Dune Prophecy

Dune Prophecy is the latest HBO series, adapted from Brian Herbert's novel Sisterhood of Dune. Set ten thousand years before the events of the original Dune, it explores a universe that feels familiar yet is strikingly different. The great houses, such as the Harkonnen, Atreides, and Richese families, still play pivotal roles. Spice and the Truthsayers linked to the Bene Gesserit Mothers also remain central to the narrative. However, this is a time when the Butlerian Jihad is not just a historical memory—it looms large in the minds of everyone. But what exactly is the Butlerian Jihad, and why are thinking machines strictly forbidden?

From the Beginning...

Society’s development has always been closely tied to technological advancements. In this era, humanity expanded across the universe, creating innovative technologies that made daily life simpler and more efficient. Thinking machines, in particular, became indispensable, automating nearly every aspect of existence. However, this dependency had a dark side. Humans grew complacent, lazy, and lost all ambition. Tlaloc, a visionary, recognized this stagnation and warned of the dangers. Yet, his concerns were dismissed, and he was labeled a fanatic.

Undeterred, Tlaloc gathered followers who shared his views, forming a group known as the Titans. Their goal was to revive the Old Empire by shaking society out of its lethargy. The Titans decided to hack into robot networks, creating an army of intelligent machines to seize control of the universe. Initially, their plan succeeded. The human armies were no match for the Titans’ robotic forces, and the Titans quickly established dominance. This period became known as the Time of the Titans.

However, the Titans’ rule turned out to be bloody and oppressive. Paradoxically, they became even more reliant on machines than their predecessors. Over time, they transformed themselves into cymeks (cybernetic organisms), gaining immortality by merging their human minds with mechanical bodies. Eventually, the Titans’ own creations surpassed them. An artificial intelligence named Omnius assumed control, rendering the Titans powerless.

Omnius and the War Against Humanity

Omnius had a single, chilling objective: eradicate humanity and replace it with machines. For centuries, Omnius systematically exterminated humans across the universe. Among the machines, one stood out—Erasmus, a robot fascinated by human psychology, philosophy, and biology. Erasmus conducted dark experiments, kidnapping people to study them. His obsession reached its peak when he abducted Serena, the daughter of the opposition’s commander. Erasmus even killed Serena’ child (throwing them off the balcony) to claim her for himself. Enraged, Serena retaliated, attacking Erasmus and igniting the Butlerian Jihad.

The Butlerian Jihad

The Butlerian Jihad was humanity’s desperate fight for survival against the machines. The first major victory occurred on Earth when nuclear weapons destroyed one of Omnius’s fortresses. However, the war was grueling, and victories became increasingly difficult to achieve. During this time, several critical developments emerged. The Bene Gesserit order was founded, the first Mentats were trained, and the spice from Arrakis was discovered for its unique properties.

The war’s turning point came during the Battle of Corrin, fought near the planet Corrino. Humanity discovered Omnius’s location and used a flare field to destroy the AI, finally ending its reign. With Omnius’s defeat, the Butlerian Jihad concluded, ushering in a new era—the formation of the Imperium, the setting for Dune Prophecy.

Legacy of the Jihad

The scars of the Butlerian Jihad left humanity deeply wary of technology. Strict prohibitions against thinking machines were enacted, although in practice, computers and other advanced technologies continued to be secretly used by powerful factions. These restrictions reshaped civilization, fostering the rise of institutions like the Mentats, who served as human "computers," and the Bene Gesserit, who wielded incredible influence across the universe. But not everybody has complied with the prohibitions imposed…

Thus, the events of Dune Prophecy are deeply rooted in this tumultuous history, where humanity’s triumph over the machines continues to shape the future of the universe.