A barren, desert planet inhabited by hostile tribes, a ruthless galactic emperor, and a young man whose training in the mystic arts will unfold his special destiny. You might think this is a description of the original Star Wars film, but these plot points belong to a different work altogether.
Frank Herbert’s Dune was published in 1965 and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of the science fiction genre. Herbert (Oct 8, 1920-February 11, 1986) was a visionary author who also published many other novels and short stories within the science fiction genre.
A former journalist, Herbert’s vision of a desert planet began when he was researching the formation of sand dunes in Oregon and took shape when Herbert began including complex social, political, and religious concepts. Herbert would write five sequels to the original Dune influencing a generation of science fiction creators including George Lucas with Star Wars.The Dune Saga would see a rebirth under Herbert’s son, Brian, who would expand the Dune mythos with a series of prequels and original novels in collaboration with noted science fiction author Kevin Anderson.
Whether you are an experienced Herbert reader or if you’re new to the writer, here is a list of must-read and must-see works:
Reccomended Reading and Viewing
Set 8,000 plus years in the future, humanity is ruled by a feudalistic galactic government and the entire universe is dependent on a substance known as mélange or the spice which can extend life itself as well as enabling space travel. The source of the spice is limited to one remote desert planet, Arrakis, commonly known as Dune. The mysterious spice is also guarded by the deadly giant sand worms of Dune. This 500-plus page epic is also a cautionary tale about religion and politics.
Following his ascendancy to the galactic throne, Paul Atreides, protagonist of the original Dune, is the target of a complex political conspiracy by his rivals. A page turner from start to finish, this sequel builds on the original Dune’s concepts and characters.
Director Denis Villeneuve adapts Herbert’s epic with an all-star cast including Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Josh Brolin. This hit film only covers roughly half of the Herbert novel, a sequel is in the works.
Director David Lynch’s version of Herbert’s Dune includes stunning visuals and special effects as well as a memorable cast including Kyle MachLachlan, Sir Patrick Stewart, Max Von Sydow and Sting. Although reactions to this film were mixed among Dune fans, this ambitious film is worth seeing.
Published in 1965, this novel focuses on humanity’s struggle to create artificial intelligence. This work would inspire three sequels and is the first book in Herbert’s Pandora Sequence.
Published in 2003, this biography of Frank Herbert is a must-read for Dune fans and contains insights into the mind of the visionary science fiction master.
This Graphic Novel adaptation of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson’s first expanded Dune Universe prequel published by Boom Studios is an excellent read setting up the events in the original Dune.