it wasn't JUST that wiki article - Edit 1
Before modification by imlad at 09/10/2009 04:44:37 PM
The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (2003 by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn) puts forth that idea. I'd say (without knowing what your profession is, and not intending to insult you) that those two probably know what they are talking about than me or you. If people whose job it is to analyze themes of books say its there, then who are we to disagree?
Even just a little searching on the web for critiques and analysis and reviews of the original novel will find you many sources discussing the environmental/ecological issues.
And if you look back at the book, as well as the other books, you will see that the over-mining of the spice disrupts the life-cycle of the worms, from whom the spice comes. Not to mention the impact that the Fremen's dream of making Arrakis into a wet world will have on the sandworms.
Sorry buddy, I have to disagree with you. The environmental theme IS there. For some reason, you just aren't seeing it.
Even just a little searching on the web for critiques and analysis and reviews of the original novel will find you many sources discussing the environmental/ecological issues.
And if you look back at the book, as well as the other books, you will see that the over-mining of the spice disrupts the life-cycle of the worms, from whom the spice comes. Not to mention the impact that the Fremen's dream of making Arrakis into a wet world will have on the sandworms.
Sorry buddy, I have to disagree with you. The environmental theme IS there. For some reason, you just aren't seeing it.
But wiki article aside I don't think describing a complex ecology rises to the level of have environmentalism as a major theme of the story. The fact that I see no evidence of unintended consequences from the over use of the resource makes me doubt it was a major theme for Herbert but hey everyone takes something different away from a good story.