Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel series has never failed to make any generation fall in awe with its vast world building. Whether you’re familiar with the Dune universe or venturing into the sands of Arrakis for the first time, this expansive series offers a compelling narrative on power and conflict for all readers.
Initially released in 1965 following rejections from 20 mainstream publishers, Dune has grown to become the most commercially successful science fiction novel globally. It’s acclaimed as one of the greatest literary works ever, marking a cornerstone in science fiction literature.
The overwhelming response to the book led Herbert to expand the saga with additional sequels, culminating in a total of six novels by the time of his death in 1986.
After Herbert’s death, his son Brian Herbert joined forces with renowned science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson to compose a trilogy of prequels to Dune, known as the Prelude to Dune series. The partnership between Herbert and Anderson has been impressive, resulting in the creation of over a dozen novels.
Navigating through this huge collection of books and its complex timeline presents a challenge, with no definitive approach to the reading order. Some suggest following the chronological while others recommend the release order.
1. What is the right order to read the Dune books?
The release order is the best way to read Frank Herbert’s Dune series. The release order follows the order in which the books were originally published. One should read the first six novels by Frank Herbert and then move on to the spin-offs by his son.
Following the release order helps one understand the author’s vision. In the case of Dune, there’s also a sense of continuity in the story. It is best to start with the first book and then continue.
Our recommendation is to begin with Frank Herbert’s original six novels, then explore the additional spin-offs if you like the main books. Many of these works are organized into subseries within the overarching narrative, allowing you to delve into various aspects of the Dune universe.
The Dune series is divided into several trilogies and subseries. As per their release order, here are the subseries within the Dune series:
- The Dune Series by Frank Herbert
- Preludes to Dune Series
- The Butlerian Jihaad Series (Set before the Prequel Series and Dune Series)
- A Sequel Series (Set after Frank Herbert’s novels)
- The Great Sisterhood Trilogy (Prequel Series)
- The Caladan Trilogy (Prequel Series)
2. Release Order
The release order refers to the order in which the books were published. Frank Herbert’s Dune book series consists of 22 books. The first one was published in 1965. Frank Herbert is the author of the first six books, while the others are written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
The original Dune series written by Frank Herbert:
- Dune (1965)
- Dune Messiah (1969)
- Children of Dune (1976)
- God Emperor of Dune (1981)
- Heretics of Dune (1984)
- Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
Preludes to Dune Series:
- House Atreides (1999)
- House Harkonnen (2000)
- House Corrino (2001)
The Butlerian Jihaad Series
- The Butlerian Jihad (2002)
- The Machine Crusade (2003)
- The Battle of Corrin (2004)
Sequel to Frank Herbert’s Novels:
- Hunters of Dune (2006)
- Sandworms of Dune (2007)
- Paul of Dune (2008)
- The Winds of Dune (2009)
The Great Sisterhood Trilogy (Prequel Series)
- Sisterhood of Dune (2011)
- Mentats of Dune (2014)
- Navigators of Dune (2016)
The Caladan Trilogy
- The Duke of Caladan (2020)
- The Lady of Caladan (2021)
- The Heir of Caladan (2022)
3. Chronological Order
The chronological order is the order in which the events in the books take place within the universe. This order does not take the release dates in mind. The prequel spin-off books come first, followed by Frank Herbert’s original six novels, and its sequels.
The Butlerian Jihaad Series:
- The Butlerian Jihad (2002)
- The Machine Crusade (2003)
- The Battle of Corrin (2004)
The Great Sisterhood Series:
- Sisterhood of Dune (2011)
- Mentats of Dune (2014)
- Navigators of Dune (2016)
Preludes to Dune Series:
- House Atreides (1999)
- House Harkonnen (2000)
- House Corrino (2001)
The Caladan Series:
- The Duke of Caladan (2020)
- The Lady of Caladan (2021)
- The Heir of Caladan (2022)
Frank Herbert’s Original Novels and its Sequels (As per Chronology):
- Dune (1965)
- Paul of Dune (2008)
- Dune Messiah (1969)
- The Winds of Dune (2009)
- Children of Dune (1976)
- God Emperor of Dune (1981)
- Heretics of Dune (1984)
- Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
- Hunters of Dune (2006)
- Sandworms of Dune (2007)
4. About Dune
Dune (also known as Dune: Part One) is an American sci-fi film based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Part One introduced the planet of Dune/Arrakis, the only place where the enhancer drug “Melange” is found and sought out by many. The Atreides House is sent to the planet as the ruling Duke, as part of their adversaries’ trap. However, the Atreides are aware of the same and aim to defend Dune and their house.
The ensemble cast is made up of Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.
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