The Dune Novels
by Frank Herbert

The idea for the Dune novels came to Herbert when as a reporter for a San Francisco newspaper he researched a magazine article about a USDA experiment to control the sand dunes along the Oregon coast.

Herbert describes the first novel's origins: "It began with a concept: to do a long novel about the messianic convulsions which periodically inflict themselves on human societies."

Herbert conceived of Dune as part of a trilogy which also includes Dune Messiah (1968) and Children of Dune (1976). Herbert took five years to plan the original Dune Trilogy before starting to write. The popularity of Dune convinced Herbert to continue to write sequels. He finished three before his death.

Herbert's son Brian Herbert has collaborated with Kevin J. Anderson to write six prequels to Dune. See the Reading Guide to the Dune Prequels for more information on those novels.

Originally published 1965
Winner of the Hugo for Best Novel
Winner of the Nebula for Best Novel
Named All-Time Best Science Fiction Novel in the Locus Poll

Dune was parodied by National Lampoon in Doon (1984), about a dessert planet, a sugar-coated wasteland patrolled by a terrifying species of giant pretzel; the only other book to have been honored with a parody (Bored With the Rings) is Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Dune has been filmed twice, first for a theatrical release directed by David Lynch, and later for a made-for-television mini-series.

After Leto is assassinated by Baron Harkonnen who is attempting to control the melange trade, Paul and Jessica escape into the desert and join the Fremen, who, under the guidance of Leit Keynes, are trying to make the desert green. Paul, who may be the Kwisatz Haderach, the result of generations of selected breeding, leads the Fremen in a holy war to oust the corrupt Baron and Emperor from Arrakis.

• The novel is a brilliant attempt to finish the fundamental science fiction question, "What if?"
• Dune tells of the ecological restoration of a desert planet and its people by an avatar (archetype, embodiment of a legend) who must choose as his method of redemption not the customary virtues of love, charity, forgiveness, and mercy, but violence, and whose authentic religious insights conflict with the expediency demanded of him as the figurehead of his people's needs.
• Dune starts with a core question: How would you change a desert planet in an ecologically sound manner? The novel flows from the basic concept that everything that is involved in a system is a part of its ecology.
• Few works of science fiction have attempted both the breadth and the depth of Dune. The novel has many major themes and explores many major concepts:
  • the coming of age of Paul Atriedes
  • politics and power, including military and political tactics
  • psychology and power, including the role of religion and the nature of the Messiah
  • economics and power
  • ecology
  • addiction (to spice, to power)

Preview: Twelve years after the events of Dune, Princess Irulan conspires to dethrone Paul and also beget an heir. Duncan Idaho, Duke Leto's retainer, returns as a ghola, a being constructed from the dead flesh of the original. Chani is pregnant with twins.

Preview: Dune is turning green. Paul's mother Jessica returns to Dune where the twins, Leto and Ghanima, are now 9 and the object of an assassination plot. Alia, who is Regent, is possessed by her grandfather, the Baron Harkonnnen.

The Preacher, who might be Paul returned from the desert, appears. Leto disappears into the desert and Ghanima convinces all, including herself, that he is dead. Leto is taken prisoner by the Fremen and educated in their ways. Eventually Leto metamorphoses into the Shai-Halud, the great sandworm deity.

• Reading Guide to the Dune Prequels