Dune takes a fantasy like approach to technology. There are no lasers, because they would cause a nuclear reaction. There are no robots, because of their past uprising.
This was a neat way to tie loose ends and sustain the universe. Brilliant.
I also like that there are implied abuse of the Bulterian bible later in the series... The stuff going on on Ix and the Tleilaxus' interpretation of the code.
This is why I love Dune and how I describe it to people that aren't familiar with it; the world-building splits the difference perfectly.
It's been a long while since I read the books, but I watched the 2021 movie* more recently.
If not lasers, what were the beams emitted by the space ships, and the portable beam weapon the Sardaukar soldiers when attacking the outpost?
Or is that something the movie added?
There's a great moment in the book where a character sets a trap by engaging a shield and fleeing the area before an errant enemy laser eventually connects with it and creates a massive explosion to cripple the invading forces.
With that in mind the careless use of lasers in the film on two occasions is puzzling considering that it would be an extremely risky and dangerous tactic in the book's universe.
Lasers also attract worms with such intensity they cross territorial boundaries.
A brilliant way to say “yea, they exist, but not really” like the nuclear weapons of today.
This means lasers aren't even a good suicide attack strategy because it may lead to your entire house being glassed