Re "Dune" is the book's Baron Harkonnen as grotesque as the movie version?

[Smapti]

@drewtwo99

Also, Herbert hated homosexuality, and even had a son who turned out to be gay who died from AIDS I believe, and they did not have a good relationship. So yes, it was Herbert’s intent to include homosexuality as an example of his evil depravity. Oddly, perhaps, as a gay man myself, I didn’t find it all that offensive.

That explains the bit in God Emperor where Duncan Idaho is aghast that Leto allows the Fish Speakers to have same-sex partners and holds it up as proof that he’s lost his way. I always thought that segment was kind of out of left field.