Stillsuit

Stillsuit

A stillsuit is a fictional body suit designed by the Fremen in Frank Herbert's "Dune" universe to maintain their body moisture in the harsh desert environment of the planet Arrakis.

In "Terminology of the Imperium", the glossary of the novel "Dune", Herbert provides the following definition:

STILLSUIT: body-enclosing garment invented on Arrakis. Its fabric is a micro-sandwich performing functions of heat dissipation and filter for bodily wastes. Reclaimed moisture is made available by tube from catchpockets.

The stillsuit also draws perspiration away from the body and collects it, and pumps built into the heels of the suit drive the filtering mechanism.

In "Dune", as the planetologist Liet-Kynes is assisting Duke Leto Atreides with the fitting of his stillsuit, he explains the suit in this manner:

It's basically a micro-sandwich — a high-efficiency filter and heat-exchange system. The skin-contact layer's porous. Perspiration passes through it, having cooled the body ... near-normal evaporation process. The next two layers . . . include heat exchange filaments and salt precipitators. Salt's reclaimed. Motions of the body, especially breathing and some osmotic action provide the pumping force. Reclaimed water circulates to catchpockets from which you draw it through this tube in the clip at your neck... Urine and feces are processed in the thigh pads. In the open desert, you wear this filter across your face, this tube in the nostrils with these plugs to ensure a tight fit. Breathe in through the mouth filter, out through the nose tube. With a Fremen suit in good working order, you won't lose more than a thimbleful of moisture a day..."

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Technology of the Dune universe — The technology of the Dune universe is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert s concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at …   Wikipedia

  • Fremen — The Fremen are a group of free people in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert, who based them on the Bedouin and the Kalahari Bushmen [WM: It began fifteen years ago, then. Well, what made you or at what point did you go from the… …   Wikipedia

  • Glassjaw — For the boxing term, see Chin (boxing). Glassjaw Glassjaw performing in Hong Kong, 2010 Background information Origin Long Island, New York …   Wikipedia

  • List of Dune terminology — This is a list of terminology used in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert, the primary source being Terminology of the Imperium, the glossary contained in the novel Dune (1965). Dune word construction could be classified into… …   Wikipedia

  • Children of Dune — For the TV miniseries of the same name, see Frank Herbert s Children of Dune. Children of Dune   …   Wikipedia

  • List of Dune characters — This is a list of the characters who appear in the novels of the fictional Dune universe, created by Frank Herbert and later expanded by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. This article provides links to many of the main characters in the Dune… …   Wikipedia

  • Vladimir Harkonnen — Baron Vladimir Harkonnen Kenneth McMillan as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in Dune (1984) Gender Male Date of birth 10,110 A.G. [1] …   Wikipedia

  • Dune Messiah —   …   Wikipedia

  • God Emperor of Dune — See God emperor for the general concept. God Emperor of Dune   …   Wikipedia

  • Mentat — For other uses, see Mentat (disambiguation). A Mentat is a profession or discipline in Frank Herbert s fictional Dune universe. Mentats are humans trained to mimic computers: human minds developed to staggering heights of cognitive and analytical …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”