Tio Holtzman
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Tio Holtzman is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. He is best known for the Holtzman effect, the scientific phenomenon that makes (among other things) instantaneous space travel and defensive force shields possible.
In the Legends of Dune novels, Holtzman resides on the planet of Poritrin, where slavery is commonplace, and works under the protection and patronage of the nobleman Lord Niko Bludd. Holtzman's career is on the wane, as he has not come with as many new brilliant inventions as he used to. While going through different scientific articles from all over the League of Nobles he finds a work by a Rossak woman known as Norma Cenva. Upon realising her genius, he invites her to come work with him on Poritrin.
As time passes, Holtzman discovers that the young dwarfish woman is much more creative than he, and after being upstaged by her twice, he begins to dislike her. Eventually he takes credit for her mathematical theories, which lead to many practical uses for the so-called Holtzman effect, including the Holtzman Drive, Holtzman Shields, suspensors and glowglobes. Cenva's name is eventually forgotten by history, but she is more interested in improving defensive shields and developing 'foldspace' travel, making it safer and more efficient. Her efforts help humanity defeat the forces of Omnius.
Holtzman is eventually killed during a slave rebellion when his personal force-shield is hit by lasgun fire; Cenva had realized early on that the impact of these two technologies results in sub-atomic fusion and a nuclear explosion.
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