One of the interesting things about Frank Herbert’s seminal 1965 sci-fi novelDuneis the unique glimpse of the future it provides. This franchise’s future doesn’t look much like that ofStar TrekorBlade Runner. One of the biggest differences shows itself in the action scenes. Every major character inDunecomes to battle with blades instead of bullets.
A franchise’s weapon of choice decides a lot about its tone.Military science fiction prefersmassive machine guns that swiftly transform thousands of living beings into targets. Classic science fantasy will often break out a sword to evoke the classic swashbucklers that partially inspired them.Dunechooses neither and comes up with a brilliant excuse to justify it.
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The Holtzman Shield in Dune, Explained
Generations beforethe events ofDune, a scientist named Holtzman pioneered a branch of theoretical psychics that immediately supercharged human technological development. His theory, referred to as the Holtzman Effect, was never explored deeply within the text. It has something to do with the repellant force of subatomic particles, and his discoveries allowed for multiple huge inventions. Most notably, the Holtzman Effect is key to the Holtzman Engine, which allows humanity toaccess faster-than-light space travel. It contributed to suspensors, which allowed objects to defy gravity and float through the air. It was the underpinning of glowglobes, the neat little floating lights that replaced all electronic light bulbs. Finally, Holtzman’s theories led to the creation of personal shields that changed combat forever.
The Holtzman Shield is a full-body suspension matrix that completely robs any incoming object of its momentum. The existence of the shield immediately nullified firearms and all other forms of projectile weaponry, as any person could render themselves immune.Laser weapons could theoreticallybe immune to the shield’s effects, but they have a significantly worse reaction. Lasers cause subatomic fusion upon collision with a Holtzman field, resulting in a cataclysmic explosion. Hilariously, the explosion’s epicenter could occur anywhere between the laser and the shield, ensuring that no one involved could be safe. Overnight, guns became useless and lasers became potential suicide. However, the Holtzman Shield has an exploitable weakness.
How does anyone pierce the shield inDune?
If the shield stopped all matter from approaching the wearer, they’d swiftly suffocate to death. As a result, the Holtzman Shield was carefully calibrated to allow anything moving slowly to come through. This allows air to slide through the shield while keeping a firm wall against fast-moving projectiles. However, a slow-moving weapon can make its way through the shield and possibly endanger the user. Suddenly, the only useful method of combat was slow, careful, and precise.Even a sword swungwith the full might of both arms would be intercepted by the shield. Only a perfectly handled dagger could make its way through the shield and slay the target within. Much like in real life, every culture developed its preferred style of blade, from tiny curved pocket knives to long rapiers. Only a slow blade could pierce the shield, so every soldier, assassin, and prince trained in the ways of knife combat.
The Holtzman Shield is a brilliant narrative device that capably works a preferred fighting style into a logical framework. Sure,Frank Herbert could’ve justhad his characters fight with knives and let people ask what happened to guns, but he came up with the perfect explanation. In an era of escalating violence, one side’s technology will constantly rise to defeat the other. As two factions struggle to innovate, returning to the methods that worked in the distant past is often the only way forward. Melee combat is often more engaging, allowing for more risk and banter. The future of warfare is often cold and impersonal, whileDuneis often strongly reminiscent of old-fashioned fantasy stories. The fact that every character is limited to the same sharpened metal their distant ancestors would’ve used strengthens the tension of each combat encounter and brings a distinct look to the franchise.
The Holtzman Shield is a perfect example ofjustifying a creative decision. It’s a perfect in-universe explanation for something that would otherwise feel anachronistic. The shield makes perfect sense as an invention, and it would be the first moment in a new age of warfare. Firearms and laser guns still had a purpose in destroying vehicles or strongholds, but direct combat always took place hand-to-hand. Interestingly, the only place without shields is the all-important planet of Arrakis. The shield draws attacks from the massive sandworms, making them much more dangerous than the alternative.The people of Arrakisstill fight with knives, because it’s just the style in this era.Duneis a fascinating story that combines all the technology of the future with a lot of the presentation of the past. Fighting with knives sets Paul apart from the overwhelming majority of other sci-fi protagonists. The slow blade pierces the shield, and the shield changed the franchise for the better.
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