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This article refers to elements from Original Dune Pages for this subject as it appears in other canons: |
For the character in the film series, see Gurney Halleck
Gurney Halleck [b. 10130s AG] was the Warmaster for House Atreides during the reign of Duke Leto Atreides and later his son, Paul.
Along with Thufir Hawat and Duncan Idaho, Halleck was one of Paul's principal teachers during his early years on Caladan. He was a ruthless yet noble and romantic warrior of enormous talent. Described as "an ugly lump of a man," he was regarded the most loyal of friends to those he loved, and to those he hated there were few enemies more terrifying. A traditionalist and purist at heart, Gurney Halleck did not indulge in melange addiction, although such a diet was unavoidable during his days as a smuggler and Fremen ally on Arrakis.
Halleck was a talented minstrel who was skilled in the use of the baliset, which he often played to entertain friends, subordinates and guests. Moreover, Halleck was fond of reciting the Orange Catholic Bible and memorized an appropriate verse for almost every situation. At times his quotes were so fitting that they were nearly prophetic.
Halleck's fighting abilities were second to none. With sword or knife, few opponents lasted more than a few moments - even battle-hardened Sardaukar. He was also skilled at various other weapons, and astonished Fremen later witnessed his adaptability when he taught himself to ride sandworms as they did.
Besides the signature inkvine whip scar along his jawline, it was the way in which Halleck managed to fuse the minstrel and warrior that made him so unique. According to Duncan Idaho: "He could be killing you while he sang and never miss a note."
Biography[]
Life with House Atreides[]
Gurney found service with House Atreides on Caladan during the rule of Duke Leto, who had rescued him from the Harkonnen slave pits on Giedi Prime. After the murder of his sister in a military pleasure house, Gurney held a deep hatred for the Harkonnens - especially Glossu Rabban, the one responsible for his inkvine scar. He eventually became Warmaster and a loyal friend to Duke Leto and his concubine, the Lady Jessica. When Leto and Jessica had their son, Halleck would serve as one of Paul's instructors in shielded melee combat.
Paul called him Gurney the Valorous after Reverend Mother Mohiam's lecture:
- "A world is supported by four things . . . the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous and the valor of the brave. But all of these are as nothing . . . without a ruler who knows the art of ruling."
Life on Arrakis[]
Years later, Halleck accompanied the Duke and his family to Arrakis to take over spice production, not knowing they had a traitor in their midst. Unlike other Atreides lieutenants, including Duncan Idaho, Halleck survived the subsequent ambush by Harkonnen and Sardaukar legions. Soon after his exile, he fell in with spice smugglers and eventually became a powerful figure among the planet's population.
Approximately two years after the fall of Duke Leto, Halleck and his fellow smugglers fell for a Fremen trap - a fake hoard of spice - and were nearly slaughtered before Paul, now a Fremen leader and prophet, recognized him and ordered his Fedaykin to stand down. Upon returning to Sietch Tabr with his reunited Duke, Halleck almost murdered the Lady Jessica after holding her at knifepoint, still under the mistaken impression that she was the Harkonnen spy responsible for betraying House Atreides. Fortunately, Paul and his mother managed to convince him otherwise, much to his mortified regret.
Finally in 10193 AG, he took part in Battle of Arrakeen. With his Fremen forces, Paul ”Muad’Dib” Atreides crushed the enemy forces and overthrew the Padishah-Emperor Shaddam IV. Gurney Halleck, as a loyal Atreides lieutenant, was granted with the greatest rewards.
Friend of Jessica[]
It was said that during the reign of Paul as Emperor, Gurney Halleck became the lover of Lady Jessica, although the two of them kept their relationship out of the public eye to avoid scandal. It would appear that Halleck spent the remainder of his days assisting Jessica in her rule of Caladan.
Granted power over his former homeworld of Giedi Prime, Halleck was instrumental in enacting sweeping changes to its draconian government and polluted ecology.
After Paul's exile[]
In 10219 AG, Halleck was sent by Jessica to infiltrate Sietch Jacurutu, where her grandson was captured. On Gurney's suggestion, Leto II was forced to undergo the spice trance to determine his ability to resist Abomination. Leto escaped, however, but they later reunited in their struggle against the tyranny of Paul's possessed sister, Alia.
He likely spent the rest of his days serving Leto Atreides II as the emperor.
Description[]
Gurney Halleck was an "ugly lump of a man" with brawny arms and long-fingered hands with large thumbs. He had wispy blond hair that trailed over barren spots on his head, and his lumpy face had a wide mouth, "glass-splinter" eyes and a beet-colored inkvine scar along his jawline. Years of Arrakis life eventually tinged his eyes blue-within-blue, but not to the dark and saturated extent of most spice addicts.
Quotes[]
"Mood? What has mood to do with it? You fight when the necessity arises - no matter the mood!" - To Paul, 1965 novel & 2021 film
"The slow blade penetrates the shield." - During Paul's training, 1984 film & 2021 film
"My lungs taste the air of Time, blown past falling sand(s)." - Reciting a favorite poem, 1965 novel & 2021 film
"They shall suck the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sand." - 2021 film, with slight differences in the novel
"You young pup! You young pup!" - Reunion with Paul; 1965 novel, 1984 film, 2000 miniseries & Dune: Part Two
"He could be killing you while he sang and never miss a note." - Duncan Idaho on Gurney, Heretics of Dune
Trivia[]
- Alejandro Jodorowsky wanted Hervé Villechaize to portray Gurney Halleck in his unsuccessful attempt to produce a film adaptation of Dune. Villechaize is famous for his role as Tattoo in the American series Fantasy Island.
- Gurney was portrayed by Patrick Stewart in David Lynch's 1984 film, P. H. Moriarty in the the 2000 miniseries, and Josh Brolin in the 2021 adaptation by Denis Villeneuve.
Gallery[]
.jpg "220px-Gurney Halleck-P. H. Moriarty (2000).jpg (9 KB)")
.jpg "Gurney threatens to kill Jessica (by John Schoenherr).jpg (52 KB)")
.jpg "Gurney playing the baliset (1984 Dune film).jpg (101 KB)")
.jpg "Gurney Halleck (Dune CCG, art by Mark Zug).jpg (211 KB)")
_Gurney_Halleck_at_stillsuit_storeroom.png "Dune (Cryo game) Gurney Halleck at stillsuit storeroom.png (356 KB)")
.png "OC Bible (Dune 2021).png (787 KB)")
Videos[]
Video essays[]
Appearances[]
- Dune
- Dune Messiah (mentioned)
- Children of Dune
- Heretics of Dune (mentioned)