Exploring Frank Herbert’s Dune: How Many Books Are There?
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The universe of Dune is vast and immersive, captivating millions of readers around the world. Created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, this science fiction saga expanded after his death with the help of his son, Brian Herbert, and co-author Kevin J. Anderson. With so many books, novellas, and spin-offs, it can be hard to keep track of the entire Dune series. That’s why we’re here. Let’s dive into the world of Dune and just how many books there are in this magnificent series.
In Dune, Frank Herbert created one of the most complex and intricate universes ever seen in fiction. His ground-breaking work revolved around a world with a rich history and complex political, ecological, and religious structures. Herbert spent years researching and compiling the manuscript for Dune. He completed it in 1963 and initially published it as a series in the science fiction magazine Analog. In 1965, after being rejected twenty-two times by editors for being too complex, Dune was finally published as a novel by Chilton Books. The book won numerous awards, including the 1965 Nebula Award for best novel, and shared the 1966 Hugo Award with Richard Zelazny’s This Immortal. Today, it remains the best-selling science fiction novel of all time.
Dune, the other name of the desert planet Arrakis, is a harsh and sparsely populated wasteland that is the only source of the drug melange (known as “spice”), in the universe. Melange extends life, enhances consciousness, and gives the user the multidimensional awareness and foresight necessary for space navigation. House Atreides, one of the powerful noble houses that control the galaxy under the Padishah Emperor, is tasked with the stewardship of Arrakis. Dune follows the journey of Paul Atreide, son of House Atreides. After the betrayal and destruction of his family, Paul sets out on a journey to fulfill his destiny – a destiny beyond anything he can imagine.
Following Dune’s success, Frank Herbert wrote five direct sequels: Dune Messiah (1969), Children of Dune (1976), God Emperor of Dune (1981), Heretics of Dune (1984), and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985). These books chronicle the destiny of Paul Atreides’ descendants and the turbulent future of humanity and the universe.
In 1986, Frank Herbert passed away at the age of 65. With his passing, many fans feared that the Dune saga would remain unfinished. However, ten years later, his son, Brian Herbert, and science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson took up the mantle and continued expanding the Dune universe. Their collaborative efforts resulted in a collection of prequels, sequels, companion novels, and side stories.
To provide a clearer understanding, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the Dune books in order of release:
The original Dune series by Frank Herbert
1. Dune (1965)
2. Dune Messiah (1969)
3. Children of Dune (1976)
4. God Emperor of Dune (1981)
5. Heretics of Dune (1984)
6. Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
Prelude to Dune trilogy by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
7. Dune: House Atreides (1999)
8. Dune: House Harkonnen (2000)
9. Dune: House Corrino (2001)
Legends of Dune trilogy by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
10. Dune: The Butlerian Jihad (2002)
11. Dune: The Machine Crusade (2003)
12. Dune: The Battle of Corrin (2004)
Dune sequels by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
13. Hunters of Dune (2006)
14. Sandworms of Dune (2007)
Heroes of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
15. Paul of Dune (2008)
16. The Winds of Dune (2009)
Great Schools of Dune trilogy by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
17. Sisterhood of Dune (2012)
18. Mentats of Dune (2014)
19. Navigators of Dune (2016)
The Caladan Trilogy by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
20. The Duke of Caladan (2020)
21. The Lady of Caladan (2021)
22. The Heir of Caladan (2022)
Stand-alone novel
23. Princess of Dune (2023) by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
Many of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s books arose from Frank Herbert’s notes and writings. For example, the two sequels, Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune, were based on outlines Frank Herbert had made for a sequel to Chapterhouse: Dune he titled “Dune 7.” The two Herbert/ Anderson sequels followed the events of Frank Herbert’s six-book series and tied off plotlines that remained open after Herbert’s death.
But where to start?
There are so many entry points to the Dune series; it’s up to you how you want to approach it. Generally, fans advise new readers to start with Frank Herbert’s original six books. The prequels and spin-offs written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are generally grouped into trilogies, so their stories are somewhat self-contained and expand on other aspects of the Dune universe, its history, and some character origins. It’s not essential to read the prequels before the original series; many fans prefer to fill in the background once they have become familiar with Frank Herbert’s incredible work in his own words.
Once you’ve finished the original six, you can move on to the prequels, sequels, and spin-offs in whatever order you choose. However, if you’re a completionist who likes to experience events as they occur in the in-universe timeline, here is the chronological order of the entire Dune series:
- Legends of Dune trilogy (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
- Great Schools of Dune trilogy (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
- Prelude to Dune trilogy (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
- The Princess of Dune (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
- The Caladan Trilogy (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
- Dune (Frank Herbert)
- Paul of Dune (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
- Dune Messiah (Frank Herbert)
- The Winds of Dune (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
- Children of Dune (Frank Herbert)
- God Emperor of Dune (Frank Herbert)
- Heretics of Dune (Frank Herbert)
- Chapterhouse: Dune (Frank Herbert)
- Hunters of Dune (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
- Sandworms of Dune (Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson)
Beyond the Dune novels, many short stories, novellas, and graphic novels have been written over the years.
Short stories:
- The Road to Dune (1985) by Frank Herbert: an illustrated short story published in Herbert’s short story collection, Eye.
- Tales of Dune: Expanded Edition (2017) by Brian Herber & Kevin. J Anderson; a collection of eight short stories: Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas (2001), Dune: Hunting Harkonnens (2002), Dune: Whipping Mek (2003), Dune: The Faces of a Martyr (2004), Dune: Sea Child (2006), Dune: Treasure in the Sand (2006), Dune: Wedding Silk (2008), and Dune: Red Plague (2016)
Novellas:
- Sands of Dune (2022) by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson; a collection of four novellas: Dune: The Waters of Kanly (2017), Dune: Blood of the Sardaukar (2019), Dune: The Edge of a Crysknife (2022), and Dune: Imperial Court (2022)
Graphic Novels:
- Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1 by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
- Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 2 by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
- Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 3 by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
There have also been a host of companion books to expand and explore the Dune universe. The 1984 Dune Encyclopedia is a collection of essays that look at many aspects of the Dune universe. Written by scholars and fans, the essays are technically not canonical to the series, although the work was approved by Frank Herbert. In 1992, a collection of Dune-related poems called Songs of Muad’Dib was published. These were written by Frank Herbert and edited by his son Brian.
More recently, in 2005, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson produced a collection of works entitled The Road to Dune. The collection includes a novelette called Spine Planet which is an alternate version of Dune based on Frank Herbert’s notes. The Road to Dune also contains Frank Herbert’s original notes for Dune, letters between him and his editor, unused chapters from Dune and Dune Messiah, and a number of short stories written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
The Dune literary universe is as captivating as it is vast. With 23 novels and many short stories, novellas, and companion books, the Dune series continues to capture imaginations and spark discussion about aspects of our political, ecological, and religious systems. Frank Herbert’s work is as ground-breaking today as it was in 1965 and continues to influence and inspire science fiction authors. Whether you’re picking up Dune for the first time or returning to it as an old fan, you will find yourself blown away by the creativity, complexity, and richness of Herbert’s literary masterpiece.
Have you read any of the Dune novels? If so, which ones are your favorites and why? Leave a comment with your opinions and perspectives, we’d love to hear from you. And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletter, PopPulse Digest, for all things books, pop culture, online deals, and more.
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