Editing Spacing Guild (section)

== Plotlines ==
=== Original series ===
==== ''Dune'' ====
In ''Dune'' (1965), the Spacing Guild enjoys a profitable monopoly on interstellar travel and commerce. Though powerful, the Spacing Guild has never actively tried to openly seize power over all of humanity and rule directly, instead sharing power with the Emperor and the Great Houses, and influencing events from the shadows. Paul Atreides concludes that the Guild does this out of a belief that any political empire is finite, ending sooner or later. The only way to guarantee their continual existence is to be a "parasite", propping up one imperial dynasty until it collapses, then simply switching to support the next one. At the end of the novel, Paul deposes Padishah Emperor [[Shaddam IV]] by seizing control of Arrakis, the only source of the all-important drug melange. Paul has learned the extent of the Guild's dependence on spice, and that without it they are "blind" and unable to navigate interstellar travel. The Guild is forced to side with Paul, threatening to strand the Emperor and his troops on Arrakis if he does not relinquish the throne.<ref name="Dune"/>

In 'Appendix A' of ''Dune'', Herbert wrote that the Guild, along with the Bene Gesserit order, had been responsible for the standardization of religion in the universe by promoting the adoption of the [[Orange Catholic Bible]] and offering protection to the dissenting theologians who created this book. Nonetheless, in the same appendix, Herbert held that the Guild members themselves were atheists, and only promoted this move to promote a stable societal order from which they could profit.<ref name="Dune"/> Houses of the Imperium may contract with the Guild to be removed "to a place of safety outside the System". Some Houses in danger of ruin or defeat have "become renegade Houses, taking family atomics and shields and fleeing beyond the Imperium".<ref name="Dune"/> The Guild controls a "sanctuary planet" (or planets) known as Tupile, intended for such "defeated Houses of the Imperium ... Location(s) known only to the Guild and maintained inviolate under the Guild Peace".<ref name="Terminology">{{cite book |last=Herbert |first=Frank |authorlink=Frank Herbert |title=[[Dune (novel)|Dune]] |chapter=Terminology of the Imperium |year=1965}}</ref>

==== ''Dune Messiah'' ====
In ''[[Dune Messiah]]'' (1969), the Navigator [[Edric (Dune)|Edric]] engages in a conspiracy to dethrone Emperor Paul Atreides, joined by the [[Bene Tleilax|Tleilaxu]] [[Face Dancer]] [[Scytale (Dune)|Scytale]], the [[Bene Gesserit]] Reverend Mother [[Gaius Helen Mohiam]], and Paul's embittered consort, [[Princess Irulan]] of [[House Corrino]].<ref name="SR">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/dune-movie-2021-denis-villeneuve-no-guild-good/|title=Why It's a Good Thing the ''Dune'' Movie Doesn't Include the Guild|first=Adam|last=Felman|date=April 3, 2022|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=October 25, 2022}}</ref> With their endless need for melange, the Spacing Guild has a vested interest in breaking Paul's stranglehold over the spice supply. Edric's involvement also protects the conspirators from discovery, as his prescience hides the activities of himself and those around him from other prescients, like Paul. The plot ultimately fails, and Edric and Mohiam are executed by [[Fremen]] naib [[Stilgar]] on orders from Paul's sister [[Alia Atreides]].<ref name="Messiah"/>

In ''[[Chapterhouse Dune]]'' (1985), a "very powerful" Navigator is described as "one of the Edrics", suggesting a possible breeding plan or use of [[ghola]]s.<ref name="Chapterhouse"/>

==== ''God Emperor of Dune'' ====
In ''[[God Emperor of Dune]]'' (1981), [[Leto II Atreides|God Emperor Leto II]] has secured complete control over of the scarce melange reserves through [[Hydraulic empire|hydraulic despotism]], making the Guild completely dependent on him. He also notes in the novel that though history has attributed the design of the first Guild ship to [[Aurelius Venport]], it was actually Venport's mistress [[Norma Cenva]] who designed it.<ref name="GEoD">{{cite book |last=Herbert |first=Frank |author-link=Frank Herbert |title=[[God Emperor of Dune]] |date=1981 }}</ref>

==== ''Heretics of Dune'' and ''Chapterhouse: Dune'' ====
The fifth and sixth novels of the series, ''[[Heretics of Dune]]'' (1984) and ''Chapterhouse: Dune'' (1985), are set 5,000 years after the reign of Paul Atreides, a period that includes 3,500 years of Leto II's reign and 1,500 years following his death. The warlike [[Honored Matres]] have seized control of '''{{visible anchor|Junction}}''', the old Spacing Guild complex above [[Gammu]]. The technocrats of [[Ix (Dune)|Ix]] develop technology that the Ixians and the Administrative faction of the Spacing Guild refer to as "compilers". These compilers perform calculations very similar to computers, nearly violating the prohibitions against "[[thinking machines (Dune)|thinking machines]]" that were imposed following the [[Butlerian Jihad]] several millennia before. These compilers eliminate the need for the Navigators, and the strategic disadvantage that this aspect of melange dependency has become, because the Navigators' abilities are slowly being compromised by the severe reductions in the availability of spice resulting from the destruction of Dune and the sandworms on that planet, and the strict control by the Bene Gesserit, who maintain a monopoly over the largest stockpiles of melange. The prescient rule of Leto II that lasted 3,500 years has shown the universe the perils of prescience, namely that the entire universe can be locked into the vision of a single entity, giving that entity absolute power. The Guild, facing obsolescence and suspicion, couples itself with Ix in decline; Navigators continue to exist, but their importance in the universe is severely diminished.<ref name="Heretics"/><ref name="Chapterhouse"/> As Paul Atreides notes in ''Dune'', it was the Spacing Guild's obsession with the "safe path" that led them "ever into stagnation", and brought on their eventual obsolescence.<ref name="Dune"/>

=== Sequels ===
After publishing six [[Dune prequel series|''Dune'' prequel novels]], Frank Herbert's son [[Brian Herbert]] and author [[Kevin J. Anderson]] released two sequel novels, ''[[Hunters of Dune]]'' (2006) and ''[[Sandworms of Dune]]'' (2007), which complete the original series and wrap up storylines that began with Frank Herbert's ''Heretics of Dune''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/books/review/Itzkoff.t.html|title=Across the Universe: ''Dune'' Babies|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=September 24, 2006|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024031606/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/books/review/Itzkoff.t.html|archive-date=October 24, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7653-1293-8|title=''Sandworms of Dune'' Review|website=[[Publishers Weekly]]|date=July 23, 2007|page=40|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017194752/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7653-1293-8|archive-date=October 17, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref> The works were based on a 30-page outline by Frank Herbert for a sequel to ''Chapterhouse Dune'' he dubbed ''Dune 7''.<ref name="AMC notes 2009-08">{{cite web |last=Neuman |first=Clayton |date=August 17, 2009 |url=https://www.amc.com/talk/2009/08/winds-of-dune-a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921011119/http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/2009/08/brian-herbert-interview.php |archive-date=September 21, 2009 |url-status=live |title=''Winds of Dune'' Author Brian Herbert on Flipping the Myth of Jihad |publisher=AMC |access-date=June 16, 2020}}</ref>

In ''Hunters of Dune'', the Navigator '''Edrik''' fears his kind's obsolescence when the Spacing Guild itself (pressured by a shortage of melange) begins funding the development of superior [[Ix (Dune)|Ixian]] navigation technology that would not require Navigators. Seeking an alternative source of spice to break the Bene Gesserit monopoly, Edrik meets with [[Uxtal]], the last of the [[Lost Tleilaxu]], hoping that he can rediscover the method of producing melange in [[axlotl tank]]s (a secret believed lost when the Bene Tleilax were destroyed by the [[Honored Matres]]). However, Uxtal is in the forced service of the [[Matre Superior]] [[Hellica]], and her price for his expertise is Edrik's help transporting a certain cargo. He agrees, delivering by heighliner the [[Obliterator (Dune)|Obliterators]] that destroy the planet [[Richese]], where the Bene Gesserit are mass-producing weapons and armed battleships. Uxtal is ultimately unsuccessful, but the [[ghola]] he creates of deceased Tleilaxu Master [[Tylwyth Waff|Waff]] later offers Edrik something better in exchange for sanctuary—the genetic knowledge for the Guild to create their own, optimized [[sandworm (Dune)|sandworms]] to produce melange.<ref name="Hunters">{{cite book |last1=Herbert |first1=Brian |author1-link=Brian Herbert |last2=Anderson |first2=Kevin J. |author2-link=Kevin J. Anderson |title=[[Hunters of Dune]] |year=2006}}</ref>

In ''Sandworms of Dune'' (2007), the sequel to ''Hunters'' and finale of the original ''Dune'' series, the Spacing Guild has begun replacing its Navigators with the more cost-effective Ixian navigation devices and cutting off the Navigators' supply of melange. More and more Navigators are dying from withdrawal of the spice—including Ardrae, "one of the oldest remaining Navigators"<ref name="Sandworms 180">{{cite book |last1=Herbert |first1=Brian |author1-link=Brian Herbert |last2=Anderson |first2=Kevin J. |author2-link=Kevin J. Anderson |title=[[Sandworms of Dune]] |year=2007 |publisher=[[Tor Books]] |isbn=978-0-7653-1293-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/sandwormsofdune00herb/page/180 180] }}</ref>—and many defect and disappear into space rather than allow the devices on their ships. All are unaware that [[Face Dancer]] infiltrators are behind the plan, plotting their own takeover of the universe.<ref name="Sandworms">{{cite book |last=Herbert |author2=Anderson |title=Sandworms of Dune |year=2007}}</ref> Waff works in secret, hidden on Edrik's own heighliner, on genetically engineering his "advanced" sandworms. He accomplishes this by altering the [[DNA]] of the [[sandtrout]] stage and creating an aquatic form of the worms, which are then released into the oceans of [[Buzzell (Dune)|Buzzell]]. Adapting to their new environment, these "seaworms" quickly flourish, eventually producing a highly concentrated form of spice, dubbed "[[ultraspice]]."<ref name="Sandworms"/> Edrik and the ultraspice are later intercepted by Face Dancer leader [[Khrone]], who seizes the valuable optimized melange. He incapacitates Edrik by damaging his tank and releasing its spice gas, soon destroying the entire heighliner to rid himself of the Navigator altogether.<ref name="Sandworms 217">{{cite book |last=Herbert |author2=Anderson |title=Sandworms of Dune |year=2007|pages=217–218}}</ref>

=== Prequels ===
The ''[[Prelude to Dune]]'' prequel trilogy (1999–2001) by Brian Herbert and Anderson, set immediately before the events of ''Dune'', explores the previously-unexplained process of becoming a Navigator through the story of '''D'murr Pilru'''. D'murr, a human native of the technology-producing planet [[Ix (Dune)|Ix]], goes through the training process and physical transformation to become a full Navigator.<ref name="Prelude">{{cite serial |last1=Herbert |first1=Brian |author1-link=Brian Herbert |last2=Anderson |first2=Kevin J. |author2-link=Kevin J. Anderson |title=[[Prelude to Dune]] |date=1999–2001}}</ref> In ''[[Dune: House Corrino|House Corrino]]'' (2001), D'murr is piloting one of two heighliners which [[Count Fenring]] uses to secretly test the synthetic melange created by the [[Bene Tleilax|Tleilaxu]] in their [[Project Amal]]. The flawed spice disrupts and confuses D'murr's thoughts, feelings and prescience. Disastrously, the first heighliner emerges from foldspace at the wrong point, striking the defensive shields of [[Wallach IX]] and plummeting into the atmosphere to its destruction. Affected by the tainted melange, D'murr misguides his ship out of the known universe and collapses. As his spice supply is replaced with genuine melange, D'murr uses the last of his strength to return the ship safely to Junction, home of the Guild headquarters, before dying.<ref name="House Corrino">{{cite book |last1=Herbert |first1=Brian |author1-link=Brian Herbert |last2=Anderson |first2=Kevin J. |author2-link=Kevin J. Anderson |title=[[Dune: House Corrino]] |year=2001 }}</ref>

In the ''[[Legends of Dune]]'' prequel trilogy (2002–2004) by Brian Herbert and Anderson, unappreciated scientist Norma Cenva creates the [[Holtzman engine]], which allows a ship to fold space, traveling great distances instantaneously. Her future husband, entrepreneur Aurelius Venport, begins mass-producing the ships which are eventually known as heighliners. The technique proves to be unsafe, however, as one in ten flights ends in the ship's destruction due to navigational difficulties. Desperate for a solution, Norma consumes increasing amounts of melange to improve her thinking and concentration. Full immersion in a tank of spice gas deforms her body, but ultimately bestows on her the prescient ability to plot a safe path for a heighliner through foldspace. As the first Navigator, Norma begins a training program to produce enough Navigators to pilot a fleet of heighliners. Over 80 years later, she puts the creation of the Spacing Guild in motion through her descendant, Josef Venport.<ref name="gr"/><ref name="Legends">{{cite serial |last1=Herbert |first1=Brian |author1-link=Brian Herbert |last2=Anderson |first2=Kevin J. |author2-link=Kevin J. Anderson |title=[[Legends of Dune]] |date=2002–2004}}</ref>

After consolidating its hold on the space travel industry during the events of ''[[Sisterhood of Dune]]'' (2012), this company, now called Venport Holdings or VenHold, evolves into the Guild of the later novels. VenHold originally has the monopoly on foldspace travel, granted to Aurelius Venport by [[Serena Butler]]. However, decades after the end of the Butlerian Jihad, Emperor Jules revokes the monopoly in order to curry political favor, resulting in several rival foldspace companies springing up, such as Celestial Transport and EsconTran. These new companies, however, are unable to provide 100% safe transportation due to their lack of Navigators, the creation process of whom is a proprietary secret tightly held by VenHold. Director [[Josef Venport]] ruthlessly crushes the competition and even executes a rival CEO. Josef's desire to restore his family's monopoly and thirst for knowledge put him in conflict with the Butlerians, a radical religious sect that follows the teachings of the late [[Rayna Butler]] under the leadership of [[Manford Torondo]]. Realizing that the weak Emperor [[Salvador Corrino]] is unwilling to crush the Butlerians, Venport lures him out to Arrakis and has him eaten by a sandworm. Unfortunately for him, Salvador's sabotaged ship manages to return to Salusa Secundus and report the truth to the newly-crowned Emperor [[Roderick Corrino|Roderick]], Salvador's brother. Roderick swears vengeance on Venport. Just then, Torondo gets his hands on a cache of atomics, which he uses to obliterate VenHold's main planet. Eventually, imperial forces track down Venport's secret laboratory and invade. Norma offers Josef a chance to survive by becoming a Navigator. She then folds space to the bridge of the imperial flagship and strikes a deal with the Emperor, agreeing to dissolve VenHold in exchange for Roderick sparing her and all her Navigators, and also establishing the Spacing Guild.