A question of class

[Warlord Ripskar]

In the Dune novels there is plenty of material regarding the ruling class but virtually nothing regarding the officer class.

My own family has provided officers for British and Imperial service for several centuries, even the Americans have developed similar heriditary lines of officers in their own armed services.

In Dune the closest that they come are the nephews of Baron Harkonnen who seem to regard military matters merely as amusement rather than an essential service and act of loyalty.

[Inoculator9]

Here is a list of the people who in my opinion filled the roles of officers:

-Gurney Halleck

-Duncan Idaho

-Stilgar

-The Fremen Naibs to Muad'dib

-Thufir Hawat

These are just the Atreides ones, you can find a good amount of underlings who did have roles, however minor they were. Dune was not an officer's book though, it was designed to focus around the rulers of men, not their underlings. Frank Herbert wouldn't have been able to as easily explore politics from the viewpoints of sergeants and lieutenants.

[Dunenewt]

And don't forget those Harkonnen Captain of the Guards

[Warlord Ripskar]

Take Idaho as a case in point, he does fulfil the role of an officer and behaves as such, but his background doesn't fit. Essentially he got parachuted in and landed command of the Atreides forces like the jamiest git going. No previous Idaho served House Atreides (though there were several subsequent ones that form a weird variation on the concept of an officer family). He seems to have got his position based purely on his dislike for House Harkonnen.

In a normal feudal situation you would expect the ranking officers to have long standing family connections with the House that they serve. To the extent that the officers often are relatives of the titled head.

ie; Where House Corrino is (in theory) loyally served by the families of the Landsraad so each House should have under it a number of families who provide the bulk of their officers. Usually these will be younger siblings and cousins or perhaps more often illegitimate siblings.

Would you expect your government to hand control of the Armed services to someone who smuggled themselves in on the last boat out of Vietnam?

[Vanguard3000]

He wasn't put directly into service. When he made it to Caladan, he impressed the Duke with his story. The Duke took him under his wing. Years later, after showing promise with a sword, etc, he was sent to Swordmaster school for another eight years. So it wasn't just "Oh hello. Here's your insignia and many underlings."

[Colonel_Worf]

And don't forget those Harkonnen Captain of the Guards

Kryubi! :P

[Vanguard3000]

Huh? I was thinking of Nefud and Kudu. Who's Kyubi?

[Inoculator9]

Baron V. Harkonnen's Guard Captain.

[Colonel_Worf]

Yep. Kryubi, the unsung villain. :)

[Vanguard3000]

All three names in my post were Harkonnen guard captain. When was Kyubi around?

[Dunenewt]

He was the first one

He is first mentioned in HA for saving the Baron's life

[nemafakei]

I believe it was mentioned that most major houses had minor houses who were attached, in a way (eg Rabban to Harkonnen). These would have supplied a good few officers.

I suspect, however, that the Atreides were more of a meritocracy when it came to appointment of officers.

[Colonel_Worf]

All three names in my post were Harkonnen guard captain. When was Kyubi around?

K®YUBI was an ornithopter pilot and became Guard Captain. He was around for quite a while.

[Inoculator9]

Yes, he was a pilot in House Harkonnen (by Brian Herbert) and saved Vladimir Harkonnen's life and was appointed as a Guard Captain.

[Dunenewt]

Yes, he was a pilot in House Harkonnen (by Brian Herbert) and saved Vladimir Harkonnen's life and was appointed as a Guard Captain.

No he first appeared in HA and did what you said

[Inoculator9]

Dang, your right. I read someones post and put him with the book because he was hark guy. Thx newt.