Warning: SPOILERS for Dune and potential spoilers for Wheel of Time.
Amazon's Wheel of Time season 1 debuts on November 19th, 2021, and attentive viewers may notice the story borrows quite a few things from Dune. On the surface, the high-fantasy world of Wheel of Time is remarkably different than the galaxy-spanning scope of Dune, but many of Wheel of Time's story beats were influenced by the groundbreaking sci-fi saga. This makes sense, as while both Wheel of Time and Dune are based on book series and Dune was originally released decades before the first Wheel of Time novel, Eye of the World.
Frank Herbert's Dune novel was released in 1965 and earned instant acclaim from science-fiction lovers and critics alike. In 1966, the novel both won the first-ever Nebula Award for Best Novel and tied for the Hugo Award. It has since gone on to influence a countless number of books, television shows, and movies, with cultural milestones like Game of Thrones and Star Wars borrowing concepts from Dune.
It wouldn't be until 1990 that The Eye of the World, Robert Jordan's first entry into the Wheel of Time series, was released. The Eye of the World was also released to commercial success and critical acclaim, though not to the level of Frank Herbert's novel. Interestingly, in a 1998 interview with the now-defunct MSN eFriends, Robert Jordan was asked about borrowing story elements from Dune. Though Jordan has stated he did not intentionally put any similarities to Dune in his writing, Frank Herbert's influence is hard to deny. Here's why.
Wheel of Time's Aes Sedai and Dune's Bene Gesserit
One of the most immediate similarities between Wheel of Time and Dune is that each series features a mysterious matriarchal organization of women with supernatural powers. The name of the Bene Gesserit is essential to any glossary of Dune terminology, as this shadowy cabal has massive importance to the story. Paul Atreides' mother, Jessica, is one, and early on in Dune Paul has a run-in with the group's leader, the Reverend Mother.
Wheel of Time's version of the Bene Gesserit is called the Aes Sedai. The Aes Sedai feature even more overtly in Wheel of Time, as a number of the series' main characters become important members of the sisterhood. Nevertheless, there are several similarities between the two organizations. Just as the Bene Gesserit are led by the Reverend Mother, the Aes Sedai are led by the Amyrlin Seat. Perhaps most importantly, the Bene Gesserit and the Aes Sedai both enjoy a powerful position as "apolitical" advisors to royalty. It's revealed that the Emperor in Dune is advised by the Reverend Mother herself, while Wheel of Time's Queen Morgase has her own Aes Sedai consultant.
Wheel of Time's One Power and Dune's Voice
Wheel of Time's One Power is at first glance just another take on traditional fantasy magic, but upon closer look bears more similarities to the power of the Bene Gesserit. While the first Bene Gesserit power shown in Dune is called the Voice, their powers grant them many abilities including fertility control and truth detection. The One Power, on the other hand, allows the Aes Sedai to manipulate elements, craft magic items, and form deep magical bonds with others.
The biggest similarity between the two powers is the concept that they should (in most cases) only be wielded by females. In Wheel of Time, the One Power is divided into a female half - saidar - and a male half - saidin. Men who use saidin are quickly labeled as dangerous and stripped of their power, due to saidin being tainted and eventually driving users mad. An early example of this is Wheel of Time's Logain. As saidar is free of taint, women are allowed to keep their power and maintain tight control over the culture surrounding it.
The Bene Gesserit's power is also largely meant for women, as evidenced by the Reverend Mother's scolding of Lady Jessica. The Reverend Mother pointedly asks Lady Jessica why she chose to bear a son, as the selective breeding practices employed by the Bene Gesserit dictate that only girls should be birthed until the right time. Lady Jessica went against the wishes of her people to have Paul, but it was a pointed decision on her part. In even more of a rarity, she has taught Paul how to use the Voice himself.
Wheel of Time's Dragon Reborn and Dune's Kwisatz Haderach
Of course, both Wheel of Time and Dune feature exceptions to the female-only power rule. These take the form of Wheel of Time's Dragon Reborn, and Dune's Kwisatz Haderach. While Dune's messiah/Chosen One prophecy and Wheel of Time's are different, the concept of a male wielding a traditionally female-only power originated from, or at least was popularized by, Frank Herbert. Although there are differences in upbringing between Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, and Paul the Kwisatz Haderach, it's also interesting to note that both men become nation-conquering monarchs throughout their journeys.
Another huge similarity between the two sagas, and one that again points to Frank Herbert's potential influence on Robert Jordan, is the idea of the Dragon Reborn/Kwisatz Haderach resisting control by the Aes Sedai/Bene Gesserit. Both the Aes Sedai and Bene Gesserit are major political players in their respective universes, and both have full intentions of manipulating, containing, or controlling their Chosen Ones. The Aes Sedai make a huge effort to control Rand al'Thor while the Bene Gesserit, who have experience manipulating Dune's Imperium Emperor, fully planned on guiding their Kwisatz Haderach toward their own goals. Naturally, both Rand and Paul resist this control, which drives them further and further along their paths.
Wheel of Time's Aiel and Dune's Fremen
One of the most iconic and distinctive aspects of Dune is its focus on a desert-dwelling people, known to be incredibly fierce warriors but otherwise dismissed as savage or uncivilized. In Dune, these people are called the Fremen–and in Wheel of Time, they're known as the Aiel. Perhaps the strongest case for Frank Herbert's influence on Robert Jordan is the existence of this tough society that becomes a major part of the Chosen One's story. The Fremen are a key component of Dune from the very beginning, but it takes Wheel of Time a few books to properly introduce the faction - meaning they may at first be absent from the upcoming Amazon series. Nevertheless, just as Paul Atreides' future in Dune is linked to the Fremen and "desert power," Wheel of Time sees Rand al'Thor tied to the Aiel in huge ways.
Wheel of Time premieres on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, November 19.