Dune reflects a "post-technology" universe. You may recall the Butlerian Jihad and the rise of Mentats (who were completely ignored in this series, to its detriment). The B.J. was an uprising against artificial intelligence, which had created a threat to human survival. In its wake came the Mentats, who were human supercomputers.
Herbert does describe a great deal of very advanced technology, he just does it in an understated way. Consider the Guild Highliners, poison snoopers, hunter-seekers, shields, las-guns, cones of silence, and gholas. It all speaks to a high sophistication, but it's all (well, mostly) subtle technology. This is why Dune resonates so strongly with me--Herbert doesn't try to dazzle us with a "gee-whiz" techno-thriller; instead, he creates a world that is more interested in human concerns. Consider shields. Here is a technology so advanced that the only recourse mankind had was to "revert" back to knife fighting. Which makes combat more brutal, but also more personal, more "human." And, to my mind, more interesting. But the technology is integral to the believability of this particular example.
So I think this is why Dune has such an appeal to geeks. It does employ technology, but in subtle, thoughtful ways, rather than beating the audience over the head. This is in addition, of course, to the stunning variety of ideas Herbert packs into the book. Anthropology, sociology, genetics, ecology, mysticism, religion: these are all meaty (read: geeky) topics, and Herbert weaves them together beautifully. My $.02.
You might want to check out RealRates.com. It's got some good information, at least for contract work (I didn't really check out their salary survey section, but I'm sure it's OK). Not much good outside US/Canada, but there you have it.
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Dune reflects a "post-technology" universe. You may recall the Butlerian Jihad and the rise of Mentats (who were completely ignored in this series, to its detriment). The B.J. was an uprising against artificial intelligence, which had created a threat to human survival. In its wake came the Mentats, who were human supercomputers.
Herbert does describe a great deal of very advanced technology, he just does it in an understated way. Consider the Guild Highliners, poison snoopers, hunter-seekers, shields, las-guns, cones of silence, and gholas. It all speaks to a high sophistication, but it's all (well, mostly) subtle technology. This is why Dune resonates so strongly with me--Herbert doesn't try to dazzle us with a "gee-whiz" techno-thriller; instead, he creates a world that is more interested in human concerns. Consider shields. Here is a technology so advanced that the only recourse mankind had was to "revert" back to knife fighting. Which makes combat more brutal, but also more personal, more "human." And, to my mind, more interesting. But the technology is integral to the believability of this particular example.
So I think this is why Dune has such an appeal to geeks. It does employ technology, but in subtle, thoughtful ways, rather than beating the audience over the head. This is in addition, of course, to the stunning variety of ideas Herbert packs into the book. Anthropology, sociology, genetics, ecology, mysticism, religion: these are all meaty (read: geeky) topics, and Herbert weaves them together beautifully. My $.02.
You might want to check out RealRates.com. It's got some good information, at least for contract work (I didn't really check out their salary survey section, but I'm sure it's OK). Not much good outside US/Canada, but there you have it.