Angry Puppy

“Hey what’s up with this Dune business? I mean, I know it’s one of the all-time best-selling sci fi novels and is widely considered to be the greatest sci fi novel written, but what’s up with the books, the prequels, the pre-prequels, the postquels and the midquels? And what are Patrick Stewart, Kyle MacLachlan, and Linda Hunt doing in a movie that has Sting levitating in leather underwear?”

How many times have you asked yourself this very question and not known how to find out or even where to start looking?

Exactly.

Thus, we present Angry Puppy’s handy review guide to discovering the Duniverse.

So, Dune. Is It All That?

Yes indeedy. Dune, at least the original novel, does live up to the hype. Don’t try to figure out whether it’s more Star Trek or more Star Wars, because there’s no point comparing it to any other franchise; there isn’t anything remotely like it.

Frank Herbert was staggeringly imaginative in creating this complex society and characters and in so fully developing this fascinating tale of politics, religion, economics, mysticism, ecology, and ultimately an insightful exploration into what makes humans human. At the heart of the story is a highly sophisticated and incredibly well-thought-out question about not only what happens when a society crosses the technological singularity, but also what impact that event might have on the subsequent millenia. It’s Battlestar Galactica on a much grander scale.

“Aaah! No Spoilers, No Spoilers, LA LA LA LA LA…”

Don’t worry. I won’t give any spoilers here. But I will give you a word of caution: generally speaking, if you read anything about the Dune universe, you’re likely to encounter massive spoilers because of the way the series unfolds over vast periods of time and out of sequence. For this reason, we suggest you stay away from anything that talks about the Dune universe in broad strokes. Everything written here is safe, though.

Yes, but What’s It About?

It’s kind of hard to explain, it sounds weird, and it’s hard to talk about it without giving anything away. Basically, a very long time from now, but also a very long time time before the events of the original Dune novel, humanity develops the creed, “Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind.” This is, of course, learned the hard way, which fans of Battlestar Galactica can certainly appreciate. In the thousands of years following this discovery, humanity is forced to learn how to evolve and affect the world around them without AI-based technology. Instead, they turn to the controlled development and evolution of the human species in various ways and guided by a multitude of, at times, conflicting principles.

Most of the events of the Dune universe center on the planet Arrakis, a harsh desert planet populated by colossal killer sandworms and the mysterious secretive desert dwellers known as the Fremen. Arrakis is the only known source of the drug melange, ‘the spice’, which extends life and, if used correctly, allows the user to see through time and space. The spice is the most valuable commodity in the universe both because of its properties and also because, without it, the Spacing Guild would not be able to safely guide ships through folded space.

In the original novel, Arrakis is a fief in a galactic empire populated by the followers of feudal houses and various schools and factions. The Bene Gesserit, the school of women who use the spice to retain the memories of all their ancestors, have developed physical and mental abilities through breeding and intense training. The Bene Tleilax are reclusive genetic wizards with secretive cloning technology. The CHOAM corporation is the uber-holding company that guides the economy.

I Wanna Know about Gay Stuff! Is There Gay Stuff?

Yes, there is. If you’re the sort of person who gets upset by negative portrayals of gay characters, then don’t read Dune. No characters in the Dune novels condemn gay identity or behavior, and there’s no judgment being passed specifically about the gay characters, but the “evil” lead character Baron Harkonnen is, among other things, very gay.

Very.

Think Darth Vader with a penchant for sleeping with male slaves.

Interestingly the topic of homosexuality arises again in God Emperor of Dune, published in 1981, and Herbert’s views appear softened. The eponymous lead character in this novel, the oldest living being in the history of the universe, has become something of a philosopher and a spectator of the human experience. When a less-enlightened character expresses disgust at the God Emperor’s all-female army and their proclivity for same-sex relations, the God Emperor (presumably channeling an older, wiser Herbert) rises to their defense.

Herbert’s views may have been affected by his personal life. His son Bruce, only 14 when Dune was published, later came out and became a gay rights activist.

What about Gender Stuff? I’m Interested in Gender Stuff!

As with other sociological issues, the gender politics of Dune are quite interesting. The Empire of the original novel and the two prequel trilogies is heavily male dominated, with women taking supportive roles to male leaders. The big exception is, of course, the Bene Gesserit. This changes quickly, though, and by the third novel and throughout the rest of the series, female societies and female characters have become the predominant leaders of change. There’s an interesting exploration of the the fundamental abilities of women and men to explore the boundaries of time and space using their minds, but I’ll leave that for you to discover. Androgynous characters are introduced in the second novel and play a significant role through the series as well.

Publication Chronology

This is the order in which the books were written, but not the order in which they take place. The Dune universe’s calendar is constructed around the creation of the Spacing Guild, the monopolistic entity that discovers how to fold space, enabling people to instantly travel vast interstellar distances. The year 1 AG (After Guild) is set about 10,000 years in Earth’s future. (Apologies if I’m off a few years here and there. This info is surprisingly hard to find.) Recommendations follow.

Dune: the original series by Frank Herbert

1. Dune (published in 1965, takes place 10,191 AG - 10,193 AG)
2. Dune Messiah (published in 1969, takes place 10,206 AG - 10, 207 AG)
3. Children of Dune (published in 1976, takes place 10,216 AG - 10,217 AG)

4. God Emperor of Dune (published in 1981, takes place 13,725 AG)
5. Heretics of Dune (published in 1984, takes place 15,222 AG - 15,229 AG)
6. Chapterhouse: Dune (published in 1985, takes place 15,230 AG - 15,240 AG)

Prelude to Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

7. Dune: House Atreides (published in 1999, takes place 10,153 AG - 10,156 AG)
8. Dune: House Harkonnen (published in 2000, takes place 10,171 AG - 10,174 AG)
9. Dune: House Corrino (published in 2001, takes place 10,175 AG)

Legends of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

10. Dune: The Butlerian Jihad (published in 2002, takes place 203 BG - 200 BG)
11. Dune: The Machine Crusade (published in 2003, takes place 199 BG - 164 BG)
12. Dune: The Battle of Corrin (published in 2004, takes place 154 BG - 88 BG)

Conclusion of The Original Series (aka “Dune 7″) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

13. Hunters of Dune (published in 2006, takes place 15,241 AG - 15,259 AG)
14. Sandworms of Dune (published in 2007, takes place 15,260 AG to 15,265ish AG)

Yes But Is It All Good?

Uh, mostly. Read the books in the order in which they were written starting with the original novel. Here’s the deal:

Dune: the original series

• Dune: The original novel is super awesome, and everyone should read it. It’s an epic, self-contained story that will likely hook you and drive you to want more. Frank Herbert was a brilliant writer and all his original novels consist of first-rate writing and storytelling.
• Dune Messiah: The original novel, a tough act to follow, tells the story of one of the most significant events in the Dune universe, so it’s necessary that the follow-up be less epically story-driven. The first sequel is, therefore, a bit more philosophical, which in the Dune world is not always a bad thing. Well worth the read to get to…
• Children of Dune: Closer in tone and story to the original. It’s more story-driven and follows the series of events that lead to another pivotal moment in the Dune universe. Really fun and interesting to see how it progresses. Highly recommended.
• God Emperor of Dune: Takes place far in the future, but retains some of the original characters. A very strange piece that returns to the philosophical tone of Dune Messiah. While there’s less story happening in the present, the novel sheds some light on what’s been happening since the last installment. Because of the expansive familiarity with the Dune universe, the reader becomes privvy to far more of Herbert’s ideas and themes. A very interesting read with great ideas.
• Heretics of Dune: The beginning of the final period in the very long Dune saga. Interesting evolution and great storytelling with fascinating developments and good pacing. Also recommended.
• Chapterhouse Dune: picks up where Heretics left off and continues along similar lines. Fascinating stuff leading up to a maddening cliffhanger for those of us who read the novel before Herbert passed away. We waited twenty years for son Brian Herbert to write the conclusion based on Frank’s notes, but fortunately, you don’t have to. (And remember that the next time you complain about going eight months without an episode of BSG). Totally fun read, and as with all the Frank Herbert novels, brilliantly written.

Prelude to Dune

Unfortunately the quality of Brian Herbert’s and Kevin J. Anderson’s writing doesn’t live up to Frank Herbert’s writing or storytelling. That said, if you’re a fan of the original series you’ll enjoy several of their novels. The Prelude to Dune trilogy is among the best they’ve produced. It tells the story of the events leading up to the original series and is a fascinating exploration of the origins of all the familiar characters and factions. If you loved the original series and want to know more about the Dune universe, this is recommended as a really good and fun read.

Legends of Dune

The least strong of the series, this trilogy takes place in the earliest days of the Dune universe, in which humanity is embroiled in conflict with the machines it created, and explores the development of the technology and factions that will ultimately shape later events. It comes tantalizingly close to exploring fascinating Dune institutions like the Spacing Guild and the Bene Gesserit, but stops just short of giving us the answers we want about their early days, and instead focuses heavily on repeatedly emphasizing the cruelty of the thinking machines.

Unfortunately, the slow pacing and ponderous character development make the poorer writing quality more noticeable. The writers have a frustrating tendency to over-qualify and overstate the obvious, and at times the writing is flat-out excruciating. In a passage about the thinking machine army stomping through a recently destroyed human village, there’s a line about how wounded humans cry out in pain and desperation, but the genocidal thinking machines stormed over and through them and “didn’t even care.” Well, duh. The robot army is bent on the extermination of the human race; of course they don’t care. To the trilogies detriment, there’s quite a bit of this peculiar approach to narrative.

It’s not the worst read and is still better than a lot of science fiction and fantasy. In fact, it’s loads more entertaining than The Silmarillion. But unless you’re really fascinated by the history of the Dune universe, this isn’t recommended for most readers. Be sure to read the story and character info in Wikipedia though, as it’s necessary to understand the final two Dune novels.

Conclusion of the original series

You can’t really read Chapterhouse: Dune and not want to read these last two books; it’s just maddening to be left hanging in the middle of this great story. The first part, Hunters of Dune, is one of the stronger Herbert/Anderson entries and is engaging because of the story momentum alone. By halfway through the second half of the conclusion, Sandworms of Dune, there are signs of the same uneven pacing problems that plagued the Legends of Dune trilogy. But there’s enough going on that the soft writing is more palatable, and this is a far more enjoyable read.

The conclusion itself is highly satisfying and well worth the read, but the story leading up to the conclusion is awkward, and there are some disappointments in the last few chapters. Much of the last two novels feels sluggish and reads like filler, which is frustrating because the last few chapters suddenly “magic up” solutions that apparently were available to the protagonists the whole time. This is somewhat forgivable, because the conclusion is a good one, but one wonders why there were so many problems in developing stronger pacing in these novels.

Hey, I Don’t Read. What about the Movie and Miniseries, Huh?

Watch David Lynch’s original Dune film only after reading the original novel. It’s practically impossible to do the novel justice, but Lynch gives it a good try. Keep in mind that this is an early Lynch film, and if you’re not a fan of his work, you probably won’t like it. This film is fairly polarizing; you’ll likely either love it or hate it. Personally, I love it. He did a remarkable job capturing the spirit of the novel given limited effects technology, and, wow, what a cast: Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks), Patrick Stewart (Stark Trek: TNG), Max Von Sydow (The Exorcist, Flash Gordon), Sean Young (Blade Runner), and, of course, Sting.

Sci Fi Channel produced a miniseries a few years ago which covers the first three of the original Dune novels. Despite the stronger effects, and the inclusion of sci fi faves like Susan Sarandon and Alice Krige, I couldn’t get into the series at all. There are many fans of this series, and I may be in the minority on this, but I found there were too many departures from Herbert’s work, coupled with a lack of depth and exploration of the richness of the original material.

Wow, Thanks! That Was Cool! / Frak You! You’re a Total Nimrod!

I hope that this piece answered some or even one of your questions about the Dune universe without deeply irritating anyone who partially or entirely disagrees. Fortunately, we’ve got plenty of space for both vehement opposition and abject gratitude, so feel free to pile on whichever suits your fancy in our spacious comments now.

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