# Can someone explain the spice cycle? (Dune) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384 "2003-07-14T14:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/21 "2015-02-04T17:48:44Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > The zombie is the spice! The spice is the zombie! You misspelled “ghola”… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/22 "2015-02-04T18:32:16Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > You misspelled “ghola”… :smack: I Sure did! ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/23 "2015-02-04T18:58:17Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I know! I can’t believe I misplaced it! Where’s the Shadout Mapes? NCIS: Los Angeles ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/24 "2015-02-06T07:23:40Z")
In 12 years, I think everyone has missed the authoritative reference. > [@National Lampoon's Doon](#): > > “All Freedmenmen know of the delicate links of interdependence that link all life-forms,” the nabe said. “Our eight-year-olds are taught such basic ecological principles. Salt makes the brewer die, which creates the nuts, the cocktail mix; the nuts of some of the mix form the nuggets, the young pretzels. Water combines with other nuts of the mix, and with yeast, to form the beer.” The gaunt man shrugged. “It wants not an offworld Kumkwat Haagendasz to know this thing.” ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/25 "2015-02-07T04:23:20Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Disintegrated by now. You’re supposed to keep it on you at all times, remember? Assuming I remember correctly, that’s only if it’s an “unfixed” blade. Fixed ones, presumably, will remain knives even if separated from a living being. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/26 "2015-02-07T07:49:42Z")
Yes, you have to read a scroll of enchant weapon while confused. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/27 "2015-02-07T09:16:50Z")
So Frank Herbert found a bunch of ideas that had been excreted (i.e., published) by earlier science fiction authors. He consumed them and excreted two stories in _Analog_. He consumed those stories and excreted a book called _Dune_ and later several sequels to it. He then died and excreted (i.e., left unpublished) more ideas for later sequels. His son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson then consumed those ideas and excreted them into a series of books. We have become addicted to these books and must consume them regularly. Follow me, my children! I will free you from this deadly drug! I will release you from your bondage to these books! Follow me, for I am the Kwisatz Haderach! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/28 "2015-02-07T17:34:05Z")
Of course, the Herbert _fils_/Hackerson excrement smells much worse than the original stuff. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/29 "2015-02-07T22:57:43Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > [sub]where’d I put my crysknife?[/sub] I have no idea, but I can loan you my [swysknife](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon's_Doon). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/30 "2015-02-09T05:56:32Z")
I must not have fun. Fun is the time-killer. Fun is for children, customers, and the help. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/31 "2015-02-09T15:18:18Z")
So where does Sting figure in all this? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384/32 "2015-02-09T15:23:20Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > So where does Sting figure in all this? He’s looking for his last name in the dip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-spice-cycle-dune/188384.md?page=1)