The Bene Gesserit are a matriarchal religious sect that wield seemingly superhuman powers obtained after years of grueling physical and mental training. The protagonist, Paul Atreides, is the son of Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica, a Bene Gesserit acolyte. There's a whole lot of material to ingest if you choose to do so here’s the reading order to tackle the books in.ĭune is set in a fictional, far-distant future (10,191 to be exact) where noble houses lead a feudal society stretching across many planets, which are considered fiefs (an estate of land held on condition of offering services to someone higher). Anderson, penned a sequel that’s based on the notes left behind by Frank Herbert. Two decades later, the author’s son, Brian Herbert, along with Kevin J. We should note that Herbert passed away following the publication of Chapterhouse: Dune, which ended on a huge cliffhanger. However, if you’re interested in diving deeper into Herbert’s world, there’s a bounty of material to explore.

The novel itself is split into three separate parts – 'Dune,' 'Mua'dib,' and 'The Prophet' – while Villenueve's movie will be split into two. Should you want a solid foundation of Dune knowledge before the upcoming movie, then finishing the first novel (helpfully titled Dune (opens in new tab)) should suffice. The Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival director has already proven his ability to direct impressive sci-fi stories, and everything we've seen and heard of Dune thus far looks sufficiently epic. Yet, Villeneuve promises to unlock the secret formula and finally give Dune the big-screen treatment it deserves. Get started on the books with the original Dune novel (opens in new tab).

Twin Peaks creator David Lynch's 1984 movie was almost universally maligned, cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky failed to get his adaptation off the ground (leading to a fascinating documentary), and the SyFy Channel version is good, but way too long.

No wonder, then, that previous film adaptations have struggled. The Dune novels are notoriously convoluted with sprawling plots, oddly named characters, and some heady themes. However, knowing where to start with the books and movies can lead to quite the headache. There's been a resurgence of interest in the 1965 sprawling sci-fi epic from Frank Herbert, and the massive world that spun from it. If you want to cut to the chase on the movie itself, you can check out our Dune review, but if you're relatively new to the sprawling Dune universe - don't fret as this guide not only can help navigate your way through the books but also the whole world of Dune.

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