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In what order to read Dune: a beginner's guide
In what order to read Dune: a beginner's guide
Anonim

Six main books, four additional and three more trilogies, which will leave no questions.

In what order to read Dune: a beginner's guide
In what order to read Dune: a beginner's guide

Thanks to the new film adaptation of Denis Villeneuve, another wave of interest in books about Dune has risen. Only the number of related works and the unclear order of their reading can prevent you from immersing yourself in the world of sand and spice. Here's how to get to know this incredible universe better.

1. If you are going to get acquainted with the main history of Dune

For those who just want to learn more about the world of Villeneuve's film and understand what they can show in the sequel, it is enough to read just one novel by Frank Herbert. This is the first book in the Chronicles of Dune series, which gave rise to his entire sci-fi universe:

Dune (1965)

Dune books in order: "Dune"
Dune books in order: "Dune"

The book tells about the distant 11th millennium after the creation of the Space Guild, where the confrontation between two influential Houses - Atreides and Harkonnens - does not stop. The latter manage to get the support of the Emperor, and the head of the Atreides, Leto, along with his son Paul and his entourage, are sent to Arrakis. It is a sand-covered planet also called Dune.

2. If you are interested in the further fate of the protagonist and his legacy

Those who want to know the whole story of Paul Atreides should add to their reading list the following two books from The Chronicles of Dune by Frank Herbert:

  • Messiah of Dune (1969);
  • Children of Dune (1976).
Books about Dune in order: "Messiah of Dune" and "Children of Dune"
Books about Dune in order: "Messiah of Dune" and "Children of Dune"

The first tells about the conspiracy against Paul Atreides, who has been the emperor for 12 years. And the second tells about the rise to power of Paul's sister Alia, who became obsessed with the old Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.

Note that the first three books also exist in the format of a single edition called "The First Trilogy".

3. If you plan to completely immerse yourself in the world of Dune

An option for those who want to fully know the canonical part of the universe (albeit with reservations). First of all, we finish reading the remaining works of the "Chronicles of Dune" series, written by Frank Herbert. There are only three of them:

  • God-Emperor of Dune (1981);
  • The Heretics of Dune (1984);
  • Dune Chapter (1985).
In what order to read books about Dune: "God-Emperor of Dune", "Heretics of Dune", "Chapter of Dune"
In what order to read books about Dune: "God-Emperor of Dune", "Heretics of Dune", "Chapter of Dune"

The books will tell about the return of plants and water to Arrakis, as well as the death of sandworms - and with them the spices. The planet became the capital of the Empire, which the son of Paul Atreides leads the "Golden Path" for the preservation and prosperity of mankind.

The same series usually includes two novels written after the death of the author by his son Brian Herbert, together with science fiction writer Kevin Anderson. For completeness, add to the reading list and them:

  • Dune Hunters (2006);
  • Sandworms of Dune (2007).
Dune books in order: Dune Hunters, Dune Sandworms
Dune books in order: Dune Hunters, Dune Sandworms

These works are also called "Dune-7". The reason is simple: both are based on surviving drafts of Frank Herbert with ideas for the seventh book, which was to complete the Chronicle.

Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson were also planning to release the Heroes of Dune trilogy, dedicated to the biographies of key characters. However, only two books came out:

  • Dune: Paul (2008);
  • Winds of Dune (2009).
Dune books in order: "Dune: Paul", "Winds of Dune"
Dune books in order: "Dune: Paul", "Winds of Dune"

The first tells about the life of young Paul Atreides, and the second - about the return of Lady Jessica to Arrakis and the investigation into the disappearance of her son.

4. If you want to know the background of the world of Dune

If after ten books you are completely and irrevocably in love with the world of "Dune", move on to the prequels. These are separate novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. There is no universal scheme here: you can read both in the order of release and in the chronology of events.

Lifehacker offers a second option: to move from the most ancient stories to the time of the first novel in 1965.

We begin our acquaintance with the prequels with the Legends of Dune trilogy. She recounts events that took place 10,000 years before Dune, but to which Herbert was repeatedly referred to in the Chronicles. This series includes:

  • Dune: The Butlerian Jihad (2002);
  • Dune: The Machine Crusade (2003);
  • Dune: The Battle of Corrine (2004).
Dune books in order: Dune: The Butlerian Jihad, Dune: The Machine Crusade, Dune: Battle of Corrin
Dune books in order: Dune: The Butlerian Jihad, Dune: The Machine Crusade, Dune: Battle of Corrin

According to the plot of the trilogy, people endowed the machines with powerful intelligence, but could not keep them under control. Thus, a new enemy appeared, seizing dominance in the world for many centuries. The books also reveal some of the reasons for the enmity between the Atreides and the Harkonnen and tell about the origins of the Bene Gesserit Order and the Fremen people.

The books of the cycle “Great Schools of Dune” became a direct continuation of "Legends". In them, the only nascent Bene Gesserit Order, the mentats and navigators of the Space Guild are opposed by a new order. But this time, the main threat is no longer cars, but people. There are also three novels here:

  • Order of the Sisters of Dune (2012);
  • Mentats of Dune (2014);
  • Dune Navigators (2016).
"Order of the Sisters of Dune", "Mentats of Dune", "Navigators of Dune"
"Order of the Sisters of Dune", "Mentats of Dune", "Navigators of Dune"

Finally, move on to Preludes to Dune. The trilogy covers the period leading up to the beginning of the original novel and covering the three main Houses. The series includes:

  • Dune: House of the Atreides (1999);
  • Dune: House of the Harkonnen (2000);
  • Dune: House of Corrino (2001).
Books about Dune in order: "Dune: House of the Atreides", "Dune: House of the Harkonnen", "Dune: House of Corrino"
Books about Dune in order: "Dune: House of the Atreides", "Dune: House of the Harkonnen", "Dune: House of Corrino"

The trilogy tells how, a few years before Paul was born, his father, still young Leto Atreides, arrives on Planet X to receive training. At the same time, planetary scientist Pardot Kines is trying to find a way to bring plants and life to Arrakis, Shaddam IV ascends the throne and strives for unlimited power, and Vladimir Harkonnen prepares to go to war with him.

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