MovieChat Forums > Children of Dune (2003) Discussion > Stone Burner ?

Stone Burner ?

posted 15 years ago by mreigle-1
6 replies | jump to latest

Just curious if anyone has any details on exactly what type of weapon a stoneburner is? Is it like a small version of an atomic or something? I cant really understand why such a large explosion would only affect such a small area of Araken. And also, it looked like Paul and the dwarf were enveloped by all sorts of heat/radiation, etc in the movie yet other than Paul's blindness, they are unscathed. Not too mention I dont get why Paul is blinded and not the dwarf when they both seemed to be looking right at the explosion.

Im just a little fuzzy on that whole scene and am curious if anyone has any details. Thanks!

[–] ozymandias312 15 years ago

I was never entirely clear about this point myself. But it is clearly some type of nuclear device, perhaps comparable to what we would call a neutron bomb. Yet it seems to have been designed as a "rule-beater" -- that is, to skirt the boundaries of the general Imperial ban on atomic weapons.

Ozy

And I stood where I did be; for there was no more use to run; And again I lookt with my hope gone.

[–] NoahBody 14 years ago

ozymandias312
I was never entirely clear about this point myself. But it is clearly some type of nuclear device, perhaps comparable to what we would call a neutron bomb.

Obviously you aren't clear on it.

The neutron bomb was designed as an enhanced radiation weapon. It was intended to release most of its energy as neutron radiation rather than explosive energy.

The stone burner was a nuclear fueled device of some sort. Effects;
Radiation,
Brilliant light released (blinded viewers)
The core burned into the crust of the planet it was detonated on. Given enough fuel it could reach the core and destroy the planet.

[–] MasterDorn 14 years ago

you could just adjust the amount of damage the weapon should deal.

[–] actionmanrandell 13 years ago

a stone burner was a particularly destructive weapon, it could perform one of two tasks; the first function of the bomb was to release massive amounts of J-rays (a type of radiation that dissolves eye tissue), thus blinding all creatures within a few kilometers. The second objective was to create general destruction of property.

[–] calmeilles 8 years ago

In the books it's explicitly an atomic device.

“Stone burner!” someone screamed.
...

“They dared use atomics!” a trooper near Paul protested.

The "dared" because, part of the background, the Great Convention outlawed the use of atomic weapons against people.

[–] simbasolo (2) 5 years ago

The dwarf told Paul not to look at it but Paul did but not the dwarf because the dwarf didn’t look at it.