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

Thanks to the new film adaptations Denis Villeneuve saw another wave of interest in books about Dune. 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).

The book tells about the distant 11th millennium, 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).

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 publication called “First trilogy».

3. If you plan to fully 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);
• «Heretics of Dune» (1984);
• «Dune Chapter» (1985).

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:

• «Hunters of Dune» (2006);
• «Sandworms of Dune» (2007).

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: Floor» (2008);
• «Dune winds» (2009).

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 eight 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: Machine Crusade» (2003);
• «Dune: Battle of Corrin» (2004).

According to the plot of the trilogy, people endowed the machines with powerful intelligence, but could not keep them under control. So a new enemy appeared, domination in the world. 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);
• «Dune Mentats» (2014);
• «Dune Navigators» (2016).

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 Corrino» (2001).

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 Kynes is trying to find a way to bring plants and life to Arrakis, Shaddam. IV ascends to the throne and strives for unlimited power, and Vladimir Harkonnen prepares to go to him war.