Dune Books in Order By Frank Herbert
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
― Frank Herbert, Dune
- Dune (1965)
- Dune Messiah (1969)
- Children of Dune (1976)
- God Emperor of Dune (1981)
- Heretics of Dune (1984)
- Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
What is the Dune Series about?
The Dune series is a science fiction saga written by Frank Herbert. It is set in a distant future where humanity has spread across multiple planets and is ruled by interstellar feudal noble houses. The series primarily focuses on the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, which is a desert planet and the only known source of a valuable and addictive substance called “spice.”
The story follows the Atreides family, particularly Paul Atreides, as they become entangled in political intrigue and power struggles. The Atreides family is tasked with taking control of Arrakis from their rivals, the Harkonnens, but they soon find themselves in the midst of a conspiracy and facing various factions with their own agendas.
Who was Frank Herbert?
Frank Herbert (1920-1986) was an American science fiction author and the creator of the Dune series. He was born in Tacoma, Washington, and developed an early interest in writing and science fiction. Herbert worked as a journalist, photographer, and various other jobs before focusing on writing full-time.
His most notable work is the epic Dune series, which revolutionised the science fiction genre and became one of the best-selling science fiction series of all time. Dune, the first book in the series, was published in 1965 and won the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Nebula Award for Best Novel. The subsequent books in the series further expanded upon the intricate world and characters Herbert created.
Herbert’s writing style was characterised by its complexity, philosophical depth, and exploration of ecological and sociopolitical themes. He blended elements of politics, religion, psychology, and environmentalism into his storytelling, creating a rich and immersive universe.
The Order
This order is for the main Dune series written by Frank Herbert. There are many more books, some written by his son Brian Herbert and others written by Kevin J. Anderson. We’ll cover the entirety of the Dune series in our ultimate guide, All 22 Books from the Dune Universe in Order.
How to read the main Dune series is pretty simple. The publication order. When things get more complicated is when you delve into the expanded universe. Anyway, here’s each of the books in publication order. Enjoy!
WARNING: There may be spoilers for some of the books mentioned. These are taken from the official descriptions but can sometimes spoil parts of previous books. So please be careful!
- Dune (1965)
Dune #1
188,000 words, 658 pages, 21 hrs and 2 mins to read.
Published by Ace
4.26 out of 5 on Goodreads
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for…
When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.
- Dune Messiah (1969)
Dune #2
60,000 words, 337 pages, 8 hrs and 57 mins to read.
Published by Ace
3.89 out of 5 on Goodreads
Dune Messiah continues the story of Paul Atreides, better known–and feared–as the man christened Muad’Dib. As Emperor of the Known Universe, he possesses more power than a single man was ever meant to wield. Worshipped as a religious icon by the fanatical Fremens, Paul faces the enmity of the political houses he displaced when he assumed the throne–and a conspiracy conducted within his own sphere of influence.
And even as House Atreides begins to crumble around him from the machinations of his enemies, the true threat to Paul comes to his lover, Chani, and the unborn heir to his family’s dynasty…
- Children of Dune (1976)
Dune #3
148,000 words, 609 pages, 16 hrs and 51 mins to read.
Published by Ace
3.96 out of 5 on Goodreads
The Children of Dune are twin siblings Leto and Ghanima Atreides, whose father, the Emperor Paul Muad’Dib, disappeared in the desert wastelands of Arrakis nine years ago. Like their father, the twins possess supernormal abilities–making them valuable to their manipulative aunt Alia, who rules the Empire in the name of House Atreides.
Facing treason and rebellion on two fronts, Alia’s rule is not absolute. The displaced House Corrino is plotting to regain the throne while the fanatical Fremen are being provoked into open revolt by the enigmatic figure known only as The Preacher. Alia believes that by obtaining the secrets of the twins’ prophetic visions, she can maintain control over her dynasty.
But Leto and Ghanima have their own plans for their visions–and their destinies….
- God Emperor of Dune (1981)
Dune #4
138,000 words, 587 pages, 15 hrs and 48 mins to read.
Published by Ace
3.87 out of 5 on Goodreads
Millennia have passed on Arrakis, and the once-desert planet is green with life. Leto Atreides, the son of the world’s savior, the Emperor Paul Muad’Dib, is still alive but far from human. To preserve humanity’s future, he sacrificed his own by merging with a sandworm, granting him near immortality as God Emperor of Dune for the past thirty-five hundred years.
Leto’s rule is not a benevolent one. His transformation has made not only his appearance but his morality inhuman. A rebellion, led by Siona, a member of the Atreides family, has risen to oppose the despot’s rule. But Siona is unaware that Leto’s vision of a Golden Path for humanity requires her to fulfill a destiny she never wanted–or could possibly conceive….
- Heretics of Dune (1984)
Dune #5
164,000 words, 669 pages, 18 hrs and 4 mins to read.
Published by Ace
3.87 out of 5 on Goodreads
Leto Atreides, the God Emperor of Dune, is dead. In the fifteen hundred years since his passing, the Empire has fallen into ruin. The great Scattering saw millions abandon the crumbling civilization and spread out beyond the reaches of known space. The planet Arrakis-now called Rakis-has reverted to its desert climate, and its great sandworms are dying.
Now, the Lost Ones are returning home in pursuit of power. And as factions vie for control over the remnants of the Empire, a girl named Sheeana rises to prominence in the wastelands of Rakis, sending religious fervor throughout the galaxy. For she possesses the abilities of the Fremen sandriders-fulfilling a prophecy foretold by the late God Emperor…
- Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
Dune #6
141,000 words, 624 pages, 16 hrs and 42 mins to read.
Published by Ace
3.90 out of 5 on Goodreads
The desert planet Arrakis, called Dune, has been destroyed. The remnants of the Old Empire have been consumed by the violent matriarchal cult known as the Honored Matres. Only one faction remains a viable threat to their total conquest–the Bene Gesserit, heirs to Dune’s power.
Under the leadership of Mother Superior Darwi Odrade, the Bene Gesserit have colonized a green world on the planet Chapterhouse and are turning it into a desert, mile by scorched mile. And once they’ve mastered breeding sandworms, the Sisterhood will control the production of the greatest commodity in the known galaxy–the spice melange. But their true weapon remains a man who has lived countless lifetimes–a man who served under the God Emperor Paul Muad’Dib….
Overall
Dune is one of the largest, most popular sci fi epics ever completed. The first book has cemented itself in popular culture and brings fans from all over into the sci fi genre. This is the definitive list of the main series written by Frank Herbert.
Which one is your favourite or most looking forward to picking up next?
Let us know!
Happy reading!
Dune Total Word Count: 839,000
More of the same, but different:
For More of Anything:
Things to Note:
- Word count is an approximation.
- Amount of pages may differ due to different publications, font style and/or size etc.
- Time spent reading is generally an approximation based on the word count and the average reading time. The average reader will read 250 WPM (Words Per Minute).
- This is the original publisher of the books.
- The current Goodreads score at the time of writing.
- For more information on word lengths and what they mean, check out our handy guide here.
Leave a Reply