Book Dune

by admin on Dec.25, 2009, under Uncategorized

Book Dune

In his Afterword, Brian Herbert wrote that he had already started working with Kevin J. Anderson when his father’s sequel to Chapterhouse: Dune was discovered. In Dune 7, the writing duo finally found Frank Herbert’s vision of the series so they could write the prequel with confidence they were following the late author’s ideals.

The result, Dune: House Atreides is a stellar work that begins the generation before Paul Atreides, or Muad Dib. Herbert and Anderson paint a universe of the Imperium where blood feuds, treachery and betrayal run amok between the Houses of Harkonnen, Corrino and Atreides. We see the Bene Gesserit witches as being the subtle manipulators in all schemes, but also we find out more about their breeding programs and how devious they can be in getting what they want. Herbert and Anderson also introduce us to another House and mentions several others, expanding the Imperium far beyond the first five novels.

It is very good to see Arrakis as it was originally – sandworms, Fremen, endless desert – since it has not been this way since Children of Dune. Starting with God Emperor of Dune, the final three novels of Frank Herbert described a world entirely different from the very first Dune, which will always be a classic. In God Emperor, the weakest and weirdest of all the novels, Arrakis is lush with plants and flowing water, with the desert (although still huge) confined to less than half the planet. Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse brought us back to some sense of familiarity.

The only hiccup in House Atreides was the mention of a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother consulting with a Feng Shui expert on the proper construction and orientation of a birthing facility being built on Wallach IX, the home planet of the witches. Fortunately, this gaffe was a mere half page and the chapter did not hinge upon this incident. Herbert and Anderson could have just as easily left it out.

Even so, the authors have produced a beautifully written novel of a cold, harsh universe almost completely devoid of love, but is still an exciting read.

Whats the first book in the Dune series?

I want to read the Dune books but there are so many and I have no clue which one is the first one. Oh yeah, are they any good?

Well, it all depends on what order you want to read them in and if you are interested in reading the new Dune novels by Frank Herbert’s son, Brian.

So decide, do you want to read them in order of publication or chronologically, all the Dune books or just those by Frank Herbert? I have placed both orders below in full (including the book coming out this fall) with which Herbert authored it.

By Chronology:
The Butlerian Jihad, Brian Herbert
The Machine Crusade, Brian Herbert
The Battle of Corrin, Brian Herbert
House Atreides, Brian Herbert
House Harkonnen, Brian Herbert
House Corrino, Brian Herbert
Dune, Frank Herbert
Dune Messiah, Frank Herbert
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
The Road to Dune, Brian Herbert
Sandworms of Dune (September 2007), Brian Herbert

By Publishing:
Dune, Frank Herbert
Dune Messiah, Frank Herbert
Children of Dune, Frank Herbert
God Emperor of Dune, Frank Herbert
Heretics of Dune, Frank Herbert
Chapterhouse: Dune, Frank Herbert
House Atreides, Brian Herbert
House Harkonnen, Brian Herbert
House Corrino, Brian Herbert
The Butlerian Jihad, Brian Herbert
The Machine Crusade, Brian Herbert
The Battle of Corrin, Brian Herbert
Hunters of Dune, Brian Herbert
The Road to Dune, Brian Herbert
Sandworms of Dune (September 2007), Brian Herbert

Hope that helps. I happen to love the Dune’s by Frank Herbert, but have not read any written by his son, Brian. But a word of caution. While the first Dune is well liked by most readers, the rest get extremely complicated as they go on. I have met very few people that have read and liked all of the originals. I did, but I enjoy all the complicated characters, twists, turns and political intrigue.

Jonathan Coulton – “Theme From Dune” in Echo Park 11-13-08