Dune: Prophecy is the latest addition to Dune franchise and HBO prequel series explores the origins of the Voice. Voice is a crucial element in Frank Herbert’s original Dune novel and film adaptations by Denis Villeneuve in 2021 and 2024, used by characters such as Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica. Unlike other science fiction universes, Dune explores a future where the mind, not technology, has become the ultimate force of power, and the Bene Gesserit use that power to exert their influence over politics.
Node Dune In the films, the main characters demonstrate how a change in the tone of a verbal command can activate the Voice, forcing someone to act against their will. It is mainly used by the Bene Gesserit, but it is a skill that can be developed like any other. Paul struggles to use the Voice in the first film, but Dune 2 climactic ending, he has gained such proficiency in it that he is able to use it to silence Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam.
The voice was created by a member of the Bene Gessert, 10,000 years before Dune
Valya Harkonnen is shown using her voice as a new technique in Dune: Prophecy
Dune: Prophecy takes viewers on a journey 10,000 years earlier in the Dune timeline than the films, examining the organization that would come to be known as the Bene Gesserit. The first episode sees the main protagonist, Valya Harkonnen, come into conflict with a rival sister, Dorotea, for leadership after the death of the original Mother Superior, Raquella Berto-Anirul. Valya believes she was created to fulfill Mother Superior’s ideals and uses the Voice for the first time to force Dorotea to kill herself. She explains that it’s something she’s working on, but doesn’t offer much else.
In the first episode of the program, the Brotherhoods are used by the nobles as “Truth Tellers”, as they have advanced perception and know when someone is lying. Voice was a skill developed over time and according to the expanded universe of the book by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson it was first introduced by Raquella Berto-Anirul before being fully developed by Valya Harkonnen. If Dune: Prophecy continues to explore his flashback timeline, this could be material for them to cover.
How powerful is the voice, exactly?
The mind can be trained to resist the voice
Voice is an extraordinarily powerful technique in Dune universe, and normally belongs to the power of its bearer. A mind can be trained to protect itself against the Voicelike Duncan Idaho’s in Dune books. A common point of comparison is the Strength of Star Wars and the use of the Jedi mind trick. While the mind trick appears to have more versatile uses due to the mystical nature of the Force, the Voice is likely more potent and can be used on more intelligent targets. Perhaps Dune: Prophecy will provide some more information about its capabilities.