Why do so many of us have a fascination with dry, desert planets? When Cooper is clobbered by a wall of water on a strange planet in the emotional masterpiece that is "Interstellar," it's exciting. But the focus isn't on the inhospitable planet itself, and the aqueous landmass is quickly left behind. Any time Picard, Kirk, or any other group from Starfleet lands on yet another Garden of Eden-esque oasis on a planet far, far away, the Earth-like setting doesn't do much for most viewers.

But cover a set in sand or take cameras out to the Jordanian desert and create a show based on a planet with a dry-as-a-bone atmosphere, and we're all glued to the screen. Despite having Republics and Empires to explore, "Star Wars" returns time and again to the lawless Outer Rim deserts of Tatooine, and fans follow without complaint. The "Dune" universe is built specifically...