Wormriding

Leto Atreides II wormriding. (Art by John Schoenherr

Wormriding is the art of riding a sandworm. Generally done by the Fremen, wormriding is usually done by first summoning a worm to the surface with rhythmic vibration, for example with a device like a thumper. The fremen rider would then pry open a scale on the worm's body with a maker hook and allow sand to sift under it. Irritated, the worm will rotate the exposed scale upwards, not submerging its body until the scales were back in place. A prepared Fremen could then use the maker hooks to control the worm's lateral movement by attaching them to its mouth, pulling to force it to change direction.

Addtionally, one could also use a worm charmer to summon a worm and thus ride it. Sandworms even became a widely-used method of travel, long distances being measured in sandworms, the distance over which a sandworm would take its rider before becoming too exhausted and being allowed to submerge again.

Gallery

Thumper illustration for The Dune Encyclopedia (art by Matt Howarth)

Maker hooks illustration for The Dune Encyclopedia (art by Matt Howarth)

Paul learning to ride the sandworm - activated thumper in foreground (art by John Schoenherr, The Illustrated Dune)

Paul Muad'Dib Calling His First Sandworm (art by John Schoenherr, The Illustrated Dune)

Wormriding in adaptations

Paul in stillsuit, holding Maker hooks, preparing for wormriding (Frank Herbert's Dune miniseries, 2000)

Paul Atreides with Maker hooks, ready for wormriding (Frank Herbert's Dune miniseries, 2000)

Thumper in action (Dune, 2021)

Dr. Liet Kynes readying Maker hooks (Dune, 2021)

Fremen wormriding on the back of a sandworm with the help of Maker hooks (Dune, 2021)

Chani Kynes in stillsuit and cloak while wormriding with the help of Maker hooks (Dune: Part Two, 2024)

Preparation for wormriding, in the deep desert (Dune: Part Two, 2024)