In case you’ve ever ventured to Arrakis, you’ve heard the whispers: Sandworms, the Maker, perhaps you’e even heard of Shai-Hulud. You probably know them as an existential risk, the form of enemy you may’t hope to kill, but in addition as an ecological necessity — their existence brings forth the Spice Melange, on which our survival relies upon.
However the Maker is greater than a set of enamel that produces spice. It’s a god determine, a being to be revered, and — most significantly — a technique to traverse the Arrakeen desert. That’s proper, Shai-Hulud may be ridden — however what’s it really prefer to trip?
Full Disclosure: The Fremen flew me out to Arrakis to attempt my hand at using a sandworm. The Spacing Guild provided my transportation, and the Fremen supplied my meals, lodging, and valuable life-giving water.
What’s New About The 10191 Arrakeen Sandworm?
Not a lot. Most sandworms sufficiently old to trip are lots of if not hundreds of years outdated — little or no has modified for them over the course of their years within the sand.
But when it ain’t broke, don’t repair it. The Maker is dependable transport, simple to foretell and manageable to regulate — as long as what you’re doing. For amateurs, wormriding generally is a wrestle, however with a little bit of observe it turns into second nature.
What Are the Specs?
Sandworms can develop to lots of of yards in size, and a few suppose that worms as much as 1,000 yards lengthy exist within the planet’s most distant deserts. My tester wasn’t fairly so giant, someplace within the 250-yard vary, which made it considerably extra nimble than its bigger brethren.
How Does It Look?
I’ll be actual: Sandworms are usually not fairly. They’re a function-over-form design, grey and drab with thick, plated pores and skin. However each a part of the Maker’s look serves a operate—its mouth for intaking vitamins, its plates for steering the worm in direction of your vacation spot. Shai-Hulud is probably not a magnificence, nevertheless it will get the job achieved.
How Does It Journey?
I stated my Maker was smaller than many, which made for a nimbler trip. That, nevertheless, is faint reward — no sandworm is actually nimble, all are sluggish to reply and require full-body exertion to maneuver. Even with expert riders on again, Shai-Hulud nonetheless understeers on the restrict, and every trip is extra about reaching your vacation spot than having any enjoyable alongside the best way.
Energy is satisfactory; worms are targeted extra on torque than top-end, which may typically confuse the “butt dyno” into studying greater than is basically correct. The true trick with sandworms, although, is management — at first the concept of controlling a Maker together with your two little hooks appears absurd. With some observe below your belt, nevertheless, all of it turns into second nature: The Maker hooks fall readily handy, and the steering scramble from left to proper turns into extra of an intentional dance.
How’s The Inside?
I didn’t take a look at this. In case you wanna get eaten by a sandworm to find what it’s like, be my visitor. I hear it’s scorching.
How Does It Evaluate to the Competitors?
For long-distance journey on Arrakis, the closest competitor to the Maker is probably going your commonplace ornithopter. However these require gasoline and upkeep, and also you aren’t more likely to discover one other one fueled and ready when yours falters. Worms, against this, maintain themselves — and when one will get drained, you’re only a thumper away from discovering one other trip.
For brief journeys, an ornithopter could also be extra handy. However for lengthy hauls throughout the Arrakeen desert, the Maker is unmatched. There’s a purpose the Fremen, these most attuned to abandon life, don’t preserve fleets of ‘thopters at each sietch.
Last Ideas
Driving Shai-Hulud is a uncommon alternative, one I’m grateful to have been given. Massive, high-capacity sandworms actually really feel like the way forward for long-haul transportation in a means that makes ornithopters really feel out of date — so restricted in measurement, carry weight, and gasoline vary. The Fremen know Dune finest, so it’s no surprise they’ve chosen the best technique of transport via the vast, open desert. Bless the Maker and His water, bless the approaching and going of Him.