When you’ve ever ventured to Arrakis, you’ve heard the whispers: Sandworms, the Maker, possibly you’e even heard of Shai-Hulud. You doubtless know them as an existential risk, the sort of enemy you’ll be able to’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 tooth that produces spice. It’s a god determine, a being to be revered, and — most significantly — a strategy to traverse the Arrakeen desert. That’s proper, Shai-Hulud could be ridden — however what’s it truly wish to experience?
Full Disclosure: The Fremen flew me out to Arrakis to attempt my hand at using a sandworm. The Spacing Guild equipped my transportation, and the Fremen offered my meals, lodging, and valuable life-giving water.
What’s New About The 10191 Arrakeen Sandworm?
Not a lot. Most sandworms sufficiently old to experience are a whole bunch if not 1000’s of years outdated — little or no has modified for them over the course of their years within the sand.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 manage — as long as you already know what you’re doing. For amateurs, wormriding could be a wrestle, however with a little bit of observe it turns into second nature.
What Are the Specs?
Sandworms can develop to a whole bunch of yards in size, and a few assume 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 will not be 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 perform—its mouth for intaking vitamins, its plates for steering the worm in the direction of your vacation spot. Shai-Hulud will not be a magnificence, however it will get the job accomplished.
How Does It Journey?
I mentioned my Maker was smaller than many, which made for a nimbler experience. That, nonetheless, 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 experience 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 might typically confuse the “butt dyno” into studying larger than is actually correct. The true trick with sandworms, although, is management — at first the thought of controlling a Maker together with your two little hooks appears absurd. With some observe below your belt, nonetheless, all of it turns into second nature: The Maker hooks fall readily at hand, 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. When you wanna get eaten by a sandworm to find what it’s like, be my visitor. I hear it’s sizzling.
How Does It Evaluate to the Competitors?
For long-distance journey on Arrakis, the closest competitor to the Maker is probably going your customary ornithopter. However these require gasoline and upkeep, and also you aren’t prone to discover one other one fueled and ready when yours falters. Worms, in contrast, care for themselves — and when one will get drained, you’re only a thumper away from discovering one other experience.
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 hold fleets of ‘thopters at each sietch.
Closing Ideas
Using Shai-Hulud is a uncommon alternative, one I’m grateful to have been given. Giant, high-capacity sandworms really really feel like the way forward for long-haul transportation in a means that makes ornithopters really feel out of date — so restricted in dimension, carry weight, and gasoline vary. The Fremen know Dune finest, so it’s no surprise they’ve chosen the perfect technique of transport by the vast, open desert. Bless the Maker and His water, bless the approaching and going of Him.