One of the most incredible powers of the Sisterhood of the Bene Gesserit is their ability to compel people to do things against their will, seemingly, by magic. While the Force doesn’t exist in the Dune universe, the ability to scramble somebody’s brain with specific vocal inflections does. But it’s not a Jedi Mind Trick — it’s the Voice, the spell of the Sisterhood, and one of the original science fiction superpowers. (Which George Lucas basically stole from Dune.)
But who invented the Voice? Just as George Lucas didn’t decide which Jedi first deployed the mind trick, Dune author Frank Herbert didn’t create a specific character who invented the Voice. And yet, thanks to Dune: Prophecy, the original practitioner of this all-important Dune skill has been revealed. Here’s who invented the Voice in Dune and how it does (and doesn’t) change some previously established lore.
