There is a hidden power within TH-cam known as the Nerd Cookie Nation. Their leader is secretive in nature and has earned powers few understand. But the hearts of the Nerd Cookie Nation and their love for their interests bring a shining light to an otherwise dark place.
The Landsraad is never really explored in Dune, and I find that a crying shame :( If the politics of Dune are explained in the movie, I hope the life Duke Leto is explored better, showing just how dangerous he was to the status quo. He was using CHOAM to overrun the Landsraad, and the minor houses loved him for it. He reinvested the profits of his world, which is why they became so successful, and the populations of all worlds wanted to join him. He was causing disruption in Harkonnen businesses by disproving the need for oppressive serfdom and slavery. All of this also led to militaries being trained, and the Sardaukar being proven to be defeatable in combat when they were not fighting serf militias. This greatly threatened the Landsraad voting block of the Golden Lion Throne, as well as their mercenary income from those unofficial actions. So when CHOAM tells Leto that he is to be entrusted with spice harvesting because the Emperor can no longer trust Vladamir to protect that industry, he has no reason to refuse publicly. And his empire build around Caladan crumbles if he refuses, as EVERYONE needs spice. If there is anything I hope they drive home in Dune, it's this: if you take enough, you live to three times your normal life span. Once you take enough to extend your life, you are addicted for life and will eventually die without it. So my dream is, we learn WHY so many people suddenly love Leto in the Landsraad, and why it wasn't because he is some kind of "white hat" savior :) Awesome breakdown as always. Maybe you can do the Irulan style breakdown on government, and use that as the opening to the opening of Dune :)
Too much of the prologue of Dune is just skipped and glossed over. The politics and scheming by all sides just to get to the opening could be just as interesting as the book itself.
True. The role of the Landsraad takes place off-page. But then, so does much else about the backstory. Mau'dib's jihad, for example, happens entirely between books. Herbert was somewhat contemptuous of the majority of humanity and regards them as simply back drop for the stories of extraordinary individuals. Just consider the utter implausibility of one social system enduring across most of the human species on thousands of worlds for over 10,000 years!
The bait was also irresistible. Not just the wealth control of Spice mining would offer, but the strength and power of the Fremen, who Leto though (quite correctly) would match or exceed that of the Sardaukar, meaning that if House Atreides could gain the allegiance of the Fremen, they'd have a fighting force that could topple Shaddam IV. All of this meant that even if Leto could refuse to move his House to Arrakis, he would not.
@@erikbjelke4411 Leto also understood if he had rejected the Emperor's wishes, he would be dooming his house. As powerful as House Atreides is, they wouldn't be able to withstand an invasion from multiple houses.
The grandfather of the nastiest predator in human history, and a seat The Red Duke aspired to have his family to sit upon... hmmm poor dke Leto, poor Leto indeed.
Landsraad (literally meaning country council) is actually an old Dutch word. How and why Frank used it here is a guess. The Dutch use of Landraad (no s) was part of how the Dutch suppressed the Dutch Indies but gave the illusion of a fair justice system, where the Landraad would be a court for local cases. Also, in the Dutch Republic, when they revolted against the Spanish, the Dutch created a council of merchant houses all working together and sometimes competing to combine their power to beat the Spanish. This council was at the first part of the Spanish rule, yet, when the Spanish rule became too tyrannical, they self-organized their revolt. Ironic that later the actual use of the word was connected to their dominance over their colony. It seems Frank Herbert understood these nuanced power plays. Something lost in way too much SF.
As to your question why he used Landsraad. Lots of the terms he used can be traced back to Earth. Just look at the "Orange Catholic Bible", the fact Houses Atreides and Harkonnen both originated on Earth etc etc
@@chrishigh4113Though it is the case he uses old words to link to old earthean cultures, and that might be the short answer as to why, I get the impression the question was more aimed at which nuance Herbert might have wanted to lean into when using the word Landsraad. Seeing as there are different connotations to it. I do indeed get the impression it is about the layers, very much like any political system, where there is the impression of fair play, shared rule, and a sense of justice, but in reality it is schemes in schemes in schemes.
10 Great Houses: House Atreides, House Corrino, House Fenring, House Ginaz, House Halleck, House Harkonnen, House Metulli, House Moritani, House Vernius, House Richese.
Excellent research as usual and demonstrates the depth of Herbert's planning using historical examples to make his universe work. Parallels can be drawn with the power balance of the Holy Roman Empire; Bundesrat/Landsraad, Kaiser/Emperor, Church/Bene Gesserit etc. and the voting structure of Republican Rome.
I've been stressed today for a variety of reasons. But once again, the wonderful nerd cookies stirs my imagination and soothes my nerves with detailed info on one of my favourite sci fi properties. Thank you Lady Elaine of House Nerd Cookie.
I have no idea how you could read DUNE without having mastery over English. The complexity of the plot and themes goes far above a simple translation of the words. I'm impressed. I understand this is 2 years late but I would love to know how it turned out.
I love the depth and comprehensiveness you bring to such a faceted body of work. Your presentation is wonderful. In your hands, even the minutiae is utterly fascinating.
Dune is so huge. There's so much to be explored in the Dune universe. I must say that the Bene Gesserit are the organisation that impresses me the most.
Thank you for the explanation of the mechanics behind the Dune societies. Herberts genius shines most brightly in this regard. After all these years I still marvel at his insight, and you, you convey your comprehension in a splendid manner. All the best.
This is one aspect of the Dune universe my mind skipped over so thanks for the refresher NC! By the way someone in these comments mentioned a Dune live show with some of the big Dune content creators, I second that it would be pretty awesome to have a round table right before the movie drops and then another maybe a week afterward with reactions and second movie predictions!
I wish Frank Herbert had given us more details about the rest of the major houses. Like what their main exports were/what they were best known for. Maybe if this movie takes off really well we'll get another spin-off series about it, or they'll be mentioned in greater detail in The Sisterhood.
Yay! More fresh baked Nerd Cookies, yummy. I want to commend you for the work that you put in Elaine. The visuals that you you use are amazing. Also, the music is wonderful. I'm a guitar player and singer so I really appreciate the effort you put into all that you do. They(whoever "they" are) say that the devil is in the details. And you do a great job with the details. The background information that you share is awesome. Thanks for all that you do. Cheers and fair winds.
Thank you, that was a good one :) For some odd reason one item that stands out to me about the Landsraad was someone* talking about how thinking long term with hardwood production had brought more than one minor house to major house status. I find it funny and interesting that in a far future universe forestry might still bring riches and power. *(my memory is that it was Paul talking about something his father, Duke Leto, said but I'm not sure). On a different note if you can ever convince Quinn to do a podcast style video with you I am most likely not the only one who could listen to the two of you talk Dune for hours.
Father! The sleeper has arisen! It is Fresh Baked Nerd Cookies! Now the true story of the world of the Spacing Guild and Spice can be understood amongst the houses of the Landsraad.
Whoever wrote this presentation deserves credit as well as the narrator. I do have to point out one criteria though. So far in every video I have seen that claims to describe the houses of the Landsraad, No one has actually described the houses of the landsraad save the same old three. Atreides, Harkonnen, and House Corrino. Only one video also mentioned house Ordos (which was a true delight to learn backround info on them). Please could you be the first to actually give us any infos on the many other houses, or are there none to give ?
The whole Landsraad, Empire, Guild and. Sisterhood house of cards 2as a fascinating construct..and so vulnerable when it's foundations (basically spice..but ultimately Atrrakis itself) got torn down 😎 Even more relevant today, perhaps, than when I first read it. The enduring mark of classic literature 🙂
7:00 What a wonderfully detailed painting of Baron Harkonnen and his lust for power, right down to the globe having the shield wall at the North Pole of Arrakis.
The only 2 major problems I had with the new Dune movie was 1.) When Paul and Lady Jessica were chased by the sandworm, Paul makes the connection between the sandworms and spice. HE asks Jessica, "Can you smell the spice?" 2.) When he fights Jamis, at the end, Stilgar asks Jessica if Paul is toying with him, Jessica explains Paul has only trained with shields. When Paul kills Jamis, he cries, "giving water to the dead", a major point in the book, ignored by the movie.
I suspect that they will do the funeral for Jamis in the next film, I too thought the "I was a friend of Jamis" part was a major point. I really hope it's not discarded, it not only underlines the water discipline, it's also a very important part of Paul's character arc.
Thank your so much for your deep insights into the Dune Universe. I would not have understood much of the books or movies without your help. I am very ADD so miss many clues. Thank you!
Interesting for me ? the relationship with the sisterhood and the opposition to Paul inbetween book one and two it read like around over a hundred worlds supported by 500 others and the guild and sisterhood opposed him , during a 12 year period. That war ended the landsraat power but it gets little attention
Interesting that national council translates to landsråd in Danish, and landsráð in Icelandic, while landsråd also works in Norwegian (Bokmål), and landsraad in Norwegian (Nynorsk).
I always wanted to learn more about the landsraad. I understand the absolute focus on Dune but it would have been nice to see more exploration from Herbert’s imagination. See more of these planets and the houses that called them home. The conflicts and the houses lost over thousands of years. That’s so much history to tinker with and build upon. Very rich. A missed opportunity.
Could you make a video about the CHOAM company: how it is organized, what are its specific powers, etc. It seems as though the corporation seems to mirror the Landsraad.
Whilst those far more cunning than I concern themselves with the Byzantine machinations of the Landsraad, I am far more interested in the R+D constantly being pursued on Richese and Ix. Of particular interest are the construction yards for the heighliner. The sheer scale of the facilities must be breathtaking. Of NO interest at all are axlotl tanks of the Tleilaxu. That entire concept make me recoil in revulsion. And, yes, “Long live the fighters!”
The part of the Landsraad that I always found curious was how the Imperials managed to keep power for 10,000 years. That no other house was able to amass power to the point of taking power from the Corrino. I've waffled on it, starting when I was young (I read Dune when I was 10) and though "Coooollll....", then got into my rebellious/Anarchistic 20's and went "Impossible - that ain't the same family. No way it lasts 1000 years, let alone 10,000 years. Maybe not even 100 years!", to the point now where I'm older, wiser and more curious as to how this happened. It's a problem I'm having with Sci-Fi in general now that I'm older. Fantastical/Impossible things? Not a problem for me. We have the spice melange that allows one to have all of the memories of their parent (or in some cases, parents), going back to essentially infinity? Okay, no problem. You have people travelling faster than light? Okay. You have people able to control others via sex? Sure. Bring back the dead via Ghola, and have them be able to be... essentially a resurrection? Same memories, same genetic body, etc.? Cool. These are fantastic, out of the realm of real possibility, and easy to simply accept. But this is the part that most writers think needs to be explained. It's not - explanations are nice, but really, unless you actually know the science, enough to understand any explanation, you have to just take these things on faith. We're reading Sci-Fi with the full expectation that there will be some "space magic", so trying to explain that "space magic" can actually backfire. But the things that authors tend to take for granted are the places where things start to falter. A single family having ruled the entire galaxy for 10,000 years? THAT'S what starts to break my immersion. Very few - if any - monarchs in our world have lasted more than 300 years before something major comes in and changes them. So the idea that 10,000 years of unbroken rule of the entire galaxy by a single family is where I start to go "Hold on, wait. I need more." And I'm curious to see how Frank explained that.
Consider how long the British monarchy has lasted, even with the side-tracks needed to keep the lineage going. Some of those Corrino emperors were cousins. This is one reason why Shaddam had reason to fear Leto. They were "cousins on the distaff side" - which meant Leto had a legitimate claim to the throne that many would probably prefer over Shaddam's five daughters. Consider also that at the very top levels of society, people took in doses of spice every day. One of the benefits of spice is a longer lifespan. Living to 200-300 years isn't unusual for the aristocrats of the Imperium.
This is very true, I even wondered more when House Atreides canonically can trace back their family tree to Agamemnon of ANCIENT GREECE so their family tree is like 26 000 years old or so? But, it is a fictional future, so it is possible. :)
I think the word land in this context would better be translated as state, so state council. I prefer to use state in this context because it's more specific. But it's indeed lovely to see. It's a nice name as well.
It would be an interesting exploration if there was a Dune series that saw the events through the lens of another Great House not involved in the conflict just to see how it unfold maybe 'Down Space Dune'. Just an idea.
03:38 - looks very similar to the Senate in the SW Prequels. In Quinn's Ideas video on, iirc, CHOAM, he features a piece of art that looks like it could have served as inspiration for the Senate in the Prequels. It's in the style of the art done for Lynch's film but I can find no trace of it anywhere else online, even tried saving a screenshot and image searching it with Google.
Has there ever been anything hinting at the total number of houses in the Landsraad, both major AND minor? Also, makes me wonder about if there's anything at all known about "Rogue Houses" or if that's really just a minor plot point that isn't really fleshed out in the source material.
What I didn't really appreciate about the study of the Landsraad was all the internal strife; all the plotting, scheming. In one book; the planet was another feudal house of the Landsraad that developed many of the space vessels for CHOAM. But, the planet used slave labor, many of the slaves were a mixture of Hindu-Islamics, who eventually rebelled against their oppressors and fled, some eventually fleeing to Arrakis. They eventually become the Freman; but at the time that they fled they called themselves Free Men. What's also interesting about the book; which the title escapes me, was were the Holtsman Drive was first perfected. Honestly, I feel that there could be an entire book series on the individual houses of the Landsraad and the minor houses. But, I realize that, the farther we go from the Dune series, the more the story loses it's majesty!
Huh? The weird robot voice that talks in a nasally monotone? You should try talking to an actual girl sometime. It'll blow your mind. This is the same voice that you hear when navigate the customer service phone tree at Comcast. I think you might need to get out more.
Frame the emperor with nuclear attack. They would all UNITE against that, yet, they maintain nukes in case something terrible lurking out there. 😯😮 I read that 27 years ago.
Will someone please explain this to me.... In the early scenes of Dune (part 1) the ship lands for the ceremonial transfer of Arrakis to House Atreides. Why are all the members of "the Imperial Court" wearing space suits, in particular space helmets? I understand why the members of the Spacing Guild are wearing them, because they are immersed in spice gas. But the members of the Imperial Court are all various offshoots of humans. They can all breathe the air on Caladan. So why the helmets?
Your voice is sooo soothing 😭. I miss having the big book that has all the terms they used in the end, you do such a great job explaining it all. I'm a fan of your channel, I hope it blows up
I have always been interested in the house Harkonnen specifically because of the way it was depicted in the David Lynch film. Yes, I am aware that many people hated it.
If Duke Leto was so popular and had so many friends and knew going to Arrakis would be a trap and dangerous why did he not bring the troops of other houses with him so that the Atreides troops did not have to face the Sardaukar and Harkonnen blades alone
How could the emperor just decree the Harkonens forfeit Arakis for no reason if he also had to be so sneaky about how to kill off the Atredes? Wouldn’t the houses of the landsrad be primed for revolt seeing a house be evicted from a planet? Why did the emperor have to give Arakis to the Harkonens in the first place and allow them to become richer than himself? Why did the Baron think he could blackmail the emperor so his daughter would marry Feyd because he helped him kill the duke? Isn’t he also incriminating himself for committing a war crime? If Shadam wished Irulan was older so she could’ve wed Leto then why didn’t he just wed her to Paul already?
I always wonder why someone never caught on to the Bene Gesserit and purged the fuck out of them. You'd think someone powerful would get suspicious eventually.
Soft Chewy, filled with delightful tidbits, secret ingredients we may never know... thats a Nerd Cookie Breakfast.. ! as for houses......................... hmmm, never knew of any others than the two main protagonists in Dune. couldnt read the book, tried, and failed ( but didnt try and die at least )..
Dune usurped Star Wars as my most beloved universe once I read it. Awesome videos, keep them coming! I just hope to the God Emperor that the upcoming film is successful enough to warrant the second part to be made! P.s. I hope you make a video on the spacing guild!
@@NerdCookies awesome thank you. I just watched it, for some reason I couldn’t see that one in your playlist. Great work as always, I always love how mysterious the guild is and how they are the ultimate power of that era.
It would appear that the Imperium is in fact a Constitutional Monarchy, functioning within a Unicameral Parliamentary Oligarchy. The Landsraad would seem to be both supreme legislature and highest court, with the Emperor's role overlapping into these, as well as being the Chief Executive, tasked with enforcing Imperial norms, order and policy via the conditional use of the Sardukar. Questions remain as to whether the Empire is a Unity state or a Federation? Is the power held at the local level of planetary fiefdom delegated from and subject to the absolute power of the Landsraad, or do the fiefdoms represent independent states that have ceded aspects of their sovereignty into the hands of the Landsraad? It could further be assumed that there are three types of law in use as well. Landsraad legislation (requiring a vote to enact), Imperial degree (Subjects left to the discretion of the Emperor) and local laws.
You know, this politcial/economic system is based, man. The balance of authorities would be great in any sort of post-apocalyptic world or nation trying to recover. I don't imagine it would be very pleasant to live under tho, and it certainly couldn't last forever. Perhaps this was the real problem in Dune--this feudal order was a crutch, meant to be tossed aside when the universe had sufficiently recovered from the Butlerian Jihad. But it worked so well that they didn't want to get rid of it when the time came--and so it rotted from the inside out, and was finally destroyed by Paul. Unfortunately it had gotten so finely interwoven into the culture by then that ending it cost a body count of ten thousand Holocausts. It wouldn't wouldn't have been nearly so bad if they had switched to more permanent democracy when they were supposed to. Anyway, that's my theory.
And then the Worm God assended and the Landsraad was no more. A few great houses survived but with marginal relavance...until the Hounored Matres return home. I've heard mixed things from people. Some say that the 4th book throws them off becuase of the time jump and EVERYTHING changing. So their favorite universe, the nobility and characters are gone...but I've also heard the opposite too that the time jump and massive changes were welcomed.
I find it.funny that Padishah actually means Emperor, but I don't know why herbert has to add word Emperor to Padishah, it becomes redundant. Padishah Emperor, is like Emperor Emperor.
The backstory of Dune is very difficult for me to suspend disbelief over. There's no chance in hell that humanity would end up being ruled by feudalism again thousands of years in the future. AT least, not with advanced technology still existing. And even less possible with humanity living on thousands of different planets (which is itself idiotic, impossible nonsense). And long-lasting dynasties are even more laughable. It just doesn't make any sense at all for Dune to really be set in the future of real Earth. Yet, I still watch the movies and enjoy them.
The books make it more convincing. First there is the idea that the wealthy families who own big business concentrate so much wealth and power in their hands that they have gradually transformed into this new feudal nobility. There is also a chapter in third book in which a character has the musing that a feudal system is best suited to an interstellar empire. It is certain that a vast empire in which communication and travel between planets are expensive and difficult favors strong local powers (the different noble houses that rule each planet). In the same chapter this character reflected on the fact that these feudal rulers were careful to maintain the ban on thinking machines to avoid seeing their power threatened by the emergence of a class of computer technicians. The low-tech futuristic setting helps those feudal powers to maintain themselves on the top. During a crisis, the first priority of a common person is to survive the said crisis. The powerful on the other hand seek to exploit that crisis and multiply their power. That's more or less what happened in the Dune universe once the old world order collapsed following the destruction of Earth. If that's not a convincing enough explanation for you then just keep in mind the fact that this is a sci-fi story after all. It's impossible to enjoy fiction without suspending your disbelief.
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
There is a hidden power within TH-cam known as the Nerd Cookie Nation. Their leader is secretive in nature and has earned powers few understand. But the hearts of the Nerd Cookie Nation and their love for their interests bring a shining light to an otherwise dark place.
Two deaths for House Nerd Cookies. The second for no better reason than the first.
the nerd cookies must flow...
@@nategoalbevazin1387 Bi-lal kaifa
She's a witch!
@@jimkenealy6448 she turned me into a newt!
The Landsraad is never really explored in Dune, and I find that a crying shame :( If the politics of Dune are explained in the movie, I hope the life Duke Leto is explored better, showing just how dangerous he was to the status quo. He was using CHOAM to overrun the Landsraad, and the minor houses loved him for it. He reinvested the profits of his world, which is why they became so successful, and the populations of all worlds wanted to join him. He was causing disruption in Harkonnen businesses by disproving the need for oppressive serfdom and slavery. All of this also led to militaries being trained, and the Sardaukar being proven to be defeatable in combat when they were not fighting serf militias. This greatly threatened the Landsraad voting block of the Golden Lion Throne, as well as their mercenary income from those unofficial actions. So when CHOAM tells Leto that he is to be entrusted with spice harvesting because the Emperor can no longer trust Vladamir to protect that industry, he has no reason to refuse publicly. And his empire build around Caladan crumbles if he refuses, as EVERYONE needs spice. If there is anything I hope they drive home in Dune, it's this: if you take enough, you live to three times your normal life span. Once you take enough to extend your life, you are addicted for life and will eventually die without it. So my dream is, we learn WHY so many people suddenly love Leto in the Landsraad, and why it wasn't because he is some kind of "white hat" savior :) Awesome breakdown as always. Maybe you can do the Irulan style breakdown on government, and use that as the opening to the opening of Dune :)
Too much of the prologue of Dune is just skipped and glossed over. The politics and scheming by all sides just to get to the opening could be just as interesting as the book itself.
@@scotthammond3230 If done right it could be as awesome as the "condensed" intro to the Fellowship of the Ring movie.
True. The role of the Landsraad takes place off-page. But then, so does much else about the backstory. Mau'dib's jihad, for example, happens entirely between books. Herbert was somewhat contemptuous of the majority of humanity and regards them as simply back drop for the stories of extraordinary individuals. Just consider the utter implausibility of one social system enduring across most of the human species on thousands of worlds for over 10,000 years!
This would be perfect for a tv series
If I may ask if the politics of Dune was not explored in the book then how do you know all this happened?
I felt so sad for Duke Leto, he knew he was going into a trap, but those massive governing forces at play that you mention gave him no choice.
The bait was also irresistible. Not just the wealth control of Spice mining would offer, but the strength and power of the Fremen, who Leto though (quite correctly) would match or exceed that of the Sardaukar, meaning that if House Atreides could gain the allegiance of the Fremen, they'd have a fighting force that could topple Shaddam IV. All of this meant that even if Leto could refuse to move his House to Arrakis, he would not.
@@erikbjelke4411 Leto also understood if he had rejected the Emperor's wishes, he would be dooming his house. As powerful as House Atreides is, they wouldn't be able to withstand an invasion from multiple houses.
It really was unavoidable.
Knowing this now truly showed the greed & cowardice of the fellow Houses of the "Landsraad".
The grandfather of the nastiest predator in human history, and a seat The Red Duke aspired to have his family to sit upon... hmmm poor dke Leto, poor Leto indeed.
Landsraad (literally meaning country council) is actually an old Dutch word. How and why Frank used it here is a guess. The Dutch use of Landraad (no s) was part of how the Dutch suppressed the Dutch Indies but gave the illusion of a fair justice system, where the Landraad would be a court for local cases. Also, in the Dutch Republic, when they revolted against the Spanish, the Dutch created a council of merchant houses all working together and sometimes competing to combine their power to beat the Spanish. This council was at the first part of the Spanish rule, yet, when the Spanish rule became too tyrannical, they self-organized their revolt. Ironic that later the actual use of the word was connected to their dominance over their colony. It seems Frank Herbert understood these nuanced power plays. Something lost in way too much SF.
Its also the Norwegian word for the same thing "Landsråd". Double aa = å
@@TorAndreKongelf Indeed!
And landsrat in german
As to your question why he used Landsraad. Lots of the terms he used can be traced back to Earth. Just look at the "Orange Catholic Bible", the fact Houses Atreides and Harkonnen both originated on Earth etc etc
@@chrishigh4113Though it is the case he uses old words to link to old earthean cultures, and that might be the short answer as to why, I get the impression the question was more aimed at which nuance Herbert might have wanted to lean into when using the word Landsraad. Seeing as there are different connotations to it. I do indeed get the impression it is about the layers, very much like any political system, where there is the impression of fair play, shared rule, and a sense of justice, but in reality it is schemes in schemes in schemes.
10 Great Houses: House Atreides, House Corrino, House Fenring, House Ginaz, House Halleck, House Harkonnen, House Metulli, House Moritani, House Vernius, House Richese.
Excellent research as usual and demonstrates the depth of Herbert's planning using historical examples to make his universe work. Parallels can be drawn with the power balance of the Holy Roman Empire; Bundesrat/Landsraad, Kaiser/Emperor, Church/Bene Gesserit etc. and the voting structure of Republican Rome.
I've been stressed today for a variety of reasons. But once again, the wonderful nerd cookies stirs my imagination and soothes my nerves with detailed info on one of my favourite sci fi properties. Thank you Lady Elaine of House Nerd Cookie.
Lady Elaine? I thought she was an AI, her voice is way too soothing
He who controls the spice, controls the Universe!
The Bene Gesserit: We got this!
Paul Muad'dib: Not so fast...
Ixians:
spacing guild: "Stop your speaking" when the emperor tries to interrupt Paul
as a non-English speaker, I was stuck at the first few pages of DUNE, almost gave up till I found this channel.
I'm Dutch and in Dutch Landsraad means Lands Council. I wonder if Herbert got it from Dutch.
Don't feel bad. Many of us native speakers of English had the same difficulty.
I would try the audiobook then.
I have no idea how you could read DUNE without having mastery over English. The complexity of the plot and themes goes far above a simple translation of the words. I'm impressed. I understand this is 2 years late but I would love to know how it turned out.
Reverend Mother Elaine with the fresh lore vids.
She really is like the Reverend Mother 😂
I love the depth and comprehensiveness you bring to such a faceted body of work. Your presentation is wonderful. In your hands, even the minutiae is utterly fascinating.
Thank you for more Dune videos. Keep up the great work Elaine!
Dune is so huge. There's so much to be explored in the Dune universe. I must say that the Bene Gesserit are the organisation that impresses me the most.
I mean it is within the known universe 😂
Thank you for the explanation of the mechanics behind the Dune societies. Herberts genius shines most brightly in this regard.
After all these years I still marvel at his insight, and you, you convey your comprehension in a splendid manner.
All the best.
Elaine Lore: The House of Nerd Cookies😂😂
This is one aspect of the Dune universe my mind skipped over so thanks for the refresher NC! By the way someone in these comments mentioned a Dune live show with some of the big Dune content creators, I second that it would be pretty awesome to have a round table right before the movie drops and then another maybe a week afterward with reactions and second movie predictions!
I wish Frank Herbert had given us more details about the rest of the major houses. Like what their main exports were/what they were best known for. Maybe if this movie takes off really well we'll get another spin-off series about it, or they'll be mentioned in greater detail in The Sisterhood.
Read the Dune Encyclopedia. Some of what you want to know is in there.
That's how they will sell later movies
Yay! More fresh baked Nerd Cookies, yummy. I want to commend you for the work that you put in Elaine. The visuals that you you use are amazing. Also, the music is wonderful. I'm a guitar player and singer so I really appreciate the effort you put into all that you do.
They(whoever "they" are) say that the devil is in the details. And you do a great job with the details. The background information that you share is awesome. Thanks for all that you do. Cheers and fair winds.
Thank you, that was a good one :)
For some odd reason one item that stands out to me about the Landsraad was someone* talking about how thinking long term with hardwood production had brought more than one minor house to major house status. I find it funny and interesting that in a far future universe forestry might still bring riches and power. *(my memory is that it was Paul talking about something his father, Duke Leto, said but I'm not sure).
On a different note if you can ever convince Quinn to do a podcast style video with you I am most likely not the only one who could listen to the two of you talk Dune for hours.
Yeah having a Dune round table right before and after the movie comes out would be amazing!
The aspect that most intrigues me about the Landsraad is its ability to depose the emperor. At least, I think I read somewhere that it had that power.
House Corrinos insurance Policy was the Saudakar.
@@1974alancampbell Yes, I suspect that 'power' was more a symbolic one than an actual one.
Excellent videos and breakdowns! Keep up the awesome work :D.
Father! The sleeper has arisen! It is Fresh Baked Nerd Cookies! Now the true story of the world of the Spacing Guild and Spice can be understood amongst the houses of the Landsraad.
Whoever wrote this presentation deserves credit as well as the narrator. I do have to point out one criteria though. So far in every video I have seen that claims to describe the houses of the Landsraad, No one has actually described the houses of the landsraad save the same old three. Atreides, Harkonnen, and House Corrino. Only one video also mentioned house Ordos (which was a true delight to learn backround info on them). Please could you be the first to actually give us any infos on the many other houses, or are there none to give ?
The whole Landsraad, Empire, Guild and. Sisterhood house of cards 2as a fascinating construct..and so vulnerable when it's foundations (basically spice..but ultimately Atrrakis itself) got torn down 😎 Even more relevant today, perhaps, than when I first read it. The enduring mark of classic literature 🙂
7:00 What a wonderfully detailed painting of Baron Harkonnen and his lust for power, right down to the globe having the shield wall at the North Pole of Arrakis.
The intro always gets me in the mood for what’s to come.
You should read books for Audible! I'd love more of your silky smooth cadence in my ears.
The only 2 major problems I had with the new Dune movie was 1.) When Paul and Lady Jessica were chased by the sandworm, Paul makes the connection between the sandworms and spice. HE asks Jessica, "Can you smell the spice?" 2.) When he fights Jamis, at the end, Stilgar asks Jessica if Paul is toying with him, Jessica explains Paul has only trained with shields. When Paul kills Jamis, he cries, "giving water to the dead", a major point in the book, ignored by the movie.
I suspect that they will do the funeral for Jamis in the next film, I too thought the "I was a friend of Jamis" part was a major point. I really hope it's not discarded, it not only underlines the water discipline, it's also a very important part of Paul's character arc.
Thank your so much for your deep insights into the Dune Universe. I would not have understood much of the books or movies without your help. I am very ADD so miss many clues. Thank you!
My pleasure!
I love your channel with all the deep dives into lore.
Brilliant coverage and puts the future feudal nature of the narrative into context.
Keen to see similar videos in regards to the Foundation series :)
great content, well dialoged and the imagery was quite beautiful, thank you.
Interesting for me ? the relationship with the sisterhood and the opposition to Paul inbetween book one and two it read like around over a hundred worlds supported by 500 others and the guild and sisterhood opposed him , during a 12 year period. That war ended the landsraat power but it gets little attention
Love your Dune lore, Elaine! 😁
Excellent video. A very comprehensive and easily digestible summary of the political powers in Dune universe.
Interesting that national council translates to landsråd in Danish, and landsráð in Icelandic, while landsråd also works in Norwegian (Bokmål), and landsraad in Norwegian (Nynorsk).
And in Dutch it's also Landsraad.
You and Quinn have some great Dune videos.
Thanks!
The Houses of the Landsraad are like the seven noble families in the Seven Kingdoms.
Not really....
Like a more powerful House of Lords
A better version, to say.
Intergalactic game of thrones = War of Assasins. Facts!
@@josephnarvaez9507 well obviously instead of lands they’re planets
I always wanted to learn more about the landsraad. I understand the absolute focus on Dune but it would have been nice to see more exploration from Herbert’s imagination. See more of these planets and the houses that called them home. The conflicts and the houses lost over thousands of years. That’s so much history to tinker with and build upon. Very rich. A missed opportunity.
Could you make a video about the CHOAM company: how it is organized, what are its specific powers, etc. It seems as though the corporation seems to mirror the Landsraad.
You make great! I'm officially subscribing. 😊👍
There's so many Great Houses, I think it's hard to keep track of them all.
I imagine Paul's Jihad "took care" of that problem....
@@grogn69 And the God Emperor kept the rest in line!
Thanks elaine , loving this series , great art in the video again.
I like the expanded universe because I get to learn about the other Houses.
Your videos just get better and better!
Whilst those far more cunning than I concern themselves with the Byzantine machinations of the Landsraad, I am far more interested in the R+D constantly being pursued on Richese and Ix. Of particular interest are the construction yards for the heighliner. The sheer scale of the facilities must be breathtaking. Of NO interest at all are axlotl tanks of the Tleilaxu. That entire concept make me recoil in revulsion. And, yes, “Long live the fighters!”
The part of the Landsraad that I always found curious was how the Imperials managed to keep power for 10,000 years. That no other house was able to amass power to the point of taking power from the Corrino. I've waffled on it, starting when I was young (I read Dune when I was 10) and though "Coooollll....", then got into my rebellious/Anarchistic 20's and went "Impossible - that ain't the same family. No way it lasts 1000 years, let alone 10,000 years. Maybe not even 100 years!", to the point now where I'm older, wiser and more curious as to how this happened.
It's a problem I'm having with Sci-Fi in general now that I'm older. Fantastical/Impossible things? Not a problem for me. We have the spice melange that allows one to have all of the memories of their parent (or in some cases, parents), going back to essentially infinity? Okay, no problem. You have people travelling faster than light? Okay. You have people able to control others via sex? Sure. Bring back the dead via Ghola, and have them be able to be... essentially a resurrection? Same memories, same genetic body, etc.? Cool. These are fantastic, out of the realm of real possibility, and easy to simply accept. But this is the part that most writers think needs to be explained. It's not - explanations are nice, but really, unless you actually know the science, enough to understand any explanation, you have to just take these things on faith. We're reading Sci-Fi with the full expectation that there will be some "space magic", so trying to explain that "space magic" can actually backfire.
But the things that authors tend to take for granted are the places where things start to falter. A single family having ruled the entire galaxy for 10,000 years? THAT'S what starts to break my immersion. Very few - if any - monarchs in our world have lasted more than 300 years before something major comes in and changes them. So the idea that 10,000 years of unbroken rule of the entire galaxy by a single family is where I start to go "Hold on, wait. I need more." And I'm curious to see how Frank explained that.
If anyone starts to be popular/ gain power the empire sets them up to fail/ assassinated, in dune starts this but ends up backfireing
Consider how long the British monarchy has lasted, even with the side-tracks needed to keep the lineage going. Some of those Corrino emperors were cousins. This is one reason why Shaddam had reason to fear Leto. They were "cousins on the distaff side" - which meant Leto had a legitimate claim to the throne that many would probably prefer over Shaddam's five daughters.
Consider also that at the very top levels of society, people took in doses of spice every day. One of the benefits of spice is a longer lifespan. Living to 200-300 years isn't unusual for the aristocrats of the Imperium.
This is very true, I even wondered more when House Atreides canonically can trace back their family tree to Agamemnon of ANCIENT GREECE so their family tree is like 26 000 years old or so?
But, it is a fictional future, so it is possible. :)
Nobody has ever had an empire that rules the whole world let alone galaxy and the rulers didn't have 200 or 300 year lifespans.
Thank you for speaking up!
I am back 😎, nice lore settings 👌
Great and beautiful arts by the way..
رسومات جميلة حقا...
Difficult to understand, but fascinating in concept.
Thank you.
peace
Landsraad is dutch for counsel of the land, or landcounsel to be more specific, it's quite fascinating to see that
I think the word land in this context would better be translated as state, so state council. I prefer to use state in this context because it's more specific. But it's indeed lovely to see. It's a nice name as well.
It would be an interesting exploration if there was a Dune series that saw the events through the lens of another Great House not involved in the conflict just to see how it unfold maybe 'Down Space Dune'. Just an idea.
03:38 - looks very similar to the Senate in the SW Prequels.
In Quinn's Ideas video on, iirc, CHOAM, he features a piece of art that looks like it could have served as inspiration for the Senate in the Prequels.
It's in the style of the art done for Lynch's film but I can find no trace of it anywhere else online, even tried saving a screenshot and image searching it with Google.
The art of Kanly is well-known to the Queen of nerd-cookies!
Fun fact, landsraad is a Dutch word which translates to "country council" or "council of the land".
Great vídeo! Lots of vital information. Great job!
I always enjoy the 'have a very nerdy day'.
Has there ever been anything hinting at the total number of houses in the Landsraad, both major AND minor?
Also, makes me wonder about if there's anything at all known about "Rogue Houses" or if that's really just a minor plot point that isn't really fleshed out in the source material.
There are great discussions about this and other topics in the Dune Encyclopedia.
What I didn't really appreciate about the study of the Landsraad was all the internal strife; all the plotting, scheming. In one book; the planet was another feudal house of the Landsraad that developed many of the space vessels for CHOAM. But, the planet used slave labor, many of the slaves were a mixture of Hindu-Islamics, who eventually rebelled against their oppressors and fled, some eventually fleeing to Arrakis. They eventually become the Freman; but at the time that they fled they called themselves Free Men. What's also interesting about the book; which the title escapes me, was were the Holtsman Drive was first perfected. Honestly, I feel that there could be an entire book series on the individual houses of the Landsraad and the minor houses. But, I realize that, the farther we go from the Dune series, the more the story loses it's majesty!
This actually helped a lot thanks
This girl's voice is sweet as spice. It's wild.
Huh? The weird robot voice that talks in a nasally monotone? You should try talking to an actual girl sometime. It'll blow your mind. This is the same voice that you hear when navigate the customer service phone tree at Comcast. I think you might need to get out more.
@@Captain_Kickass-l1f Damn can't you just thank her for the video?
Got a creep and and an incel commenting. SMH
Frame the emperor with nuclear attack. They would all UNITE against that, yet, they maintain nukes in case something terrible lurking out there.
😯😮 I read that 27 years ago.
Will someone please explain this to me.... In the early scenes of Dune (part 1) the ship lands for the ceremonial transfer of Arrakis to House Atreides. Why are all the members of "the Imperial Court" wearing space suits, in particular space helmets? I understand why the members of the Spacing Guild are wearing them, because they are immersed in spice gas. But the members of the Imperial Court are all various offshoots of humans. They can all breathe the air on Caladan. So why the helmets?
Probably just a stylistic choice.
There IS an image in there looking EXACTLY like the Galactic Senat.... Almost spoted Palpatine !!!! 😂❤
Excellent (In my best MR Burns voice). This must have taken some research to put together.
The fewer in control of a situation, the easier it is to manipulate the outcome.
So the landssrad is essentially the Roman senate after the creation of the imperator, and in principal, like the US senate with the executive branch.
Your voice is sooo soothing 😭. I miss having the big book that has all the terms they used in the end, you do such a great job explaining it all. I'm a fan of your channel, I hope it blows up
Great video
Really enjoy the voice of the narrator, could she be a sister of hidden rank?
appreciate encyclopedia background info
I have always been interested in the house Harkonnen specifically because of the way it was depicted in the David Lynch film. Yes, I am aware that many people hated it.
It's interesting indeed, that the bene Gesserit wasn't really representative in house harkonnan
@@davidbarnhart2575 The Baron didn't trust them. Also, the Bene Gesserit couldn't really manipulate him as he was homosexual
Do we know where the picture of the Landsraad voting together comes from? It looks like the Senate from Star Wars, but Dune was prior to Star Wars.
The spice must flow...
The spice extends life....
If Duke Leto was so popular and had so many friends and knew going to Arrakis would be a trap and dangerous why did he not bring the troops of other houses with him so that the Atreides troops did not have to face the Sardaukar and Harkonnen blades alone
How could the emperor just decree the Harkonens forfeit Arakis for no reason if he also had to be so sneaky about how to kill off the Atredes? Wouldn’t the houses of the landsrad be primed for revolt seeing a house be evicted from a planet? Why did the emperor have to give Arakis to the Harkonens in the first place and allow them to become richer than himself? Why did the Baron think he could blackmail the emperor so his daughter would marry Feyd because he helped him kill the duke? Isn’t he also incriminating himself for committing a war crime? If Shadam wished Irulan was older so she could’ve wed Leto then why didn’t he just wed her to Paul already?
I find the name "Landsraad" interesting as its the exact norwegian name for the english word "Federal Council"
I always wonder why someone never caught on to the Bene Gesserit and purged the fuck out of them. You'd think someone powerful would get suspicious eventually.
Landsraad is Dutch for "Council of the country".
I really have to read these books. Your knowledge brings it to life!
I envy anyone who is reading the Dune novels for the first time. Enjoy.
@@christinemusselman5499 that good?
The often forgotten House Ordos
Soft Chewy, filled with delightful tidbits, secret ingredients we may never know... thats a Nerd Cookie Breakfast.. !
as for houses......................... hmmm, never knew of any others than the two main protagonists in Dune. couldnt read the book, tried, and failed ( but didnt try and die at least )..
I haven't watched the videos on Dune but I have a question.
Where is or more to say was Earth in the Dune-verse!
Dune usurped Star Wars as my most beloved universe once I read it. Awesome videos, keep them coming! I just hope to the God Emperor that the upcoming film is successful enough to warrant the second part to be made! P.s. I hope you make a video on the spacing guild!
Thank you! I actually have made a Spacing Guild video: th-cam.com/video/PrD9maOyiPU/w-d-xo.html
@@NerdCookies awesome thank you. I just watched it, for some reason I couldn’t see that one in your playlist. Great work as always, I always love how mysterious the guild is and how they are the ultimate power of that era.
It would appear that the Imperium is in fact a Constitutional Monarchy, functioning within a Unicameral Parliamentary Oligarchy. The Landsraad would seem to be both supreme legislature and highest court, with the Emperor's role overlapping into these, as well as being the Chief Executive, tasked with enforcing Imperial norms, order and policy via the conditional use of the Sardukar. Questions remain as to whether the Empire is a Unity state or a Federation? Is the power held at the local level of planetary fiefdom delegated from and subject to the absolute power of the Landsraad, or do the fiefdoms represent independent states that have ceded aspects of their sovereignty into the hands of the Landsraad? It could further be assumed that there are three types of law in use as well. Landsraad legislation (requiring a vote to enact), Imperial degree (Subjects left to the discretion of the Emperor) and local laws.
You know, this politcial/economic system is based, man. The balance of authorities would be great in any sort of post-apocalyptic world or nation trying to recover. I don't imagine it would be very pleasant to live under tho, and it certainly couldn't last forever. Perhaps this was the real problem in Dune--this feudal order was a crutch, meant to be tossed aside when the universe had sufficiently recovered from the Butlerian Jihad. But it worked so well that they didn't want to get rid of it when the time came--and so it rotted from the inside out, and was finally destroyed by Paul. Unfortunately it had gotten so finely interwoven into the culture by then that ending it cost a body count of ten thousand Holocausts. It wouldn't wouldn't have been nearly so bad if they had switched to more permanent democracy when they were supposed to.
Anyway, that's my theory.
And then the Worm God assended and the Landsraad was no more. A few great houses survived but with marginal relavance...until the Hounored Matres return home.
I've heard mixed things from people. Some say that the 4th book throws them off becuase of the time jump and EVERYTHING changing. So their favorite universe, the nobility and characters are gone...but I've also heard the opposite too that the time jump and massive changes were welcomed.
Not all characters are gone..
I find it.funny that Padishah actually means Emperor, but I don't know why herbert has to add word Emperor to Padishah, it becomes redundant. Padishah Emperor, is like Emperor Emperor.
Yeah I speak Urdu and that's what I thought too. Padishah translate to "Emperor" in Pahlavi Persian and is similar to Badshah in Urdu.
The backstory of Dune is very difficult for me to suspend disbelief over. There's no chance in hell that humanity would end up being ruled by feudalism again thousands of years in the future. AT least, not with advanced technology still existing. And even less possible with humanity living on thousands of different planets (which is itself idiotic, impossible nonsense). And long-lasting dynasties are even more laughable. It just doesn't make any sense at all for Dune to really be set in the future of real Earth. Yet, I still watch the movies and enjoy them.
The books make it more convincing.
First there is the idea that the wealthy families who own big business concentrate so much wealth and power in their hands that they have gradually transformed into this new feudal nobility.
There is also a chapter in third book in which a character has the musing that a feudal system is best suited to an interstellar empire. It is certain that a vast empire in which communication and travel between planets are expensive and difficult favors strong local powers (the different noble houses that rule each planet).
In the same chapter this character reflected on the fact that these feudal rulers were careful to maintain the ban on thinking machines to avoid seeing their power threatened by the emergence of a class of computer technicians. The low-tech futuristic setting helps those feudal powers to maintain themselves on the top. During a crisis, the first priority of a common person is to survive the said crisis. The powerful on the other hand seek to exploit that crisis and multiply their power. That's more or less what happened in the Dune universe once the old world order collapsed following the destruction of Earth.
If that's not a convincing enough explanation for you then just keep in mind the fact that this is a sci-fi story after all. It's impossible to enjoy fiction without suspending your disbelief.
@@maazahmed506 Yeah, I already knew all of that. It's not even a tiny bit convincing at all. But, I still enjoy the movies, anyway.
The Cowardice of the Landsraad during Leto's death showed there greed.
Thanks but I still don't have a list of the houses.
How did other houses and powers reacted destruciton of house atredias? This could be a good video?
House Richesse from the board game😮
Sounds a little like the Galactic Republic Senate.
nice song ... what is it ?
daaaaaaang
House Harkookie.
Gouse Atreides is of my interest