Frank Herbert's ``Dune'' novels

My only advice on the Dune series is: read the entire series, all six books, cover to cover, in sequence, before you decide how you feel about them. There is a big story behind all the details.

1. Dune
2. Dune Messiah: I know a lot of people who read this far and quit. I liked it fine, but many don't. This volume is a necessary transition to some bigger themes coming up, so do press on.
3. Children of Dune
4. God-Emperor of Dune: should be read by anyone with even a vague interest in politics.
5. Heretics of Dune
6. Chapterhouse: Dune

So why is this worth reading, and what does it all mean? Well, if you've read the series, you might want to read a Usenet posting that I wrote a few years back. I'd welcome any further conversation on this topic, if you care to write.

I also recommend the three prequels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson:

• House Atreides
• House Harkonnen
• House Corrino

They have access to Frank Herbert's notes and unpublished materials (Brian is Frank's son), and I think they've done very credibly with it. The plotting is suitably Byzantine, and they definitely held my interest despite knowing a lot about who lives and who dies. They're working on an even earlier prequel covering the Butlerian Jihad, and I will definitely be looking for it.

Last updated: 2002/06/22 00:40:32
URL: http://www.nmt.edu/~shipman/reading/dune.html