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This article refers to elements from Original Dune Pages for this subject as it appears in other canons: |
For adaption and Canon equivalents, see Liet-Kynes (disambiguation)
Liet-Kynes (d. 10191 AG), known outside of the Fremen as simply Dr. Kynes, was the son of Pardot Kynes and the father of Chani (who became the concubine of Emperor Paul Atreides). Kynes was the imperial planetologist/ecologist of Arrakis, the Judge of the Change, and the secret leader of the Fremen at the time House Atreides took control of Arrakis in 10191 AG.
Despite his loyalty to the Imperium, Kynes was the secret spiritual leader of the Fremen. Kynes would later become conflicted in his opinion of the Atreides, but found himself allying himself with them. Kynes later aided Paul and Jessica in their escape from the Sardaukar and Harkonnen troops, an action which would cost him his life.
Biography[]
Early life[]
When Liet turned 19, his father Pardot Kynes, the Imperial Planetologist. Kynes was a Fremen child, son of Pardot and a full Fremen Sandrider. Pardot had already nominated Liet to take over his role prior to his death and the transition was painless.[7] Kynes took on his father's mantle and served as both the planetary ecologist of Dune, and leader of the Fremen. He continued his father's vision of gradually terraforming the planet from a harsh desert world into a temperate world with precipitation, greenery, and open water. Compared to his father, Pardot Kynes, who almost entirely focused on the ecologic reformation of Dune and at times appeared to be tactless (though he was kind nonetheless), Liet-Kynes paid more attention to the Fremen and was overall significantly more Fremen and less single-minded than Pardot.
Desert War (10191)[]
Involvement with House Atreides[]
Upon the arrival of House Atreides on Arrakis, Kynes acted as arbiter of succession in regard to the change of fief, as ordered by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV. Kynes' role was to report to the Landsraad and the Emperor regarding the legality of the processes used by the Atreides in taking control of the planet, after House Harkonnen was ordered to leave.
The Atreides did not know that Liet and Kynes were the same person. To them, Liet was just a mystical figure from the desert, however Liet was the secret sietch name of Dr. Kynes.
Through his intelligence network, Duke Leto Atreides quickly came to realize that, as well as maintaining official imperial duties, Kynes also possessed some authority with the Fremen. Reports indicated that Kynes had "gone native". As a result, Duke Leto attempted to show Kynes as much as possible that he was taking control of the planet in an honorable fashion. Moreover, Leto realized that if he could get Kynes on his side, it could possibly go a long way in winning over the Fremen, who had long-standing suspicion and distrust for the Faufreluches due to their lack of concern for the welfare of the native inhabitants of Arrakis.
Loyalty & death[]
Kynes died in the desert, over a pre-spice mass that had reached the critical point. Before dying, he had heard his father (a hallucination) repeat to him all of his teachings on ecology. Kynes' act of saving the Atreides served to illustrate a point: the Atreides, through their honorable ways, could instill fanatical loyalty in people, to the point where they would give their life for them. In the case of Liet-Kynes, this is indeed what happened. Upon the return of House Harkonnen to Arrakis, Kynes was captured as an accomplice to the Atreides, the Fremen, and witness of the dishonorable ways of the Harkonnens. He was abandoned in the desert without water or a stillsuit, and ultimately killed when heat exhaustion, dehydration and delirium prevented him from escaping a massive spice blow.
Legacy[]
Kynes' line was continued by his daughter, Chani, who later became concubine of Paul. As a result, he was grandfather to the God-Emperor, Leto Atreides II, and his twin sister, Ghanima Atreides. Kynes' descendants continued the terraforming of Arrakis, until it became a lush and fertile world.
Description[]
Kynes was a tall, thin man with long, sandy hair, a sparse but mussed moustache and beard, and, under heavy brows, eyes that were fathomless blue-within-blue.
Quotes[]
- Kynes: "It's a rule of ecology that the young Master appears to understand quite well. The struggle between life elements is the struggle for the free energy of a system. Blood's an efficient energy source."
- Soo-Soo: "It's said that the Fremen scum drink the blood of their dead."
- Kynes: "Not the blood, sir. But all of a man's water, ultimately, belongs to his people - to his tribe. It's a necessity when you live near the Great Flat. All water's precious there, and the human body is composed of some seventy per cent water by weight. A dead man, surely, no longer requires that water. Forgive me, my Lady, for elaborating on such an ugly subject at table, but you were being told falsehood and it needed clarifying."
- Soo-Soo: "You've associated so long with Fremen that you've lost all sensibilities."
- Kynes: "Are you challenging me, sir?"
- Soo-Soo: "Of course not. I'd not so insult our host and hostess."
- — Kynes squares off with a Guild banker at Leto & Jessica's banquet[src]
- "Arrakis could be an Eden if its rulers would look up from grubbing for spice!"
- ―Kynes To Leto[src]
- "Bless the Maker and His water, Bless the coming and going of Him. May His passage cleanse the world. May He keep the world for His people."
- ―Liet prays to Shai-Hulud[src]
Gallery[]
Illustrations[]
.jpg "The Illustrated Dune - Dr. Liet Kynes (art by John Schoenherr).jpg (145 KB)")
.jpg "The Illustrated Dune - Ornithopter (art by John Schoenherr).jpg (162 KB)")
.jpg "The Illustrated Dune - Dr. Kynes above pre-spice mass deposit before explosion (art by John Schoenherr).jpg (207 KB)")
Apocrypha[]
Adaptations[]
_at_the_Arrakeen_Residency_official_banquet_(Frank_Herbert%27s_Dune,_2000,_Sci-Fi_Channel).jpg "Dr. Liet Kynes (Karel Dobrý) at the Arrakeen Residency official banquet (Frank Herbert's Dune, 2000, Sci-Fi Channel).jpg (42 KB)")
Appearances[]
- Dune
- Dune Messiah (mentioned only)
- Children of Dune (mentioned only)
- God Emperor of Dune (mentioned only)
- Heretics of Dune (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dune - Chapter 15: Kynes smiled. "I am accepted in both sietch and village, young Master. But I am in His Majesty's service, the Imperial Planetologist."
- ↑ Dune - Chapter 12: "This Judge of the Change," Leto said, "the Imperial ecologist--Kynes ... Wouldn't he know where those bases are?"
- ↑ Dune - Appendix I: The Ecology of Dune: A direct and simple man in many ways, Pardot Kynes. One must evade Harkonnen restrictions? Excellent. Then one marries a Fremen woman. When she gives you a Fremen son, you begin with him, with Liet-Kynes, and the other children, teaching them ecological literacy, creating a new language with symbols that arm the mind to manipulate an entire landscape, its climate, seasonal limits, and finally to break through all ideas of force into the dazzling awareness of order.
- ↑ Dune - Chapter 31: "In time, that may be. But only my brother, Liet, speaks for all Fremen."
- ↑ Dune - Chapter 31: "I am Chani, daughter of Liet."
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Dune - Chapter 15: As he had approached the solitary figure standing near the ornithopter, Leto had studied him: tall, thin, dressed for the desert in loose robe, stillsuit, and low boots. The man's hood was thrown back, its veil hanging to one side, revealing long sandy hair, a sparse beard. The eyes were that fathomless blue-within-blue under thick brows. Remains of dark stains smudged his eye sockets.
- ↑ Dune - Appendix I: The Ecology of Dune: By this time his son, Liet-Kynes, was nineteen, a full Fremen and sandrider who had killed more than a hundred Harkonnens. The Imperial appointment for which the elder Kynes already had applied in the name of his son was delivered as a matter of course. The rigid class structure of the faufreluches had its well-ordered purpose here. The son had been trained to follow the father. The course had been set by this time, the Ecological-Fremen were aimed along their way. Liet-Kynes had only to watch and nudge and spy upon the Harkonnens ... until the day his planet was afflicted by a Hero.
| Preceded by Pardot Kynes |
Judge of the Change 10175 AG - 10191 AG |
Succeeded by None |
| Preceded by Unknown |
Leader of the Fremen ? - 10191 AG |
Succeeded by Paul Atreides |