is so obsessed with a “lack of moisture” could well provide fuel for endless psychiatric seminars – although I rather suspect that Mr Herbert may well deny the validity or existence of such a science. And here is the crux of the matter – this hours long safari of utter boredom – is a vehicle designed by the auther to convince the unthinking reader that he (Herbert) possesses some type of superior or hidden power. When infect he merely possesses a good publicist.
Still, the TV companies and film producers seem to like rehashing this mindless crap every ten years or do – and this observation should nudge the casual reader into contemplating “who” is behind it’s popularity? Which class interests benefit from eulogising Herbert (the genius who never was) with the pushing of his simplistic (individualistic) narratives upon the world? The reader is left with the distinct impression that left to his own devices, Herbert would probably be content to “ride the worm”. Make of that what you will. In interviews and other works – Herbert perpetuated the fallacy that Hitler and Stalin were identical (so much for his intellectual vigour) and that capitalism and Socialism is a product of “will-power” rather than historical materialism and class dialectics. The reader is left with the impression that Herbert reduces the complexity of material reality to the relative comfort of his middle-class living-room. What people do for money.
