Stilgar
Encyclopedia
Stilgar is a fictional character
in the Dune universe
created by Frank Herbert
. He appears in the first three novels in the series: Dune
(1965), Dune Messiah
(1969) and Children of Dune
(1976). His early life is explored in Brian Herbert
and Kevin J. Anderson
's Prelude to Dune
trilogy (1999-2001), and the character is brought back as a ghola in their conclusion to the original series, Sandworms of Dune
(2007).
Stilgar was played by actors Everett McGill
in the 1984 Dune film
, Uwe Ochsenknecht
in the 2000 miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune
, and by Stephen Berkoff in the 2003 Children of Dune miniseries.
Stilgar Ben Fifrawi was born in 10,141 A.G. in Umbu Sietch of Tuan on the planet Arrakis
. In 10,175 A.G., Stilgar challenged Forad, the Naib
of Sietch Tabr, and defeated him, becoming the new Naib of Sietch Tabr, a title he would hold until his death in 10,228 A.G.
In his youth, Stilgar and two friends, Turok and Ommun, had been cornered by thuggish Harkonnen
troopers. Badly injured, Stilgar would have died if Pardot Kynes
had not come and helped kill the troops. Because of this water-debt, Stilgar and Pardot Kynes became good comrades. Stilgar, Turok and Ommun promised to help Kynes achieve his dream of turning Arrakis into a paradise. When Pardot Kynes died, Stilgar was a very good friend to his son Liet Kynes, and thereby something of a paternal figure to Liet's daughter Chani
(later concubine/wife of Paul "Muad'dib" Atreides
).
It was not until 10,153 A.G., after a successful raid against a Harkonnen village, that he acquired the name of Stilgar. Among the members of Umbu Sietch, he was known as Sahkan or "the Desert Hawk."
attack. Like the other Fremen, Stilgar eventually believed that Paul was their long-foretold Messiah, the Mahdi. Stilgar had two wives, one of whom was named Tharthar. He later also married Harah, a woman whom Paul had "acquired" as his servant, according to Fremen custom, after defeating her husband Jamis in a ritual battle to the death.
Subsequently, in Dune Messiah
and Children of Dune
, Stilgar was a staunch supporter and protector of Paul and his children, Leto II
and Ghanima. The TV mini-series of Dune portrayed Stilgar as an eventual high ranking Imperial Official to Emperor Paul Atreides, almost as an Imperial Prime Minister. Stilgar is seen giving Paul Atreides very knowledgeable political reports on the situation of the empire in council meetings. The Imperial Council "Cabinet" was made up of Princess Irulan, Stilgar, Chani
, Korba, Alia Atreides
, and other trusted officials. In Messiah, Stilgar executed the Bene Gesserit
Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
and Spacing Guild
Navigator
Edric (as well as former Fedaykin Korba) on orders from Paul's sister Alia, after their conspiracy to topple Paul's empire failed. In Children, Stilgar helped Ghanima and the Princess Irulan escape Alia's later tyranny.
Centuries later, Leto II encountered a descendant of Stilgar and marveled at the physical and intellectual degradation that had taken place in the intervening generations:
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the Dune universe
Dune universe
Dune is a science fiction franchise which originated with the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. Considered by many to be the greatest science fiction novel of all time, Dune is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in history...
created by Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. Although a short story author, he is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels...
. He appears in the first three novels in the series: Dune
Dune (novel)
Dune is a science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert, published in 1965. It won the Hugo Award in 1966, and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel...
(1965), Dune Messiah
Dune Messiah
Dune Messiah is a science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, the second in a series of six novels. It was originally serialized in Galaxy magazine in 1969. The American and British editions have different prologues summarizing events in the previous novel...
(1969) and Children of Dune
Children of Dune
Children of Dune is a 1976 science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, third in a series of six novels set in his Dune universe. Initially selling over 75,000 copies, it became the first hardcover best-seller ever in the science fiction field...
(1976). His early life is explored in Brian Herbert
Brian Herbert
Brian Patrick Herbert is an American author who lives in Washington state. He is the elder son of science fiction author Frank Herbert....
and Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson is an American science fiction author with over forty bestsellers. He has written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and with Brian Herbert is the co-author of the Dune prequels...
's Prelude to Dune
Prelude to Dune
Prelude to Dune is a prequel trilogy of novels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in Frank Herbert's Dune universe....
trilogy (1999-2001), and the character is brought back as a ghola in their conclusion to the original series, Sandworms of Dune
Sandworms of Dune
Sandworms of Dune is the second of two novels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to conclude Frank Herbert's original Dune series of novels. They have stated that it is based on notes left behind by Frank Herbert for Dune 7, his own planned seventh novel in the Dune series...
(2007).
Stilgar was played by actors Everett McGill
Everett McGill
Everett McGill is an American actor, best known for mostly playing villains in films like Licence to Kill, Silver Bullet, Dune, Yanks and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.-Life and career:...
in the 1984 Dune film
Dune (film)
Dune is a 1984 science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch, based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, and includes an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. It was filmed at the Churubusco...
, Uwe Ochsenknecht
Uwe Ochsenknecht
Uwe Adam Ochsenknecht is a German actor and singer.-Work:Films Uwe Ochsenknecht has starred in include Schtonk!, Das Boot and the TV miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune.-Personal life:...
in the 2000 miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune
Frank Herbert's Dune
Frank Herbert's Dune is a 2001 3D video game based on the 2000 Sci Fi Channel miniseries of the same name. The game was not a commercial or critical success, and was the last product by Cryo Interactive, which went bankrupt shortly after the game's failure.As Paul, the son of the Duke Atreides's...
, and by Stephen Berkoff in the 2003 Children of Dune miniseries.
History
The FremenFremen
The Fremen are a group of people in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. First appearing in the 1965 novel Dune, the Fremen inhabit the desert planet Arrakis and are based on the desert-dwelling Bedouin and Kalahari Bushmen. In Herbert's novels, Arrakis is the sole known source...
Stilgar Ben Fifrawi was born in 10,141 A.G. in Umbu Sietch of Tuan on the planet Arrakis
Arrakis
Arrakis — informally known as Dune and later called Rakis — is a fictional desert planet featured in the Dune series of novels by Frank Herbert. Herbert's first novel in the series, 1965's Dune, is popularly considered one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time, and it is...
. In 10,175 A.G., Stilgar challenged Forad, the Naib
Naib
Naib is an Arabic term for a local leader in some parts of the Ottoman Empire and eastern Caucasus.Naib or NAIB may also refer to:*National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics...
of Sietch Tabr, and defeated him, becoming the new Naib of Sietch Tabr, a title he would hold until his death in 10,228 A.G.
In his youth, Stilgar and two friends, Turok and Ommun, had been cornered by thuggish Harkonnen
House Harkonnen
House Harkonnen is a powerful noble family in Frank Herbert's fictional Dune universe. The Harkonnens are featured prominently in the original 1965 novel Dune, and are also a major presence in both the Prelude to Dune and Legends of Dune prequel trilogies by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson...
troopers. Badly injured, Stilgar would have died if Pardot Kynes
Pardot Kynes
Pardot Kynes is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. He was the Imperial Planetologist of Arrakis prior to the start of the novel Dune, and was featured in the Prelude to Dune series by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.Pardot Kynes was first introduced in the...
had not come and helped kill the troops. Because of this water-debt, Stilgar and Pardot Kynes became good comrades. Stilgar, Turok and Ommun promised to help Kynes achieve his dream of turning Arrakis into a paradise. When Pardot Kynes died, Stilgar was a very good friend to his son Liet Kynes, and thereby something of a paternal figure to Liet's daughter Chani
Chani
Chani is a fictional character featured in Frank Herbert's novels Dune and Dune Messiah . Known mainly as the Fremen wife and legal concubine of protagonist Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides, Chani is the daughter of Imperial Planetologist Liet-Kynes and his Fremen wife Faroula, and later the mother of...
(later concubine/wife of Paul "Muad'dib" Atreides
Paul Atreides
Paul Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Paul is a prominent character in the first two novels in the series, Dune and Dune Messiah , and returns in Children of Dune . The character is brought back as two different gholas in the Brian Herbert/Kevin J...
).
It was not until 10,153 A.G., after a successful raid against a Harkonnen village, that he acquired the name of Stilgar. Among the members of Umbu Sietch, he was known as Sahkan or "the Desert Hawk."
The original series
In the novel Dune, Stilgar met Paul and his mother Lady Jessica when the Atreides fled into the desert, escaping a HarkonnenHouse Harkonnen
House Harkonnen is a powerful noble family in Frank Herbert's fictional Dune universe. The Harkonnens are featured prominently in the original 1965 novel Dune, and are also a major presence in both the Prelude to Dune and Legends of Dune prequel trilogies by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson...
attack. Like the other Fremen, Stilgar eventually believed that Paul was their long-foretold Messiah, the Mahdi. Stilgar had two wives, one of whom was named Tharthar. He later also married Harah, a woman whom Paul had "acquired" as his servant, according to Fremen custom, after defeating her husband Jamis in a ritual battle to the death.
Subsequently, in Dune Messiah
Dune Messiah
Dune Messiah is a science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, the second in a series of six novels. It was originally serialized in Galaxy magazine in 1969. The American and British editions have different prologues summarizing events in the previous novel...
and Children of Dune
Children of Dune
Children of Dune is a 1976 science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, third in a series of six novels set in his Dune universe. Initially selling over 75,000 copies, it became the first hardcover best-seller ever in the science fiction field...
, Stilgar was a staunch supporter and protector of Paul and his children, Leto II
Leto Atreides II
Leto Atreides II is a fictional character from the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Born at the end of Dune Messiah , Leto is a central character in Children of Dune and is the title character of God Emperor of Dune . The character is brought back as a ghola in the Brian Herbert/Kevin J...
and Ghanima. The TV mini-series of Dune portrayed Stilgar as an eventual high ranking Imperial Official to Emperor Paul Atreides, almost as an Imperial Prime Minister. Stilgar is seen giving Paul Atreides very knowledgeable political reports on the situation of the empire in council meetings. The Imperial Council "Cabinet" was made up of Princess Irulan, Stilgar, Chani
Chani
Chani is a fictional character featured in Frank Herbert's novels Dune and Dune Messiah . Known mainly as the Fremen wife and legal concubine of protagonist Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides, Chani is the daughter of Imperial Planetologist Liet-Kynes and his Fremen wife Faroula, and later the mother of...
, Korba, Alia Atreides
Alia Atreides
Alia Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Introduced in the first novel of the series, 1965's Dune, the character was originally killed in Herbert's first version of the manuscript. At the suggestion of Analog magazine editor John Campbell, Herbert kept...
, and other trusted officials. In Messiah, Stilgar executed the Bene Gesserit
Bene Gesserit
The Bene Gesserit are a key social, religious, and political force in Frank Herbert's science fiction Dune universe. The group is described as an exclusive sisterhood whose members train their bodies and minds through years of physical and mental conditioning to obtain superhuman powers and...
Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
Gaius Helen Mohiam
Gaius Helen Mohiam is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. She is a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, and initially appears in the 1965 novel Dune and its 1969 sequel, Dune Messiah. Mohiam also has a major role in the Prelude to Dune prequel trilogy by Brian Herbert...
and Spacing Guild
Spacing Guild
The Spacing Guild is an organization in Frank Herbert's science fiction Dune universe. With its monopoly on interstellar travel and banking, the Guild is a balance of power against the Padishah Emperor and the assembled noble Houses of the Landsraad...
Navigator
Guild Navigator
A Guild Navigator is a fictional humanoid in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Humans mutated through the consumption of and exposure to massive amounts of the spice melange, they are able to use a limited form of prescience to safely navigate interstellar space in a starship called a...
Edric (as well as former Fedaykin Korba) on orders from Paul's sister Alia, after their conspiracy to topple Paul's empire failed. In Children, Stilgar helped Ghanima and the Princess Irulan escape Alia's later tyranny.
Centuries later, Leto II encountered a descendant of Stilgar and marveled at the physical and intellectual degradation that had taken place in the intervening generations:
I stared for half a day once at an old man sitting on a bench in Arrakeen. He was a fifth-generation descendant of Stilgar the Naib and did not even know it. I studied the angle of his neck, the skin flaps below his chin, the cracked lips and moistness about his nostrils, the pores behind his ears, the wisps of gray hair which crept from beneath the hood of his antique stillsuit. Not once did he detect that he was being watched. Hah! Stilgar would have known it in a second or two. But this old man was just waiting for someone who never came. He got up finally and tottered off. He was very stiff after all of that sitting. I knew I would never see him in the flesh again. He was that near death and his water was sure to be wasted. Well, that no longer mattered.