25

In Dune, Fremen travel regularly on the backs of enormous Sandworms (variously "Shai Hulud" or "the Maker"). They summon them through the use of a device called a "thumper" (presumably Frank Herbert didn't foresee smartphone apps) which is a metal device which bangs a heavy weight up and down causing vibrations which pisses off worms. A worm charges in to attack the thumper and while it is distracted, the Fremen climb aboard.

BUT - the thumper is destroyed every time. And even if it wasn't, the whole point is to distract the worm so you can mount, you wouldn't be able to climb back down and pick it up.

It just seems for it to make enough low-frequency noise to attract that kind of attention, its going to need to be at minimum the size of a bowling ball and have enough metal stake to poke into the ground (sand) deep enough to transfer the sound energy efficiently. Picturing 35 lbs at the very least.

And while the 1984 movie isn't necessarily canon, it did show thumpers as being pretty big as well.

I wouldn't want to carry ONE very far; let alone a half dozen for a long trip.

Additionally, the Fremen seem very insular and distrustful of each other and I find a thumper exchange philosophy, where one could stop at another sietch and borrow or buy one, to be very unlikely, yet they speak of long journeys as being "x" thumpers in length, which I understand to mean I had to summon x worms (which implies one thumper per trip-segment).

Where do they get all these thumpers?

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
25

We have a description of a thumper in Dune

Stilgar pulled a plastic rod about a meter long from beneath his robe. The thing was pointed at one end, had a spring-wound clapper at the other end. “I prepared this thumper myself. It’s a good one. Take it.”

and an image of one in the Dune Encyclopedia

enter image description here

If you were planning to make a long journey, carrying twenty of them (between several Fremen or in a large bag) doesn't seem especially onerous given that they're made out of light spice-plastic.

Improve this answer
12
  • 19
    I'm wondering whether it's worth noting that every film, TV and book cover version has them getting progressively larger and larger; 1, 2, 3, 4
    – Valorum
    Apr 19, 2019 at 17:33
  • 2
    Might be. I've deleted my answer, but I do recall it being the regularity, rather than the volume of the vibration, that attracts the Maker.
    – Zeiss Ikon
    Apr 19, 2019 at 17:37
  • 4
    @JAB "No shai huluds available in economy thumper class. Please try a larger thumper"
    – svavil
    Apr 19, 2019 at 20:33
  • 2
    Is it canon that Leito II in SyFys' (SciFi's?) Children of Dune is chosen enough to "thump" his heal into the sand until a Shai Hulud ride drops by? -- Certainly Gurneymans "twenty thumper ride" would be quite a bundle to start out with.
    – user23715
    Apr 19, 2019 at 23:55
  • 11
    Standard Fremen pickup line: Is that a thumper beneath your robe, or are you just happy to see me?
    – Nate Eldredge
    Apr 20, 2019 at 0:25
4

I haven't read the book in a while but I recall that a long sandworm trip was usually undertaken by a large group of Fremen, so it wasn't up to one person to carry all the thumpers.

Also, as Valorum's Stilgar quote ("it's a good one") implies, not all thumpers are necessarily the same. The one Stilgar prepared was for a very special occasion, the first sandride led by Paul.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.