Iblis Ginjo

Expanded Dune

This article or section refers to elements from Expanded Dune.

Iblis Ginjo was a former trustee of Omnius, who escaped to the League of Nobles from Earth, and emerged as a major political figure during the Butlerian Jihad.

Early Life

Iblis Ginjo was originally, like Vorian Atreides, a human trustee of the Omnius Computer Evermind, and was the head of a legion of slaves on Earth. Ginjo was quite popular among the slaves, and having risen through the ranks, wished to become a cymek. When the independent robot Erasmus claimed that even a wealthy trustee like Iblis Ginjo could turn against the evermind, Omnius made a bet with Erasmus that the robot would not succeed. Erasmus then started sending Ginjo anonymous letters, tricking him into beliving that there was a secret underground rebellion against Omnius. At first Ginjo thought about reporting the letters to the Evermind, but decided that he would wait. Over time, Ginjo began to see the evil of the machines and cymeks, and realised that he could actually create a rebellion on his own. With advice from the ancient philosopher and Cogitor Eklo, Iblis learned that the most effective way of succeeding would be to use religion as a weapon.

Escape from Earth

When he saw Erasmus kill Manion Butler the Innocent, the infant of the captive Serena Butler, he started the massive revolt on Earth, and the major precursor to the Butlerian Jihad. Ginjo managed to escape the Synchronized World with Vorian Atreides and Serena Butler, aboard the starship Dream Voyager.

Life in the League of Nobles

After arriving on Salusa Secundus, the capital of the League of Nobles, Ginjo managed to manipulate his way into nobility, and claimed the title of Grand Patriarch of the Holy Jihad, as the spiritual head of the League. Ginjo married Camie Boro, the last descendant of the fallen Emperor of the Old Empire, with whom he fathered three children.

Iblis exhibited some unusual genetic and psychological traits that were noticed by the Sorceresses of Rossak. Wanting to add these abilities to their own nebulous breeding program, Ginjo was seduced by Supreme Sorceress Zufa Cenva and unknowingly bore her a daughter, Ticia Cenva. Indeed, it is hinted by Zufa Cenva, the first Supreme Sorceress, that Ginjo may have originated from the jungle planet of Rossak.

As the Jihad went on, Ginjo became more and more corrupted, and started to think more about his own power and legacy. The Jipol (Jihad Police) was set up under Yorek Thurr to erradicate Ginjo's political enemies, and in order to fulfill the demand of replacement human organs for injured soldiers and victims of the Jihad, he organised organ raids on other League Worlds, claiming it to be the work of evil thinking machines. When the military commander Primero Xavier Harkonnen found out about his evil plans, and about his intention to raid the planet Caladan for organs, he decided that he could not let Iblis continue.

Death and Legacy

While leaving the planet of the Tlulaxa after a state visit, Xavier took the control of the spaceship he and Iblis were aboard, and flew directly into the sun of Thalim, carrying Iblis Ginjo to his death. Though Xavier's intentions were noble, his action was deemed cowardly and a traitor of humanity, and the Harkonnen name was tarnished. Iblis Ginjo conversely became a saintly figure, and emerged as one of the Three Martyrs.

The Boro-Ginjo family eventually married into the Butler blood line, who eventually became House Corrino.

Spoilers end here.

Behind the Scenes

Iblis Ginjo is a prominent character in the Legends of Dune Dune prequel trilogy created by Frank Herbert's son, Brian Herbert, and co-author Kevin J. Anderson.