That's weird. I never got that impression from any of Frank Herbert's Dune novels. As a matter of fact, in the end it was the Bene Gesserit who were the only ones capable of saving humanity from extinction. Doesn't sound at all like he was terrified of women in anyway. shrug Anyway...I am not quibbling in a thread that is going so nicely for us Dune fans. Thanks for your alternate observations though.