Coming of Age; Science Fiction; Family Drama
Bildungsroman
If you ever wanted a long, Germanic word for a coming-of-age novel, then you need look no further than this one: Bildungsroman. Got that? Good. Dune is one big novel, a perfect fit for such a word.
The major focus of Dune's plot is young Paul Atreides's journey from childhood to adulthood. Sure, Paul starts out a super mature fifteen-year-old boy. In terms of skill, intelligence, and pure strength, he stands well beyond any adult we've ever met.
But Dune is less about Paul becoming a more adult person and more about him finding his place in the adult world. Paul must learn to navigate the complex and ornate politics of his universe in order to secure his unique status within it. He must also grow into the culture of the Fremen, so he can meet their expectations of him and further his goals. All the while, he must learn to deal with and shape his own terrible destiny so that it doesn't consume him like a tidal wave.
Wow. When we were fifteen, all we had to worry about was finding a summer newspaper route to pay for the movies. Life's tough on Arrakis.
She Blinded Me with Ecology
Just in case you were born after 1982, here's the awesomeness to which the header refers. On to the science fiction genre.
Dune is science fiction, of course. It has space travel, lasguns, and alien cultures. Perhaps most importantly, bookstores shelve it under a giant sign that reads science fiction. Okay, so it's a little obvious that Dune is science fiction, but what kind of science fiction is it?
Yes, there can be multiple kinds of science fiction, since science itself comes in multiple forms: physics, chemistry, and biology, to list just a few examples. As for Dune, the science in its science fiction is dominated by ecology. The novel is obsessed with the environment of Arrakis. The characters' actions, the technology of the universe, and the shape of the religious and political institutions are all shaped by the harsh, unforgiving landscape that is Arrakis. As science fiction, Dune's concern lies with how human ecology will shape human civilization.
Drama Momma
To be fair, drama daddies have their part to play as well. The phrase just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Don't let the space travel and lasguns confuse you: Dune's universe is managed by a feudal society. The result is a system of government with the family directly at its heart. So, conflicts of government are also conflicts of family.
The majority of Dune's plot deals with a longstanding feud between the House Atreides and the House Harkonnen. These aren't just two countries going to war with each other; they're two families drawing entire nations into their squabble.
As if that weren't enough, a midway plot twist reveals that Lady Jessica is related to the Harkonnens, meaning that Paul is as well. And then we find out that Duke Leto is the cousin of the Padishah Emperor. In fact, due to the Bene Gesserit's attempts to breed the noble houses with the best qualities of humanity, there's a good chance that all the major houses in the galaxy are related, which can cause some serious problems.
So Dune is part family drama, in the sense that family conflict stands at its core. On top of that, all these families are actually one giant family raging a universal war against itself. Hmm, wonder if that's saying something about the idea of war as a whole or not?