Warner Bros.
While some argue that the “Dune” series is centered around Spice Melange, the mystical substance that enables cosmic voyages, true enthusiasts understand the importance of the colossal sandworms. These formidable creatures, indigenous to the arid world of Arrakis, instill both a sense of wonder and terror. Capable of producing spice and serving as a surprising means of transport, they also pose a deadly threat to anyone in their path.
The key to manipulating these worms lies in a unique tool named the thumper. Engineered by the Fremen, the thumper generates a consistent thumping sound that reverberates through miles of sand, drawing the nearest worm. The inevitable fate of the thumper is to be devoured by the worm, but by the time the worm arrives, the Fremen who activated it would have safely retreated.
Why are the worms irresistibly attracted to the thumpers? The rhythmic thumping mimics the sound of a living organism, a preferred meal for the worms. Accustomed to the random noises of the desert, created by wind and shifting sands, the worms have learned to ignore these natural sounds. This concept is reminiscent of the creatures in “A Quiet Place” who disregard the sounds from natural sources like waterfalls.
Thumpers are an ingenious tool created by the Fremen
Warner Bros.
Interestingly, the thumpers serve a purpose contrary to the sandwalking technique the Fremen learn from a young age. While sandwalking requires irregular footfall to blend with the desert sounds, thumpers are designed to stand out. They can be used to summon a worm or conceal evidence of illicit activities. Sometimes, they are even employed as traps, luring adversaries into the path of an approaching worm.
Though the “Dune” books don’t showcase a variety of thumpers, they exist in many forms. One thumper variant incorporates a candle. Once the candle is extinguished, the thumper begins to attract worms. The candle’s lifespan is typically one hour, but it can be adjusted. Thumpers demonstrate the Fremen’s ingenuity. Despite limited technological resources compared to the Harkonnens or Atreides, they have developed sophisticated tools like the thumper and the stillsuit for survival in the harsh desert environment.
The inspiration for thumpers may have come from a surprising source. Frank Herbert, the author of “Dune,” might have been influenced by the American Woodcock. This bird uses a similar technique to lure worms to the surface. Although the scale and stakes are much smaller, the parallels between the thumper and the bird’s method are striking:
FAQs
Q: What are thumpers in the “Dune” universe?
A: Thumpers are mechanical devices created by the Fremen to control the sandworms. They generate a rhythmic thumping sound that attracts the worms.
Q: Why are thumpers attractive to sandworms?
A: The thumping sound produced by the thumpers imitates the noise made by living creatures, which are the preferred meals for sandworms.
Q: What is the purpose of thumpers?
A: Thumpers serve multiple purposes. They can be used to summon a worm, conceal evidence of illicit activities, or even as a trap to lure enemies into the path of an approaching worm.
Q: Where did Frank Herbert get the idea for thumpers?
A: It’s conjectured that Herbert might have been inspired by the American Woodcock, a bird that uses a similar technique to lure worms to the surface.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
