Arrakis

This article is about the fictional planet in the Dune franchise created by Frank Herbert. For the real-life star also called Arrakis, see Mu Draconis.
"Rakis" redirects here. For the singular of the plural, see Raki (disambiguation).
Arrakis
Dune universe location
Grand Palace of Arrakeen and dunes of Arrakis from Frank Herbert's "The Road to Dune" (1985), illustrated by Jim Burns
First appearanceDune (1965)
Created byFrank Herbert
GenreScience fiction
In-universe information
Other name(s)Dune, Rakis
TypeDesert
Ethnic group(s)Fremen
LocationsArrakeen

Arrakis (/əˈrɑːkɪs/)[1]—informally known as Dune and later called Rakis—is a fictional desert planet featured in the Dune series of novels by Frank Herbert. Herbert's first novel in the series, 1965's Dune, is considered one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time,[2] and it is sometimes cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in history.[2][3]

In Dune, Arrakis is the most important planet in the universe, as it is the only source of the drug melange. Melange (or, "the spice") is the most essential and valuable commodity in the universe, as it extends life and makes safe interstellar travel possible (among other uses). Harvesting the spice is also hazardous in the extreme, due to both the harsh climate of the planet and the fact that melange deposits are guarded by giant sandworms.

Arrakis is also the home of the Fremen (Zensunni wanderers),[4] and subsequently is the Imperial Capital of the Atreides Empire.[5] Arrakis is the third planet orbiting the star Canopus,[6] and it in turn is orbited by two moons, one of which has an albedo pattern resembling the desert kangaroo mouse, Muad'Dib, on it; the other moon has markings resembling a human hand.[4]

  1. ^ "Audio excerpts from a reading of Dune by Frank Herbert". Usul.net. Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Touponce, William F. (1988), Frank Herbert, Boston, Massachusetts: Twayne Publishers imprint, G. K. Hall & Co, pg. 119, ISBN 0-8057-7514-5. "Locus ran a poll of readers on April 15, 1975, in which Dune 'was voted the all-time-best science-fiction novel ... It has sold over ten million copies in numerous editions.'"
  3. ^ "SCI FI Channel Auction to Benefit Reading Is Fundamental". PNNonline.org (Internet Archive). March 18, 2003. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2007. Since its debut in 1965, Frank Herbert's Dune has sold over 12 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling science fiction novel of all time ... Frank Herbert's Dune saga is one of the greatest 20th Century contributions to literature.
  4. ^ a b Herbert, Frank (1965). Dune.
  5. ^ Herbert, Frank (1969). Dune Messiah.
  6. ^ Herbert, Frank (1965). "Terminology of the Imperium: ARRAKIS". Dune. Philadelphia, Chilton Books.