What is Spice Melange? | Dune Lore

Spice is one of the most recognizable and unique elements of Frank Herbert’s Dune. In this video I examine what exactly Spice is, why it is so highly valued and what effect it has on the sociopolitical landscape of the Duniverse

Twitter: @Nerd_Cookies

Music Credits -
Background Music: Marion - Daydreaming

License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) License.

Art Credits

HARVESTER // DUNE, Clément Martinet
Dune Atreides by Angel Alonso
Spice Harvester by Kait Kybar
Dune Spice Crawler Concept by Benjamin Last
Fantasy Places by Simon Goinard
Adult Alia by Simon Goinard
Dune Fan Art by Alex Broeckel
Reverend Mother by Caitlin Yarsky
Heighliner by Alex Jay Brady
Dune Foldspace Heighliner by Euderion
Guild Navigator by Ralph Damiani
Dune redesign: guild navigator stages by Simon Dubuc
The Emperor and the Guild by MarcSimonetti
Sandworm by Mark Molnar
Harvest worm sign by Sammy Hall

All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel does not claim any right over them.

[Reohz]

Bless the Maker and Her uploads.
Bless the liking of Her clips.
May Her videos inform the world.
May She spread the news to Her subscribers.

[yensid]

What I love about Herbert inventing the Spice Melange as the keystone commodity of his fictional world is that at one time in human history it really was spice that linked the east with the west via trade lol. I interpreted the Spice Melange as an allegory for oil & opium/hashish when I read the book many, many years ago.

[umleroi]

In the Midwest, this is basically analogous to Ranch Dressing. He who controls the hidden valley, controls the spice. The ranch MUST flow.

[thotacon]

Star wars: we use highley advanced computers and warpdrives to fly through hyperspace.

Dune: Ight so we have these mutant fish crackheads snort super worm poop space lsd and they just kinda of fling you across time and space. Any questions?

[YezaOutcast]

what i really like about dune is the prospect of a humanity that discarded most of its highly evolved technology. it sets the universe very much apart from all the rest of science fiction and shows very intricate how humans can evolve their own skillsets instead of technology.

[ZUGTFO]

I really hope these movies become successful enough to allow for a long series of films so we can see how Spice really affects the generations of humankind during and post the Paul Era :D

[jacktribble]

Herbert certainly had a unique vision, that's what I love most about Dune.

[Snapper]

Once you use Spice, you are addicted for LIFE. Withdraw IS fatal. But the upsides are huge. Long life (hundreds, if not thousands of years, in good health), hugely increased mental abilities, and enhanced awareness and senses. Plus, Spice is what makes their interstellar travel possible.

[lordmuaddib]

the way herbert keeps up with the mysticism sorrounding the spice is amazing.
it's everywhere on arrakis, and yet its true raw form has never been shown. it's almost treated like a philosopher's stone. it takes the shape it needs to be every time it shows up

[anthonyhoward]

read Dune years ago. just finished Dune Messiah and on to Children of Dune. I am listening to the Audion books, really good btw, and did not realise how nuanced the books are. re reading or listening can really help you reevaluated what your reading. Life experiences can really change how you can understand and appropriate something that you did not in the past. If I had had enough Spice I would not need to re read anything!

[clamantstone]

Real Life: Drugs are bad for your physical and mental health.
Dune: Spice is Super Space Crack that lets you remember being your mom and become near immortal.

[thisiscompletelyreta]

The part about artificial intelligence being banned due to an uprising really reminded me of war hammer 40k. I’m guessing warhammer stole that from dune like they did much else.

[trumanshow]

This masterpiece has three interesting SF settings. 1.Forbidding AI, there are limited techs for human improvement,
natural selection, selective breeding, and rare drugs. 2. The drugs affect differently to men or women. They improve
logical thinking of the former (to control outer material environments), recognition of human senses, needs & emotions of
the latter (to deal with body-internal & social environment). 3. The drugs improve both abilities in the case of the hero.

[dragofire]

One thing most miss is spice was found to be an cure to an biological disease that was released during the last stages mechanic wars. The other effects are side effects that was found after some used above the minimum required doses to stop the disease from developing. And this is how the guild and the Sisters found the special effects of over use.

[DeBandit]

I always appreciate how you tell the facts without rushing or brushing rapidly past important details. The story is always clear and concise. Thank you for that.

[deusexaethera]

Dune peeps: "Artificial intelligence is too powerful and dangerous, and can't be trusted."

Also Dune peeps: "Let's get our most powerful leaders hooked on weapons-grade ADHD drugs instead."

[Jared_Wignall]

Cool to know what spice is. I was curious why it’s so valuable.

[marknovak]

The spice must flow. It is a classic hidden in plain sight thing. Hope the elegant vision is show with the budget and respect it deserves. Hoping for the best.

[OdintheGermanShepherd]

Your videos are so good, both informative and entertaining, I’m watching many of them again!!

[TheBlackDogChronicles]

What I like about this is it helps to inform us about the wonderful complexity of the story of Dune, but does not interfere with our potential enjoyment of the work, if we have never read it, or seen the new version. Thank you for the thoughtfulness by which you have put this together.