Page "Mentat" Paragraph 4

Being a Mentat can be a profession in itself, or the discipline can be added to other roles.

Few people have the ability to be a Mentat ; thus, those with the discipline are prized in whatever role they choose.

There are also varying degrees of ability.

In Dune ( 1965 ), Thufir Hawat is considered to be one of the best Mentats of his time.

Paul Atreides is a Mentat duke ( and later emperor ) in Dune, and in Heretics of Dune ( 1984 ) and Chapterhouse: Dune ( 1985 ), Miles Teg is a Mentat bashar ( or general ) and the most formidable military commander in the known universe.

In Dune Messiah ( 1969 ), Duncan Idaho is recreated as a ghola and trained as both a Mentat and a Zensunni philosopher.

In Children of Dune ( 1976 ), he marries the Regent, Paul's sister Alia, but is then instrumental in protecting the royal heirs from her, demonstrating that Mentats are rarely simply disinterested observers and counselors.