Many sci-fi fans were both excited and nervous about Denis Villeneuve’s new film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune. Dune had been previously (and rather infamously) brought to life by David Lynch in 1984, and again in a three-part miniseries on the SyFy channel in the early 2000s. But what is Dune? Why must the spice flow? And what is with all the sand?

This video from the PBS Digital series It’s Lit! examines the deeper themes found in the Dune novels and explores why these books are so beloved by readers. Support materials discussion questions, vocabulary, a review of academic critique, and a creative response activity for students.