>Maybe I read something into the book that wasn't there, but I thought
>that was -precisely- what they did... arranging House Atredies' move
>to Arrakis and the assassination of Paul and his father. They
>certainly had the influence to do it.

The move to Arrakis... probably. I'd have to go reread the book. The assassination of Leto, and attempted assassinations of Paul, were the work of the Harkonnens. Baron Harkonnen didn't tolerate the presence of BG -- he barely even tolerated a Mentat, and only that much because he owned the man body and soul -- and while they certainly had some hold on the Emperor (though not as much of a hold as the Guild), their influence over House Harkonnen was limited at best. And with Paul's birth, the BG were pretty much stuck with him or his offspring as the potential Kwisatz Haderach, since Jessica made it pretty plain that she wouldn't let them anywhere near any more children she might have. And when she became a Reverend Mother in her own right, and thus empowered Alia, she could make sure of that.

I wouldn't say that the BG were the most powerful entity in Dune. The Guild, since they control space travel, and at the end of the first book Paul, since he was both Emperor and ruler of Arrakis, sole source of the spice.

-- Sean --

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