Liet-Kynes
Encyclopedia
Liet-Kynes is a fictional character
in the Dune universe
created by Frank Herbert
. He is primarily featured in the 1965 novel Dune
, but also appears in the Prelude to Dune
prequel
trilogy
(1999–2001) by Brian Herbert
and Kevin J. Anderson
. The character is brought back as a ghola in the Herbert/Anderson sequel
s which conclude the original series, Hunters of Dune
(2006) and Sandworms of Dune
(2007).
In the 1984 film Dune
, Liet-Kynes is played by Max von Sydow
. In the 2000 Dune miniseries
, Liet-Kynes is played by Karel Dobrý
, who also plays treacherous priest Korba in the Children of Dune miniseries.
, the original imperial planetologist/ecologist of planet Arrakis
; and nominal leader of the Fremen
at the start of the novel Dune.
Liet-Kynes was born in the year 10,154. Kynes was technically only half Fremen
, since his father, Pardot, was from Salusa Secundus
. Liet's mother, Frieth, was a sister to Stilgar
, a future naib of Sietch Tabr. Liet took upon him the traditions of the Fremen society, and became a sandrider already as a youth. When Pardot Kynes died at a cave-in, Liet inherited his father's mantle and served as both the planetary ecologist of Dune and leader of the Fremen in their path towards a green Dune. He continued his father's vision of gradually transforming the planet's climate from a harsh desert into a temperate one.
He died shortly after the Harkonnen
/Sardaukar
assault on House Atreides
. The Harkonnens abandoned him in the desert without a stillsuit, water or supplies, where he was killed by an explosion of the pre-spice mass beneath the desert surface. When he was close to death he began hallucinating and heard his father lecturing him over and over again on his plans for Arrakis. His last words were: "I am a desert creature!"
Liet-Kynes is notable in that he makes critical thematic contributions to the novel of ecology and economy.
Liet-Kynes' wife was Faroula, "a noted herbalist among the Fremen."
Liet-Kynes is also the father of Chani
(concubine of Paul Atreides
) and the grandfather of the God Emperor.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the Dune universe
Dune universe
Dune is a science fiction franchise which originated with the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. Considered by many to be the greatest science fiction novel of all time, Dune is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in history...
created by Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. Although a short story author, he is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels...
. He is primarily featured in the 1965 novel Dune
Dune (novel)
Dune is a science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert, published in 1965. It won the Hugo Award in 1966, and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel...
, but also appears in the Prelude to Dune
Prelude to Dune
Prelude to Dune is a prequel trilogy of novels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in Frank Herbert's Dune universe....
prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
(1999–2001) by Brian Herbert
Brian Herbert
Brian Patrick Herbert is an American author who lives in Washington state. He is the elder son of science fiction author Frank Herbert....
and Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson is an American science fiction author with over forty bestsellers. He has written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and with Brian Herbert is the co-author of the Dune prequels...
. The character is brought back as a ghola in the Herbert/Anderson sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
s which conclude the original series, Hunters of Dune
Hunters of Dune
Hunters of Dune is the first of two books written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to conclude Frank Herbert's original Dune series of novels....
(2006) and Sandworms of Dune
Sandworms of Dune
Sandworms of Dune is the second of two novels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to conclude Frank Herbert's original Dune series of novels. They have stated that it is based on notes left behind by Frank Herbert for Dune 7, his own planned seventh novel in the Dune series...
(2007).
In the 1984 film Dune
Dune (film)
Dune is a 1984 science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch, based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, and includes an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. It was filmed at the Churubusco...
, Liet-Kynes is played by Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow is a Swedish actor. He has also held French citizenship since 2002. He has starred in many films and had supporting roles in dozens more...
. In the 2000 Dune miniseries
Frank Herbert's Dune
Frank Herbert's Dune is a 2001 3D video game based on the 2000 Sci Fi Channel miniseries of the same name. The game was not a commercial or critical success, and was the last product by Cryo Interactive, which went bankrupt shortly after the game's failure.As Paul, the son of the Duke Atreides's...
, Liet-Kynes is played by Karel Dobrý
Karel Dobrý
Karel Dobrý is a Czech film, television and stage actor. He is known for playing Liet-Kynes in the Dune 2000 miniseries, and Korba in the 2003 sequel Children of Dune, or as Matthias in Mission: Impossible. He also appeared in the award-winning film The Girl of Your Dreams by Fernando Trueba.-...
, who also plays treacherous priest Korba in the Children of Dune miniseries.
Character biography
Liet-Kynes is the son of Pardot KynesPardot Kynes
Pardot Kynes is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. He was the Imperial Planetologist of Arrakis prior to the start of the novel Dune, and was featured in the Prelude to Dune series by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.Pardot Kynes was first introduced in the...
, the original imperial planetologist/ecologist of planet Arrakis
Arrakis
Arrakis — 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 popularly considered one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time, and it is...
; and nominal leader of the Fremen
Fremen
The Fremen are a group of people in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. First appearing in the 1965 novel Dune, the Fremen inhabit the desert planet Arrakis and are based on the desert-dwelling Bedouin and Kalahari Bushmen. In Herbert's novels, Arrakis is the sole known source...
at the start of the novel Dune.
Liet-Kynes was born in the year 10,154. Kynes was technically only half Fremen
Fremen
The Fremen are a group of people in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. First appearing in the 1965 novel Dune, the Fremen inhabit the desert planet Arrakis and are based on the desert-dwelling Bedouin and Kalahari Bushmen. In Herbert's novels, Arrakis is the sole known source...
, since his father, Pardot, was from Salusa Secundus
Salusa Secundus
Salusa Secundus is a fictional planet appearing in Frank Herbert's Dune universe. With harsh conditions rivaling those of the desert planet Arrakis, Salusa is used as the Imperial Prison Planet, and is one of two planets on which shigawire is grown .-Dune:In "Terminology of the Imperium," the...
. Liet's mother, Frieth, was a sister to Stilgar
Stilgar
Stilgar is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. He appears in the first three novels in the series: Dune , Dune Messiah and Children of Dune . His early life is explored in Brian Herbert and Kevin J...
, a future naib of Sietch Tabr. Liet took upon him the traditions of the Fremen society, and became a sandrider already as a youth. When Pardot Kynes died at a cave-in, Liet inherited his father's mantle and served as both the planetary ecologist of Dune and leader of the Fremen in their path towards a green Dune. He continued his father's vision of gradually transforming the planet's climate from a harsh desert into a temperate one.
He died shortly after the Harkonnen
House Harkonnen
House Harkonnen is a powerful noble family in Frank Herbert's fictional Dune universe. The Harkonnens are featured prominently in the original 1965 novel Dune, and are also a major presence in both the Prelude to Dune and Legends of Dune prequel trilogies by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson...
/Sardaukar
Sardaukar
The Sardaukar are a fictional fanatical army from Frank Herbert's Dune universe, primarily featured in the 1965 science fiction novel Dune, as well as Brian Herbert and Kevin J...
assault on House Atreides
House Atreides
House Atreides is a fictional noble family from the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. One of the Great Houses of the feudal interstellar empire known as the Imperium, its members play a role in every novel in the series. It is suggested within the series that the root of the Atreides line...
. The Harkonnens abandoned him in the desert without a stillsuit, water or supplies, where he was killed by an explosion of the pre-spice mass beneath the desert surface. When he was close to death he began hallucinating and heard his father lecturing him over and over again on his plans for Arrakis. His last words were: "I am a desert creature!"
Liet-Kynes is notable in that he makes critical thematic contributions to the novel of ecology and economy.
Liet-Kynes' wife was Faroula, "a noted herbalist among the Fremen."
Liet-Kynes is also the father of Chani
Chani
Chani is a fictional character featured in Frank Herbert's novels Dune and Dune Messiah . Known mainly as the Fremen wife and legal concubine of protagonist Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides, Chani is the daughter of Imperial Planetologist Liet-Kynes and his Fremen wife Faroula, and later the mother of...
(concubine of Paul Atreides
Paul Atreides
Paul Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Paul is a prominent character in the first two novels in the series, Dune and Dune Messiah , and returns in Children of Dune . The character is brought back as two different gholas in the Brian Herbert/Kevin J...
) and the grandfather of the God Emperor.