Dune's sandworms, also known as the Shai-Hulud, are truly fearsome beasts. They're 14 times larger than the blue whale, capable of devouring anything they encounter, and very protective of their territory. They're Frank Herbert's answer to dragons. When the sandworms were introduced, it's hard to believe that an entire culture has based their survival around riding them.
The plot of Dune is about many things, but one of them is Paul Atreides' introduction to the culture of the Fremen. Those who reside on the inhospitable desert planet of Arrakis would be considered unhinged by most, but their lifestyle has been carefully shaped around its nightmarish conditions. The Fremen are fascinating people, and watching Paul adjust to their world is one of the most unique stories in the classic sci-fi epic.
How do Fremen Ride Sandworms?
Once upon a time, a child of Arrakis named Selim was banished from his village. He was accused of water theft, a capital offense he did not commit. Selim had nothing to his name but a steel walking stick and a handful of rocks. Certain of his encroaching doom, Selim didn't run when a sandworm appeared from the ground below. Instead, he leaped onto the beast's back and dug his walking stick into its armored body. To his surprise, the improvised weapon slid between the plates and found purchase in the sandworm's soft flesh. Once Selim injured the monster, he discovered that the sandworm rotated its body to avoid getting sand in its open wound. This allowed him to stand safely on its back and travel at breakneck speeds without the threat of being crushed. Selim earned the surname,
"Wormrider" that day. Selim Wormrider laid the path for modern Fremen society with his newfound mastery over the mighty Shai-Hulud.
Centuries after Selim discovered how to ride the sandworm, Fremen developed an easier method they could use consistently. A Fremen would summon the sandworm with a thumper, which delivers rhythmic pulses into the ground to draw the beast's attention. Once the worm surfaces, the rider would use a pair of maker hooks to pry open one of its plates. After damaging the beast, sand enters the wound, and the worm remains above the sand. The rider can use the hooks as reigns to control the sandworm's movement. A sandworm could only travel a certain distance before it grew exhausted, leading Fremen to measure distances by the average length of their bodies. Wormriding is the dominant method of travel for the denizens of Arrakis. While it's a massive part of their day-to-day lives, it's also a crucial aspect of Fremen culture.
What do Sandworms Mean to Fremen Culture?
The life of the Fremen is dominated by the unique circumstances of their home planet. Sandworms are the largest natural predator on Arrakis, but they're more than a threat to be avoided. After Selim learned to ride the Shai-Hulud, he experienced a powerful vision. The melange allowed Selim to see the creation of the spice and the sandworm's connection to it. Selim was the first person to learn that the spice was created when the waste of the larval sandworm was mixed with groundwater. That mixture would then be exposed to the intense heat of Arrakis, finally forming the spice. This made the sandworm a crucial part of the larger universe, but the Fremen value spice as more than a narcotic. Both the melange and the sandworms are key elements of Fremen religious beliefs. Sandworms were seen as a physical manifestation of the Fremen's god. Almost every ceremony in the culture involved a sandworm.
Fremen generally learned to ride sandworms by the time they turned 12. It's a coming-of-age ceremony for every young resident of Arrakis. This element of their culture enters Paul Atreides' life when he joins the tribe. Paul learns that no Fremen would trust him as one of their own if he didn't understand their ways. The most important lesson of their culture is Wormriding. Paul first establishes himself as a Fremen by killing Jamis in a fair duel. He needs the aid of the people of Arrakis to avenge his family and claim his destiny. As such, he'll have to learn the ways of the wormriders.
The Fremen are extremely interesting people. They're vociferously dedicated to their spiritual beliefs, skilled in disciplines that no one else can master, and governed by rules that seem absurd to outsiders. From their ancient legends to their modern habits, the Fremen are one of the most engaging societies in science fiction. Dune features a universe with an endlessly fascinating look and feel. The latest film adaptation captures Frank Herbert's classic work in a way that no other take on the franchise ever has. Fans will be thrilled to dive back in when Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two hits the big screen on November 3rd.