Melange (fictional Drug)

Melange (fictional Drug)

Melange from French mélange (“set of diverse elements”), (/meɪˈlɑːndʒ/ or /meɪˈlɑːnʒ/) – also called the "spice" – is the name of the fictional drug central to the Dune series of science fiction novels by Frank Herbert, and derivative works.

In the series, the most essential and valuable commodity in the universe is melange, a geriatric drug that gives the user a longer life span, greater vitality, and heightened awareness; it can also unlock prescience in some humans, depending upon the dosage and the consumer's physiology. This prescience-enhancing property makes safe and accurate interstellar travel possible. Melange comes with a steep price, however: it is addictive, and withdrawal is fatal.

Carol Hart analyzes the concept in the essay "Melange" in The Science of Dune (2008).