 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (June 2023) |
| Bene Gesserit | |
|---|---|
| Dune franchise element | |
 Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam (Siân Phillips) and other Bene Gesserit from David Lynch's Dune (1984) | |
| First appearance |
|
| Created by | Frank Herbert |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Organization |
| Traits and abilities | Superior physical and mental conditioning |
The Bene Gesserit (/ˈbɛniː ˈdʒɛsərɪt/)[1] are a group in Frank Herbert's fictional Dune universe. A powerful social, religious, and political force, the Bene Gesserit is described as an exclusive sisterhood whose members train their bodies and minds through years of physical and mental conditioning to obtain superhuman powers and abilities that seem magical to outsiders.[2] The group seeks to acquire power and influence to direct humanity on an enlightened path, a concerted effort planned and executed over millennia.[3]
Members who have acquired the breadth of Bene Gesserit abilities are called Reverend Mothers; some outsiders call them "witches" for their secretive nature and misunderstood powers. As the skills of a Bene Gesserit are as desirable as an alliance with the Sisterhood itself, they are able to charge a fee to teach women from Great Houses, and install some of their initiates as wives and concubines to their advantage.[4][5] Loyal only to themselves and their collective goals, Bene Gesserit sometimes feign other loyalties to attain their goals and avoid outside interference.
The Bene Gesserit are primary characters in all of Frank Herbert's Dune novels, as well as the prequels and sequels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. They also feature prominently in the multiple adaptations of the Dune series: the 1984 film Dune; the 2000 TV miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune; and its 2003 sequel, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune; as well as the 2021 feature film Dune, and its 2024 sequel, Dune: Part Two. A television series based on the Bene Gesserit, called Dune: Prophecy, debuted on November 17, 2024 on Max.
Some of their fictional powers are analyzed and deconstructed from a real-world scientific perspective in the book The Science of Dune (2008).[6][7][8]
- ^ Dune: Creating the Audiobooks (Official promotional video, includes images of Frank Herbert's pronunciation notes for some terms). Macmillan Audio. December 23, 2008. Event occurs at 4:13. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (June 10, 2019). "Dune Series Ordered at WarnerMedia Streaming Service, Denis Villeneuve to Direct". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ Campbell, Maude (February 15, 2019). "Everything We Know So Far About Denis Villeneuve's Dune". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ Herbert, Frank (1965). Dune.
- ^ Herbert, Frank (1981). God Emperor of Dune.
- ^ Grazier, Kevin R., ed. (2008). The Science of Dune: An Unauthorized Exploration into the Real Science Behind Frank Herbert's Fictional Universe. Psychology of Popular Culture. Dallas, TX: BenBella Books. ISBN 978-1-933771-28-1.
- ^ "The Science of Dune". Smart Pop Books. January 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
- ^ Evans, Clay (March 14, 2008). "Review: Exploring Frank Herbert's 'Duniverse'". Daily Camera. Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2008.