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{{Short description|1985 novel by Frank Herbert}}

{{DuneSeries}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox book |

| name = Chapterhouse: Dune

| image = Chapterhouse Dune-Frank Herbert (1985) First edition.jpg

| image_size = 240px

| caption = US first edition cover

| author = [[Frank Herbert]]

| audio_read_by = {{Plainlist|

* [[Scott Brick]]

* [[Katherine Kellgren]]

* [[Euan Morton]]

* Simon Vance

}}

| cover_artist = [[John Schoenherr]]

| country = United States

| language = English

| series = [[Dune (franchise)|''Dune'' series]]

| genre = [[Science fiction]]

| published = April 1985

| publisher = [[G. P. Putnam's Sons|Putnam]]

| media_type = Print ([[hardcover]] & [[paperback]])

| pages = 464

| isbn = 0-399-13027-6

| isbn_note = (hardcover)<br/>{{ISBN|0-425-09214-3|plainlink=yes}} (paperback)

| dewey = 813/.54

| congress = PS3558.E63 C48 1985

| oclc = 780493996

| preceded_by = [[Heretics of Dune]]

| followed_by = [[Hunters of Dune]]

}}

'''''Chapterhouse: Dune''''' is a 1985 [[science fiction]] novel by [[Frank Herbert]], the last in his [[Dune (franchise)|''Dune'' series]] of six novels. It rose to No. 2 on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].

A direct follow-up to ''[[Heretics of Dune]]'', the novel chronicles the continued struggles of the [[Bene Gesserit]] sisterhood against the violent [[Honored Matres]], who are succeeding in their bid to seize control of the universe and destroy the factions and planets that oppose them.

[[Image:ChapterhouseDune.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Chapterhouse: Dune]]

''Chapterhouse: Dune'' ends with a [[cliffhanger]], and Herbert's subsequent death in 1986 left some overarching plotlines of the series unresolved.<ref name="NYT 2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/books/review/Itzkoff.t.html|title=Across the Universe: ''Dune'' Babies|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=September 24, 2006|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024031606/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/books/review/Itzkoff.t.html|archive-date=October 24, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722083627/http://www.empmuseum.org/exhibitions/index.asp?articleID=939|encyclopedia=[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]|date=1999|first1=John|last1=Clute|author-link1=John Clute|first2=Peter|last2=Nicholls|author-link2=Peter Nicholls (writer)|publisher=[[Orbit Books]]|title=Exhibitions – Science Fiction Hall of Fame – Frank Herbert|url=http://www.empmuseum.org/exhibitions/index.asp?articleID=939|archive-date=July 22, 2012|access-date=April 14, 2018|via=empmuseum.org|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SFD 2007-08">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifidimensions.com/Aug07/sandwormsofdune.htm|title=Audiobook Review: ''Sandworms of Dune'' by Brian Herbert & Kevin J Anderson|last=Snider|first=John C.|date=August 2007|publisher=SciFiDimensions.com (Internet Archive)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513064723/http://www.scifidimensions.com/Aug07/sandwormsofdune.htm|archive-date=May 13, 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> Two decades later, Herbert's son [[Brian Herbert]], along with [[Kevin J. Anderson]], published two [[sequel]]s – ''[[Hunters of Dune]]'' (2006) and ''[[Sandworms of Dune]]'' (2007) – based in part on notes left behind by Frank Herbert for what he referred to as ''Dune 7'', his own planned seventh novel in the ''Dune'' series.

'''''Chapterhouse Dune''''' is a [[science fiction]] novel by [[Frank Herbert]], last in the series of six Dune novels. It is also known variously as ''Chapterhouse: Dune'', ''Chapter House Dune'' and ''Chapter House: Dune''.

==Plot==

The [[Bene Gesserit]] still find themselves questioning the [[Golden Path]] of humanity set by the [[Leto Atreides II|God Emperor]]. Now they must survive the [[Honoured Matres]], whose reckless conquest of the Old Empire threatens humanity's survival. The Sisters must reassess their timeless methods: Does ultimate survival go beyond calculated manipulation? Greater purpose to life than consolidating power?

The Bene Gesserit find themselves the target of the Honored Matres, whose conquest of the Old Empire is almost complete. The Matres are seeking to assimilate the technology and superhuman skills of the Bene Gesserit, and exterminate the Sisterhood itself. Now in command of the Bene Gesserit, Mother Superior [[Darwi Odrade]] continues to develop her drastic, secret plan to overcome the Honored Matres. The Bene Gesserit are also [[terraforming]] the planet [[Chapterhouse (Dune)|Chapterhouse]] to accommodate the all-important [[Sandworm (Dune)|sandworms]], as the planet [[Arrakis|Dune]] had been destroyed by the Matres.

[[Sheeana]], in charge of the project, expects sandworms to appear soon. The Honored Matres have also destroyed the entire [[Bene Tleilax]] civilization, with Tleilaxu Master [[Scytale (Dune)|Scytale]] the only one of his kind left alive. In Bene Gesserit captivity, Scytale possesses the Tleilaxu secret of [[ghola]] production, which he has reluctantly traded for the Sisterhood's protection. The first ghola produced is that of their recently deceased military genius, [[Miles Teg]]. The Bene Gesserit have two other prisoners on Chapterhouse: the latest [[Duncan Idaho]] ghola, and his lover, former Honored Matre [[Murbella]], whom they have accepted as a novice despite their suspicion that she intends to escape back to the Honored Matres.

{{spoiler}}

Lampadas, a center for Bene Gesserit education, is destroyed by the Honored Matres. The planet's Chancellor, [[Reverend Mother (Dune)|Reverend Mother]] [[Lucilla (Dune)|Lucilla]], manages to escape carrying the shared-minds of millions of Reverend Mothers. Lucilla is forced to land on [[Giedi Prime|Gammu]] where she seeks refuge with an underground group of [[Jews]], known as "Secret Israel". The Rabbi gives Lucilla sanctuary, but to save his people from the Matres he must deliver her to them. Before doing so, he reveals [[Rebecca (Dune)|Rebecca]], a "wild" Reverend Mother who has gained her [[Other Memory]] without Bene Gesserit training.

==Synopsis==

===Introduction===

This situation is desperate for the Bene Gesserit as they find themselves the targets of the [[Honoured Matres]], whose conquest of the Old Empire is almost complete. The Matres are seeking to assimilate the technology and developed methods of the Bene Gesserit, their "last enemy in the million planets" (i.e. the Old Empire before the Scattering). Given the strength and record of the Matres, the Bene Gesserit need a plan.

Lucilla shares minds with Rebecca, who promises to take the memories of Lampadas safely back to the Sisterhood. Lucilla is then "betrayed", and taken before the [[Great Honored Matre]] [[Dama (Dune)|Dama]], who tries to persuade her to join the Honored Matres, preserving her life in exchange for Bene Gesserit secrets. The Honored Matres are particularly interested in learning to voluntarily modify their body chemistry, a skill that atrophied among the Bene Gesserit who went out into the Scattering and evolved into the Honored Matres. From this, Lucilla deduces that the greater enemy that the Matres are fleeing from is making extensive use of biological warfare. Lucilla refuses to share this knowledge with the Matres, and Dama ultimately kills her.

In charge of this plan is Darwi Odrade, successor of Taraza. Her prescient visions show an unknown axeman stalking her--an adequate analogy to the Bene Gesserit situation.

Back on Chapterhouse, Odrade confronts Duncan and forces him to admit that he is a [[Mentat]], proving that he retains the memories of his many ghola lives. Meanwhile, Murbella collapses under the pressure of Bene Gesserit training, and realizes that she wants to be Bene Gesserit. Odrade believes that the Sisterhood made a mistake in fearing emotion, and that in order to evolve, they must learn to accept emotions. Murbella survives the [[spice agony]] and becomes a Reverend Mother. Odrade confronts Sheeana, discovering that Duncan and Sheeana have been allies for some time. Sheeana does not reveal that they have been considering the option of reawakening Teg's memory through [[Imprinting (psychology)|imprinting]], nor does Odrade discover that Sheeana has the keys to Duncan's no-ship prison.

The Bene Gesserit are also creating a new [[Arrakis|Dune]] on the planet Chapter House. [[Sheeana]]--in charge of the Worm project--expects a sandworm soon.

Teg is awakened by Sheeana using imprinting techniques. Odrade appoints him again as [[Bashar (Dune)|Bashar]] of the military forces of the Sisterhood for the assault on the Honored Matres. Odrade announces to the Bene Gesserit that Teg will lead an attack against the Honored Matres. She also makes clear her intention to share her memories with Murbella and Sheeana, making them candidates to succeed her as Mother Superior if she dies. Odrade meets with the Great Honored Matre while the Bene Gesserit forces under Teg attack Gammu, and then Junction, with tremendous force. Teg uses his secret ability to see no-ships to secure control of the system, and victory for the Bene Gesserit seems inevitable. In the midst of this battle, Rebecca and the Jews take refuge with the Bene Gesserit fleet.

The Honoured Matres conquest destroyed the [[Bene Tleilaxu]], who falsely assumed that their control of [[melange|spice]] production guaranteed their protection. The Matres, we come to see, are surprisingly impulsive in their use of violence. A single Tleilaxu Master remains, albeit in Bene Gesserit captivity. He yields a secret of the Tleilaxu: [[Ghola]] Production. The technology compromises Bene Gesserit ethics; the Tleilaxu method requires a human womb--turning women into "tanks" fit for Ghola production. The first ghola produced is that of [[Miles Teg]], the great military commander introduced in ''[[Heretics of Dune]]''.

Dama's chief advisor [[Logno]] assassinates Dama with poison and assumes control of the Honored Matres. Too late, Odrade and Teg realize they have fallen into a trap, and the Honored Matres use a mysterious weapon, which kills without wounding, to turn defeat into victory, and capture Odrade. Murbella saves as much of the Bene Gesserit force as she can and they withdraw to Chapterhouse. Odrade, however, had planned for the possible failure of the Bene Gesserit attack and left Murbella instructions for a last desperate gamble. Murbella pilots a small craft down to the surface, announcing herself as an Honored Matre who, in the confusion, has managed to escape the Bene Gesserit with all their secrets. She arrives on the planet and is taken to the Great Honored Matre, and taunts her. Unable to control her anger, Logno attacks but is killed by Murbella.

The Bene Gesserit have four important prisoners on Chapter House, held in a [[no-ship]]. Ghola Miles Teg, Scytale, [[Duncan Idaho]] and [[Murbella]] (the Matre introduced in ''Heretics''). The Bene Gesserit considers them valuable keys to the present predicament. This mode of thinking--that people are tools fit for a task--makes the prisoners uncooperative, despite the shared threat of the Matres.

Awed by her physical prowess, the remaining Honored Matres are forced to accept her as their new leader. Odrade is also killed in the melee and Murbella shares with Odrade to absorb her newest memories, as they had already shared prior to the battle. Murbella's ascension to leadership, and her bringing the Honored Matres to merge with the Bene Gesserit, is not accepted as victory by all the latter. Some flee Chapterhouse, notably Sheeana, who has a vision of her own, and arranges to have some of the new worms that have emerged in the Chapterhouse desert brought aboard the no-ship. Sheeana is joined by Duncan. The two escape in the giant no-ship, with Scytale, Teg and the Jews. Murbella recognizes their plan at the last minute, but is powerless to stop them. Two mysterious entities resembling an old married couple, Daniel and Marty, whom Duncan had seen in visions, wryly note the refugees' escape.

The Bene Gesserit intend to wring more secrets of the Tleilaxu from Scytale--namely, how to create spice from the axolotl tanks. Scytale bitterly regrets supplying the Bene Gesserit with ghola technology, but he must barter with them; he is their prisoner. Within Scytale's chest is a nullentropy tube, containing the cells of all Tleilaxu masters and various figures of the last few millennia, including many [[House Atreides|Atreides]]. Capable of recreating the Bene Tleilax, he retains his sense of destiny. Additionally, Scytale also wields the mind-controlling whistling language imprinted in all gholas; what ends could Duncan Idaho achieve for Scytale?

==Reception==

Duncan Idaho and Murbella are living together. The bond created by their mutual imprinting in ''Heretics'' has made them somewhat reluctant lovers. The Bene Gesserit have accepted Murbella as a novice and are training her to be a Sister, despite their belief that she intends to steal their secrets and escape back to the Honoured Matres.

''Chapterhouse: Dune'' debuted at No. 5 and rose to No. 2 on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/19/books/best-sellers.html?scp=6&sq=chapterhouse%20dune&st=cse|title=Best Sellers|date=May 19, 1985|work=[[The New York Times]]|via=NYTimes.com|access-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> Gerald Jonas of ''[[The New York Times]]'' noted that "Against all odds, the universe of ''Dune'' keeps getting richer in texture, more challenging in its moral dilemmas."<ref name="NYT 1985">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/16/books/science-fiction.html?scp=3&sq=chapterhouse%20dune&st=cse|title=Science Fiction (Review)|last=Jonas|first=Gerald|date=June 16, 1985|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref>

[[David Langford|Dave Langford]] reviewed the novel for ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'' #65, and stated that "The hyper-acute characters are impressive, the resolution thoughtful and humane. Though initially I gave up after ''Children'', ''Heretics'' and ''Chapter House'' have partially Restored My Faith."<ref name="WD65">{{cite journal | last =Langford | first =Dave | author-link =David Langford | title =Critical Mass | journal =[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue = 65 | pages =10 | publisher =[[Games Workshop]] | date = May 1985 }}</ref>

The Bene Gesserit wonder about Idaho's capabilities and potential; they suspect he remembers more than this ghola existence because they see signs of his being a [[mentat]], a talent not taught to him. They also wonder why [[Leto II]] consistently resurrected Duncan; is it his genetic potential? Indeed, he remembers his serial Ghola lives, which mystifies him. His mentat awareness tells him that the Bene Tleilaxu could not have accomplished this, implying that his awareness is linked beyond genetics.

===Middle=Sequels==

Two decades after Frank Herbert's death, his son [[Brian Herbert]], along with [[Kevin J. Anderson]], published two [[sequel]]s – ''[[Hunters of Dune]]'' (2006) and ''[[Sandworms of Dune]]'' (2007) – based on notes left behind by Frank Herbert for what he referred to as ''Dune 7'', his own planned seventh novel in the ''Dune'' series,{{Herbert notes}} while also continuing plot-lines from Brian Herbert's and Kevin J. Anderson's own [[Dune prequel series|''Dune'' prequel novels]].

[[Lampadas]], a center for Bene Gesserit education has fallen to the Honoured Matres.

==References==

One Sister, [[Lucilla]], manages to escape the disaster of Lampadas. She carries the salvation of destroyed Lampadas: the shared-minds of the [[Reverend Mother (Dune)|Reverend Mothers]] of Lampadas. Unfortunately, Lucilla's ship is damaged by a mine and she makes a forced landing on [[Giedi Prime|Gammu]].

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

Lucilla seeks refuge with an underground group whom she knows will be sympathetic to the Bene Gesserit: [[Jews]]. Long ago, Jews went underground from the repeated pogroms against them, continuing to practice their religion in secret, under cover as "religious revivalists," to conceal their unbroken connection to ancient history. They were so successful that they have survived for 26,000 years while history believed them long since annihilated. The Bene Gesserit--with their memories of the past--were not deceived and have developed a relationship with the Jews.

{{wikiquote|Dune}}

* {{ISFDB title|id=2259}}

* [https://archive.org/details/chapterhousedune00herb ''Chapterhouse: Dune'']

{{Dune franchise}}

The [[Rabbi]], trapped in the web of mutual obligation, gives Lucilla temporary sanctuary, but in order to save his organization he must deliver Lucilla to the Matres. To Lucilla's shock he reveals Rebecca, a "wild" Reverend Mother, ''ie'' a Reverend Mother who has gained her Other Memories without Bene Gesserit training. Lucilla shares with Rebecca, who promises to take the shared minds of Lampadas safely back to the sisterhood. Lucilla is then "betrayed" to the Honoured Matres.

{{Frank Herbert}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1985 American novels]]

Back on Chapter House, Odrade's plans are reaching fruition. She confronts Duncan Idaho and forces him to admit that he is a mentat, proving he retains memories of many ghola lives. To some degree this is a relief to Duncan, as he no longer has to disguise his abilities, but he realizes this makes his position still more precarious.

[[Category:Sequel novels]]

[[Category:1985 science fiction novels]]

Lucilla is taken before the Great Honoured Matre, and to her surprise she is not killed outright. A game of words begins, and the Matre tries to persuade her to join the Honoured Matres, preserving her life in exchange for Bene Gesserit secrets. It becomes known that the Matres dearly want to learn to modify their biochemistry as the Bene Gesserit do. It is speculated that the Matres were driven from the Scattering by an enemy who used biological weapons.

[[Category:Dune (franchise) novels]]

[[Category:G. P. Putnam's Sons books]]

Meanwhile, Murbella collapses under the pressure of Bene Gesserit training and pregnancy--giving in to "word weapons" that the Bene Gesserit planted to undermine her earlier Honoured Matre identity. Murbella realizes that she really admires and wants to be Bene Gesserit and sees her former matres as ignorant children. The words of her initiation are repeated with an emphasis not in the original.

[[Category:Novels by Frank Herbert]]

[[Category:Novels about women in war]]

[[Dortujla]], the head of a sisterhood keep on Buzzell arrives on Chapter House reporting that Handlers and [[Futars]]--genetic creations similar to Tlielaxu masters and face-dancers--have offered alliance, though Dortujla's mentat analysis suggests they intend dominance. She speculates that if the Handlers found Buzzell then Matres may too--smugglers would have sold their information indiscriminately. Why the Honoured Matres have not already attacked? Odrade sees an opportunity and orders Dortujla to return to Buzzel with the Sisterhood's offer of surrender. Dortujla is to set up a meeting at Junction--the old [[Spacing Guild]] complex above Gammu--which the Matres control. Little to their knowledge, Miles Teg has intimiate experience with Junction from his human life.

Lucilla's word battles continue for weeks, ending in her death when she reveals to [[Dama]] that although the Bene Gesserit know how to manipulate and control the populace, they practice and believe in democracy. Dama's desire to destroy the sisterhood is redoubled--they teach dangerous knowledge and believe in ridiculous ideas like democracy.

Odrade decides that the task of awakening Teg's human memory is best suited to Duncan Idaho, and so he and Murbella take over Teg's training. It is a job that Duncan excels at, but he is not satisfied with the traditional way of awakening a ghola, remembering the pain he went through to release his own memories.

Odrade and Tamalane tour Chapter House and visit to [[Sheeana]] to consider promotion. Arriving at the inland sea of Chapter House, Odrade is dismayed to see how small it has become. As she swims she accepts the ruthlessness of some decisions, and returns to the shore with the decision to accelerate the terraforming by removing the last sea on the planet.

Arriving at Desert Watch station, Odrade confronts Sheeana as a test of her suitability for promotion. But Odrade is undermined by her lingering affection for Sheeana and so does not force the full truth out of her, but discovers that Duncan and Sheeana have been allied together for some time and have exchanged much information. Sheeana does not reveal that they have been considering the option of reawakening Teg's memory through imprinting. Nor does Odrade discover that Sheeana has the keys to the no-ship prison of Duncan.

While Odrade is away, [[Bellonda]]--a chief adviser to Odrade--decides to get rid of Duncan Idaho, who she believes is too dangerous. However, she underestimates Duncan's capabilities; when she confronts him he protects himself with Teg, since Teg would never serve them after witnessing the murder of his teacher and friend. With his centuries of awareness--his serial lives--Duncan manipulates Bellonda by revealing his genius as a mentat. He chides the sisterhood by focusing on things that they refuse to face, arguing that their emergency plan of Scattering is flawed. Nobody sent to the Scattering has ever returned; ergo they are being trapped. Bellonda leaves realizing not only is Duncan too useful to kill, but that Odrade probably manipulated her into this precise situation. She releases the blocks on Duncan's information flow. "If you have a tool, use it properly," she admits to herself.

Odrade's moulding of Scytale continues apace. She points out to him that his dream of Scytale's great revival is fatally flawed, because the Tleilaxu who scattered are no longer true to his beliefs and indeed serve the Matres. Scytale is amazed and terrified when Sheeana arrives with a baby [[Sandworm (Dune)|sandworm]]. The Bene Gesserit now have their long term supply of spice, destroying Scytale's main bargaining card.

Teg is awakened by Sheeana using imprinting techniques at Duncan's suggestion. His mother had implanted in him a resistance to imprinting and so under Sheeana's sensual assault his old conditioning triggers and his memories are awakened. In his awakening he can't help but reveal the new physical abilities given to him by the T-Probe--his torture device in ''Heretics.'' She frees and appoints him again as Bashar of the military forces of the sisterhood for the assault on the Honoured Matres.

Finally it is decided that Murbella is ready to become a Reverend Mother. Odrade relaxes the strictures and for the first time ever a man--Duncan--is allowed to watch a spice ceremony. Duncan is filled with trepidation, firstly because he fears Murbella will not survive the ceremony, and secondly because he wonders whether she will still love him after going through such a life changing experience. Odrade watches with equal trepidation because Murbella is vital to her plan to deal with the Honoured Matres and to reform the sisterhood. Odrade believes that the Bene Gesserit made a mistake in fearing emotion, and that in order to evolve the Bene Gesserit must learn to accept emotions. Murbella, Odrade is pleased to find, takes and survives the hard path to becoming a [[Reverend Mother (Dune)|Reverend Mother]].

Murbella goes through a manic phase after becoming a Reverend Mother, and her feelings for Duncan are not the same, a fact that worries Odrade as much as Duncan. Whether it is a temporary effect of the experience or a permanent one is unknown.

===Ending===

Odrade calls a Convocation--a meeting of all the Bene Gesserit--announcing her plan to attack the Honoured Matres. She tells them that this attack will be led by Teg. She also announces candidates to succeed her as Mother Superior; she will share with Murbella and Sheeana before she leaves.

Odrade goes to meet the Great Honoured Matre with Dortujla, Tamalane and Suipol (an acolyte). To Odrade's surprise Dama seems negotiative; Odrade wonders whether she was wise to have prearranged the attack. After a while she realizes that Dama intends no reasonable negotiation.

Under cover of Odrade's diplomacy, the Bene Gesserit forces under Teg attack Gammu with tremendous force. Teg uses his secret ability to see no-ships to secure control of the system. Survivors of the attack flee to Junction, and Teg follows them there and carries all with him. Victory for the Bene Gesserit seems inevitable. In the midst of this battle, the Jews including Rebecca with her precious memories take refuge with the Bene Gesserit fleet.

Logno--chief adviser to Dama--kills Dama with poison and assumes control of the Honoured Matres. Her first act surprises Odrade greatly--she surrenders to Odrade. Teg arrives, and reports come in. Too late; Odrade and Teg realize they fallen into a trap, and the Honoured Matres use "the Weapon" and turns defeat into victory. Murbella saves as much of the Bene Gesserit force as she can and they begin to withdraw to Chapter House.

The failure of the Bene Gesserit attack was planned for by Odrade, who left Murbella instructions for a last desperate gamble. Murbella pilots a small craft down to the surface, announcing herself as an Honoured Matre who has managed to escape the Bene Gesserit in the confusion with all their secrets. She arrives on the planet and immediately announces her intentions by killing an overeager Honoured Matre with a blinding speed enhanced by Bene Gesserit training that makes her faster than any Honoured Matre before her.

Murbella is taken to the Great Honoured Matre and immediately declares herself hostile. Logno cannot help herself and attacks, Murbella disposes of her and some allies. Odrade is killed in the struggle. Murbella shares with Odrade and takes charge of the Honoured Matres, who are awed by her physical prowess.

Murbella's ascension to the leadership of the Honoured Matres and, by necessity, the Bene Gesserit is not accepted as victory by all the Bene Gesserit. Some feel that she will suborn the spirit of the Bene Gesserit and many worry that her attempt is doomed to failure. Some then decide to escape, notably Sheeana who has a vision of her own. They ask Duncan and Teg whether they wish to join them and they flee Chapterhouse in the giant no-ship, taking also Scytale and the Jews.

Murbella recognised their plan at the last minute, but is powerless to stop them, realizing at the same time that Duncan's departure solves many problems for her.

==Analysis==

===A proper conclusion to the Dune saga?===

So ''Chapter House: Dune'' ends on a cliffhanger. What happens to the escaped ship? Does Murbella successfully manage to merge the Honoured Matres and Bene Gesserit? What role will Scytale play in the future? What precisely are Duncan Idaho's new powers, or Teg's? How will Teg develop? Who chased the Honoured Matres back to the old Empire and what will they do when they get to the Old Empire? What role will the Jews play? Who are the god-like characters in the book's last chapter?

These unanswered questions may be assuaged by some wisdom from [[Dune]]:

:''Arrakis teaches the attitude of the knife&mdash;chopping off what's incomplete and saying: "Now, it's complete because it's ended here."''

::&mdash;from ''"Collected Sayings of Muad'Dib"'' by the [[Princess Irulan]]

Some readers speculate that Frank Herbert would end the series on a cliffhanger. There is no stopping point to life, all endings are new beginnings. The lives of our heroes don't end because a book ends, they go on in our imagination and that is a wonderful gift.

This ending also fits neatly into the grander scheme of the novels. The survival of humanity has been a question since the beginning of the series; by ''Chapter House: Dune'', the Honoured Matres threaten to destroy the known universe, and they in turn appear to be fleeing from some unknown (and greater) power. But Herbert leaves the series with at least two locuses of hope for humanity. First, the warring Bene Gesserit and Honoured Matres appear united under Murbella, who has been converted to Bene Gesserit ideals. Second, a small but significant group has set out on their own into the Scattering to develop a new society. Given the scope of Herbert's vision, this ending seems quite appropriate.

There have also been some hints in the Prelude, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Andersson, that the enemy that drove the Honoured Matres back to the Old Empire was the remenants of the Thinking Machines. The Prelude book are accordingly to Brian based on notes by Frank Herbert and disussions Brian had with his father. In "Battle of Corrin" The last evermind send a copy of himself into deep space where it hope to be able to rebuild the machine empire, and wait for the humans to arrive. It is also stated by a Guildsman in "House Corrino", when they are tossed into deep space, due to activation of shields while folding space, that they must get away fast because there is an "ancient and future enemy" approaching. This could be interpreted as the Thinking machines, the evermind copy sent to establish the "new" empire. They fit in as humanity's ancient enemy, since the Butlerian Jihad, and humanity's future enemy, possibly the one that drove the Honoured Matres back.

However, Brian Herbert states that Frank Herbert left notes for Dune 7, and when Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have completed the prequels to Dune, they intend to work on Dune 7. For now, the only officially announced information about Dune 7 is that it will be published in two volumes named ''Hunters of Dune'' and ''Sandworms of Dune''. It is not known whether Frank Herbert would have wished this.

===The old couple whom Duncan "sees" in the web===

One of the controversies of Chapter House Dune is who the two people in the web are. They are Face Dancers who have somehow become able to break away from &mdash; or at least live independent of &mdash; a Tleilaxu Master; it also appears that they are the final model of Face Dancers that Waff mentioned in passing- Face Dancers who can not only take on the appearance of a person, but their very identity, memories, and skills. Little else is described about them, but much is speculated.

*At one level the old couple could be Frank Herbert and Beverly his wife.

*At another level, they reveal the true insignificance of the Old Empire, by revealing two "godlike" powers who seem beyond human concerns.

*It has also been speculated that they were members of the 'unmovable piece' that Duncan had visions of, and that they were using a new application of Holtzmann's equations to trap people in no-ships, like Duncan and co. or the Bene Gesserit sisters dispatched.

==See also==

*[http://www.iwriteiam.nl/Dune7.html DUNE, 7th book] - detailed and interesting speculation about the seventh book from an analysis of Chapterhouse Dune

[[Category:1985 books]]

[[Category:Frank Herbert novels]]

[[Category:Dune universe media]]

[[fr:La Maison des Mères]]