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TheDuneseries has been frequently referenced as one of the biggest contributors to the sci-fi genre, with many of its elements appearing in countless stories. Even so, those books are not what you would call a “light read” and would give J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin a run for their money.
Many new concepts and ideas are introduced inthe earliest chaptersof the series, but a key part of the Dune universe is the Spacing Guild Navigators. In a universe that thrives on interstellar travel, this group holds a pretty important position. They don’t usually take center stage, but their lore and history are as dense as you might expect from Dune.
What Exactly Is The Spacing Guild?
Of all the different groups and organizations inthe Dune universe, the Spacing Guild is one of the most influential and powerful. In the early days of space travel, following the discovery of the rare and powerful spice Melange, the Spacing Guild was able to use it in such a way thatit allowed them to quickly create a monopoly over interstellar travel.
The guild members that were most exposed to it earned the title of Navigators andgained precognitive abilities that allowed them to safely guide ships through interstellar travelutilizing “folded space”.
Who And What Are The Navigators?
The most notable and important members of the Spacing Guild were the Navigators.It’s believed that all the Navigators were at one point humanbefore their significant consumption of the spice.
Consuming a lot of spice caused them to slowly change into altered organic forms, in some cases completely losing any resemblance to what we know as human beings. These forms became so dependent on the spice,that Navigators were often submerged in tanks of it.
As a result of this exposure, they developed a potent form of prescience that allowed them to become the dominant force in space travel, with both economic and political bodies depending on their services. Considering how long certain key figures have been around,Navigators are believed to be immortal as long as their preferred living conditions are maintained.
How Old Are The Spacing Guild Navigators?
The Spacing Guild Navigators are some of the oldest established entities in Dune. Their existence is so significant thatthe annual calendar is marked with either BG (before Guild) or AG (after Guild).
The BG period refers to the time when Navigators were still coming into being and the Guild hadn’t yet established itself.The AG period refers to the time after the Spacing Guild had created a monopoly over space traveldue to the abilities of their Navigators.
Space travel first began in 11200 BG (AKA 1960 AD) andthe Spacing Guild was officially formed around 13000 AD (AKA 1 BG/AG), changing its name from the Foldspace Shipping Company. However, it should be noted that the first Navigator came to be in the year 88 BG when a person named Norma Cenva saw how the spice was used in space folding and transformed after applying it to herself.
Who Or What Do The Spacing Guild Navigators Serve?
Even though the Spacing Guild Navigators have had an enormous role in how humanity has developed across the universe,they consider themselves neutral in the grand scheme of things. They have been known to support certain political and economic entities from behind the scenes. However, their actions are taken with their best interests in mind.
The Spacing Guild Navigators fell from power since the creation of the No-ships, which are designed with machinery that can replicate a Navigator’s abilities, and as a result, the Spacing Guild lost their monopoly on space travel but continues to operate.
The events of the novel Heretics of Dune describe the use of No-ships and occur waaaaaaaaay after the events of the Dune films.
How Are The Spacing Guild Navigators Connected To Arrakis?
Aside from the obvious reason thatthe Spacing Guild Navigators want to protect their ongoing source of spice, they have had a hand in the events that unfoldedon Arrakis. Following Paul Atreides adapting and becoming the prominent messianic figure known as Muad’Dib and a controller of the planet and its spice, the Spacing Guild saw him as a threat to their operations.
They responded by reducing their prices so that all the Great Houses could easily send their armies to surround Arrakis.They also participated in an alliance formed by the Padishah Emperor, Shaddam IV, with the explicit purpose of stopping Paulfrom achieving his goals. In the aftermath, Paul and his forces emerge victorious, and the Spacing Guild is forced to give in to his demands so that spice production on Arrakis can be preserved.
