Sex

Sex is a major concern in all of Frank Herbert's Dune novels, but assumes centrality in Heretics of Dune. The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood has for millennia maintained a genetic project aimed at producing a Kwisatz Haderach - a male with the powers of a Reverend Mother whose access to Other Memories is not limited to female predecessors. Extensive databases of genotypes are maintained, with authorized Sisters being assigned to seduce males having appropriate heredity. Few offspring are allowed to remain with their biological parents; most females go immediately to foster parents chosen by the Sisterhood to be raised until formal training begins. Defective Sisters are sterilized. Education includes methods of seducing males to obtain their sperm without becoming emotionally affected. A corps of attractive males is maintained in each Bene Gesserit Keep to provide the Sisters recreational pleasure on demand.

Heretics of Dune introduces several twists. The Reverend...